1996–97 Chicago Bulls season
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Bulls repeated as NBA World Champions. The Bulls would go on to beat the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals
. The team was led by Michael Jordan
, rebound ace Dennis Rodman
and perennial all star small forward Scottie Pippen
. Other notable players on the club's roster that year were clutch-specialist Croatian Toni Kukoc
, and sharp-shooting point guard Steve Kerr
. The Bulls finished with a 69-13 record, just missing out on becoming the first team in NBA history to have back-to-back 70 wins seasons.
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #D40026; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1996-97 Chicago Bulls roster
|- style="background-color: black; color: #D40026; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
!width="40"|Pos.
!width="165"|Starter
!width="165"|Bench
!width="165"|Reserve
!width="165"|Inactive
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | C
| Luc Longley
|| Brian Williams
|| Robert Parish
|| style="background:#C41E3A" | Bill Wennington
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | PF
| Dennis Rodman
|| Jason Caffey
|| || style="background:#C41E3A" | Dickey Simpkins
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | SF
| Scottie Pippen
|| Toni Kukoč
|| || style="background:#C41E3A" |
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:red"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | SG
| Michael Jordan
|| || Jud Buechler
|| style="background:#C41E3A" |
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | PG
| Ron Harper
|| Steve Kerr
|| Randy Brown
|| style="background:#C41E3A" |
|}
|-
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | PPG
|-
|
| 72 || 3 || 14.7 || .420 || .182 || .679 || 1.5 || 1.8 || 1.12 || .24 || 4.7
|-
|
| 76 || 0 || 9.2 || .367 || .333 || .357 || 1.7 || .8 || .30 || .28 || 1.8
|-
|
| 75 || 19 || 18.7 || .532 || .000 || .659 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .33 || .12 || 7.3
|-
|
| 9 || 0 || 15.3 || .413 || .000 || .733 || 3.7 || 1.3 || .33 || .56 || 7.0
|-
|
| 76 || 74 || 22.9 || .436 || .362 || .707 || 2.5 || 2.5 || 1.13 || .50 || 6.3
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 37.9 || .486 || .374 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .833 || 5.9 || 4.3 || 1.71 || .54 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 29.6
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || 0 || 22.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .533 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .464 || .806 || 1.6 || 2.1 || .82 || .04 || 8.1
|-
|
| 57 || 15 || 28.2 || .471 || .331 || .770 || 4.6 || 4.5 || 1.05 || .51 || 13.2
|-
|
| 59 || 59 || 24.9 || .456 || .000 || .792 || 5.6 || 2.4 || .39 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.12 || 9.1
|-
|
| 43 || 3 || 9.4 || .490 || .000 || .677 || 2.1 || .5 || .14 || .44 || 3.7
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || 37.7 || .474 || .368 || .701 || 6.5 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 5.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.88 || .55 || 20.2
|-
|
| 55 || 54 || 35.4 || .448 || .263 || .568 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 16.1 || 3.1 || .58 || .35 || 5.7
|-
|
| 48 || 0 || 8.2 || .333 || .250 || .700 || 1.9 || .6 || .10 || .10 || 1.9
|-
|
| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .250 || .000 || .500 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .50 || .50 || 1.5
|-
|
| 61 || 19 || 12.8 || .498 || .000 || .830 || 2.1 || .7 || .16 || .18 || 4.6
|}
|-
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | PPG
|-
|
| 17 || || 5.8 || .300 || .000 || .600 || .6 || .4 || .47 || .12 || 1.2
|-
|
| 18 || || 7.7 || .419 || .333 || .600 || 1.3 || .3 || .17 || .06 || 1.8
|-
|
| 17 || || 9.8 || .455 || .000 || .786 || 2.5 || .9 || .18 || .18 || 2.4
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 17.7 || .481 || .000 || .516 || 3.7 || .6 || 1.00 || .42 || 6.1
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 27.1 || .400 || .344 || .750 || 4.3 || 3.0 || 1.26 || .74 || 7.5
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || style="background:black;color:white;" | 42.3 || .456 || .194 || .831 || 7.9 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 4.8 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.58 || .89 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 31.1
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 17.9 || .429 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .381 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .929 || .9 || 1.1 || .89 || .11 || 5.0
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 22.3 || .360 || .358 || .707 || 2.8 || 2.8 || .68 || .21 || 7.9
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 22.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .548 || .000 || .385 || 4.4 || 1.8 || .37 || .84 || 6.5
|-
|
| 2 || || 9.0 || .143 || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || .0 || .00 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.50 || 1.0
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 39.6 || .417 || .345 || .791 || 6.8 || 3.8 || 1.47 || .95 || 19.2
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 28.2 || .370 || .250 || .577 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 8.4 || 1.4 || .53 || .21 || 4.2
|}
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage's (Chicago's) home court (United Center
).
