ESPN aired Episodes 9 and 10 of “The Last Dance” on Sunday, the end of the documentary series that featured Michael Jordan‘s final season with the Chicago Bulls.
The series finale shed light on how the 1996-97 NBA season went for the Bulls, which included the first NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, as well as the 1998 Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers and 1998 NBA Finals against the Jazz.
Back here in 2020, the NBA network went online to react to the end of what has been a five-week phenomenon.
MORE: ‘The scariest game we ever faced’: The Chicago Bulls talk about their toughest Game 7
Some of you remember the 1990s, so even before the episodes hit, the anticipation was underway…
It ends tonight but legends live forever. pic.twitter.com/MXnysMsrZM
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 17, 2020
One last dance.
Tonight is going to be epic. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/F6anx322Ve
— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2020
The last night.
Tune in Sunday at 9pm ET on @ESPN in the U.S., and on @Netflix outside of the U.S. for the conclusion of #TheLastDance. #JUMPMAN pic.twitter.com/Bl9Y0m5o6K
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 16, 2020
A Thread: some of the best moments from #TheLastDance
“That little Laker boy’s gonna take everybody one-on-one.” -MJ on Kobe in the ’98 ASG pic.twitter.com/ryG2606sFB
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 17, 2020
“We had a squad.”
–@JalenRoseCatch final episodes of #TheLastDance starting tonight at 9 p.m. ET on @espn
pic.twitter.com/aiRoDKNzNh— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 17, 2020
MJ’s body guard Gus Lett was a special man.#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/Ap6xJXJeOJ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 16, 2020
⚔️🎖 #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/iTDsQe0blc
— Jeffrey M. Jordan (@HeirJordan13) May 17, 2020
🗣What time is it⁉️#TheLastDance 📹🎥📽🎞🐐🏆
— Marcus Jordan (@HEIRMJ) May 18, 2020
Episode 9 started with the beginning of the 1998 Pacers-Bulls series, which was tied 2-2 after Reggie Miller’s Game 4 3-pointer on Memorial Day. May or may not have been a shove there. Game 1 of the 1997 Finals ended with a Jordan game-winner over Bryon Russell. Cue foreshadowing…
“Don’t hold him back, let him go” 🤨 #TheLastDance 📹🎥📽🎞🐐🏆
— Marcus Jordan (@HEIRMJ) May 18, 2020
Reggie Miller has a Flame Thrower🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2020
When you’re up by 2, but there’s .7 seconds left and the other team has MJ … #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/paapwc3aAC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2020
just a light shove 😅#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/NT7K00mUWv
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 18, 2020
Damnnn Bryon Russell 🤦🏾♂️😂
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 18, 2020
Bryon Russell was a part of MJ’s long list of feuds 🤣 #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/dNBsBpOJ3I
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2020
Turns out the “Flu Game” was more like a “Food Poisoning Game” for Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals.
Day 75 of quarantine 🍕#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/Qy2ScIqiEI
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) May 18, 2020
The food poisioning is crazy!
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 18, 2020
So… do we still call them the flu games 12’s or???
— Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop) May 18, 2020
Hang on @utahjazz fans 🙏🏾
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 18, 2020
I bet that pizza place feels really dumb 😂😂😂
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 18, 2020
44 minutes. 38 points.
— Tim S. Grover (@ATTACKATHLETICS) May 18, 2020
Aye @spidadmitchell that’s how y’all moving?!!! I am not going to dinner with you in Utah ever! 😂😂
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 18, 2020
playing an nba finals game with food poisoning. forget about playing well. just showing up to work. #thelastdance
— bomani (@bomani_jones) May 18, 2020
At least now I know I ain’t eating pizza in Utah anymore😳💯
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2020
Steve Kerr shared his story of how he experienced the loss of his father as a teenager and had to earn Jordan’s trust. That bond between Kerr and Jordan culminated in Kerr’s game-winning field goal from Jordan to win Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals, clinching Chicago’s fifth championship.
“I’m happy the younger generation is getting the opportunity to see this man” #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/ll9LN6ZCl0
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 18, 2020
“I’ll be ready.”#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/BOlGmGXC79
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 18, 2020
STEVE KERR CALLED GAME 👏#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/KiVRw7lJBj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2020
BIG SHOT COACH!! @SteveKerr
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 18, 2020
“Tonight, Steve Kerr earned his wings.”
-MJ after the Bulls won the 1997 finals pic.twitter.com/0IAVpY34Nf
— ESPN (@espn) May 18, 2020
Coach Kerr is comedy with that speech😂😂😂😂 @SteveKerr
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 18, 2020
Episode 9 concluded with the Bulls beating the Pacers in Game 7 — and Jordan getting the game ball for late Bulls security guard Gus Lett, a father figure to Jordan.
1:04
Michael Jordan admits the Pacers gave the Bulls their toughest competition in the 1998 Eastern Conference finals. Episodes 9 and 10 of “The Last Dance” debut Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
time to call it a night. gg @chicagobulls. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/OZ4gRSI6un
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 18, 2020
“When my father got killed, he became like a father figure to me.”
The bond between MJ and Gus Lett was special ❤️ #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/E05i5xXjMs
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2020
Was later revealed that MJ paid for Gus Lett’s medical expenses.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 18, 2020
Episode 10 opens with the Jazz winning Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals. The Bulls would steal Utah’s homecourt advantage in Game 2, though, followed up by an unholy shutdown of historic proportions in Game 3. But then Rodzilla! Dennis Rodman skipped a Monday practice to appear with the nWO on WCW that night.
Is it really the last episode??! 😢
Let’s a get a few more together!!! 🙏🏼#TheLastDance— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) May 18, 2020
In 1998 I sent Michael Jordan an advanced copy of my “From the Soul of Man” album. Who knew “Days Like This” was his pre-game hype song though. 😆 #TheLastDance #RealR&B
— Kenny Lattimore (@kennylattimore) May 18, 2020
#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/6kft95Hub8
— Jasmine M. Jordan (@MickiJae) May 18, 2020
Gang gang @MickiJae @HeirJordan13 #TheLastDance 📹🎥📽🎞🐐🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆— Marcus Jordan (@HEIRMJ) May 18, 2020
Delta Center got LOUD loud
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 18, 2020
By 40?!!!!
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 18, 2020
Bulls: *at practice without Rodman after Game 3*
Dennis:#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/765PqL56eh
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2020
Ain’t no way Dennis did that 😂😂😂
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 18, 2020
Rodzilla 🤣
— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) May 18, 2020
Lol Dennis Rodman is the ultimate RINGER #LastDance
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) May 18, 2020
Dennis did what Dennis wanted too🤣
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2020
Live look at Rodman sneaking past 300 media members and out of the arena … #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/TdYQlZ3bmj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2020
