The Last Dance: Episode 5

When episode 5 came on, I knew Kobe was going to appear. It was his rookie season as a Laker. He was playing against the greatest player in the NBA. I can't lie, a few tears came down my face as I watched Kobe talk about how much Michael influenced him as a basketball player. He was right because I feel during Kobe's era, his drive and way of playing was very similar to Michael. It makes sense why Michael was emotional at his funeral. They were really like brothers. Competed and hustled to be the best.

Although this was shortlived, I wish they showed more about their relationship on and off the court. More importantly, I wish this episode showcased how he influenced some other players as well. I was told that he also had a good relationship with Kevin Garnett. He taught him a valuable lesson during his years as a young player:

Never talk trash to Michael Jordan.

As the episode goes on, I get hyped because they start to talk about the legacy of the Air Jordan shoe. Now, imagine that Nike was not that good. It was Converse and Adidas that were the powerhouse sports companies. At first, Jordan was interested in Adidas but decided to lean towards Nike instead. Because Nike had this approach that would change the urban industry forever. To develop a shoe that reflected Jordan. "Be like Mike".

This shoe would go down to be the highest selling shoe of his time. Today, it is still one of the top hype shoes to purchase. It was that impactful. It was also successful because of how explosive and talented Michael Jordan was as a basketball player. People wanted to be like him. Adidas made a huge mistake.

Next, as the Olympics was approaching, Michael was selected to play for Team USA. Today, they are known as "The Dream Team". It is arguably the most talented Olympic basketball team in history. As Michael is joining the team, you can see that there is a controversial debate about whether they should take Isiah Thomas or not. We can reflect from previous episodes that this wasn't a logical decision. Although arguably top point guard of all time, his energy wasn't positive. He has a lot of issues with players, considering he played for the Detroit Pistons. They were known for their "Bad Boy" reputation and being overly physical in games. Trash talking and committing dangerous fouls.

Michael suggested he shouldn't be selected to play on the team because as a person, Isiah would have caused issues. Michael didn't deny his greatness and respected him for that. But, he wasn't a fan of his attitude.

The Dream Team was about to become champions of the world. Since Reebok sponsored them, they demanded the players wear their jackets with their logo or they would not receive their gold medals. Michael, as persistent as he is, thought this was ignorant by them. Especially since he was sponsored by Nike. So, he and his teammates walked on stage to retrieve their well-deserved awards. Right there, Michael is in the center. Covering the reebok logo with the American flag. I consider this a top elite move in sports. We play for the love of the game and our home. Companies need to respect that.