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align="left" width="14%"|Team
!width="6%"|1
!width="6%"|2
!width="6%"|3
!width="6%"|4
!width="6%"|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|18||24||22
|18||82
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|17||21||24
|22||84
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|20||11||28
|26||85
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|25||22||31
|19||97
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|22||23||15
|33||93
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|31||30||15
|27||104
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|16||24||16
|17||73
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|21||14||21
|22||78
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 5, often referred to as "The Flu Game", was one of Michael Jordan
's most memorable. Just 24 hours earlier, on June 10, 1997, Michael Jordan
woke up nauseated and sweating profusely. He hardly had the strength to sit up in bed and was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning. The Bulls trainers told Jordan that there was no way he could play in the game. The Jazz had just won two in a row to tie the series, and Chicago needed their leader in this critical swing game. Against all odds, Jordan rose from bed at 3:00 p.m., just in time for the 6:00 tip-off at the Delta Center.
Jordan was visibly weak and pale as he stepped onto the court for Game Five. At first, he displayed no energy whatsoever, and John Stockton
, along with reigning MVP Karl Malone
, quickly led the Jazz to a 16-point lead. But in the second quarter, Jordan started to sink shots despite lacking his usual explosive speed and hardly being able to concentrate. He scored 17 points in the quarter as the Bulls hit the front before halftime.
Luc Longley
and Scottie Pippen
did their best to keep the Bulls in the game while Jordan was fatigued again in the third. But Jordan turned it on again, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch rebound and three-point shot with the game tied and under a minute left that put the Bulls up by three points. Chicago held on for a narrow victory.
Jordan finished the game with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Malone was the highest-scoring Jazz player with 19 points but suffered from some dreadful shooting. Jordan stayed on the court for 44 minutes, resting for only four minutes while being perpetually at the brink of fainting. With only a few seconds remaining and the game finally at hand, Jordan collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|16||33||18
|23||90
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|29||24||19
|16||88
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Michael Jordan was not fully recovered from the flu, but was feeling much better and led the Bulls with 39 points. In the third quarter Michael Jordan dunked after a steal, bringing the crowd to its feet. The Bulls trailed by 9 points early in the fourth quarter but went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes when Steve Kerr hit a 3-pointer, but the Jazz would regain the lead. In the final minutes, Jordan's fadeaway on the baseline put the Bulls up by 3, before Bryon Russell hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 86-86. The two teams would fail to score on their next possessions. With 28 seconds left after Shandon Anderson missed a reverse layup, the Jazz expected Jordan to take the final shot. Instead, Jordan passed off to Steve Kerr, who hit a shot with 5 seconds left to send the United Center crowd into a frenzy. The Jazz looked for one final shot to stay alive, but Scottie Pippen made a massive defensive play as he knocked away Bryon Russell's inbound pass intended for Shandon Anderson and was able to pass the ball over to Toni Kukoc, who dunked the final 2 points of the game to bring the Finals to an end. Afterwards, Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|23||21||26
|16||86
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|17||20||27
|26||90
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
1997 NBA Finals
The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage...
. The team was led by Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, rebound ace Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
and perennial all star small forward Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
. Other notable players on the club's roster that year were clutch-specialist Croatian Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoč is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. He was renowned for his versatility and passing ability; although his natural position was small forward, he played all five positions on the court with prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside shooting touch that were...
, and sharp-shooting point guard Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
. The Bulls finished with a 69-13 record, just missing out on becoming the first team in NBA history to have back-to-back 70 wins seasons.
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Travis Knight Travis Knight Travis Knight is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1996 NBA Draft... |
C | UConn Connecticut Huskies The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice... |
|
Roster
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #D40026; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1996-97 Chicago Bulls roster
|- style="background-color: black; color: #D40026; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
Depth chart
{| style="text-align: center; background:black; color:white"!width="40"|Pos.
!width="165"|Starter
!width="165"|Bench
!width="165"|Reserve
!width="165"|Inactive
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | C
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
| Luc Longley
Luc Longley
Lucien James "Luc" Longley is a retired Australian professional basketball player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA, where he played for eleven seasons...
|| Brian Williams
Bison Dele
Bison Dele formerly known as Brian Carson Williams, was an American professional basketball player who finished his career as a center for the NBA's Detroit Pistons...
|| Robert Parish
Robert Parish
Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...
|| style="background:#C41E3A" | Bill Wennington
Bill Wennington
William Percey Wennington is a retired Canadian basketball player in the National Basketball Association who won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. A center, he was also a member of two Canadian Olympic Basketball Teams and the 1983 World University Games team that won gold against...
