The world of sports is filled with defining moments, moments that transcend the boundaries of time, place, and competition. Few of these moments, however, have had as much cultural, emotional, and historical significance as Michael Jordan's "The Shot".
On May 7, 1989, during Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Michael Jordan hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a moment that not only solidified Jordan's place in basketball history but also symbolised the emergence of a new era for the Chicago Bulls.
More than three decades later, "The Shot" remains one of the most iconic moments in sports history. From the legendary image of Jordan mid-air to the heartbreaking reaction of Craig Ehlo, every second of that moment is etched into basketball lore.
The Build-up to "The Shot"
To fully appreciate the gravity of "The Shot," it’s essential to understand the environment in which it occurred. This was not just a random buzzer-beater in a mid-season game; it was a moment shaped by years of narratives, rivalries, and personal growth.
The 1988-89 NBA season was a turning point for both Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, a team that was on the brink of transformation.
The State of the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls of the late 1980s were a team on the rise but not yet a powerhouse. For years, the Bulls had been seen as an underdog in the Eastern Conference, frequently overshadowed by dominant teams like the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics, led by Larry Bird, had been a powerhouse throughout the early to mid-1980s, while the Pistons, known as the "Bad Boys" for their ultra-physical style of play, were just beginning their reign of dominance.
At the centre of the Bulls' rise was one man, Michael Jordan. By 1989, Jordan had already established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the league.
He was scoring at an incredible rate, winning the NBA scoring title for three consecutive seasons (1987, 1988, and 1989). His 1988 campaign saw him win both the MVP award and the Defensive Player of the Year award, a rare feat that highlighted his dominance on both sides of the court.
Despite Jordan’s individual greatness, the Bulls still had to contend with the criticism that he was a "one-man show" a player who could score 50 points but not necessarily lead his team to victory. Critics claimed he lacked the "clutch gene" necessary to win in the playoffs.
The team was viewed as too dependent on Jordan, with players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant still developing into stars. This backdrop of doubt and scrutiny set the stage for Jordan’s defining moment.
The Strength of the Cleveland Cavaliers
On the other side of the court were the Cleveland Cavaliers, a rising Eastern Conference power that had slowly been building a formidable roster.
Coached by Lenny Wilkens, the Cavaliers had a balanced squad filled with young, talented players and a strong defensive core. Unlike the Bulls, the Cavaliers were not a one-man team; they had a deep, cohesive roster.
Key players on the Cavaliers included:
Mark Price (Point Guard) – A sharpshooting floor general known for his deadly accuracy from three-point range and his high basketball IQ.
Ron Harper (Shooting Guard) – An athletic, high-flying scorer and defender.
Larry Nance (Power Forward) – A shot-blocking, versatile forward who could score inside and out.
Craig Ehlo (Shooting Guard/Small Forward) – A tenacious defender and role player who would later become a household name (but not for the right reasons).
The Cavaliers had played exceptional basketball during the 1988-89 season, finishing with a record of 57-25, good for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. For context, the Bulls finished with a record of 47-35, a full 10 games behind Cleveland.
Given the Cavaliers' dominance over the Bulls during the regular season (6-0 head-to-head), many experts, commentators, and analysts had no doubts that Cleveland would win the first-round series.
Sports Illustrated even predicted that the Cavaliers would sweep the Bulls in three games.
The Cavaliers weren’t just the favourites they were seen as the future of the Eastern Conference. Their mix of veteran leadership, young talent, and defensive grit was considered a perfect blend for playoff success. The belief that they would beat the Bulls wasn’t wishful thinking it was common sense.
Bulls as the Underdogs
Heading into the series, all eyes were on Michael Jordan. Could he lead his team past a stronger, more well-rounded Cleveland squad?
The Bulls were not expected to win, and much of the pre-series conversation revolved around how Cleveland's defence would neutralise Jordan.
