Fifteen years ago today, Michael Jordan had his famous “Flu Game” in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. You remember it, don't you?

Images come to mind of Jordan barely being able to stand, IV's at halftime, being helped off the court by Scottie Pippen at the end of the game. It's one of those basketball moments that will forever be etched into one's memory. It was a performance that helped cement Jordan's legacy into what it is today.

On the morning of June 11, 1997, it was unknown if Jordan would even play. But he did and hung 38 points (on 13-27 shooting from the field), seven rebounds, five assists and three steals on the Jazz, all with a 103-degree fever in a 90-88 Bulls victory to take a 3-2 series lead. 

Of his performance that night Jordan would say afterwards, "That was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done. I almost played myself into passing out just to win a basketball game."

The Bulls went on to close out the Jazz in Game 6 on the road to win their fifth NBA Championship.

They say that legends are born in the playoffs, and what Jordan did in Salt Lake City that day left no doubt in anyone's mind that he was in fact, the greatest ever.

• A look back at “The Flu Game” (NBA.com)
   
• Highlights of Jordan's memorable Game 5 performance (New York Post)
   
• Will the Bulls trade Boozer or Deng? (Gather.com)
   
• Steve Nash could make the Bulls a championship contender (Bleacher Report)
   
• But why the Nash addition makes no sense (Bleacher Report)

Leave Comments