Ron Harper wanted to be a defender to prevent Michael Jordan from shooting the winner in the 1989 Cavaliers-Bulls playoffs battle.
Michael Jordan He has played a number of iconic plays in his 15-year illustrious career. Close your eyes and sink free throws, double clutch switch hand layups, buzzer beaters in Game 6 of the 1998 finals, and more.
However, the shot that won Jordan’s game from the 1989 playoffs to conclude the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers has a completely different fan base.
During Door Die Game 5 of the clash, MJ raised 44 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal to help the Bulls win the first round series.
During the dying seconds of the game, dragging at 1, “his air” stood up and knocked down the buzzer beater that gave Chicago a 101-100 lead.
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Craig Ehlo was the defender defending Mike for that final play, Ron HarperShouldn’t have been.
“Coach got Michael Jordan”: Ron Harper
According to Ron Harper, it must have been assigned to prevent Air Jordan from winning the shot that won the match.
More than a talented defender, Harper begged then-Cavaliers head coach Lenny Wilkens to appoint him as MJ. This is how Ron narrated the case in one of the “Last Dance” episodes.
“The coach got the MJ. I got the MJ. So the coach tells me,” I’m going to put Ehlo in the MJ, “and I said,” Yeah, okay, Anything is like “f ** k” this bull.
“F-this bull-.” 😅
Ron Harper talks about MJ’s “The Shot” in “The Last Dance”. pic.twitter.com/WYyhBoPhMH
— ESPN’s NBA (@ESPNNBA) July 28, 2022
Harper and Elho were both 6’6 and were pretty decent defensive players. However, some basketball personalities believe that Ron should have defended the Bulls guard for his final play. In fact, Michael agreed with Harper and said it was a “mistake” from Wilkens not to appoint Harper to protect him.
In any case, Mike would have knocked down the shot in any way, regardless of the defender.