However, no one had factored in the intangible element of greatness. While Cleveland had the superior team on paper, they did not have Michael Jordan, a player who had been honing his killer instinct since the days of his iconic game-winning shot at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 1982.
Jordan had been in these moments before, albeit on smaller stages, and he was hungry to prove that he could win in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavaliers had the better team, but the Bulls had the most important player on the court.
The 1989 First-Round Series: Bulls vs. Cavaliers
In the 1980s, NBA playoff series were a little different than they are today. The first round of the playoffs was only a best-of-five series, meaning that the first team to win three games would advance to the next round. This format put even more pressure on teams, as there was less margin for error.
The Bulls and Cavaliers fought fiercely in the series, and it became a classic back-and-forth affair. The series played out as follows:
Game 1: The Bulls shocked Cleveland on their home court, taking a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: The Cavaliers responded by winning Game 2 convincingly, regaining control of home-court advantage.
Game 3: Back in Chicago, Jordan led the Bulls to a win, putting them up 2-1 in the series and one win away from advancing.
Game 4: With elimination on the line, Cleveland dug deep and won a tense, hard-fought battle to even the series at 2-2.
This set up a Game 5 showdown, win or go home. The stakes could not have been higher. Everything that had transpired during the season Cleveland’s dominance over Chicago, the "Jordan can’t win" narrative, and the Cavaliers' status as title contenders was now on the line. May 7, 1989, was the date.
Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland's home court, was the venue. The pressure was palpable for both teams. Cleveland, playing in front of its home crowd, was supposed to win. They had the better record, better depth, and home-court advantage. But pressure can be a double-edged sword. The weight of expectations can either propel a team to greatness or cause it to crumble.
The Bulls, on the other hand, were playing with house money. Few people believed they would make it this far, and with the game being played in Cleveland, the odds were still against them. But there was a quiet confidence brewing in the Bulls' locker room. They had Michael Jordan, and his belief in himself was contagious.
Doug Collins’ Role as Coach
Another key figure leading up to "The Shot" was Bulls head coach Doug Collins. Collins, known for his fiery, emotional coaching style, played a vital role in this moment. It’s important to note that in the final timeout of Game 5, Collins' message to his team was simple. He wanted the ball in Michael Jordan's hands.
His instructions were crystal clear: “Get the ball to Michael and get out of the way.”
This decision would go down as one of the most iconic coaching moves in NBA history.
Collins later revealed that he did not doubt in his mind who would take the last shot. This approach was different from many teams at the time, who often relied on set plays and misdirection for game-winning shots. But not Collins. He knew that, at this moment, the only option was Michael Jordan.
This decision-making process highlights the importance of trusting greatness. It wasn’t about strategy or tactics. It was about trusting that the greatest player on the floor would deliver.
The Emotional Backdrop
For fans of Cleveland, the night of May 7, 1989, was supposed to be a celebration. They believed their team was on the cusp of playoff glory. The arena was buzzing with excitement, and the Cavaliers faithful were ready to see their team rise to the next level.
For Chicago, it was a moment to defy the odds. For years, the Bulls had been seen as underachievers. Michael Jordan was seen as a scoring machine but not a "winner." This game was a chance to redefine the team’s identity.
The Cavaliers wanted validation. The Bulls wanted respect.
As the teams stepped on the court, the stakes were clear. One possession. One shot. One legacy.
Every great sports moment is built on a foundation of stakes, narratives, and emotion. "The Shot" wasn’t just a singular basketball play it was the culmination of an entire season’s worth of tension, doubt, and belief. It was David versus Goliath.
It was legacy versus doubt. It was the rise of Michael Jordan as the man who would go on to define an era.
This was the moment when Michael Jordan stopped being "just a great player" and became a legend. The stage was set. All that remained was the final act.
"The Shot"
The climax of the Bulls vs. Cavaliers Game 5 showdown came in the final moments of the game. After 48 minutes of intense back-and-forth basketball, it all boiled down to a single possession.
