Butler/NBAE/NBAE via Getty Imagesįor all the basketball highlights, there’s so much more going on here that even an NBA fan who lived through those years might not remember it all. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) Nathaniel S. As further proof the filmmakers spoke to pretty much everybody, the documentary includes two former presidents: Bill Clinton, who reminisces about seeing Pippen play as a collegiate star in Arkansas and Barack Obama, reflecting on Jordan regarding both his impact in Chicago and as an African American in the public spotlight, comparing him to Oprah Winfrey and Obama himself.ĭennis Rodman (left) in the 1998 NBA playoffs. The current interviews – from practically every basketball luminary imaginable – are almost as good as the archival bounty. (Bryant and Jordan later became close, and the late Lakers star is among those featured.) There are also tantalizing glimpses of such things as Jordan and Magic Johnson trash-talking during a “Dream Team” practice game, or inside the locker room at an NBA All-Star Game, as Jordan and others snipe about a young ball hog on the opposing team name Kobe Bryant. Notoriously competitive, his tenacity and will to win are spoken of with awe by practically everyone who crossed his path during those years, but the centerpiece is extensive access to the man himself, who displays great candor in discussing his life and legacy.ĭirected by Jason Hehir, “The Last Dance” draws heavily on behind-the-scenes footage shot at the time, by an NBA Entertainment film crew allowed to chronicle the team throughout the season. Still, it’s clear who the prima ballerina is here, and now as then, that’s Jordan. That means taking extended detours into the lives of Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen (one of 12 children) and Jackson. The documentary series, meanwhile, alternately focuses not just on 1998, but all the previous dances, as well as individual dancers. With general manager Jerry Krause announcing that Jackson wouldn’t be back and Jordan saying he would retire if that happened, it was a season-long campaign to put an exclamation point on the squad’s greatness. The title refers to the Bulls’ final title run in 1998, echoing the preseason handbook that coach Phil Jackson passed out to the team. At 10 parts, it’s a very, very deep dive, but for fans who will eat this stuff up, it hits all the right notes. Instead of a nifty chaser to the NBA Playoffs, “The Last Dance” – which ESPN moved up by two months – essentially fills that void, transporting viewers back to the off-court drama, flamboyant personalities and great basketball associated with Michael Jordan and the six-time champion Chicago Bulls.
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