Michael Jordan’s verbal jabs spared no one.
From 1984 to 1992, Larry Bird faced off against Jordan and his Chicago Bulls while playing for the Boston Celtics. The two celebrated Hall of Famers also shared time as teammates on the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.” Back in 1986, Bird’s Boston Celtics delivered a first-round sweep to Jordan’s Bulls, who held a 30-52 record.
However, none of their history mattered to Jordan after the Bulls triumphed over the Bird-coached Indiana Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, a moment highlighted in The Last Dance on Sunday night:
Chicago prevailed over the Pacers in a 4-3 series, securing their place in the 1998 NBA Finals. There, they emerged victorious against the Utah Jazz with a 4-2 win for the second consecutive year.
The Last Dance reached its conclusion with its ninth and 10th installments on Sunday night. The docuseries delved into the careers of Jordan and other Bulls legends like head coach Phil Jackson, as well as fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, chronicling their journey toward the 1997-98 championship.
Jordan’s penchant for trash talk has been a recurring theme throughout the entire series:
The Bulls’ dominant era saw them secure six championship titles during the 1990s (1991, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98).
Bird earned three championship victories during his time with the Celtics. Following the 1991-92 season, the then 63-year-old retired and later took on the role of head coach for the Pacers from 1997 to 2000.
