How the Chicago Bulls won Game 6 vs. the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals

Steve Kerr had to “bail out” Michael Jordan.

© Anne Ryan-USA TODAY

The Chicago Bulls' second "three-peat" presented its fair share of challenges—most of them coming from the Utah Jazz. On June 13, 1997, Michael Jordan and the Bulls had to dig deep to beat the Jazz in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals. It was also then that the Bulls found a new hero in Steve Kerr.

Kerr was ready

With the game tied at 86 and just seconds remaining on the clock, everybody in the United Center knew where the ball was going — to MJ. Already with 39 points, Jordan already sunk the Jazz with a buzzer-beater in Game 1, and they weren't going to let it happen again.

"When Phil drew up the play at the end, everybody in the gym, everybody on TV knew [the ball] was coming to me. I looked at Steve and said, 'This is your chance,' because I knew Stockton is going to come over and help and I'm going to come to you," said Jordan.

Kerr recalled telling Jordan he'll be ready for the pass and that he'll knock it down. The rest was history as Jordan shed a double-team and kicked the ball out to a waiting Kerr, who sank a straightaway jumper to give the Bulls an 88-86 lead. One defensive stop later, and the Bulls were champions once again.

Steve had jokes

At the Bulls' championship parade, Kerr got his time at the podium and shared his version of the events that happened late in Game 6. Safe to say, it was far different from what actually happened, much to the delight of his teammates and the crowd.

"A lot of people have been asking me about the shot the other night, and there have been some misconceptions about what actually happened. I wanted to clear it up. When we called timeout with 25 seconds to go, we went into the huddle, and Phil told Michael, 'I want you to take the last shot.' And Michael said, 'You know what, Phil, I don't feel real comfortable in these situations. So maybe we ought to go in another direction—why don't we go to Steve?' So I thought to myself, 'Well, I guess I gotta bail Michael out again. Anyway, the shot went in, and that's my story. And I'm sticking to it," Kerr jokingly shared.