It seems that the Jazz still carry a lingering bitterness from a certain unforgettable moment when Michael Jordan drove a metaphorical nail through their hearts.
Michael Jordan’s ability to make life difficult for every team he faced during his illustrious career is well-known. The Jazz, in particular, haven’t moved on from an iconic play in the NBA Finals, evident from the name of the WiFi network inside their arena.
As basketball enthusiasts are aware, Jordan secured six championships with the Bulls in the 1990s, accomplishing two separate three-peats during his tenure with the franchise.
The Utah Jazz had the opportunity to claim a title in consecutive seasons, reaching the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. Unfortunately, they couldn’t thwart a Chicago squad that won each of those series in six games.
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The first of these matchups featured the renowned “Flu Game,” where Jordan, battling illness, managed to score 38 points and lead the Bulls to victory in Game 5.
In the subsequent year, the Jazz had a chance to force Game 7 in a closely contested battle. They held a one-point lead when Jordan executed a memorable crossover against Bryon Russell, leading to the game-winning basket in the final moments of the decisive showdown.
Recently, current Jazz owner Ryan Smith shared his reflections on that second loss during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. He revealed that he, like many Jazz fans, is convinced that M.J. committed an illegal shove against Russell, creating the space for his wide-open jumper. This conviction is so strong that the name of the public WiFi network at the Delta Center is “JordanPushedOff.”
This revelation wasn’t a joke, as the team’s official Twitter account posted a screenshot to confirm the truth.
This situation reflects a somber reality for the Jazz, as they haven’t been particularly relevant since Jordan’s memorable moments against them.