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | PF
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
| Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
|| Jason Caffey
Jason Caffey
Jason Andre Caffey is an American former professional basketball player who won two championship rings with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s...
|| || style="background:#C41E3A" | Dickey Simpkins
Dickey Simpkins
LuBara Dixon "Dickey" Simpkins is an American former professional basketball player best known for his tenure with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s...
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | SF
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
| Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
|| Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoč is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. He was renowned for his versatility and passing ability; although his natural position was small forward, he played all five positions on the court with prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside shooting touch that were...
|| || style="background:#C41E3A" |
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:red"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | SG
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
| Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
|| || Jud Buechler
Jud Buechler
Judson Donald "Jud" Buechler is a retired American professional basketball player. He grew up in Poway, CA and attended Poway High School, where he was a top basketball recruit as well as a Top-50 men's volleyball prospect....
|| style="background:#C41E3A" |
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:white"
! style="background:#C41E3A" | PG
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
| Ron Harper
Ron Harper
Ronald "Ron" Harper is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA. At 6 ft 6 in , his position was shooting guard/point guard.- Collegiate career :...
|| Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
|| Randy Brown
Randy Brown
Randy Brown is a retired American basketball player. A 6'2" guard who played at New Mexico State University, Brown was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 1991 NBA Draft...
|| style="background:#C41E3A" |
|}
Regular season
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"|-
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | PPG
|-
|
| 72 || 3 || 14.7 || .420 || .182 || .679 || 1.5 || 1.8 || 1.12 || .24 || 4.7
|-
|
| 76 || 0 || 9.2 || .367 || .333 || .357 || 1.7 || .8 || .30 || .28 || 1.8
|-
|
| 75 || 19 || 18.7 || .532 || .000 || .659 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .33 || .12 || 7.3
|-
|
| 9 || 0 || 15.3 || .413 || .000 || .733 || 3.7 || 1.3 || .33 || .56 || 7.0
|-
|
| 76 || 74 || 22.9 || .436 || .362 || .707 || 2.5 || 2.5 || 1.13 || .50 || 6.3
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 37.9 || .486 || .374 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .833 || 5.9 || 4.3 || 1.71 || .54 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 29.6
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || 0 || 22.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .533 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .464 || .806 || 1.6 || 2.1 || .82 || .04 || 8.1
|-
|
| 57 || 15 || 28.2 || .471 || .331 || .770 || 4.6 || 4.5 || 1.05 || .51 || 13.2
|-
|
| 59 || 59 || 24.9 || .456 || .000 || .792 || 5.6 || 2.4 || .39 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.12 || 9.1
|-
|
| 43 || 3 || 9.4 || .490 || .000 || .677 || 2.1 || .5 || .14 || .44 || 3.7
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 82 || 37.7 || .474 || .368 || .701 || 6.5 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 5.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.88 || .55 || 20.2
|-
|
| 55 || 54 || 35.4 || .448 || .263 || .568 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 16.1 || 3.1 || .58 || .35 || 5.7
|-
|
| 48 || 0 || 8.2 || .333 || .250 || .700 || 1.9 || .6 || .10 || .10 || 1.9
|-
|
| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .250 || .000 || .500 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .50 || .50 || 1.5
|-
|
| 61 || 19 || 12.8 || .498 || .000 || .830 || 2.1 || .7 || .16 || .18 || 4.6
|}
Playoffs
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"|-
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#C41E3A;color:black;" width="6%" | PPG
|-
|
| 17 || || 5.8 || .300 || .000 || .600 || .6 || .4 || .47 || .12 || 1.2
|-
|
| 18 || || 7.7 || .419 || .333 || .600 || 1.3 || .3 || .17 || .06 || 1.8
|-
|
| 17 || || 9.8 || .455 || .000 || .786 || 2.5 || .9 || .18 || .18 || 2.4
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 17.7 || .481 || .000 || .516 || 3.7 || .6 || 1.00 || .42 || 6.1
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 27.1 || .400 || .344 || .750 || 4.3 || 3.0 || 1.26 || .74 || 7.5
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || style="background:black;color:white;" | 42.3 || .456 || .194 || .831 || 7.9 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 4.8 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.58 || .89 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 31.1
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 17.9 || .429 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .381 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .929 || .9 || 1.1 || .89 || .11 || 5.0
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 22.3 || .360 || .358 || .707 || 2.8 || 2.8 || .68 || .21 || 7.9
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 22.7 || style="background:black;color:white;" | .548 || .000 || .385 || 4.4 || 1.8 || .37 || .84 || 6.5
|-
|
| 2 || || 9.0 || .143 || .000 || .000 || 2.0 || .0 || .00 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 1.50 || 1.0
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 39.6 || .417 || .345 || .791 || 6.8 || 3.8 || 1.47 || .95 || 19.2
|-
|
| style="background:black;color:white;" | 19 || || 28.2 || .370 || .250 || .577 || style="background:black;color:white;" | 8.4 || 1.4 || .53 || .21 || 4.2
|}
Schedule
- Game 1 - June 1, Sunday @Chicago, Chicago 84, Utah 82: Chicago leads series 1-0
- Game 2 - June 4, Wednesday @Chicago, Chicago 97, Utah 85: Chicago leads series 2-0
- Game 3 - June 6, Friday @Utah, Utah 104, Chicago 93: Chicago leads series 2-1
- Game 4 - June 8, Sunday @Utah, Utah 78, Chicago 73: Series tied 2-2
- Game 5 - June 11, Wednesday @Utah, Chicago 90, Utah 88: Chicago leads series 3-2
- Game 6 - June 13, Friday @Chicago, Chicago 90, Utah 86: Chicago wins series 4-2
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage's (Chicago's) home court (United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
).
