I finally got around to watching The Last Dance. I wasn’t as blown away by it as many seemed to be when it aired, as I remembered almost everything that was talked about and shown. For me, the best parts of the documentary were the interviews with 2018 Michael Jordan talking about his playing days, and to see that fire come back in his eyes and his voice as he talked like he’s ready to suit up again.

Make no mistake, if Michael Jordan were physically able to play basketball in the NBA again, even at 50-something years old, and play well (Michael Jordan-well), he would absolutely do it. This was probably my biggest takeaway from the documentary after listening to Jordan talk about his career.

I don’t say this as a knock against them because they weren’t around to witness it, but the Millennial/Generation Z/LeBron James era of NBA fans have no idea what a competitive monster Jordan was, and probably still is. Don’t think for a second he doesn’t pay attention to the ‘King James’ and GOAT accolades that get thrown LeBron James’s way. He hears and internalizes all of it, and if his body were capable, he would make it his personal mission to show the world how wrong they are.

Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.

At the end, Jordan said it eats at him that the Bulls weren’t given the opportunity to at least try for a seventh championship – but the 1998 season probably would’ve been their seventh if Jordan hadn’t retired the first time. They would’ve won their fourth in 1994, but I think they would’ve lost in 1995 to the Rockets, and if they had continued into 1999, they would’ve lost to the Spurs. The Bulls didn’t have the big men to contend with how unstoppable Hakeem Olajuwon was in 1995, and they certainly wouldn’t have had the big men in 1999 to contend with both David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Jordan was getting older at that point, and you had the Shaq & Kobe Lakers rising in the West. The 1998 season should’ve been their seventh, but Jordan obviously needed the time off to recharge and deal with the loss of his father.

I wanted someone to say to Jordan that retiring an undefeated 6-0 in the Finals with five league MVP awards, plus all his other accolades is nothing to shirk at. It’s okay, Mike, you won.

Great documentary. I would love to own it if it ever leaves Netflix and goes on sale.

With that out of the way, I’m now officially ready for the NFL season.