Editorial recap
The 1997-98 season was marked by internal tension, injuries and the sense that the cycle was ending. Even so, Jordan sustained Chicago through competitive leadership, won his fifth MVP and tenth scoring title, and carried the team to another first-place finish in the East with 62 wins.
In the Finals against Utah, he appeared again when he was needed most. With Pippen physically limited, Jordan scored 45 points in Game 6 and closed the series with the sequence that became permanent NBA imagery: a steal from Karl Malone and the go-ahead shot with 5.2 seconds left to seal the franchise's sixth title in eight years.
Regular-season averages
| GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 82 | 38,8 | 46,5 | 23,8 | 78,4 | 1,6 | 4,2 | 5,8 | 3,5 | 1,72 | 0,55 | 28,7 |
GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.
Playoff averages
| GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 21 | 41,5 | 46,2 | 30,2 | 81,2 | 1,6 | 3,5 | 5,1 | 3,5 | 1,52 | 0,57 | 32,4 |
GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.
Finals averages
| GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 41,7 | 42,7 | 30,8 | 81,4 | 1,5 | 2,5 | 4,0 | 2,3 | 1,83 | 0,67 | 33,5 |
GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.
Key moments
- Jordan's final season with the Bulls.
- Fifth MVP and tenth scoring crown of his career.
- The decisive shot in Game 6 became one of the defining images in NBA history.
Honors and distinctions
- Regular-season MVP.
- Finals MVP.
- All-NBA First Team.
- All-Defensive First Team.
- All-Star Game MVP.
- All-Star Game starter.