The Switch Layup: Jordan’s Finals Moment

Game 2 of the 1991 Finals left a replayed classic. Jordan drove right to the baseline, met Sam Perkins’ help, and in the air switched the ball from right to left for a soft lay-in.

The "switch" was godlike for its body control and calm. Most stars would force or pass when cut off on the right; Jordan changed hands mid-flight and finished with the off hand, shattering the "right-hand only" defensive read.

It marked his technical maturity — no longer just power and burst, but brain. Chicago won that game and the series; the switch layup became a footnote of the title.

Greatness hides in a detail. Jordan’s left-hand finish was a lesson: calm beats instinct.

Related Reading

• 1998 NBA Finals MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1998 NBA MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• Jordan's Six Titles: Finals MVP Highlights
• 1991 NBA MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1996 NBA MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)