Ride the Lightning
By Peyton Schultze
Even as other teams come and go, one thing has become increasingly clearer with each episode of The Last Dance: we’ll never see another team like the 1990’s Chicago Bulls (via CNBC).
Like all great things, it had to finally come to a close. Fortunately, The Last Dance was a true delight for sports fans across the country to watch over these past five weeks, especially as many people sit and wait at home for the global pandemic to soon pass by. Relishing in the not-too-distant tales of Michael Jordan and the 1990’s Chicago Bulls was an uplifting storyline to follow over the past month or so, and there’s no doubt that the series’ record number of viewers and engaging storylines throughout made for one of the best sports documentary series of all-time. And especially after an emotional year around the sports’ landscape following the passing of former commissioner David Stern and Laker legend Kobe Bryant, the series was able to bring together fans of the sport to remember what still makes the sport of basketball so great to play and watch.
Jordan and the Bulls may not have all the necessary answers to stopping the problems that have plagued the world recently, but they did seem to patch up some fresh cuts that have run very deep. And as we look on the horizon toward the return of sports in our society, we can only hope to remain optimistic and wonder what exactly a team like the Bulls would do in today’s society. Without further ado, here’s our look at some of our biggest takeaways after all ten episodes of The Last Dance.
10. The Global Impact of the 90’s Bulls
From the Jordan Brand to Space Jam, few athletes have made as large of a cultural impact as Michael Jordan (via Slam).
From the Showtime Lakers to the 1985 Chicago Bears, there are several teams that have the ability to make a significant cultural impact upon the country. For Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, there may not be another team in the past 100 years who has related to this more. Constantly seen as a pure spectacle that the media followed in a massive frenzy, surveying and studying each and every move, everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to Leonardo DiCaprio wanted to meet and admire everything and everyone that was associated with those Bulls. Was it their winning ways that captured the heart of the country? Was it their likability that filled TV screens for over a decade? Was it Michael’s appearances around the country, from Space Jam to Gatorade commercials? Or was it Mike’s shoes, constantly on display for all to see? Well, it’s gotta be the shoes. In all seriousness, there may never be another team that was as beloved and as universally recognized as one of the greatest teams ever than the Bulls teams of the 90’s. The Last Dance gave everyone a chance to relive those moments once again, and it was a joy to return to the roots of what transformed the NBA into a global brand in the 90’s.
9. Was Jerry Krause a Hero or a Villain?
Despite being one of the most scrutinized figures in the series, there’s no denying the role that Jerry Krause played in the Bulls’ success (via NBA.com).
Former Bulls’ general manager Jerry Krause was consistently viewed as one of the villains of the entire series, but there is no way that you can deny the talent that he accumulated on his roster in the Jordan-era. From drafting Jordan and Toni Kukoč to acquiring important role players such as Steve Kerr, Krause made some major moves that defined the success of the Bulls in the late 80’s and 90’s. And although Jordan’s and Scottie Pippen’s off-and-on disputes with Krause were quite obvious throughout the series, and especially in the sixth and final championship season of 1997-1998, Pippen made an interesting point in the series finale when he called Krause the greatest general manager in the game. The lasting thoughts from the series may revolve around the idea of “what if the Bulls were never broken up”, but the controversial general manager’s legacy is a vital part of what made the Bulls’ dynasty even remotely possible.
8. Scottie Pippen’s Gritty Mentality
Although he was often overshadowed by number 23, Scottie Pippen was one of the greatest two-way players of all-time with the Bulls (via The Sports Fan Journal).
Scottie Pippen has always been viewed as the ultimate sports sidekick, and The Last Dance did nothing to turn that thought upside down. As one of the league’s first point-forward options alongside Jordan, Pippen was a vital player on both ends of the floor for the Bulls. And while his on-the-court growth transformed Chicago from fringe contenders to consistent title favorites, Pippen certainly faced some major hardships that came to define who he was. From his rough childhood in Arkansas to his refusal to participate in the Bulls’ final play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Pippen faced some massive obstacles that he was forced to jump over in order to rise. Yet every time Pippen was thrust into a difficult scenario that could have labeled him as a bad teammate or a soft player, all the spectacular small forward did was respond in sensational fashion. The series closed on a high note for Pippen, who pushed through a brutal back injury in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals to help the Bulls’ capture the sixth Larry O’Brien Trophy. It hasn’t always been a shining road to success for Scottie, but the documentary once again proved that he’s one of the toughest competitors to ever suit up.
