MJ downplays the impact of his iconic 'The Last Shot' in '98 NBA Finals: 'That shot itself didn’t make Michael Jordan'

The controversy behind "The Last Shot"

After more than thirty years, many are still debating Jordan's "The Last Shot" in the '98 Finals. The shot is famous, not just for its significance but also for the controversy surrounding it. In fact, to this day, one question still lingers: Did Jordan push off Russell before making that iconic basket?

For clarity, the Jazz were up by one when Jordan swiped the ball away from Karl Malone in the game's final seconds. MJ brought the ball down the floor and read the Jazz's defense. At this moment, Mike made a crucial decision that would be discussed for the years to come.

Jordan took a hard drive to the foul line with the game clock winding down before crossing Russell back, creating space for a mid-range shot. Everything happened so fast that even the referees didn't notice how Jordan's left hand pushed Russell's fight thigh before he badly slipped. No call was made, and the rest is history.

Expectedly, some observers argued that it was a push-off, resulting in heated debates among fans. Retired NBA referee Danny Crawford once weighed in on the controversial play and acknowledged the difficulty in making calls in such critical and high-pressure situations.

That said, Crawford reckoned that it could've gone either way, but from a referee's standpoint, they cannot call an offensive foul on Jordan just because Russell fell down.

"There's a thing we talk about in refereeing: call what you see, see what you call. And that play is difficult. And it's a debatable play. So, you can put that play in front of 100 people, and you'll go 50-50 on that play," Crawford explained.

"And you can't base it on what happened to Russell," he continued. "Because if you blew the whistle based on what happened to Russell, easy call to make. You have to call what you see what Jordan does, and you don't see it. And when you see it, I don't know if that was a clear-cut push. So, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. And that play has left all these sports fans to debate, and it's a beautiful thing."

What "The Last Shot" truly meant to NBA fans

In retrospect, Jordan's "The Last Shot" not only sealed the Bulls' sixth championship run but also marked the end of one of the greatest NBA dynasties of all time and an era in basketball.

Though the controversy behind it may never be resolved, it's still a shot for the ages and a play that encapsulates the thrill of NBA basketball, the passion of its fans, and the artistry of one of the greatest players of all time. But for Jordan, it wasn't something people should never forget about him.