One Reason Why Michael Jordan Is The GOAT

Michael Jordan drops 55 points Gongfu Tea Cup the Suns in the 1993 Finals

(by Michael Whitlow)

“I tell ya, he’s just simply amazing! He does whatever has to do, to beat ya!”

Those were the words from the radio broadcast of Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, led by that season’s NBA MVP: Charles Barkley.

Simply put, June 16th, 1993 was one of the greatest performances in not only Michael Jordan’s legendary career, but in the history of the NBA Finals.

Jordan shot 21-for-37 from the floor for an astonishing 55 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists in the 111-105 Bulls victory to give Chicago a 3-1 series lead.

The Bulls actually were the first team in the “2-3-2” NBA Finals format to win the first two games of the championship series on the road.

After taking a 2-0 series lead, Jordan and the Bulls faltered in a historic triple-overtime thriller in Game 3, 129-121. Six players — including Jordan — played at least 53 minutes, which contributed to Jordan’s mind-boggling 19-for-43 shooting night for 44 points.

“Michael Jordan shot the basketball 43 times. That’s unbelievable. He’s going to be icing down his elbow, too.”

-Charles Barkley (hilariously) speaking on Jordan’s Game 3 performance.

After the Suns climbed back into the series by winning Game 3, Jordan and the Bulls regained control of the series in Game 4.

The game was tight throughout, but the Bulls had Michael Jordan.

Jordan was a machine in 46 minutes of action. After finding a rhythm in the early-going with his usual array of mid-range jumpers and post-ups, Jordan began attacking the hoop furiously and leaving Suns head coach Paul Westphal searching for answers without any kind of luck.

How good was Jordan on that night?

In the words of Phoenix Suns guard Frank Johnson,

“He played … he played like Michael.”

Chicago took the 3-1 series lead into Game 5 two days later, looking to close out their third straight championship (and second straight on their home floor inside the historic Chicago Stadium).

Little-known rookie Richard Dumas torched the Bulls for 25 points on 12-of-14 shooting in a 108-98 Suns win, to send the series back to Phoenix for Game 6.

In Game 6, Michael Jordan would once again be the difference.

In the worst quarter all postseason for the Bulls, Jordan and the Bulls scored just 12 points in the final quarter, but Jordan scored nine of Chicago’s 12 points and the Bulls hung on 99-98, thanks to a famous shot that wasn’t taken by Michael Jordan.

John Paxson‘s three-point dagger gave the Bulls their third title in a row and solidified Michael Jordan as not only the world’s best basketball player, but the best athlete in the world.

Jordan averaged a Finals-record 41.0 points per game, along with 8.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in the six-game series.

Michael Jordan’s 55 Point Game 4!

VIA: Michael Whitlow http://dawindycity.com