Editing Michael Jordan (section)

==== First three-peat (1991–1993) ====
[[File:Chicago Bulls - New Jersey Nets match on March 28, 1991.jpg|thumb|left|Jordan being defended by [[Mookie Blaylock]] (number 10) during a Bulls–Nets game in 1991]]
After the Bulls' previous losses to the Pistons, Phil Jackson, along with assistant coach [[Tex Winter]], focused on implementing the triangle offense to counteract the Pistons' defense and other teams that heavily targeted Jordan. This system, however, required Jordan to adjust his playing style.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Beslic |first=Stephen |title=The Impact of Tex Winter's Triangle Offense |url=https://www.si.com/nba/bulls/old-school/the-impact-of-tex-winters-triangle-offense |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 2, 2023 |access-date=November 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="hungry"/> In his book ''Eleven Rings'', Jackson recalled, "I was planning to ask Michael to reduce the number of shots he took so that other members of the team could get more involved in the offense. I knew this would be a challenge for him."<ref>{{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Phil |author-link=Phil Jackson |author2=Hugh Delehanty |date=2013 |title=Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success |url= |location=New York |publisher=Penguin Press |page= |isbn=978-1-59420-511-8}}</ref> In ''[[The Last Dance (miniseries)|The Last Dance]]'', Jordan admitted he was initially reluctant to back the system.<ref name="hungry">{{cite web |last=Cancian |first=Dan |title=How Both 'The Last Dance' and 'The Jordan Rules' Kept the Chicago Bulls Hungry For Success, According to Book's Author |url=https://www.newsweek.com/michael-jordan-jordan-rules-sam-smith-interview-1502604 |website=Newsweek |date=May 8, 2020 |access-date=November 15, 2024}}</ref> Nevertheless, he eventually embraced the change, which led to success for the team.<ref>{{cite news |last=Golliver |first=Ben |title='The Last Dance' Episode 4 recap: For Michael Jordan, toppling the Pistons was a driving force |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/26/michael-jordan-documentary-episode-four-recap/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 26, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2024 |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207072658/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/26/michael-jordan-documentary-episode-four-recap/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[1990–91 NBA season|1990–91 season]], Jordan won his second MVP award after averaging 31.5 ppg on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rpg, and 5.5 apg for the regular season.<ref name="dbb" /> The Bulls finished in first place in their division for the first time in sixteen years and set a franchise record with 61 wins in the regular season.<ref name="dbbulls" /> With [[Scottie Pippen]] developing into an All-Star, the Bulls had elevated their play. The Bulls defeated the [[1990–91 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] and the [[1990–91 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]] in the opening two rounds of [[1991 NBA playoffs|the playoffs]]. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where their rival, the [[1990–91 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]], awaited them;<ref name="1990–91">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120628223111/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamscores.htm?tm=CHI&yr=1990&lg=n "Chicago Bulls 1990–91 Game Log and Scores"]}}. ''Database Basketball''. . Retrieved June 9, 2017.</ref> this time, the Bulls beat the Pistons in a four-game sweep.<ref>Brown, Clifton (May 28, 1991). [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/28/sports/basketball-bulls-brush-aside-pistons-for-eastern-title.html "Basketball; Bulls Brush Aside Pistons for Eastern Title"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125101237/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/28/sports/basketball-bulls-brush-aside-pistons-for-eastern-title.html |date=January 25, 2017 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

The Bulls advanced to [[1991 NBA Finals|the Finals]] for the first time in franchise history to face the [[1990–91 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]. The Bulls won the series in five games, and compiled a 15–2 playoff record along the way.<ref name="1990–91" />  Perhaps the best-known moment of the series came in Game 2 when, attempting a dunk, Jordan avoided a potential [[Sam Perkins]] block by switching the ball from his right hand to his left in mid-air to lay the shot into the basket.<ref>[[Wilbon, Michael]] (June 7, 1991). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/jordan/articles/layup91.htm "Great Shot! Jordan's Best Amazingly Goes One Better"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104073335/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/jordan/articles/layup91.htm |date=November 4, 2012 }}. ''The Washington Post''. p. D01. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In his first Finals appearance, Jordan had 31.2 ppg on 56% shooting from the field, 11.4 apg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 spg, and 1.4 bpg.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/jordan/mj9091.html "1991 Finals stats"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105074353/http://www.nba.com/jordan/mj9091.html|date=November 5, 2012}}. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> Jordan won his first [[NBA Finals MVP]] award<ref name="fnl">[https://www.nba.com/history/awards/finals-mvp "NBA Finals MVP Award Winners"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812222132/https://www.nba.com/history/finalsmvps.html|date=August 12, 2017}}. October 23, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.</ref> and cried while holding the Finals trophy.<ref name="classicbio">Schwartz, Larry (2002). [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Jordan_Michael.html "Michael Jordan transcends hoops"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003153511/https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Jordan_Michael.html|date=October 3, 2022}}. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

