In the world of basketball, there have been many iconic players that have left their mark on the sport. One player in particular who has had some of the most memorable moments in NBA history is Michael Jordan, famously known as number 23. Jordan’s skills and athleticism made him one of the most dominant players to ever step foot on a basketball court, and his legacy continues to live on even after his retirement. In this post, we will take a look at some of the best moments in basketball history that involved number 23.
basketball number 23
You might be wondering what “basketball number 23” has to do with anything. Well, it turns out that Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, wore number 23 during his playing career. So the next time you’re watching a game and see someone wearing number 23, you’ll know that they’re one of MJ’s successors.
Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals
In the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were facing off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The series was tied at 2-2 and game 5 was down to its final seconds. With the Bulls trailing by 1 point, Jordan took an inbounds pass and dribbled towards the basket. He then launched a jumper from the free throw line that went in, giving the Bulls the victory and sending them to the next round. This moment is often considered to be one of Jordan’s most clutch shots ever.
His “flu game” in the 1997 NBA Finals, where he played despite being ill and scored 38 points
The 1997 NBA Finals was a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, where the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Utah Jazz. This time around, the series was tied at 2-2 and game 5 was being played in Utah. During the game, Jordan started feeling ill and began vomiting on the court. Despite his illness, he continued playing and scored 38 points, leading the Bulls to victory and putting them up 3-2 in the series. This moment is often cited as one of Jordan’s greatest performances ever.
The 1998 NBA Finals, where he led the Chicago Bulls to their sixth championship title
The 1998 NBA Finals was the last championship that Michael Jordan would win with the Chicago Bulls. This Finals series was a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, where the Bulls faced off against the Utah Jazz. The Bulls ended up winning in 6 games, with Jordan scoring 45 points in the deciding game. This sixth championship title for MJ solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
The 2002 Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Nets, where he hit the game-winner with 5 seconds left on the clock
In the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, the Chicago Bulls were facing off against the New Jersey Nets. The series was tied at 2-2 and game 5 was being played in New Jersey. With the Bulls trailing by 1 point, Jordan took an inbounds pass from Toni Kukoc and hit a jumper with 5 seconds left on the clock, giving the Bulls the victory and sending them to the next round. This moment is often considered to be one of Jordan’s most clutch shots ever.
The 2003 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, which ended with a dramatic last-second jumper by MJ
The 2003 NBA Finals was the last championship that Michael Jordan would win in his career. This Finals series was a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, where the Bulls faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers ended up winning in 5 games, with Jordan scoring 45 points in the deciding game. However, the most memorable moment from this series came in game 6, when Jordan hit a dramatic last-second jumper to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Bulls eventually won the game and the championship title.
