: Jordan beat the Jazz 4-2 again, averaged 33, and hit the series-clinching shot in Game 6 to claim his sixth Finals MVP.
In1998,a20-year-oldGermanwhospokelittleEnglishandcarriedaheavyhomesicknessarrive
In the 50-game 1998-99 season, the Spurs beat New York 4-1. Tim Duncan averaged 27.4 points and 14 boards to win his first Finals MVP.
The 1998-99 season was delayed by a labor dispute to just 50 games starting in February; the Spurs stayed steady through the chaos to win the shortened year.
Drafted in 1998, Nowitzki played all 21 seasons for Dallas until retiring in 2019 — the purest "one city, one career" loyalty legend in modern basketball.
: Behind Jordan's sixth ring was a career of obsessive work; the closing shot honored a perseverance that defined an era.
: The Game 6 dagger merged heroism with trust; Jordan's two-way poise made him the Finals' most complete weapon.
: The 1998 title closed Jordan's career with a second three-peat, fixing him as the standard by which greatness is measured.
: Jordan's 33-6-4 against Utah proved a complete leader; the Game 6 dagger showed he decided the series on both ends.
In 1997-98 the Bulls beat Utah 4-2. Jordan stole from Malone and hit "The Last Shot" with 5.2s left, taking his 6th title and 6th Finals MVP.