Source: VINCE BUCCI / Getty
Michael Jordan rightfully captured the adoration of fans worldwide due to his basketball exploits and was an inspiration to several future legends as well. During episodes five and six of ESPN’s The Last Dance, the connection between the late Kobe Bryant and Jordan gets examined, along with Jordan’s handling of the immense fame he gained.
Episode five opened with a tribute to Bryant, who passed away earlier this year in a tragic accident along with his daughter and several others. Bryant came into the league as a hot commodity and appeared to be willing himself to be an heir apparent to Jordan’s crown despite the fact that the elder player was still very much a factor on the court.
A portion of episode five that has sparked a good degree of chatter is Jordan’s disinterest in activism and social justice concerns of the time, which contrasted greatly with his teammate, Craig Hodges. It appears that Jordan’s reluctance to activism was his personal view that he merely saw himself as an athlete, albeit the world’s most popular one at the heights of his career. Even now, Jordan didn’t appear apologetic or remorseful.
In episode six, the mystique of Jordan’s fame and talent is juxtaposed against his less savory bits, including his attitude in practice, gambling habits, and surly nature overall. It also highlighted how good Charles Barkley was and how the Chicago Bulls taking out the Barkley’s Phoenix Suns for the 1993 NBA championship. Ahead of the contest, Barkley was one of the league’s top talents amassing big numbers in a much tougher league defensively than the one we see today.
Across Twitter, the reactions to episodes five and six of The Last Dance have been cropping up since their airings and we’ve got them listed out below.
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Photo: Getty
1.
We all miss you Kobe 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/7K2IRjExxh
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 4, 2020
2.
Forever linked. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/lray0Gkwob
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 4, 2020
3.
KOBE WAS MY MJ🙏🏽😢
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 4, 2020
4.
Interviewer: hey mike, did you remove Isiah Thomas on the dream team?
— jvn colvvyn (@jancolwyn) May 4, 2020
Jordan: #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/pyUqvP9neq
5.
Michael. Kobe. Basketball Royalty.#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/mmlK3XlbgW
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 4, 2020
6.
The timing of Charles Barkley being inserted into this documentary couldn’t have come at a better time. As we’ve recently had to listen to Draymond Green’s Shrek donkey teeth having ass say he’s better than Chuck. Like actual league MVP in Jordan’s prime Chuck. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/U596LXALva
— who do you think you are i am (@PabloEscobarner) May 4, 2020
7.
People said #TheLastDance was gonna hurt re-watching our Knicks squad lose to MJ?
— It’s a Hard Knicks Life (@HardKnicksLife) May 4, 2020
Nah. Sh*t made me PROUD. We were a BADASS team going toe to toe against the greatest player who ever lived.
Respected. Fearless.
THE NEW YORK KNICKS!
What REALLY HURTS... everything since. pic.twitter.com/XUQjxDxhWj
8.
The pacing in #TheLastDance is incredible, in part because they don’t stray from the core topics. But, man, in the doc Magic goes from playing against Michael in the 91 Finals to working the 92 Finals for NBC with no mention of the monumental event that happened in between
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) May 4, 2020
9.
The first time I played against Michael Jordan he was on me light white on rice...
— Eldridge Recasner (@erecasner) May 4, 2020
I asked him “Why are you defending me so tough (I thought somebody told him I said something about him)?
He said “I just want you to know why they consider me the best”!#Respect#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/PfnMbEpFzB
10.
Biggest Ls of #TheLastDance Night 3
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 4, 2020
1. Adidas Player Relations Department
2. Whoever guarded MJ after he lost quarters to security
3. Sportsmanship
4. Everybody waiting for original Jordan 1 price to drop
5. Drexler
6. That guy who was convinced he won the golf hole
7. Draymond
11.
“That little Laker boy” #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/VLpmJ2nXwe
— Ricardo Brito Reis (@rbritoreis) May 4, 2020
12.
Oh kobe. ♥️ #TheLastDance
— Cj Cansino (@cjcansino) May 4, 2020
13.
Me everytime Kobe Bryant is on screen.
— Jun Banzon (@JunieBanzon) May 4, 2020
We all miss you Kobe 💔 #MambaForever #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/yze0iEutiB
14.
Mr. Wozniak was a great man and very kind to my family. It was fantastic to see him portrayed so well in #TheLastDance FUN FACT: I coached Mr. Wozniak’s kids when they were in 7th and 8th grade. RIP to a Legend. pic.twitter.com/opCglmKspi
— Spring Training Zo (@SouthsideZo) May 4, 2020
15.
This is how I felt when @espn ‘s #TheLastDance started playing Rosa Parks by #Outkast. That was the first outkast album I bought and it was so good!!!! pic.twitter.com/exqc6NNayb
— Emsee Milk *blue checkmark* (@EmseeMilk) May 4, 2020
16.
In all my life, I’ve only witnessed 1 dumb question.. which is asking my Dad, ‘Who takes the final shot?’ in an NBA game😒
— Marcus Jordan (@HEIRMJ) May 4, 2020
Uhhh, duhhh🤨#TheLastDance 📹🎥📽🎞🐐🏆
17.
I immediately turned the volume up when “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest and “Rosa Parks” by Outkast came on in #TheLastDance.
— Dre Perez (@dreperez) May 4, 2020
18.
If what I do inspires you, great. If it doesn’t, maybe I’m not the one you should be following.” - Michael Jordan #TheLastDance 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) May 4, 2020
19.
Damn, Obama went from just being a former resident of Chicago to the president in just two weeks. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/xYwXjFCmQE
— Joe Stannard (@JoeStannard96) May 4, 2020
20.
This part tho. 😢#kobe #thelastdance pic.twitter.com/AOol2fvPmf
— MORNINGSTAR (@MORNINGSTARdj) May 4, 2020
21.
Loved MJ lacing his sneakers to end the ep 5. Don’t know why but it was satisfying 😂🤔
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) May 4, 2020
22.
MJ’s mom 2/2... 1. don’t quit basketball 2. go listen to NIKE #LastDance
— Alex Caruso (@ACFresh21) May 4, 2020
23.
I wish Jordan’s was 108$ with tax today!!! 😂😂😂
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) May 4, 2020
24.
PURE GREATNESS 🙏🏼🙌🏼#TheLastDance #Episode5 pic.twitter.com/RzWZlsVHKx
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) May 4, 2020
25.
😥😥😥😥 that intro just tore me apart man. Man I wish Kobe was here to see this man. Thank you for sharing that beautiful and special footage Mike! We miss you Bean❤️🙏🏽! #TheLastDance
— Quinn Cook (@QCook323) May 4, 2020