Michael Jordan vs Mitch Richmond - Shootout (Jan 30, 1997)

The Chicago Bulls continued their 4-game win streak when they defeated the Sacramento Kings Thursday night at the ARCO Arena, 111-93.

Still without the suspended rebounding machine Dennis Rodman, the Bulls controlled their opponents for the most part.

Michael Jordan turned his ankle in the 3rd quarter but was able to return. He finished with 32 points (on 11-for-19 shooting) and 6 rebounds. Scottie Pippen added 22 points (9-for-17) along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Toni Kukoc (7-for-11), Jason Caffey (5-for-8) and Randy Brown (5-for-5) all played their roles exceptionally well.

Mitch Richmond, Western Conference Player of the Week, had 28 points (12-for-26), 9 rebounds and 6 assists, but was held to 5 points in the final quarter -- a period he often dominates -- while Jordan scored 9 points during a 13-4 Chicago run down the stretch.

The win gave Chicago a 39-5 record in the Eastern Conference.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michael
• Jordan
• Mitch
• Richmond
• Chicago
• Bulls
• Sacramento
• Kings
• NBA
• Basketball
• 1997
• Scottie
• Pippen
• Rodman
• Kukoc

[airswade]

Richmond, one of the most under rated players in NBA history.

[falkner23]

richmond was a machine

[WaitingForSand]

2:49 look at this bitch

[mozelimunada]

3:27 Minnesota beat Dallas. Like it could happen today !!!

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful indeed. good chat man

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful Also, check out the video "Mitch Richmond: One of the Underrated Greats" and watch some of the highlights of Mitch on other videos. I'm sure you watched film of him anyway. Don't misunderstand me, I hear what you're saying and I respect it. If anyone at the 2 was as good or better than Mitch aside from MJ, Clyde would be the only guy. I can't put him above Mitch tho. Like I said, I grew up here watching him all the time and I honestly consider him one of the greatest, like Clyde.

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful I hear you but Clyde also came in the league in in 83 while Mitch came in 88, so their decline happened around the same age. I honestly can't really make a case that Mitch was better than Clyde in any department other than shooting because he really wasn't. I love Clyde bro. The guy was amazing. There were definitely things Clyde was better at (steals, blocks, reb), and he could score. I do believe tho that Clyde was greatly helped by the talent around him, the opposite of Mitch

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful I'm not sure about that. Drexler was better at SOME things but not everything. And I've seen Jordan himself say in an interview Richmond was ther best 2guard in the league beside himself, and he wasn't saying it in a cocky way. Jordan knew what was up.

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful As far as Richmond goes, yea, we'll never know what he coulda done in the playoffs had he been on a good team. Those Kings teams were garbage. Only reason we made the playoffs 1 time while Mitch was here was ALL because of Mitch. Drexler played on dope Portland teams. He never played on a trash squad. Check Richmond's stats. Dude had no weaknesses. He was a true baller. For EX: Imagine if Richmond had played on a team like the Heat with Mourning & Hardaway or Knicks with Ewing.

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful Kwame Brown definitely was picked too high but he is a solid role player for any team. And who remained loyal to him?? Jordan. That's why he's a Bobcat now. Morrison was ballin in college. Can't blame Jordan for Morrison's failures. Jordan has done good things as well and doesn't get his credit. For example, he did the best of any team in this years draft and has crafted a dope Bobcats team. As far as Durant goes, he is one of the best ever already. Dude is GREAT.Jordan ain't dumb

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful And like I said, Jordan himself considered Richmond to be a superstar and the best 2guard in the league besides himself. When the greatest guard ever says that, I think it speaks volumes. Like I said, I am from Sac and watched Richmond all the time. The guy was an absolute baller and is one of the top all-time most underrated, undercredited superstars ever. He wasn't flashy. He was just unstoppable

[Loudmouf84]

@hangtime23ful I assure you that if Richmond had the kind of talent around him that Drexler had, he would have had even better numbers and won. I am born & raised here in Sacramento and I watched Richmond all the time. The guy was a baller and should be considered an all-time great and HOFamer as well. I "won't find anyone that would agree with that??" I can't find anyone that even watched Richmond play. Nobody watched the Kings back in the mid 90's, so nobody can tell me anything about Richmond