- The footage for ESPN's docuseries "The Last Dance" sat untouched for 18 years because
Michael Jordan had to give permission to release it. - After years of turning down chances to release it, Jordan finally gave permission in 2016, just as
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were celebrating their iconic 2016 championship, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. - There has been speculation that Jordan released the footage to "protect" his legacy as the
NBA 's greatest player of all-time, and the docuseries is likely to reignite debates about Jordan vs. James as the NBA's greatest. - Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
The footage for ESPN's docuseries "The Last Dance," which focuses on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls sat untouched for 18 years.
In order to gain the unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the Bulls during the 1997-98 season, NBA Entertainment had to grant Jordan control of the footage, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported. Neither party could release the 500-plus hours of footage without permission from the other party.
After years of turning down opportunities to release the footage,"
According to Shelburne, Tollin flew to Charlotte in June of 2016 to meet Jordan after making a pitch to Curtis Polk and Estee Portnoy, two business associates of Jordan's.
Polk and Portnoy told Tollin to come with them to meet Jordan, though it would be informal as Jordan reportedly hated meetings.
Tollin said that on the morning of the pitch, he turned on ESPN and saw footage of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrating their 2016 championship in the streets of Cleveland. The parade was Cleveland's first championship in decades and drew millions to the streets, with people hanging out on balconies, roofs, and parking garages to watch.
"The universe has such a funny sense of humor," Tollin told Shelburne.
According to Shelburne, Tollin won Jordan over with a pitch that included a letter telling Jordan that young fans needed to see footage of him as a player.Jordan looked at thumbnail sketches of each episode and was impressed by the other
Still, Shelburne wrote that the approval came as James and the Golden State Warriors — who had just broken Jordan and the Bulls' record of 72 regular season wins — "got dangerously close to challenging" Jordan's legacy.
It's unclear how swayed Jordan was by James' iconic championship, but The Ringer's Bill Simmons, who was with ESPN while "The Last Dance" footage sat in a vault, also suggested Jordan gave his permission to protect his legacy.
"Jordan never wanted it, and you know what I think happened is, the middle of the decade, especially after LeBron won that [Cavaliers] title, when things really started to shift and all of a sudden there was a Jordan versus LeBron argument, I think for the first time Jordan and his camp realized, 'Oh, we've got to protect our legacy,'"Simmons said on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd.
The docuseries is likely to reignite debates about Jordan vs. James as the NBA's "G.O.A.T."
Jordan, of course, has more championships and perhaps an insurmountable legacy. And "The Last Dance" will introduce Jordan's greatness to a whole new audience who never watched him live.
But James holds a lead in the counting stats and still looks to be on top of his game. Prior to the 2019-20 season being suspended for the coronavirus, James was authoring an MVP-level season, and the Lakers were in position to compete for a championship.
The debate only figures to live on.
Episodes 3 and 4 of "The Last Dance" air on Sunday, April 26.
- Read more:
- A veteran NBA reporter who covered Michael Jordan and LeBron James gave a simple explanation for why MJ is the GOAT, and it has nothing to do with rings
- Michael Jordan turned down partying with the 'traveling cocaine circus' Bulls as a rookie and may have saved his career
- Michael Jordan called his iconic 63-point playoff performance against the Celtics after losing a round of golf to Danny Ainge the day before
- WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The key members of the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls documented in 'The Last Dance'