The 10 greatest NBA Playoffs performances of all time

1. Michael Jordan, Game 6 of the NBA Finals, June 11, 1997

In 1997, Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan was the runner-up in the MVP voting to Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. Jordan, one of the most insanely competitive players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, took his second-place position in the voting as a personal affront. After all, wasn’t he still the best player in the league?

Thus, the stage was set for the showdown between Michael Jordan’s Bulls and Karl Malone’s Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals. After splitting the first four games, Game 5 was the pivotal showdown that would give the winner firm control of the series. As the hours ticked down towards the tipoff of the all-important game, an explosive rumor began circulating around the media: Michael Jordan was sick and may not be able to play.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Jordan was not his usual self. His eyes looked puffy, his face looked flushed, and he was jogging up the floor as if his sneakers were heavy whenever he wasn’t fully exerting himself on offense. The Jazz, sensing blood in the water, jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first half. It appeared they had the defending champs on the ropes and would take a commanding three-games-to-two lead in the series.

However, that’s when Jordan, the greatest competitor the game has ever seen, found the resolve to push through the illness and overcome adversity.

He began making shot after shot and even found the energy to make a few defensive plays as well. With the score tied at 85 and 30 seconds left in the game, Jordan passed the ball to Scottie Pippen in the post, who was being guarded by the much smaller Jeff Hornacek. Bryon Russell, who had been defending Jordan, rotated to help Hornacek in the post. Pippen wisely kicked the ball out to Jordan, who knocked down the open 3-pointer.

The shot gave the Bulls an 88-85 lead, and they would go on to win the game by a final score of 90-88. Jordan’s final stat line for the night totaled 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Marv Albert called the game “a courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan.”

Over the years, there has been some debate as to whether or not Jordan was suffering from the flu or food poisoning. Either way, he overcame an illness to deliver a clutch performance and help his team secure an important victory that night.

The Bulls would go on to close out the series in Game 6 to claim their fifth title of the decade. However, it is Jordan’s performance in Game 5 that is still talked about to this day. Simply put, it was the greatest playoff performance in NBA history.