The Last Dance (Episode 5 and 6) Takeaways

I really enjoyed episodes 5 and 6. Here are my takeaways: 

•Teared up during the Kobe Bryant portion of the doc. Man I miss him. Embraced competition in the same way Jordan did. That said Jordan took him to school in that ‘98 All Star game. Used to own that game on an old VHS and used to watch constantly MJ show Kobe how it was done. 

•Sure Michael Jordan got “some” media pushback by 1993. I cannot imagine however how his image would’ve looked at if he was playing in the social media age. Simply put, Jordan still skated by for the most part for the lack of access not given to today’s athletes. 


•That ‘92 Bulls team IMO was just as potent as the ‘96 team. The only real difference was the experience top to bottom for the 1996 installment. Ron Harper was a former all star. Toni Kukoc was at one point considered the best player in the world not named Michael Jordan.  

•Michael Jordan made it a career shitting on the Knicks. Game 3-6 of the East Finals while gifting New York a 2-0 without home court advantage and winning 4 straight. That’s some boss shit right there.

•The blame for Isiah not being on team isn’t and shouldn’t be solely on Michael Jordan. Do I blame him mostly for it? Yup. But I think Magic Johnson should be looked at and even bigger, where was Chuck Daly’s endorsement? Isiah’s actual coach. Blame could and should be spread out everyone. Jordan still gets the majority. 

•Toni Kukoc was so underrated. Especially for the last 3 Bulls title teams. Again, a guy that’s considered the best ball player on the planet not named Jordan and is now your 6th man? Late 90’s Bulls were STACKED!

•Michael Jordan was obviously the biggest and most popular player on the Dream Team. But if you look back and watch all those games Charles Barkley was the best performer on the Dream Team. Remember, Barkley was traded weeks to the Phoenix Suns weeks before and set the table for his best season of his career in 92-93 which ended as the league MVP. 

•Wow. I haven’t seen Willow Bay in decades. I also miss the old Inside Stuff. Before Grant Hill and Kristen Ledlow. I actually forgot that it’s still on television. NBATV to be accurate. ​

•Yes Republicans do indeed buy sneakers too. Maybe Jordan didn’t say the referred quote. Maybe he did. At this point does it matter anymore. Jordan was going to do whatever he wanted to do and that’s just how it was going to be. 

•Charles Barkley was so fucking good. Especially in 1993. Should make you appreciate just how much better Michael Jordan was, specifically in the ‘93 Finals.