: Behind Jordan's sixth ring was a career of obsessive work; the closing shot honored a perseverance that defined an era.
: Jordan's 33-6-4 against Utah proved a complete leader; the Game 6 dagger showed he decided the series on both ends.
: 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 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.
In the 1990s Jordan led Chicago to two three-peats (1991-93, 1996-98), six Finals, six titles, with Pippen and Jackson creating the decade’s brightest team.
1997-98 was the final season of the Bulls core; locker-room strife and pending deals hung over them. After the title Jordan retired, ending an era.
After entering in 1984 as a scoring champ, Jordan spent years missing the Finals; Jackson’s triangle and Pippen’s rise turned him from hero to core, fulfilled in 1991.