Revisiting When Michael Jordan Won His First Title After Dad's Death on Father's Day
The airing of The Last Dance documentary series brought Michael Jordan's greatness back into the national conversation two decades after he and the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA.
One part of his career younger fans may have forgotten about is the fact he left basketball to pursue a professional baseball career after the senseless murder of his father. But, Jordan finally returned and eventually picked up a fourth title in the 1996 NBA Finals. The series ended on Father's Day and an overwhelmed Jordan let his emotions out after taking down the Seattle SuperSonics.
"I know he's watching. To my wife and kids, to my mother, brother and sister, this is for Daddy."
— JzoSports (@JzoSports) June 21, 2020
Michael Jordan wins his 4th NBA Championship on Fathers Day & dedicates it to his late father pic.twitter.com/GyDVbPYykP
The entire postgame sequence was powerful from Jordan crying on the floor in the locker room to barely being able to get his words out during a press conference. He was overcome with emotion, and understandably so.
Father’s Day, 1996:
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2020
Michael Jordan collapses on the floor in tears after dedicating his fourth championship to his father, who was murdered in 1993.
"I know he’s watching. ... This is for Daddy." pic.twitter.com/kjagJO0hDL
Jordan won his fourth Finals MVP after averaging 27.3 points and 42 minutes per game in the six-game series. The Bulls jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Sonics took the next two and sent the series back to Chicago. But, something special was in the air that Father's Day and Jordan scored 22 points to close out the series in a grueling 87-75 victory.
Plenty of stuff Jordan did throughout his career seemed to be almost too poetic to be true. His will to win on Father's Day in 1996 is on that list and is just one of countless examples of how he simply could not be stopped.