The Last Dance : Season 1 - Episode 9

: The narrative culminates in the 1997 Finals Game 6, where Jordan entrusts Steve Kerr with the series-winning shot after anticipating a double-team by the Jazz. Notable Figures Featured

Review these clips for deeper insights into the specific rivalries and emotional backstories featured in Episode 9:

: The Jazz defender who reportedly challenged Jordan while he was playing baseball, earning a permanent spot on Jordan's "list" and setting the stage for their famous Finals matchups. The Last Dance : Season 1 Episode 9

Episode 9 of The Last Dance serves as the penultimate hour of the docuseries, focusing on the grueling 1997 and 1998 postseason battles that defined the twilight of the Chicago Bulls dynasty. It highlights the intense rivalry with the Indiana Pacers and the legendary "Flu Game," which the film clarifies was actually a case of food poisoning. Key Narrative Threads

: The episode highlights the Indiana Pacers, coached by Larry Bird, as the Bulls' toughest playoff challenge during their second three-peat. Reggie Miller recalls his physical and verbal battles with Jordan, famously noting that he learned never to trash talk "Black Jesus" . : The narrative culminates in the 1997 Finals

: The episode draws an emotional parallel between Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr. It explores the 1984 murder of Kerr’s father, Malcolm Kerr, in Beirut, mirroring the loss of Jordan’s father. This shared grief helped form a deep, unspoken bond between the two teammates.

: A member of Jordan’s security detail who became a father figure to him after James Jordan’s death. The episode details Jordan supporting Lett through his battle with lung cancer. It highlights the intense rivalry with the Indiana

: Filmmakers revisit the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, specifically the "Flu Game." Jordan reveals he was poisoned by a pizza delivered to his Park City hotel room by five men—an event his trainer, Tim Grover, found highly suspicious at the time.