Rare Jordan moment alert: In an astonishing start to the game, Michael Jordan started the game jumping at center, contesting the jump ball against Hall of Fame Center/Power Forward Jack Sikma, who stood at 6'11". But, would he win the tip?
Watching Michael Jordan in the 1980's was like witnessing a force of nature. The raw talent, the relentless determination, the sheer willpower - it was all there, on full display, every single game. Jordan lived to compete. You could have never talked Michael Jordan in to skipping a single game. Each game was a testament to his basketball prowess and an affirmation of his place in the sport. Every game felt like a seismic event because that's the way Jordan treated every single game. One such epic encounter took place in the 1986-87 season when the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. The odds were heavily stacked against Jordan and his team, but Jordan thrived under such circumstances... it's what he lived for. Jordan was like a highly skilled Maverick F-14 pilot in one of those Tom Cruise Top Gun movies. Michael Jordan threw the throttle wide open, no matter the terrain, no matter the opponents in his path, because Jordan was there to compete every single night, and leave it all on the court.
During Jordan's career, it truly was the moments of adversity that brought out the best in him. He didn't just play the game; he took control of it! Bending the flow of the game to his will. Every drive to the basket, every jump shot, every defensive play was a statement of intent. He was there to win, regardless of the odds. With each passing quarter, Jordan dug deeper, exerting energy at levels unseen before. He was a man on a mission, single-handedly keeping his team in the game. Jordan dominated the court, by scoring relentlessly, out thinking his opponents, and inspiring his teammates. He was a tactician who understood the game on a deeper level than 99%. Jordan performance on a nightly basis was filled with grit, skill, and an unwavering belief in victory. His ability to overcome the odds and deliver when it mattered most is what made watching him in the 1980's so exhilarating. This game against the Bucks was just one of many examples where Jordan proved that he was a cut above the rest.
Michael Jordan faced consistent challenges throughout his career. With a team like the Milwaukee Bucks, even in the absence of Sidney Moncrief, Jordan was still guaranteed to face an elite NBA talent because the Bucks were stacked. The NBA gauntlet during the Jordan Era was overflowing with talented players who may not be as well-known to many modern fans, but were formidable opponents in their time. One such player was Paul Pressey.
Paul Pressey, the original Point Forward, was a versatile offensive maestro, capable of shredding your defense with the basketball at his fingertips. Paul Pressey saw the weaknesses in a defense on the basketball court similar to the way Dan Marino found holes in defenses on an NFL football field. Pressey was also an All-Defensive point forward, known for his agility, anticipatory skills, and ability to disrupt the offense. A young Michael Jordan stepping onto the court to face a defensive stalwart like Pressey was no ordinary match-up. This would be a test of grueling strategy, skill, and tactical aggression.
(1986-87 Season)
TIMESTAMPS: (Full timestamps in comment section)
0:05 - Game begins
0:30 - Michael Jordan driving layup
2:01 - Michael Jordan alley-oop dunk
4:17 - Michael Jordan jumper
5:15 - Michael Jordan jumper
8:01 - Michael Jordan free throws
8:30 - Michael Jordan 1 handed hanging bank shot
9:52 - Michael Jordan free throw
12:29 - Michael Jordan steal
15:35 - Michael Jordan catches laser pass from Dave Corzine for the layup
15:47 - Michael Jordan jumper
16:10 - Michael Jordan step back fadeaway jumper
16:35 - Michael Jordan jumper
16:55 - Michael Jordan transition hanging jumper
19:10 - Michael Jordan dunks on Paul Pressey
21:38 - Michael Jordan tough contested reverse pivot bank shot
23:51 - Michael Jordan post up & layup over Jack Sikma, and 1
25:24 - Michael Jordan turnaround fadeaway jumper
29:04 - Michael Jordan insane reverse layup with contact
29:23 - Replay of Michael Jordan reverse layup
29:31 - Michael Jordan assist to Charles Oakley layup
30:28 - Michael Jordan free throws
31:09 - Michael Jordan pull up jumper
32:06 - Michael Jordan free throw
32:52 - Michael Jordan free throws
33:57 - Michael Jordan causes turnover
34:43 - Game ends