It was the ultimate "make-or-break" moment for both teams one shot to decide who would move on and who would head home. This was not just another shot in another game; this was a moment of destiny.
What happened in those final 3 seconds of the game would be replayed on television for decades, immortalised in NBA lore, and become one of the most iconic highlights in the history of sports. But to fully grasp the enormity of "The Shot", we need to break down every second of it.
3.0 Seconds Left, Bulls Trail 100-99
With 6 seconds remaining on the clock, it seemed like Cleveland had taken control of the game. Craig Ehlo's driving layup gave the Cavaliers a 100-99 lead, and the home crowd erupted in celebration. The atmosphere at Richfield Coliseum was deafening.
Fans waved their arms in celebration, confident that the Cavaliers had finally subdued the Bulls. On the court, Cleveland players were jubilant, feeling as though they had clinched the game.
But, as every basketball fan knows, 6 seconds is an eternity in the NBA.
Timeout Bulls
Head coach Doug Collins huddled his team and drew up a simple but daring play. In the biggest moment of the game, there was no "trick play," no fancy off-ball screen, and no elaborate misdirection. Instead, Collins went with a simple directive that would go down in basketball history:
"Get the ball to Michael and get out of the way."
That was it. No decoys. No alternate options. Everyone in the building knew what was coming. The Cavaliers knew. The fans knew. Even casual viewers at home knew. But knowing and stopping it are two different things.
Setting the Play in Motion
With 3.0 seconds on the clock, the Bulls prepared to inbound the ball from the sideline. Brad Sellers, a 7-footer, was given the task of inbounding. His height gave him a better vantage point to make the pass and a higher release point to avoid defenders.
On the floor for the Bulls were:
Michael Jordan (the obvious first option)
Craig Hodges (sharpshooter)
Bill Cartwright (centre)
Horace Grant (power forward)
Brad Sellers (inbounder)
For Cleveland, the mission was simple: deny Jordan the ball. But as often happens in the NBA, "simple" is much harder to execute in real-time. Craig Ehlo, Jordan’s primary defender, was tasked with chasing him through screens and staying glued to him.
With the clock ticking, the pressure was at its absolute peak.
The ball was inbounded cleanly to Jordan, who caught it near the top of the key. At that moment, the crowd gasped. Here he is. Ball in hand. 3.0 seconds on the clock.
The Dribble and the Drive
Once Jordan caught the ball, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately put the ball on the floor, dribbling to his right. This movement served two purposes:
It created separation from Craig Ehlo, who was chasing him closely.
It forced Cleveland's help defenders to hesitate, as they were unsure if Jordan was going to drive or pull up for a jumper.
This was classic Michael Jordan, fast, decisive, and unpredictable.
Ehlo did an admirable job of staying with him, refusing to give him an inch of space. But Jordan had mastered the art of subtle misdirection. His body language suggested he might drive to the rim, which caused Ehlo to shift his weight slightly. That tiny movement was all Jordan needed to gain just enough space to rise up for the shot.
The Leap and the Hang Time
At this point, most NBA players would jump and shoot in one fluid motion. But Michael Jordan was not most NBA players. As Jordan rose for the shot, so did Craig Ehlo, leaping with every ounce of energy he had to contest the shot. It was a perfectly timed defensive jump, and for a split second, it looked as though Ehlo might block it.
But Jordan had a secret weapon, his legendary hang time. This is where Jordan’s athleticism separated him from everyone else. He had the unique ability to "float" in the air just a moment longer than his defenders. As Ehlo began his descent, Jordan remained suspended, calmly holding the ball in mid-air.
With Ehlo on his way down, Jordan finally released the ball with a smooth flick of the wrist. The ball left his hand in a perfect arc, spinning back with the precision of a laser-guided missile.
This is the moment that photographers captured, the iconic image of Jordan hanging mid-air, his legs bent, right arm fully extended, ball in flight. Time seemed to stand still.
The Buzzer-Beater
BZZZZZ! The game clock expired.
