1998
Chicago Bulls
Series Flow
2
Wins
4
Losses
Regular Season
62-20
Win–Loss
Playoff Record
15-6
Win–Loss
Finals
2–4
vs Utah Jazz
Finals MVP
Jordan
Michael
Chicago Bulls
62-20Utah Jazz
62-20Finals MVP
Michael Jordan
#23 · SG
33.5
PPG
5.8
RPG
3.8
APG
The Last Shot. Jordan's steal, crossover, and pull-up jumper to win Game 6 sealed the greatest dynasty of the modern era. His sixth Finals MVP in six Finals was the perfect ending.
How the Series Unfolded
G1 · L
0–1
G2 · W
1–1
G3 · L
1–2
G4 · L
1–3
G5 · W
2–3
G6 · L
2–4
85
CHI
86
UTA
Utah got revenge for Game 1 of 1997. The Jazz executed their halfcourt offense to near perfection, with Malone and Stockton controlling possessions. A gut punch for Chicago on their own floor.
Chicago Bulls
Karl Malone
27 pts, 10 rebJohn Stockton
15 pts, 12 astUTA
Michael Jordan
33 pts, 8 reb93
CHI
88
UTA
Chicago bounced back with a confident home win. Jordan was surgical throughout and the Bulls' defense held Utah below 90. The series headed to Salt Lake City tied.
Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan
37 pts, 8 reb, 6 astScottie Pippen
21 pts, 9 rebUTA
Karl Malone
21 pts, 10 reb96
CHI
54
UTA
Utah's most dominant performance of either Finals series against Chicago. The Jazz held the Bulls to 54 points — the lowest total in Finals history at the time — with smothering defense and relentless Malone-Stockton execution.
Chicago Bulls
Karl Malone
22 pts, 13 rebJohn Stockton
18 pts, 8 astUTA
Michael Jordan
24 pts93
CHI
86
UTA
Utah went up 3-1. The series appeared destined for Utah. Chicago needed to win three straight — including two in Salt Lake City — to complete the three-peat. The odds were against them.
Chicago Bulls
Karl Malone
25 pts, 11 rebScottie Pippen
28 pts, 9 rebUTA
Michael Jordan
31 pts, 7 reb83
CHI
81
UTA
Chicago stayed alive. With their dynasty on the line, Jordan and Pippen refused to yield. The Bulls won a grinding, tense game at the United Center to send the series back to Salt Lake City for Game 6.
Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan
30 pts, 9 reb, 5 astScottie Pippen
20 pts, 8 rebUTA
Karl Malone
24 pts, 9 reb86
CHI
87
UTA
The Last Shot. Utah led 86-85 with 5.2 seconds remaining. Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone in the post, walked up the court, crossed over Bryon Russell leaving him sprawled on the floor, and hit a pull-up jumper. Bulls 87-86. He held his follow-through as the ball fell through. The dynasty was complete. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan would never coach or play together again.
Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan
45 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast — including The Last ShotKarl Malone
31 pts, 11 reb — the steal on him set up The Last ShotUTA
Scottie Pippen
17 pts, 8 rebThe Champions
Scottie Pippen
#33 · SF
17.8
PPG
7.5
RPG
5.3
APG
Seven years of being the essential co-star culminated here. Pippen's defense, playmaking, and leadership were as critical as ever in the farewell season.
Dennis Rodman
#91 · PF
4.3
PPG
12.8
RPG
0.7
APG
Third year of the second three-peat. Rodman's rebounding dominance was a decisive factor in controlling possessions throughout the series.
Steve Kerr
#25 · PG
7.2
PPG
1.2
RPG
1.5
APG
Corner three threat whose spacing freed Jordan throughout the series.
Toni Kukoc
#7 · SF
12.3
PPG
4
RPG
3
APG
With Pippen playing through a bad back, Kukoc stepped up and provided crucial contributions off the bench.
Luc Longley
#13 · C
6.5
PPG
5.2
RPG
1.5
APG
Physical presence in the middle who battled Utah's frontcourt throughout the series.
They Pushed Us to the Limit
History Written in 1998
The Last Shot — Jordan's iconic pull-up jumper over Bryon Russell sealed the sixth and final championship
Second three-peat — only the second team in NBA history to accomplish it, after the 1960s Celtics
Jordan's sixth championship in six Finals appearances, six Finals MVPs — perfect record
Phil Jackson's sixth championship — the most in NBA history at the time
Chicago overcame a 3-1 series deficit by winning three straight, including two in Salt Lake City
The dynasty officially ended after this game — the roster was disbanded, Jackson left, Jordan retired
Beyond the Box Score
Jerry Krause's famous quote — "Organizations win championships, not players" — drove the internal tension of the Last Dance. Krause was dismantling the team regardless of a seventh title attempt.
The Last Shot documentation became legendary through "The Last Dance" Netflix series (2020), which used footage from NBA Entertainment's embedded camera crew from the 1997-98 season.
Utah Jazz fans argue to this day that Jordan pushed off on Bryon Russell — the referees didn't call it. It remains the most debated non-call in Finals history.
No team since has won six championships in eight years. Jordan's dynasty is the standard against which all others are measured.
Pippen played much of the series with a back injury and signed for next to nothing relative to his market value — his contract dispute with the Bulls organization remains one of the great business injustices in sports.
The Full Story
Everyone knew this was the last year. Phil Jackson had said he wouldn't return, Jerry Krause was dismantling the roster regardless of results, and Jordan had made clear he would retire if Jackson left. It was named "The Last Dance" — a season played with the knowledge that it was ending.
Utah got the first crack at revenge. The Jazz had home-court advantage this time. Games 1 and 2 split in Chicago, then Utah won Games 3 and 4 at the Delta Center — the series was 2-2. Chicago was on the brink in Salt Lake City.
Game 6, at the Delta Center, produced "The Last Shot." With the Bulls trailing by one with 5.2 seconds left, Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone, walked the ball up, crossed over Bryon Russell, and drilled a pull-up jumper with Russell sprawled on the floor. Jordan held his follow-through, watching it fall through. Bulls lead, 87-86. Utah couldn't answer. The dynasty ended as it began — with Jordan, on the biggest stage, making the biggest shot.
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