It’s the 1997 NBA Finals, Game 5. The Finals series is tied at 2-2 between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. The atmosphere on the stands is electrifying and so loud that you’re unable to hear your thoughts.
Michael Jordan walks onto the court and suffers from what seem to be flu-like symptoms. He looks exhausted and barely has the energy to stand. Visibly unwell and dehydrated, MJ mustered up his will to play and pulled off one of the most iconic performances of all time.
The first quarter begins. Michael, not looking like his regular self, only drops 4 points. Then, he gets a sudden surge of energy and drops 17 points in the 2nd quarter.
Every time the play stops, Jordan looks like he could pass out. In timeouts, he slouches on the bench and has ice packs all over him, a clear sign of his physical struggle. Still, he has no intention of giving up, showing his unparalleled resilience and determination. At half-time, he got injections filled with painkillers and fluids.
Then came the 3rd quarter, with Jordan only scoring 2 points. However, in the 4th quarter, Michael rises to the occasion and shows why he’s among the best clutch performers in the history of the NBA. He drops seven points in the 10-0 Bulls run, erasing the Jazz lead of 8 points. MJ ends the 4th quarter with 15 points, leading the Bulls to a historic 90-88 win.
Here are his stats after the game ended: 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block.
After the game, Jordan stated that this was the most difficult thing he had ever done. Truthfully, he’s probably right.
Interestingly, although this game was named “The Flu Game,” Jordan didn’t suffer from the flu after all. Years after this game, Tim Grover, MJ’s personal trainer, revealed that Jordan got food poisoning after he ate bad pizza. Even though he got food poisoning, that 1997 Game 5 Finals performance will still be called “The Flu Game.”
Before this game, fans and experts could still argue who was the best player ever. However, after “The Flu Game,” the debate was over since Michael Jordan cemented his reputation as the greatest NBA basketball player ever to step onto the court.
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