Michael Jordan returned partway through the 1994-1995 season to a different NBA than the one he left in 1993. Hakeem Olajuwon had established himself as the league’s best players, his former teammate Scottie Pippen had developed into an MVP candidate, and Shaquille O’Neil’s Orlando Magic dominated the Eastern Conference. Jordan got his chance to seize back control over the league in the 1995 playoffs, but his comeback tour came to a halt in a second-round series against Shaq’s Magic.
MICHAEL JORDAN WAS ELIMINATED FROM THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FINAL TIME
The Bulls fought their way to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference after Jordan’s return midway through the season. Their first opponent in the postseason was the fourth-seeded Charlotte Hornets featuring All-Stars Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson. The Bulls dispatched Charlotte in four games to earn a semifinal matchup with Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, and former teammate Horace Grant.
The No.1 seed Magic took Game 1 behind a 26-point performance from Shaq. From there, the two teams traded victories until the Magic won back-to-back in Game 5 and 6 to send the Bulls home. The Magic became the first team to eliminate Michael Jordan from the playoffs since the Detroit Pistons in 1990.
The early exit no doubt fueled the Bulls’ historic 1996 championship campaign where they finished 72-10 in the regular season and MJ, the consummate competitor, won his fourth MVP and Finals MVP awards. The Bulls also avenged themselves against the Magic that same year, sweeping them in the Conference Finals 4-0.
May 18, 1995: Orlando #Magic handed the Chicago #Bulls a decisive Game 6 defeat in the ECSF, the final playoff series loss of SG Michael Jordan's career and 1st since 1990
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 18, 2021
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