ON THIS DAY (1995)—If you gave time machines to every Chicago Bulls fan on the planet, most would set the date to the 1990s. Michael Jordan was running the show, Scottie Pippen was by his side, and the Bulls were on top of the world. There have been some fun, talented Bulls squads since then, but nothing will ever compare to Jordan.
Time machines don’t exist, but we can still take a glance at the past. And on this day 28 years ago, May 22, 1995, Jordan graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Chicago’s series against the Shaquille O’Neal-led Orlando Magic had just wrapped up, with Jordan losing to the youngster after returning to the sport just in time for the postseason.
The cover showed Jordan meeting O’Neal at the rim with the words “Battle of the Titans” printed on the front page in large font. Two of the biggest figures in sports going head to head were bound to create a spectacle, and the people got their money’s worth.
Today in 1995, the cover of Sports Illustrated. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/cUbioigtpf
— TodayInSports (@TodayInSportsCo) May 22, 2023
O’Neal was great during the series, putting up 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles in all but one game, including a 23-point, 22-rebound performance in Game 5.
As for Jordan, he also played well, outside of a 19-point dud in Game 1. He had 38 points or more in three of the six games, but it wasn’t enough to take down O’Neal and the Magic.
Although the season has an asterisk next to it because Jordan only played in 17 regular-season games, O’Neal took down the Bulls in the middle of their dynasty. At the time, he was 23 years old, but the big man was already shaping up to be a legend.
