Sunday marked the finale of the 10-part ESPN documentary The Last Dance focusing on Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls and their 1997-98 season. The documentary not only covered Jordan’s career with the Bulls from draft to the 1998 Finals but also his childhood and time at North Carolina.
During his time with the Bulls, one of his most common victims were the Charlotte Hornets. In 37 games against Charlotte, Jordan averaged 32.1 points per game on 53.0% shooting from the field.
Memorably featured in the documentary, Jordan responded to a BJ Armstrong game-winner in the second round of the 97-98 Eastern Conference second round by beating the Hornets the next two games to eliminate them.
Given all that context, here’s a look at Jordan’s five best games against the Charlotte Hornets.
5. April 19, 1991 – 41 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
On a mission to win his first title, Jordan ran into the Hornets in the penultimate game of the season. A team effort from Charlotte which saw no player score more than 17 points was undone by Jordan’s brilliance as he led the Bulls to a 115-99 win.
Jordan’s 41 points are the seventh-most he’s scored against the Hornets and one of 13 times he scored at least 35 points against Charlotte. He was his typical efficient self as well, going 15-of-22 from the field and 11-of-13 from the line.
4. April 28, 1995 – 48 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists
In the opening round of the 1995 playoffs, Jordan set the tone in typical Jordan fashion, dominating in every facet to finish with a near triple-double in a 108-100 win.
Jordan was 18-of-32 from the field and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the line. Interestingly, it was just his 18th game back from coming out of retirement. It was also only his second time breaking the 40-point mark in those 18 games aside from his memorable 55-point game in his return to Madison Square Garden.
3. Dec. 29, 2001 – 51 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Not all of Michael Jordan’s greatest performances against Charlotte came in a Bulls uniform. Late in 2001 at 38 years old, Jordan turned back the clock with the Wizards and scored 51 points, his 38th and final 50-point game.
Jordan was 21-of-38 from the field, 9-of-10 at the line and made up for his career-low six points a few nights prior with his last great scoring output.
2. April 4, 1989 – 33 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 6 steals
Not known for amassing triple-doubles, one of Jordan’s 28 career triple-doubles came against Charlotte. It was the first of three triple-doubles against Charlotte but it was also the best of the bunch.
Jordan shot just 15 times, hitting 10 of those field goals while going 13-of-15 at the line. His performance led the Bulls to a 121-101 win. The six steals also tied for the most Jordan had in a triple-double as he briefly flirted with even a quadruple-double.
Jordan’s game also helped the Bulls overcome a poor shooting night as a team as the rest of Chicago shot just 33-for-77 from the field. Forty-one free throw attempts helped ease the shooting woes as well.
1. March 12, 1993 – 52 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
Jordan was no stranger to 50-point games and he was certainly no stranger to dropping them against Charlotte. His best outing against the Hornets saw him score 52 points in a late-season beatdown in his final season before his first retirement.
Chicago won the game 123-108 with Jordan going 21-for-35 from the field. No other Bull had more than Scottie Pippen’s 15 points. Alonzo Mourning had 25 points and Larry Johnson 16 for Charlotte as they shot 48.8% from the field as the Hornets failed yet again to contain Jordan.
