Remember when Jordan pushing off on Russell was a big deal?

[dhsilv2]

Miller did it during his infamous 8 points in however many seconds against the Knicks in ‘95

Miller shoved everyone to get open off of screens CONSTANTLY! He made a career out of that move!

[picc]

If pushoffs were a foul, harden would foul out every game by halftime.

Im just glad he's getting a fair chance, man.

[CycklopsGT]

Just to note, Reggie did the same thing to Jordan earlier in those same playoffs and Michael didn't complain.

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[Ben Simmons]

There’s a difference between a little subtle sneaky contact to clear space with the off arm and what Jordan did in Game 6. He literally shoved Russell as hard as he could and extended his arm all the way out flat. It was ridiculously blatant. That gets called at least 90% of the time in today’s game.

Jordan did the opposite of shoving, because Jordan didn't move his arm at all, he only moved his wrist.
How can a wrist movement have enough power to push Russell over?
All that happened was, Russell's feet slipped, and you can see it on the replay

LOL...this has to be the most unique take of all time on what was a clear FULL push through.

And keep in mind Jordan did this kind of stuff on offense and defense. He'd use those huge hands and the fact that he was one of the only wings in the NBA who knew where the weight room was to throw around players.

The video doesn't lie, you can see Russell's feet slipping excessively on the court, something that can only happen when moisture is on the floor.
You can say Jordan's sweat was on the floor and it caused Russell to slip, but that is all

[Rainwater]

Back in the ‘90s it was only Jordan who was allowed to get away with that. Now everyone does it.

Uh no. Reggie Miller got away with a even harder shove to MJ himself in the Eastern Conference Finals that year. No call at all and it cost Chicago the game.

Lol, i remember that and it was hilarious. And its funny because Reggie brings up that Russell shove all the time while his shove was 3 time worse.

[dhsilv2]

Jordan did the opposite of shoving, because Jordan didn't move his arm at all, he only moved his wrist.
How can a wrist movement have enough power to push Russell over?
All that happened was, Russell's feet slipped, and you can see it on the replay

LOL...this has to be the most unique take of all time on what was a clear FULL push through.

And keep in mind Jordan did this kind of stuff on offense and defense. He'd use those huge hands and the fact that he was one of the only wings in the NBA who knew where the weight room was to throw around players.

The video doesn't lie, you can see Russell's feet slipping excessively on the court, something that can only happen when moisture is on the floor.
You can say Jordan's sweat was on the floor and it caused Russell to slip, but that is all

And then jordan shoves him to stabilize and force him out of the way.

[BarneyGumble]

Is it just me or does every player push off when driving/crossing these days?

The Jordan pushing Russell narrative was pushed as a way to de-legitimize Utah's gripes about game 6....which had everything to do with Dick Bavetta shaving 3 points on a bogus shot clock foul and then gifting 2 points on a shot clock violation that was not called. That's 5 points hurting a team that lost by 1 point. Its a legitimate gripe with video evidence as proof of the fraud but it gets forgotten in history because the Jordan pushing Russell narrative drowns it out.

[Birth of the Cool]

Jordan push off was one of the most blatant offensive fouls in NBA Finals history. You can be a fan of Jordan but still accept that he had favourable calls throughout his career once he became Stern's moneymaker/darling. He was the face of the NBA and brought it to new heights in terms of popularity/cool and the league protected him like no other. LeBron / Kobe /etc never got the favourable calls Jordan did..only Harden rises to that level but with Harden it's more of his deception and flopping in getting calls, with Jordan you always felt the Refs were in his pocket.

[kodo]

Jordan push off was one of the most blatant offensive fouls in NBA Finals history. You can be a fan of Jordan but still accept that he had favourable calls throughout his career once he became Stern's moneymaker/darling. He was the face of the NBA and brought it to new heights in terms of popularity/cool and the league protected him like no other. LeBron / Kobe /etc never got the favourable calls Jordan did..only Harden rises to that level but with Harden it's more of his deception and flopping in getting calls, with Jordan you always felt the Refs were in his pocket.

1998 Free Throws Attempted per Game

1. Shaquille O'Neal 11.4
2. Karl Malone 10.2
3. David Robinson 9.0
4. Michael Jordan 8.8
5. Grant Hill 8.0
6. Shareef Abdur Rahim 7.8

Michael Jordan got 1 more FT attempt per game over Shareef Abdur Rahim, and he was the beneficiary of an NBA agenda to give him free throws?

That season the NBA leader in FTA was Karl Malone by a massive margin over MJ.

[Luigi]

Basketball as a game can't go to maximum competitive levels and maintain justice rule enforcement. It is a great game for playing with friends in good faith. But at the competitive edge, it's just too difficult to call. Add in league interests, and we have a sport with strange factors deciding winners and losers.

[The4thHorseman]

Jordan push off was one of the most blatant offensive fouls in NBA Finals history. You can be a fan of Jordan but still accept that he had favourable calls throughout his career once he became Stern's moneymaker/darling. He was the face of the NBA and brought it to new heights in terms of popularity/cool and the league protected him like no other. LeBron / Kobe /etc never got the favourable calls Jordan did..only Harden rises to that level but with Harden it's more of his deception and flopping in getting calls, with Jordan you always felt the Refs were in his pocket.

1998 Free Throws Attempted per Game

1. Shaquille O'Neal 11.4
2. Karl Malone 10.2
3. David Robinson 9.0
4. Michael Jordan 8.8
5. Grant Hill 8.0
6. Shareef Abdur Rahim 7.8

Michael Jordan got 1 more FT attempt per game over Shareef Abdur Rahim, and he was the beneficiary of an NBA agenda to give him free throws?

That season the NBA leader in FTA was Karl Malone by a massive margin over MJ.

That was the most FTA that MJ avg. for a season since the 88-89 season and this is "don't drive to the basket nearly as much / jumpshooter" MJ that we're talking about in '98.