Game 1
Sunday, June 1, at the United CenterUnited Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align="left" width="14%"|Team
!width="6%"|1
!width="6%"|2
!width="6%"|3
!width="6%"|4
!width="6%"|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|18||24||22
|18||82
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|17||21||24
|22||84
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 2
Wednesday, June 4, at the United Center{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|20||11||28
|26||85
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|25||22||31
|19||97
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 3
Friday, June 6, at the Delta CenterEnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|22||23||15
|33||93
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|31||30||15
|27||104
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 4
Sunday, June 8, at the Delta Center{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|16||24||16
|17||73
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|21||14||21
|22||78
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 5: The Flu Game
Wednesday, June 11, at the Delta CenterGame 5, often referred to as "The Flu Game", was one of Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
's most memorable. Just 24 hours earlier, on June 10, 1997, Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
woke up nauseated and sweating profusely. He hardly had the strength to sit up in bed and was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning. The Bulls trainers told Jordan that there was no way he could play in the game. The Jazz had just won two in a row to tie the series, and Chicago needed their leader in this critical swing game. Against all odds, Jordan rose from bed at 3:00 p.m., just in time for the 6:00 tip-off at the Delta Center.
Jordan was visibly weak and pale as he stepped onto the court for Game Five. At first, he displayed no energy whatsoever, and John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, along with reigning MVP Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
, quickly led the Jazz to a 16-point lead. But in the second quarter, Jordan started to sink shots despite lacking his usual explosive speed and hardly being able to concentrate. He scored 17 points in the quarter as the Bulls hit the front before halftime.
Luc Longley
Luc Longley
Lucien James "Luc" Longley is a retired Australian professional basketball player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA, where he played for eleven seasons...
and Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
did their best to keep the Bulls in the game while Jordan was fatigued again in the third. But Jordan turned it on again, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch rebound and three-point shot with the game tied and under a minute left that put the Bulls up by three points. Chicago held on for a narrow victory.
Jordan finished the game with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Malone was the highest-scoring Jazz player with 19 points but suffered from some dreadful shooting. Jordan stayed on the court for 44 minutes, resting for only four minutes while being perpetually at the brink of fainting. With only a few seconds remaining and the game finally at hand, Jordan collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|16||33||18
|23||90
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|29||24||19
|16||88
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Game 6
Friday, June 13, at the United CenterMichael Jordan was not fully recovered from the flu, but was feeling much better and led the Bulls with 39 points. In the third quarter Michael Jordan dunked after a steal, bringing the crowd to its feet. The Bulls trailed by 9 points early in the fourth quarter but went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes when Steve Kerr hit a 3-pointer, but the Jazz would regain the lead. In the final minutes, Jordan's fadeaway on the baseline put the Bulls up by 3, before Bryon Russell hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 86-86. The two teams would fail to score on their next possessions. With 28 seconds left after Shandon Anderson missed a reverse layup, the Jazz expected Jordan to take the final shot. Instead, Jordan passed off to Steve Kerr, who hit a shot with 5 seconds left to send the United Center crowd into a frenzy. The Jazz looked for one final shot to stay alive, but Scottie Pippen made a massive defensive play as he knocked away Bryon Russell's inbound pass intended for Shandon Anderson and was able to pass the ball over to Toni Kukoc, who dunked the final 2 points of the game to bring the Finals to an end. Afterwards, Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;
!align=left width=14%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Total
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Utah
|23||21||26
|16||86
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Chicago
|17||20||27
|26||90
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Awards and honors
- Scottie PippenScottie PippenScottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
, Forward, NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time TeamNBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time TeamThe 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History were chosen in 1996 to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association... - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Guard, NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time TeamNBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time TeamThe 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History were chosen in 1996 to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association... - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, All-NBA Team, First Team - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Guard, NBA Finals MVP - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, NBA All-Defensive First Team - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Regular season leader, Field Goals (920) - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Regular season leader, Field Goal Attempts (1892) - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Regular season leader, Total Points (2431) - Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Regular season leader, Scoring Average (29.6 points per game)