USA TODAY International Edition
‘ Last Dance’ revealed much about MJ, Bulls
Ten episodes, five nights and a month later, “The Last Dance” is over. It was quite the tango.
Are there another 10 hours? We’d be fine with that, too, because we were treated to an entertaining and sometimes riveting, informative, thoughtful, insightful, heartfelt, emotional, honest, vindictive, revisionist and myth- making look at Michael Jordan and his championship Bulls.
“The Last Dance” was a much- needed presence in a world without live sports, especially no NBA. Originally scheduled to begin June 2, director Jason Hehir, producers and ESPN worked to move the date so sports fans could watch something sports- related with live sports on a hiatus. It was a wise and celebrated decision that paid off in TV ratings and rabid discussion across all media platforms. It even gave us more Jordan memes.
The main takeaways from the series:
Winning above all else
It was not “win at all costs” because Jordan didn’t cheat. It was “nothing matters more than winning,” and “The Last Dance” provided a look into Jordan’s maniacal pursuit of championships. He pushed himself and pushed and pulled his teammates, and it didn’t matter who or what was in his way, he was going to find a way over or around the obstacle. The defeats were crushing, especially against those Pistons teams he reviled, and when Jordan figured out how to win a championship, he never lost a title in a full season he played from 1991 to 1998.
“Once you joined the team, you live by a certain standard that I played the game, and I wasn’t going to take any less,” Jordan said.
At what cost? He forsake popularity and dealt with any criticism in his coldblooded, single- minded pursuit of winning, and in the end he won six titles and is considered one of the three greatest players ever.
‘ Last Dance’ wasn’t a documentary
Jordan had to greenlight the project, close associates were executive producers and Jordan had a financial stake ( which he planned to donate to charity) in the series. It’s difficult to have an objective view from that baseline.
There’s a lot about this series that felt like a documentary, especially the insider- access video footage culled by the NBA. But there’s much of it that’s not, including a lack of prominent voices, unchecked statements and the viewpoint of others to challenge narratives.
As ESPN’s Rachel Nichols pointed out, this is Jordan’s version of events. The show highlights some of the less appealing aspects of his NBA career, but he confronts those details on his terms and with his angle and justifications.
That’s fine. Tons of captivating material appeared in this series. It just doesn’t make it a documentary.
Wanted to crush Krause, Isiah
All these years later, Jordan still had bones to pick with former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause and Hall of Famer and former Pistons guard Isiah Thomas. He picked those bones clean as the film went after both men. It’s Jordan’s series; he can spread the message he wants.
Thomas, as has been noted, wasn’t blameless in the feud, but Jordan, as we’ve seen, can’t let bygones be bygones. At least Thomas is around to defend himself and tell his side.
Krause died in 2017, nor was there much offered up in the way of Krause’s defense. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf gave a lukewarm defense. Was Krause a perfect GM? No, but who is? He still made Phil Jackson the head coach, put together six championship teams, acquired Scottie Pippen in a draft- day trade, and, after the first Bulls’ threepeat, he rebuilt the team with all different players except for Jordan and Pippen and won three more titles. And he found players who worked well not only with Jordan but with Jackson’s triangle offense. It would have been nice if the show would have given him more credit for one of the NBA’s great dynasties.
The slights and grudges
What was known but was furthermore illuminated: Jordan’s penchant for carrying grudges and using slights ( some perceived, some outright invented) to motivate himself. If he felt snubbed, he made it a point to exact revenge. It’s a familiar theme. When Barkley won MVP in 1993, Jordan said he would just win the title and Finals MVP. Same thing when he was compared to Clyde Drexler before the 1992 Finals. Some of it is petty, but Jordan looked for any kind of competitive edge to fuel his desire to win a championship. It’s an insight into his killer mentality.
Reign kept greats from titles
“The Last Dance” didn’t focus on this directly as much it did indirectly but it was noticeable: Jordan and the Bulls prevent Hall of Famers and great teams from winning titles: Clyde Drexler and the Trail Blazers; Patrick Ewing and the Knicks; Reggie Miller and the Pacers; Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Jazz; Gary Payton and the SuperSonics; and Charles Barkley and the Suns. Not saying those teams would’ve won the title had Jordan not been there, but they would have had a better chance.
Remembering James Jordan
Jordan’s relationship with his father, James, was profound, and his father was a significant part of Jordan’s life. Michael wanted his dad around as often as possible and made sure that happened. Throughout the “The Last Dance,” we saw James Jordan: in the locker room, in the stands, serving as his son’s unofficial spokesperson and going with Jordan to the casino the night before a playoff basketball game.
Jordan and his dad shared an appreciation of baseball, and that’s why Jordan gave that a try. He said playing baseball was the topic of conversation in their last discussion before James Jordan was murdered.
And Jordan’s emotions were palpable when he won his first title after his dad’s death. “This is for Daddy,” Jordan said when the Bulls beat the SuperSonics. “I’m very happy for him.”
Some of the most emotional moments of “The Last Dance” center around Jordan’s father. That was Jordan’s tribute to his dad.
MJ, the perfect pitchman
“Must be the shoes.”
“Be Like Mike.”
Yes, athletes were well- compensated endorsers before Jordan. But Jordan changed the game with Nike, Gatorade, McDonald’s, Hanes, Wheaties and others, and his charisma, smile, good looks and global appeal helped sell products. He parlayed his deal with Nike into his own company, Jordan Brand, under the Nike umbrella, and he thrives as a seller of athletic gear, including his shoes, which remain top- sellers even though he hasn’t played a game in nearly two decades. Sneaker culture wouldn’t be what it is today without Jordan’s influence. Jordan is the world’s richest athlete, worth $ 2.1 billion according to Forbes, which estimated he earned $ 145 million in 2019.
Jordan and his agent/ business manager, David Falk, knew how to sell and market Jordan. It was brilliant right down to the name of the shoes ( Air Jordans) and gave others after him a textbook to follow. Jordan starred in the first “Space Jam”; LeBron James will star in the next one.
Soundtrack a banger ( as kids say)
From Prince to the Beastie Boys to Eric B and Rakim to LL Cool J to Kool Moe Dee to Nas to A Tribe Called Quest to Outkast to Drake and Future to The Alan Parsons Project ( and more), the soundtrack was curated with thought. The songs aligned with the era and themes.