7. Dennis Rodman’s On and Off Switch
Eccentric and truly wild on-and-off-the-court, Dennis Rodman was an important cog in the second of the Bulls’ three-peats (via Los Angeles Times).
Would any other player in the league be allowed to take a mid-season trip to Vegas or take his talents to a WWE match in the middle of the NBA Finals? Most members of the audience already knew about the zany habits of Dennis Rodman, but The Last Dance once again reassured people that we many never see a figure quite like The Worm again. As one of the best defenders and rebounders of all-time, if not the best, Rodman was a significant bump in the road for the Bulls at first as a member of the Detroit Pistons. However, as the Bulls finally found a way past Detroit and went on to win their first three-peat, Rodman would eventually join Chicago for their second run and become a massive contributor alongside Jordan and Pippen. One of the highlights of the series came in the form of Rodman’s return to the court after his mysterious Vegas trip, which Jordan detailed Rodman having a sudden burst of energy in conditioning drills even though everyone assumed he would be understandably out of shape. Rodman’s switch was one of the most interesting aspects of the series, and his ability to weave into the serious and engaged Bulls’ lineup speaks to the power of Phil Jackson on the bench.
6. The Nostalgic Nature Throughout the Series
From Patrick Ewing to Reggie Miller, the Bulls prevented plenty of elite teams from capturing a championship in the 90’s (via Duke Basketball Report).
Forgot just how feisty of a player Reggie Miller was? Did it ever slip your mind how dynamic the duo of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton was? How did it feel to be reminded of how controversial the Pistons of the late 80’s were? The Last Dance brought back all the memories of what basketball used to be, from pure intensity on the court to the flashy play that defined the two decades of basketball illustrated in the documentary. Although the Bulls were certainly the team of the 90’s that dominated most of the basketball landscape, it was fascinating to see other talented players such as Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Isiah Thomas (although not for great reasons) get their fair amount of screen time in the series. One of the key highlights from the documentary takes place in the fifth episode of the series, where Jordan, Pippen, and the rest of the Dream Team were explored. From their notably intense Monte Carlo practice to Jordan’s reasoning for covering up the Reebok logo on his jacket, the episode dove very deep into what made basketball so beloved in that era and even so in today’s society. Basketball has changed enormously since those 1992 Olympics, but it’s clear that it was a special time to be a fan of the sport back then.
5. Phil Jackson’s Ability to Unite the Group as One
The Zen Master’s ability to promote calmness and stability among the organization is what made him one of the greatest head coaches in NBA history (via NBA.com).
As the bearer of eleven rings with the Bulls and Lakers, Phil Jackson is easily regarded as one of the greatest basketball coaches in the history of the sport. With Tex Winter and his triangle offense close by, Jackson created one of the greatest basketball systems that the sport has ever seen with Jordan as the centerpiece. However, although he is no slouch whatsoever in terms of X’s and O’s, what made Phil so great was his ability to manage his players on a daily basis. The Zen Master was a calming presence in the locker room and was able to control plenty of massive egos in the Chicago locker room in favor of helping the team win. Hence, this is a major reason why the Bulls were able to constantly win during his tenure, despite plenty of media attention searching for holes in Jordan’s character or exploits in Rodman’s personal life. In addition to this, the organization largely allowed Phil to make some massive choices until his final season, including benching Pippen late versus the Knicks in the ‘94 playoffs and not pushing back on Mike’s decision to retire. If there’s a mark of great leader in the sport of basketball, it’s being able to adapt to circumstances and connecting with your players so that they feel willing to devout themselves to the team. And if there’s one figure who certainly fits the bill as the collected individual who focused the team at all costs, it’s Phil Jackson.
4. Michael Jordan’s Relentless Will to Win
Jordan’s fourth championship on Father’s Day certainly was one of the most emotional moments of the series (via Twitter).
