Afterwards Jordan weakly raised his arms in triumph and his teammates rushed over to congratulate him.

As Pippen reached him, Jordan, realising Pippen would not let him fall, allowed his legs to give way and he slumped over into Pippen's arms.

"He was Michelangelo in baggy shorts, a player with such a rich imagination he transformed the game into a work of art," declared Phil Jackson, who was Chicago Bulls' coach.