4/1/26

Jay C. Brandriet

Michael Jordan didn’t beat the bully?

HE WAS the bully!

Just because LeBron James has played against spectacular NBA Finals competition, doesn’t make it alright to lie about Michael Jordan’s Finals victims.

It is true that Jordan’s Bulls faced their toughest opponents in the East on the way to the biggest stage.

The narrative he faced “weak Finals squads” is a made-up angle for G.O.A.T. argument purposes.

As the years go by, younger people label these teams to fit a story that works for their beliefs.

MJ, Scottie, Phil and crew beat the champion of the Western Conference six times in six tries.

With those facts alone, you should be impressed.

They didn’t beat dynasties?

You are punishing MJ and the Bulls for snuffing out quality franchises at their roots.

THE TEAMS THE BULLS DEFEATED

1991 Los Angeles Lakers (58-24)

1992 Portland Trailblazers (57-25)

1993 Phoenix Suns (62-20)

1996 Seattle SuperSonics (64-18)

1997 Utah Jazz (64-18)

1998 Utah Jazz (62-20)

These were excellent TEAMS.

Look for a trend on this list.

Most of the greatest players on it were at peak performance.

I’m attempting to rank them as, who they were at the time, in these matchups.

From solid starter to legends.

THE 30 BEST PLAYERS JORDAN BEAT IN THE FINALS

#30- BRYON RUSSELL (1998)

I almost went A.C. Green (1991) here for not missing a game in 14 years and still having juice. Russell was a key member of Utah teams that were Michael’s toughest challenges in June. It’s never been a push off.

#29- DANNY AINGE (1993)

An All-State football player, who played 211 games in MLB baseball, who was an NBA All-Star in 1988, who you may know as a GM. Danny was a dangerous shooter whose athleticism slipped past you. His 193 playoff games places him 12th all time.

#28-DANNY AINGE (1992)

Ainge scored 9 points in overtime of Game 2 in this Finals. One of the sport’s most annoying competitors to go against. In a post season run that led to a chip (1986 Celtics), Danny dropped 15.2 points, dished 5.2 dimes, and hit 41% of his threes.

#27- KEVIN DUCKWORTH (1992)

Let me explain how common legit big men were in this era. Kevin Duckworth was a 7-foot, 275 lb. dude with a nice mid-range push shot. He averaged 18 points one year, played in 2 All-Star games, and my buddies and I used to make fun of him.

#26- SAM PERKINS (1996)

Perkins played every position in the front court. He was an important example of the evolving stretch 4.

“Sleepy Sam” had an 8-8 and 7-7 shooting night from three in his career.

#25- NATE MCMILLIN (1996)

He was like a coach on the floor, right? Nate was All-Defense twice and led the league with a stellar 3.0 steals a game in 1994.

#24- BYRON SCOTT (1991)

Scott had pretty shooting form and nice bounce. He was a critical part of three title teams with the Lakers. Byron was 22/4/4 in a season that ended with champagne.

#23- VLADE DIVAC (1991)

Vlade was a dramatic flopper who loved to smoke. Divac was smart, and a terrific passer. As a rookie he averaged 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in this series against Chicago. He later became a vital Sacramento King and an All-Star.

#22- SAM PERKINS (1991)

He averaged 17.7 points (54.8% FG) and 8.3 rebounds for the Lakers in this 19-game playoff run. Sam hit the three to hand MJ an L in his first Finals outing.

#21- JEROME KERSEY (1992)

A 6’7″ power guy who was able to show off his hops in four straight dunk contests. Over a half decade of post season efforts, which led to two Western Conference championships, Kersey gave his Portland team 18.5 points and 7.7 rebounds a night.

#20- TOM CHAMBERS (1993)

Chambers (age 33) was now a valuable bench contributor. Two years earlier, he was named an All-Star for the 4th time.

Chambers scored 20,049 points and made All-NBA second team in consecutive years.

#19- CLIFFORD ROBINSON (1992)

Robinson went from skilled utility guy to, an All-Star, 19,591 points, Sixth Man of the Year, and made the All-Defensive team twice.

#18- JEFF HORNACEK (1998)

Jeff’s ball handling made life easier for Utah. A young Kobe Bryant had this observation of Hornacek. “His ability to make crafty shots is ridiculous. Minus the dunk, Hornacek would be the scariest H.O.R.S.E. player out there.”

#17- HERSEY HAWKINS (1996)

Hersey has the sixth best free throw percentage in playoff history. Over his first five years he poured in 19 points a night on 41% from three. Hawkins was an All-Star in 1991.

