Why Kevin Durant’s game-winning shot sparked reminiscences of Jordan for the ’89 Bulls

PHOENIX — The comparability surfaced not lengthy after Kevin Durant completed off the Chicago Bulls on Monday. In the ultimate seconds, the Phoenix Suns ahead buried a double-pump, did-he-just-do-that jumper to provide the Suns a 115-113 win.

WATCHING ON REPLAY ALL NIGHT LONG! pic.twitter.com/EEw60HC8Uf

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 23, 2024

If you thought Durant’s unbelievable shot resembled Michael Jordan’s iconic double-pump jumper to get rid of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the primary spherical of the 1989 playoffs, you’re not alone. A few the Bulls from that very group agree.

An analyst for NBC Sports Chicago, Will Perdue watched Monday night time’s recreation from a studio in Chicago. As quickly as he noticed Durant’s shot drop, he instantly acknowledged the importance.

“That was a double-pump!” mentioned Perdue, who was in his rookie season out of Vanderbilt with the Bulls through the 1989 playoffs. “That’s the same thing Jordan did against (Craig) Ehlo in ’89. I was there!”

Those round him weren’t satisfied.

“Watch it again,” Perdue mentioned.

Obviously, the circumstances had been completely different. Chicago’s win in 1989 got here in a first-round elimination recreation, win or go dwelling. Phoenix’s recreation Monday night time unfolded through the center of the season. And not like the 1989 recreation, when Chicago trailed Cleveland 100-99 when Jordan obtained the ball, this recreation was tied when Suns guard Grayson Allen ready to inbound with 6.3 seconds left.

But like 1989, all people within the constructing knew the place the ball was going. In 1989, it was Jordan. On Monday at Footprint Center, it was Durant. Jordan needed to double-pump to maintain Ehlo from blocking it. Durant had to take action to maintain streaking Alex Caruso from deflecting it from behind.

Phoenix’s inbounds cross went to massive man Jusuf Nurkic, who dished again to Durant. Chicago’s went on to Jordan. Durant took one left-handed dribble. Jordan took two.

Durant double-pumped and shot from 17 — good.

Jordan double-pumped and shot from 17 — good.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Perdue mentioned he remembered Jordan’s shot prefer it was yesterday. In 1989, he was caught behind Bill Cartwright and Dave Corzine within the Bulls’ rotation. The play had unfolded on the far finish of the courtroom, away from the Chicago bench. Perdue stood on the baseline in Cleveland’s Richfield Coliseum. He noticed Jordan soar. He noticed him double-pump.

On Monday, he noticed Durant do the identical, altering his shot mid-air as a result of Durant noticed Caruso coming from behind.

“Caruso almost blocked it — and there’s a defender in the front?” Perdue mentioned. “That’s one of those things, it’s almost like spidey sense. He’s got a third eye. Or an eye in the back of his head or something. … The perfect timing of the pump and then to take it back up, after Caruso had swung through to go up and shoot it. And if you notice, it was so pure the net barely moved.”

How exhausting is it to make such a shot?

“Basically, like taking a car that’s going 100 mph, jam on the brakes, throw it in reverse and go the opposite direction,” Perdue mentioned. “And then still jam it back in first gear and go back the way you’re going. To try to be able to stop all that inertia in order to do that, on a scale of 1 to 10, it’s 12.”

The similarities don’t finish with Durant’s last shot. In truth, his efficiency Monday night time just about mirrored Jordan’s from 1989. Check this out:

In the primary half …

Durant was 4 of 13 from the sphere.

Jordan was 5 of 13.

In the second half …

Durant scored 30 factors.

Jordan scored 30 factors.

In the fourth quarter …

Durant scored 17 factors.

Jordan scored 17 factors.

For the sport …

Durant completed 16 of 32 for 43 factors.

Jordan completed 17 of 32 for 44.

In 1989, Sam Vincent was a reserve guard for the Bulls. In the Game 5 win over the Cavs, he performed eight minutes, accumulating two factors and two assists. He was on the bench when Jordan broke Cleveland’s coronary heart.

“We realized how massive the second was when it comes to the win and advancing within the playoffs, however we didn’t notice the historical past that will be created round ‘The Shot,’” Vincent said. “A very impactful shot. An amazing shot. One of many for Michael. But it had significant importance for how the Bulls kind of grew up from there.”

Vincent missed Durant’s shot. As males’s basketball coach at Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla., he was watching movie Monday night time, making ready for Friday’s recreation towards Keep Striving Prep. But after The Athletic despatched him the video, Vincent agreed to have a look.

His response: Oh, wow.

“After looking at it a couple times,” Vincent mentioned, “I did see the incredible, uncanny comparison to that shot Michael took in Cleveland.”

“What Kevin Durant did tonight, that was special.”
– Head Coach Frank Vogel

🎥 Relive KD’s game-winner from all angles. pic.twitter.com/ckmqI30c6U

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 23, 2024

Vincent mentioned each gamers used their distinctive abilities to their benefit. For Jordan, it was his skill to hold. (“I don’t see how he stayed in the air that long,” shocked Cleveland heart Brad Daugherty had mentioned after the 1989 recreation.) For Durant, it was his size.

“I don’t think it’s a shot that you practice, but I think a shot that you do practice — which I know Michael practiced a lot and I’m sure I’ve seen footage of Kevin doing it as well — and that’s being able to take a hard penetration dribble to a spot and then really elevate,” Vincent mentioned. “You practice that shot over and over and in a game, the defense closes out. But because you worked on that shot, it’s a little bit easier to maneuver the ball to be able to get that shot off.”

Durant, 35, has performed nicely all season, however recently he’s taken his recreation to a better stage. The Western Conference Player of the Week, he had 40 factors in a house win over Indiana. An evening later, he torched the Bulls. On Wednesday, he had 12 factors, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Phoenix routed Dallas, 132-109.  After a gradual begin, Phoenix (26-18) has received seven in a row. Suddenly, these preseason championship hopes don’t look so unrealistic.

In his seventeenth season, Durant has performed a number one function within the reversal.

“I hope that the Phoenix Suns fans truly understand what they’re witnessing,” Perdue mentioned. “And this has nothing to do with age. This has to do with greatness.”

(Photo of Durant’s game-winner Monday towards the Bulls: Garrett Ellwood / NBAE by way of Getty Images)