As the buzzer sounded, the ball was still in the air. All eyes were locked on the orange sphere as it spun through the sky, on its way to basketball immortality.
Then, it happened.SWISH.
The ball dropped through the net with perfect symmetry. The sound of the net snapping was drowned out by the collective gasp of the crowd, quickly followed by an audible groan of disbelief. Cleveland fans were stunned. Their celebration just moments earlier had turned into shock and sorrow.
Bulls 101, Cavaliers 100. Game over. Series over.
In the moments following the shot, the emotional swing was palpable. On one side of the court, the Cavaliers' players and fans were stunned, faces frozen in disbelief. On the other side, Michael Jordan erupted with joy.
Jordan didn’t just celebrate he punched the air with both fists in a violent downward motion. His scream of triumph echoed through the arena. This "fist-pump celebration" has been replayed on highlight reels for decades. It’s an image of pure, raw emotion the perfect embodiment of what it means to win under pressure.
Jordan's teammates rushed to him, mobbing him on the court. The celebration was wild, with Bulls players and coaches yelling, hugging, and jumping with unbridled joy. Meanwhile, Craig Ehlo dropped to the floor, defeated and heartbroken. His defensive effort had been perfect, but greatness cannot always be stopped.
Just as important as the image of "The Shot" was the broadcast call from the legendary commentator Jim Durham. His words captured the moment perfectly:
“Jordan to the circle… puts the shot up… GOOD! Bulls win it! They win it!”
Commentary like this cements moments in our memories. Much like “Do you believe in miracles?” (1980 Olympic hockey) and “The Giants win the pennant!” (1951 MLB playoffs), Durham’s call was raw, authentic, and timeless.
"The Shot" was more than just a buzzer-beater; it was a moment of transcendence that symbolised the arrival of Michael Jordan as a global icon. Up until that point, Jordan had been known as a spectacular scorer and an electrifying athlete, but his ability to deliver in the clutch had been questioned.
By sinking the game-winning shot against the Cavaliers with the series on the line, he answered those doubts emphatically. This was the birth of Jordan as a closer, a player whose greatness was measured not just by his points but by his ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
The double-fisted air punch he unleashed in celebration became a symbol of triumph, drive, and the relentless pursuit of greatness that would define the rest of his career.
For the Chicago Bulls, "The Shot" marked a pivotal shift in their trajectory. No longer seen as a team that relied solely on Jordan’s scoring prowess, they were now perceived as a legitimate playoff threat.
Although they would eventually fall to the Detroit Pistons in the next round, the victory over Cleveland provided the Bulls with something even more valuable belief.
This newfound confidence would serve as a building block for the dynasty they would create in the 1990s, where Jordan, along with Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson, would go on to win six NBA championships. In many ways, "The Shot" was the spark that ignited that fire. It was the moment the Bulls learned that they, too, could win on the biggest stage.
On a broader scale, "The Shot" remains one of the most iconic moments in sports history. It symbolised the unpredictability of sports, the heartbreak of defeat, and the thrill of victory. For Cleveland fans, it was a devastating reminder of how quickly a dream can collapse.
For basketball lovers around the world, it was a reminder that greatness is forged in moments of extreme pressure. It remains a staple of highlight reels, documentaries, and retrospectives on NBA history.
To this day, "The Shot" is discussed, debated, and remembered as one of the defining plays of all time a play that announced to the world that Michael Jordan was not just a superstar, but a legend in the making.
References
Aldridge, D. (2019). The Shot: The Moment that Launched Michael Jordan's Legend. ESPN Sports Journal, 12(3), 45–49.
Smith, S. (2014). The Rise of the Bulls: How Chicago Built an NBA Dynasty. New York: Ballantine Books.
Thompson, W. (2020). 50 Greatest Moments in NBA Playoff History. Boston: Hoops Publishing.
Vecsey, P. (1996). Legends of the NBA: Stories of Greatness and Clutch Performances. Chicago: Court Press.
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