“I hope I have given the people that I’ve touched the optimism and the desire to achieve their goals.” – Michael Jordan

#MJMondays

1992 Olympic Dream Team members Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson having a blast!

#MJMondays

Michael Jordan dunking. Magic Johnson watching.

Apr. 21, 1996 – Chicago Bulls end the season with NBA record 72-10

The only team in NBA history to win 70 games or more in a single season.

With a lineup of Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Luke Longley, and perhaps the league’s best bench in Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Bill Wennington, Jud Buechler, and guard Randy Brown the Bulls posted one of the best single-season improvements in league history and the best single-season record, moving from 47–35 to 72–10, which remains the best record in NBA history. Jordan won his eighth scoring title, and Rodman his fifth straight rebounding title, while Kerr finished second in the league in three-point shooting percentage. Jordan garnered the elusive triple crown with the regular season MVP, All-star Game MVP, and Finals MVP. Krause was named Executive of the Year, Jackson Coach of the Year, and Kukoc the Sixth Man of the Year. Both Pippen and Jordan made the All-NBA First Team, and Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman made the All-Defensive First Team, making the Bulls the only team in history with three players on the All-Defensive First Team.

In addition, the 1995–96 squad holds several other records, including the best road record in a standard 41-road-game season (33–8), the all-time best start by a team (41–3), the longest home winning streak (44 games, 7 from previous season), and the best start at home (37–0). The Bulls also posted the second-best home record in history (39–2), behind only the 1985–86 Celtics 40–1 home mark, and the second-best point differential in history, trailing the 1972 Lakers by 3 points over the course of an entire season. The team triumphed over Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and the Seattle SuperSonics for their fourth title. The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in the history of basketball.

In the 1996–97 season, the Bulls narrowly missed out on a second consecutive 70-win season by losing their final two games to finish 69–13. They repeated their home dominance, going 39–2 at the United Center. The Bulls capped the season by winning their fifth NBA championship over John Stockton, Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz. Jordan earned his second straight and ninth career scoring title, while Rodman earned his sixth straight rebounding title.

Apr. 20, 1986 – MJ sets an NBA playoff record with 63 points in a game

“I think,” Larry Bird said after the game, “it’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Jordan was able to play in only 18 regular-season games in his second year in the NBA, after breaking a small bone in his foot in Chicago Bulls third game of the year. Although he was encouraged to sit out the end of the season in order to make sure he was fully healed for the next, he insisted on coming back late in the season and led the Bulls to the 1986 NBA Playoffs.

It was in Game 2 of Chicago’s first round matchup against the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics that Jordan showed just how thoroughly he had recovered. In the hallowed halls of the Boston Garden, he set a playoff record by scoring an amazing 63 points against what many considered to be one of the greatest NBA teams ever. The Celtics won the game, 135-131 in double-overtime, and went on to sweep the Bulls, but Jordan’s playoff record still stands.

“It was a phenomenal performance, what Michael was able to do against a team like that,” Bill Walton said of the champion Celtics, who won 67 games and were a record 40-1 at home; with five of their top six players Hall of Famers. “That team could win any type of game, a speed game, a power game, a shooting game, a defensive game, a physical game, a cerebral game. It had balance, depth and talent, coaching experience, great leadership, top management with Red Auerbach, a great legacy as a franchise on top and a legend in Larry Bird.”

“Michael was doing so much and so well, I found myself just wanting to stop and watch him — and I was playing,” said teammate John Paxson.

“I didn’t think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us,” marveled Boston Celtics ace Larry Bird. “He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

It’s Time. 2013 NBA Playoffs Begin Today!

While there is sure to be a lot of excitement during postseason play this year in the NBA, the two heavy favorites in each conference are the Thunder in the West and the Miami Heat in the East.

Below are the first-round matchups and game times:

EAST

Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1 – Sun April 21, Milwaukee at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 2 – Tue April 23, Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 – Thu April 25, Miami at Milwaukee, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Sun April 28, Miami at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 5 – Tue April 30, Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Thu May 2, Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sat May 4, Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TNT

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics
Game 1 – Sat April 20, Boston at New York, 3 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Tue April 23, Boston at New York, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 26, New York at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 28, New York at Boston, 1 p.m., ABC/R
Game 5 – Wed May 1, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Fri May 3, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD

Indiana Pacers vs Atlanta Hawks
Game 1 – Sun April 21, Atlanta at Indiana, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 24, Atlanta at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 – Sat April 27, Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Mon April 29, Indiana at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 5 – Wed May 1, Atlanta at Indiana, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Fri May 3, Indiana at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Atlanta at Indiana, TBD, TBD

Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls
Game 1 – Sat April 20, Chicago at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Mon April 22, Chicago at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Thu April 25, Brooklyn at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4 – Sat April 27, Brooklyn at Chicago, 2 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Mon April 29, Chicago at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Thu May 2, Brooklyn at Chicago, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sat May 4, Chicago at Brooklyn, TBD, TNT

WEST

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 1 – Sun April 21, Houston at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 24, Houston at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Sat April 27, Oklahoma City at Houston, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/R
Game 4 – Mon April 29, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 5 – Wed May 1, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Fri May 3, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD

San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1 – Sun April 21, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Wed April 24, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 26, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 28, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Tue April 30, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Thu May 2, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sat May 4, L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, TBD, TNT

Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Clippers
Game 1 – Sat April 20, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Mon April 22, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Thu April 25, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Sat April 27, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Tue April 30, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Fri May 3, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets
Game 1 – Sat April 20, Golden State at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Tue April 23, Golden State at Denver, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 26, Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2 
Game 4 – Sun April 28, Denver at Golden State, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Tue April 30, Golden State at Denver, TBD, TBD
Game 6 – Thu May 2, Denver at Golden State, TBD, TBD
Game 7 – Sat May 4, Golden State at Denver, TBD, TNT

Oct. 18, 1974 – Nate Thurmond records first quadruple-double in NBA history

Nate Thurmond of the Chicago Bulls completed the first quadruple-double in NBA history: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots.

Since the NBA started recording blocks and steals in 1973, there have only been four officially recorded quadruple-doubles. Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson are the other three players to record one.

There have been very few performances in which a player has come close to getting a quadruple-double. Clyde Drexler was close in 1996, when he recorded 25 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals and 9 assists in a game.

NBA at 50: Nate Thurmond video (biography)