#16- JEFF HORNACEK (1997)

One of the great shooters and off-guard passers of the 1990’s. Jeff was an All-Star in 1992. Hornacek was the connector that pushed the Utah Jazz to elite status.

#15- DAN MAJERLE (1993)

Why do people clown Majerle? He was a built 6’6″ guy with explosion. Was it funny he led the league in three-pointers made in the 1993 and 1994 seasons? Dan being a 3-time All-Star and making All-Defense twice must be hilarious.

#14- TERRY PORTER (1992)

Over a seven-year stretch of 73 playoff games, including two trips to the Finals, Porter averaged 19.7 points (49% FG, 84% FT, 39% 3pt) and 7 assists. He was hard-nosed, poised, and underrated.

#13- DETLEF SCHREMPF (1996)

Detlef was a versatile player. The 6’10” forward finished second in three-point percentage in 1987 and 1995. He went back-to-back winning the Sixth Man of the Year. He was invited to 3 All-Star games.

#12- BUCK WILLIAMS (1992)

This was a hard man. Before getting to Portland at age 29, Buck had been a 16.5 points (55% FG) guy, who was the owner of five, 1000 rebound seasons. Williams was voted an All-Star 3 times and led the NBA in field goal percentage in 1991 and 1992.

(From left to right) Porter played in 2 All-Star games. Drexler was THE guy. Buck Williams made All-Defense 4 times. Kersey played with force and was elite support.

#11- KEVIN JOHNSON (1993)

This was the 6’1″ cat smashing the ball down on giants like Olajuwon and Mark Eaton. All-NBA 5 times. In 105 playoff games, Kevin averaged 19 points and 9 assists.

#10- JAMES WORTHY (1991)

The Finals MVP and Game 7 hero three years earlier. Worthy is a top 65 player of all time. In NBA fandom, there is zero association that Mike beat him or KJ in a championship series.

#9- JOHN STOCKTON (1998)

The best decision maker and passer scored 19,711 points on 51.5% shooting from the field. That same guy made All-Defense five times and played 17 seasons missing 0 games.

#8- SHAWN KEMP (1996)

The first “man child” I ever saw in the NBA. At this point I believed Shawn was a top 10-12 player on the planet. A Hall of Famer, who’s not in the Hall of Fame.

#7- JOHN STOCKTON (1997)

Stockton at 34 still had it. He was All-NBA third team and All-NBA Defensive second team. John also hit the biggest shot in Utah Jazz franchise history in Houston to win the West.

#6- GARY PAYTON (1996)

The Defensive Player of the Year. “The Glove” was 27 years old, smacking his gum, and growing into one of the most impactful point guards we will ever see.

#5- CLYDE DREXLER (1992)

Clyde came in 2nd place for league MVP. In real time, I thought of Drexler as “the MJ of the West.” Clyde being “potentially equal” to #23 was the story being pushed before the matchup. MJ shrugged for a few reasons.

#4- KARL MALONE (1997)

The 1997 NBA MVP. I watched a guy who lived among the top 5 players annually, hit another level by burying mid-range jump shots in the fourth quarter as a habit. The “Mailman” was All-NBA in three different decades. He missed 10 games, in 18 seasons with the Jazz.

#3- CHARLES BARKLEY (1993)

The 1993 league MVP. Seeing that trend? A year removed from leading the Dream Team in scoring. A top 25ish player ever, soaring with self-belief. “God wants us to win the world championship. I talked to him the other night.”

#2- KARL MALONE (1998) Karl’s physique, endurance, and ability to run that outside lane was revolutionary then. It would be every bit as effective today. While arguments exist for Elgin Baylor and Barkley, I think Malone is the best player, to never win a ring.

#1- MAGIC JOHNSON (1991)

Magic was still phenomenal. This wasn’t just the other top name in basketball. For years, Jordan had been told he was “great individually but not a winner like Magic and Bird.” Johnson was the face of the 1980’s. It wasn’t Magic’s best team. However, this was the perfect dragon to slay for Michael to begin his reign of dominance.

In those 35 contests:

Jordan averaged 33.6 points, 6.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, was the clutch hammer, and the Finals MVP each time.

I watched, felt, and even attended these series.

It was not easy for Chicago.

The Bulls went 24-11 against THAT group of guys?

The last 4 rings were against teams that combined to average 63 wins a season.

If you think THAT is weak?

That’s a you problem.

Jay C. Brandriet