One of the special things in sport is when an unsung hero steps up, someone who has been hidden from the spotlight.
Chicago was on the brink of their third title in as many years, before a six-minute scoring drought saw them squander what was an 11-point lead. Phoenix drew ahead with 2:23 remaining, and one miss led to another, and another, and Chicago had the ball, down 2, with 14.1 seconds remaining.
The Suns’ defence collapsed in reaction to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen gaining the paint, leaving John Paxson wide open for three.
Horace Grant made the pin-point pass to Paxson, who was helplessly chased down by Danny Ainge. Phoenix would have a last-ditch chance at forcing a Game 7 on the strength of Kevin Johnson driving to the rim, but Horace Grant came up huge with the block, and it was all over.
This was a fitting end to what was one of the most exciting NBA postseasons to-date. Phoenix had staved off elimination five times, and Chicago had battled through one of the toughest series in recent memory.
The Knicks and Bulls went head-to-head in seven tough, defensive-minded games which had left everyone mentally and physically drained.
Michael Jordan won his third consecutive NBA Finals MVP award by unanimous vote, scoring 40+ in four consecutive finals games. But nothing could take away from the man of the hour, John Paxson.
“I got a clean look at it,” Paxson recalled, “There was no one around me, and it felt good when it left. I just caught the ball and shot it, as I have my whole life. I’ve been playing basketball since I was eight years old, and I’ve shot like that in my driveway hundreds of thousands of times. It was just reaction.”
When John Paxson drained the three, and Horace Grant emphatically slapped away the would-be game-winner, jubilation began in Chicago. Three straight championships, ending what had been 20 consecutive months of basketball for Michael Jordan.
In typical fashion, John Paxson had drained the three of his life, forever cementing his place in NBA history.
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