Michael Jordan 1997: First Game Vs. Shaq/Kobe Lakers, 30pts

If I remember correctly, I believe MJ had one of his all-night-golf outings before this game which was one reason why his shot might have eluded him this night. This game was interesting in that MJ was meeting Shaq in LA for the first time. On a side note, the appetizer was a very young and skinny Kobe Bryant who was given 10 minutes in his first ever game against his idol. And as MJ greeted a rookie Shaq in Orlando in their first meeting with a block, MJ welcomed the future star to a modest dunk in their very first matchup (the 2nd meeting is also uploaded on my channel).

But the story of the game was the game. The Bulls were taken aback by an amazing night from Van Exel and Shaq and fell behind by 22 at the half. MJ's shot was only visible at the end of the half which was probably why the Bulls didn't drop by 30.

In the 2nd half, MJ became what he would call "The Utility Man". He plugged all the holes and did the dirty work - hustling on defense, setting screens, passing to the hot man etc. Down 18 points in the 4th, Kukoc and Pip stepped up and stood besides MJ's leadership and brought the game to OT. And while MJ's shot was still MIA, he drilled the nail-in-coffin free throws to seal the game. This was one of the most amazing comebacks ever and one reason why the Bulls were the Bulls.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michael
• Jordan
• Shaq
• Kobe
• Lakers
• Bulls
• Chicago
• Heat
• Magic
• Yao
• Iverson
• Lebron
• Garnett
• Paul
• AI
• Wade
• Bird
• Basketball
• Carmelo

[lovahman]

Did you seeee Kobe Clank those free throws AND the 3 at the end of the game?

[TheTenaciousTim]

MJ vs Kobe, i love it. Kobe and MJ's careers are so similar. start off young with hair, very athlectic but can't really shoot. work their way into becoming champions. Lose hair and athleticism when they get older and gain a solid jumpshot

[TheBrotherOfSuperman]

@vitalcoordinates Playing against Jordan in his primetime is probably like a colonoscopy! =P

[TheCocoadizzy]

Hugo.... No one gives a fuck

[hugosaenz21]

i hate the bulls.

[pheeel17]

@DoomDarenxbourg Dude, I'm a Bulls fan and as happy as the regular season sweep made me, it doesn't mean a thing. The Heat were a dysfunctional media circus all season and finally came together at the end The playoffs Heat were not the same team the reg season Heat. The Bulls won the 1st game 99-96 with Lebron out . Second game won by 4, and last game by 1. The Bulls were an overachieving team with no playoff experience beyond round 1. What happened in the ECF doesn't surpise me.

[DoomDarenxbourg]

@pheeel17 The bulls swept the heat in the regular season last year & beat them by 25 in game 1 of the ECF! Then they lose the next 4 in a row? 2 of those losses were in chicago! Yes, the games were close, but 4 losses in a row, by a team they sewpt & beat by 25 in game 1?

[pheeel17]

@DoomDarenxbourg The Bulls weren't "yellow" as you put it, they were inexperienced. You have to remember they were 41-41 the previous two years and only Carlos Boozer who sucks had been past the first round in the playoffs. That season was something to be proud for the Bulls.

[colossalko]

@DoomDarenxbourg In cleveland lebron was following the same exact path as jordan. They said 27 year old Jordan was not on Magic's level. Magic had 5 rings Jordan had zero. Jordan had pippen yet he couldn't win a title. Someone "experts" even went as far to say Jordan possessed skills that couldn't lead his team to a title. There are so many categories right now where Lebron and Jordan are 1 and 2 its not even funny. History repeats itself.

[bigeights]

4:39 that is not a travel.