There had to be a takeaway devoted to Jordan eventually, right? His Airness may already have been the most decorated athlete of his time before this documentary, but all The Last Dance did was reinforce the challenges that it takes to reach the top of your craft. Winning at all costs was widely documented over and over again in the series, and it’s clear that the spectacular guard out of the University of North Carolina did whatever it took to become the greatest player of his time over the course of his career. Did he face plenty of pushback from opponents and members of the media? Sure. Was he the nicest person in the Bulls’ locker room at the time? Probably not. Was he so obsessed with winning to the point that he received plenty of criticism in other parts of his life? Maybe. Whatever the case may be, Jordan was willing to push through the adversity and struggles that came along with winning in order to fulfill his purpose. From creating his own motivations in his head to finding a way to work even harder than his opponents, MJ was all-business from the moment he entered the league. And as he has said before, winning isn’t for everyone and you must pay a certain price in order to be the best. But his relentless will to win made Michael the greatest player arguably in the history of sports, and his legacy will forever be solidified because of it.
3. Could the Bulls Have Won Eight in a Row if Michael Never Retired?
If they had found a way to stay together for even longer, how many titles would Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman have won? (via ESPN.com).
There were endless “what if” scenarios constantly thrown around in this series, but there is one that sticks out among the rest. How many titles would the Bulls have won if they would have stayed together? With that being said, this question stems out many other possibilities of what else could have happened in Chicago. Would they have taken home eight straight titles if Jordan had never retired to head toward baseball? Would the Bulls have won their seventh ring if Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Phil returned for another season? Would the Chicago mystique have run out if the Bulls won every year during their dominance? All of these questions branch from the thought of what could have happened if the Bulls stayed together for even longer. Although there is reason to believe that there could have been even more winning ways in the Windy City if this would have happened, one of the main themes found throughout the documentary is to enjoy the present and take reference from the past. We may never know what could have happened if the Bulls stayed together, but it’s important to recognize their greatness from the past and their clear role in the history of American sports.
2. The Perfect Timing
With many sports on a global hiatus, it’s hard to imagine this series coming at a more ideal time (via The Undefeated).
Could The Last Dance come at any better time? Originally slated for a June release on ESPN around the time of the scheduled 2020 NBA Finals, the series was pushed backward so that fans stuck at home could be given something to watch. And was it ever a hit. In the middle of the global pandemic that has swept headlines on a daily basis, many people were in need of some kind of weekly pastime to get them through this. Enter Jordan’s Bulls and massive ratings. As detailed of a sports documentary in years, the series gave fans an inside look at everything that made those Bulls so beloved, controversial, and simply irresistible over their decade of dominance or so. In addition, the documentary nailed their tributes to lost legends such as Stern and Bryant, who made some emotional cameos with a strong attachment to the main storyline. Lastly, with an awesome soundtrack that constantly delighted viewers, the series nailed their selection of music with hits from Run-D.M.C to A Tribe Called Quest to Pearl Jam. The Last Dance was a smash hit, and will certainly be known as one of the more positive effects of today’s current events.
1. Michael Jordan’s Competitive Greatness
With a focused mindset to win at all costs, the documentary constantly showed what made Michael Jordan one of the greatest athletes of all-time (via The New York Times).
John Wooden once defined “competitive greatness” as someone who is able “to perform at their best when their best is needed and who can deliver when it counts.” As the leader of a group, Wooden stated that the individual’s “best is needed each day” and to simply “get the best out of what you’ve got.” If there was any player in the history of basketball who more closely resembled this thought process, it was Michael Jordan. Finding some kind of edge on each of his opponents was only the beginning, as Jordan was shown to have a pure obsession with winning and playing hard on a daily basis in order to separate himself from his peers. Of all the takeaways from the documentary, one that truly stood out was how the elite shooting guard said he played hard every night because he never knew who might be watching him for the first time in the crowd. This is an extremely heavy burden to be placed upon an athlete’s shoulders, but like all of the other greats before him, he embraced the challenge and was willing to face the pressure head on. Whether it was the first game of the season or Game 6 of the Finals, Jordan made some of the biggest shots in NBA history. Yet his play on the defensive side of the ball proved to be just as important as his play on defense if it came down to winning or losing a championship, which is an important lessons for all young athletes. His constant effort, focus, and intensity is what gave Jordan the heart of a champion during his time in Chicago, and is why he remains perhaps the greatest to ever play the game.