[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals in Salt Lake City, Jordan scored 38 while deathly ill.  One of the greatest finals performances of all time.  The Bulls would go on to beat the Jazz in 6 and also in the 1998 completing their repeat 3-peat

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

What Jordan did in that game was remarkable and it was clearly one of his defining moments but there was definitely some theatrics involved. How bad Jordan was really feeling is something that only he knows, but it clearly didn’t seem to affect his performance on the floor one bit. He appeared to be unable to stand up during timouts and stoppages of play and then he would somehow just summon the strength to go out and make one spectacular play after another.

I’m not saying Jordan was 100 percent for that game but I’ve always believed he also wasn’t nearly as sick as he let on either. He clearly did not have the flu. He was fine 2 days later and no one recovers from the flu in 2 days. Most likely it was a case of food poisoning from what I’ve heard (which is still remarkable to play through nonetheless). However, I think Jordan knew he could play and knew exactly what he was doing. The guy was the most ruthless competitor the game has ever seen. Any chance he could to gain an psychological edge and potentially boost his legacy in the process, he wasn’t going to pass it up.

 

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Dude, you got guys in today’s game who take a month off just because they don’t feel like playing and you’re going to question the veracity of his illness? 

[Author]

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