Michael Jordan is best remembered for his god-like performances throughout his NBA career, which made him the number one pick of most people when it comes to the GOAT debate.
However, that didn’t mean he was exempt from having bad games.
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A barometer used by critics to determine if he had an off-night was his scoring since Michael anchored the offense of the Chicago Bulls and was the game’s best scorer at the time.
One example of that kind of night was Game 1 of the 1991 Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons. Although he finished with a decent 22 points in that win, it was short of his normal scoring output. After all, MJ averaged 31.5 points per game during the regular season.
In fact, he admitted that while they got the victory, it was his teammates who deserved the credit.
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“I’ve got to give the supporting cast a lot of credit,” Jordan said via UPI. “I didn’t have a great game. … I must have been the one with the headache.”
Jordan’s 22-point game was way below the standards expected of him. With no valid explanation for his poor showing, Michael took it in stride and likened it to Scottie Pippen’s infamous migraine game in Game 7 of the 1990 Eastern Conference finals.
Of course, even though MJ was joking after his off-night, since he didn’t have a migraine, it was a different story for Pip a year before.
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Pippen had an atrocious performance in that all-important matchup, finishing with only 2 points. Scottie was badly affected by a migraine that made it hard for him to focus during the contest.
A good problem for the Bulls
Jordan’s performance in Game 1 vs. the Bulls was proof that he was only human. However, the fact that he had teammates who could step up for him was a good sign.
It meant that Phil Jackson could turn to players like Pippen and Horace Grant to step up for the team. Pip was an alternative offensive option for the Bulls while Grant contributed by controlling the rebounds.
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It was proof that after years of overreliance on Jordan, the Bulls had quality players who could step up.
Chicago went on to sweep the Pistons and advance to the NBA Finals. Their great season ended with defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for their first championship in franchise history.
Bulls era off and running
The 1991 championship was sweet vindication for Jordan, silencing critics. Most were aware of his offensive talent but questioned his ability to lead the Bulls to titles.
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Those doubts were put to rest after that Finals win.
“You had all your media naysayers: ‘Scoring champion can’t win an NBA title.’ ‘You’re not as good as Magic Johnson,” MJ said. “Not as good as Larry Bird. You’re good, but you’re not as good as those guys.’ I had to listen to this every day. That’s why our first championship was a little sweeter.”
It wasn’t surprising that the 1991 title was what Jordan considered the most memorable. It was his ultimate validation, proving he truly deserved to be alongside legends such as Bird and Johnson.
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For the Bulls, it was the dawn of a new era. The 1991 championship was the foundation of the team’s first three-peat, proving that they could compete with any team at the highest level.
Overall, the Bulls won six championships in that decade. They could have easily won seven straight championships had Jordan not stepped away in 1993.
Instead, the Bulls settled for two three-peats, proving they were the most dominant team in the 1990s.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.