Jordan and the Bulls continued their dominance in the [[1991–92 NBA season|1991–92 season]], establishing a 67–15 record, topping their franchise record from the 1990–91 campaign.<ref name="dbbulls" /> Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with averages of 30.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 6.1 apg on 52% shooting.<ref name="MJ" /> After winning a physical seven-game series over the [[1991–92 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] in the second round of [[1992 NBA playoffs|the playoffs]] and finishing off the [[1991–92 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] in the Conference Finals in six games, the Bulls met [[Clyde Drexler]] and the [[1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]] in [[1992 NBA Finals|the Finals]]. The media, hoping to recreate a [[Celtics–Lakers rivalry|Magic–Bird rivalry]], highlighted the similarities between "Air" Jordan and Clyde "The Glide" during the pre-Finals hype.<ref name="sport-illustrated-cover">[https://www.si.com/vault/issue/711065/1/ "On a Collision Course"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306132648/http://www.si.com/vault/issue/711065/1 |date=March 6, 2017 }}. ''Sports Illustrated''. May 11, 1992. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

In a Game 1 victory, Jordan scored a Finals-record 35 points in the first half, including a record-setting six [[three-point field goal]]s.<ref name="NBA1991–92">[http://www.nba.com/history/jordan_92_finals.html "Jordan Blazes Away From Long Range"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105074424/http://www.nba.com/history/jordan_92_finals.html|date=November 5, 2012}}. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> After the sixth three-pointer, he jogged down the court shrugging as he looked courtside. [[Marv Albert]], who broadcast the game, later stated that it was as if Jordan was saying: "I can't believe I'm doing this."<ref>[http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/finals/Memory_Lane.html "A Stroll Down Memory Lane"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020202721/http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/finals/Memory_Lane.html|date=October 20, 2012}}. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> The Bulls went on to defeat the Blazers in six games. Jordan was named Finals MVP for the second year in a row,<ref name="fnl" /> and finished the series averaging 35.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 6.5 apg, while shooting 52.6% from the floor.<ref>{{cite web |title=1992 NBA Finals Trail Blazers vs. Bulls |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1992-nba-finals-trail-blazers-vs-bulls.html |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141724/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1992-nba-finals-trail-blazers-vs-bulls.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1992–93 NBA season|1992–93 season]], despite a 32.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 5.5 apg campaign, including a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting,<ref name="MJ" /><ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.html "1992–93 NBA Awards Voting"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404025712/https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.html |date=April 4, 2020 }}. ''Basketball Reference''. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Jordan's streak of consecutive MVP seasons ended, as he lost the award to his friend [[Charles Barkley]],<ref name="Adams" /> upsetting him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zillgitt |first=Jeff |date=September 19, 2020 |url=https://usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/jeff-zillgitt/2020/09/19/lebron-james-should-have-more-than-four-mvps-dominance/5839698002/ |title=LeBron James should have more than four MVPs, given his dominance |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003043423/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/jeff-zillgitt/2020/09/19/lebron-james-should-have-more-than-four-mvps-dominance/5839698002/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan and the Bulls met Barkley and his [[1992–93 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] in the [[1993 NBA Finals]]. The Bulls won their third NBA championship on a game-winning shot by [[John Paxson]] and a last-second block by [[Horace Grant]], but Jordan was once again Chicago's leader. He averaged a Finals-record 41.0 ppg during the six-game series,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19921993.html "Paxson's Trey Propels Bulls Into NBA History"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025183404/http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19921993.html|date=October 25, 2012}}. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> and became the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.<ref name="fnl" /> Jordan scored more than 30 points in every game of the series, including 40 or more points in four consecutive games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Jordan 1992–93 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1993 |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410151240/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1993/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> With his third Finals triumph, Jordan capped off a seven-year run where he attained seven scoring titles and three championships, but there were signs that Jordan was tiring of his massive celebrity and all of the non-basketball hassles in his life.<ref>McCallum, Jack (October 18, 1993). [https://www.si.com/vault/1993/10/18/129606/michael-jordan-the-desire-isnt-there "'The Desire Isn't There'"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818084103/https://www.si.com/vault/1993/10/18/129606/michael-jordan-the-desire-isnt-there |date=August 18, 2018 }}. ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>