fast-food restaurant for a quick bite, or walk onto a court at a busy city park and start talking with
the kids, usually leaving them with his sneakers and jersey when he is through.
By the beginning of the 1990–91 season, basketball had helped Michael Jordan acquire just about everything a person could
want: wealth, fame, a loving family, and the opportunity to do what he loved best for a living. Yet by the time the season
started, what Michael wanted more than anything else still eluded him. When he looked at his hands, something was missing.
An NBA championship ring.
CHAPTER SIX
1990–1991
Champions!
The Bulls started the 1990–91 season losing three of their first four games. But they did not panic. This time, Michael Jordan’s
teammates didn’t look to Air Jordan to shoot the team out of a slump by scoring 40 or 50 points. They simply went to work
and started playing better basketball.
The Bulls defense was much improved. While everyone still considered the Pistons the best defensive team in the league, the
Bulls were starting to earn a reputation of their own.
On Christmas Day, the Bulls and Pistons faced off in a nationally televised game many thought would be a preview of the playoffs.
The Bulls were ready to play from the opening whistle. After a close first half, Chicago slowly pulled away. They buckled
down on defense. Theychallenged every shot, and when Detroit missed, the Bulls didn’t let the Pistons get the rebound. The Detroit players were
intimidated by the aggressive Bulls and shot only 26 percent in the second half, scoring only 36 points. Michael scored 37
in the game to lead the Bulls to a 98–86 win.
The victory set the tone for the remainder of the season. Chicago stormed through the league and finished with a record of
61–21, second best in the NBA and a franchise record. The Bulls won the Central Division, and the defending champion Pistons
finished in second place, 11 games back.
Entering the playoffs, Michael Jordan was cautiously optimistic. “We’re good enough to win it,” he told a reporter. “We know
we can beat the teams we’re going to meet in the playoffs. My job is to take on the leadership role and take us to the next
level.”
In the first round, the Bulls faced the New York Knicks. Despite the presence of star center Patrick Ewing, the Knicks just
couldn’t keep up with Chicago. The Bulls won three straight and the right to play Philadelphia in the second round. Meanwhile,
the Pistons beat Atlanta and also advanced.
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by an All-Star forward Charles Barkley, matched up well against the Bulls. During the regular
season, they had defeated Chicago in three out of four games.
But once the series began, the Bulls were unstoppable. They played almost perfect basketball, and Pippen and Grant both turned
in nearly flawless performances. In game four, with the Bulls up two games to one, Scottie Pippen scored 20, Horace Grant
hit for 22, and Michael Jordan chipped in a quiet 25. The Bulls won, 101–85. Then they dumped the 76ers in game five to take
the series four games to one. After the final game, all anyone could talk about was how well the Bulls played together as
a team.
Meanwhile, the Pistons defeated the Celtics in six games. Once again, Chicago would battle Detroit for the Eastern Conference
championship. The winner would go to the finals. If the Bulls hoped to win the championship, they had to beat Detroit.
The Pistons weren’t quite the same team that had beaten the Bulls in the playoffs for three years in a row. They were getting
older, and several players were hobbled by injuries. Still, there was a reasonthe Pistons were the defending champions. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were two of the best guards in the league, and Dennis
Rodman and Bill Laimbeer were fearless underneath the basket. Although the Bulls were narrow favorites, everyone expected
the best-of-seven-game series to
the kids, usually leaving them with his sneakers and jersey when he is through.
By the beginning of the 1990–91 season, basketball had helped Michael Jordan acquire just about everything a person could
want: wealth, fame, a loving family, and the opportunity to do what he loved best for a living. Yet by the time the season
started, what Michael wanted more than anything else still eluded him. When he looked at his hands, something was missing.
An NBA championship ring.
CHAPTER SIX
1990–1991
Champions!
The Bulls started the 1990–91 season losing three of their first four games. But they did not panic. This time, Michael Jordan’s
teammates didn’t look to Air Jordan to shoot the team out of a slump by scoring 40 or 50 points. They simply went to work
and started playing better basketball.
The Bulls defense was much improved. While everyone still considered the Pistons the best defensive team in the league, the
Bulls were starting to earn a reputation of their own.
On Christmas Day, the Bulls and Pistons faced off in a nationally televised game many thought would be a preview of the playoffs.
The Bulls were ready to play from the opening whistle. After a close first half, Chicago slowly pulled away. They buckled
down on defense. Theychallenged every shot, and when Detroit missed, the Bulls didn’t let the Pistons get the rebound. The Detroit players were
intimidated by the aggressive Bulls and shot only 26 percent in the second half, scoring only 36 points. Michael scored 37
in the game to lead the Bulls to a 98–86 win.
The victory set the tone for the remainder of the season. Chicago stormed through the league and finished with a record of
61–21, second best in the NBA and a franchise record. The Bulls won the Central Division, and the defending champion Pistons
finished in second place, 11 games back.
Entering the playoffs, Michael Jordan was cautiously optimistic. “We’re good enough to win it,” he told a reporter. “We know
we can beat the teams we’re going to meet in the playoffs. My job is to take on the leadership role and take us to the next
level.”
In the first round, the Bulls faced the New York Knicks. Despite the presence of star center Patrick Ewing, the Knicks just
couldn’t keep up with Chicago. The Bulls won three straight and the right to play Philadelphia in the second round. Meanwhile,
the Pistons beat Atlanta and also advanced.
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by an All-Star forward Charles Barkley, matched up well against the Bulls. During the regular
season, they had defeated Chicago in three out of four games.
But once the series began, the Bulls were unstoppable. They played almost perfect basketball, and Pippen and Grant both turned
in nearly flawless performances. In game four, with the Bulls up two games to one, Scottie Pippen scored 20, Horace Grant
hit for 22, and Michael Jordan chipped in a quiet 25. The Bulls won, 101–85. Then they dumped the 76ers in game five to take
the series four games to one. After the final game, all anyone could talk about was how well the Bulls played together as
a team.
Meanwhile, the Pistons defeated the Celtics in six games. Once again, Chicago would battle Detroit for the Eastern Conference
championship. The winner would go to the finals. If the Bulls hoped to win the championship, they had to beat Detroit.
The Pistons weren’t quite the same team that had beaten the Bulls in the playoffs for three years in a row. They were getting
older, and several players were hobbled by injuries. Still, there was a reasonthe Pistons were the defending champions. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were two of the best guards in the league, and Dennis
Rodman and Bill Laimbeer were fearless underneath the basket. Although the Bulls were narrow favorites, everyone expected
the best-of-seven-game series to
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