Revisited: "Whatever, f**k this bulls**t" - Ron Harper recalls wanting to guard Michael Jordan on 'The Shot' in 1989 playoffs
"The Shot" is arguably one of the most famous shots of Michael Jordan's career. Jordan hit a game-winning buzzer beater to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1989 playoffs.
Jordan hit the famous shot over Craig Ehlo, who was one of the best players for the Cavaliers at the time. However, Ehlo's then-teammate, Ron Harper, wanted to guard Jordan on that play. The five-time champion felt that he could have done a better job than Ehlo, but then-Cavaliers coach Lenny Wilkens disagreed.
"Coach I got MJ. I got MJ," Harper said a couple of years ago. "But the coach goes, 'I am going to put Ehlo on MJ.' And I'm like, "Yeah, okay. Whatever, f**k this bulls**t."
"F--- this bulls---." 😅
Ron Harper talking about "The Shot" by MJ in The Last Dance. https://t.co/WYyhBoPhMH
Harper was a tall guard and might have done a better job of marking Jordan than Ehlo. Nevertheless, Jordan's iconic celebration after hitting the game winner will never be forgotten.
Eventually, things worked out for Harper. He was traded by the Cavaliers to the LA Clippers in 1989 before signing with the Bulls as a free agent in 1994. Harper became an integral part of Chicago's team that completed a three-peat from 1996 to 1998. He added two more championships to his resume as part of the LA Lakers in 2000 and 2001.
Michael Jordan's game-winner against the Cavaliers in 1989 catapulted him to an even higher level of superstardom
Michael Jordan was already a superstar heading into 1989 playoffs. However, the game-winning shot against the Cavaliers catapulted him to an even higher level of superstardom.
The Chicago Bulls entered the 1989 postseason as the sixth seed and drew the third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls won Game 1 in Cleveland before the Cavaliers evened up the series. Chicago took a 2-1 series lead, but the Cavaliers forced a deciding Game 5 with an overtime win in Game 4.
Game 5 went down to the wire, with the Cavaliers having a one-point lead late in the final quarter. Jordan gave the Bulls the lead with six seconds left in the game. However, Craig Ehlo executed a layup to give Cleveland a 100-99 lead with just three seconds on the clock.
Brad Sellers inbounded the ball to Jordan who created a bit of separation. Jordan then hit his iconic shot from the foul line over Ehlo and watched it ripple the net. His celebration was even more iconic as he leaped into the air and hit multiple fist pumps. In the background, a devastated Ehlo fell to the floor.
Jordan ended the game with 44 points, nine rebounds and six assists. The Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conferen semifinals. They beat the Knicks 4-2 but fell in six games against eventual champions Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.