“After much consideration, I am now prepared to rule” – When Utah judge ruled Michael Jordan pushed off in his final shot in ’98

“After much consideration, I am now prepared to rule” – When Utah judge ruled Michael Jordan pushed off in his final shot in ’98 originally appeared on Basketball Network.

“After much consideration, I am now prepared to rule” – When Utah judge ruled Michael Jordan pushed off in his final shot in ’98 originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The Utah Jazz faithful are among the most loyal fans in the NBA. They are passionate about their home team’s legacy, and in fact, some even still argue that Michael Jordan pushed off Bryon Russell in the 1998 Finals.

That’s exactly what Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant stated when discussing the treatment of convicted drug abusers in his state back in 2017. While talking to a group of reporters, the judge joked about Jordan’s alleged push-off in his iconic game-winning shot in Game 6 of the ’98 NBA Finals.

“I know that some argue he did not push off; most of them live in Chicago,” Durrant jokingly said via Lee Davidson of the Salt Lake Tribune. “But after much consideration, I am now prepared to rule. He pushed off. And if you think I don’t have the power to decide that, you haven’t read the Utah Constitution.”

NBA referee commented on MJ’s alleged push off

A judge’s ruling carries a lot of weight inside the courtroom, but not on the basketball court. That job belongs to the referees. As it turns out, one of the officials of Game 6 of the ’98 Finals also once shared his thoughts on Jordan’s alleged push-off.

Former longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford was alongside his fellow seasoned officials, Dick Bavetta and Hue Hollins in Game 6. Though he had witnessed the play up close and personal as it happened, Crawford still admitted that it was hard to tell if Jordan really pulled off a dirty play on Russell.

According to Crawford, the play could go either way and it ended up being a no-call. Moreover, Crawford argued that judging by how things played out after Jordan made the shot, perhaps it was meant to be that way.

“There’s a thing we talk about in refereeing; call what you see, see what you call,” Crawford once said before weighing in on whether or not Jordan pushed off. “And that play is difficult. And it’s a debatable play. So, you can put that play in front of 100 people, and you’ll go 50-50 on that play.”

“And you can’t base it on what happened to Russell,” he pointed out.

“Because if you blew the whistle based on what happened to Russell, easy call to make. You have to call what you see, what Jordan does, and you don’t see it. And when you see it, I don’t know if that was a clear-cut push. So, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. And that play has left all these sports fans to debate, and it’s a beautiful thing,” he added.

That shot is etched in NBA history no matter what

Jordan’s illustrious NBA career is filled with a myriad of iconic moments that have left an indelible mark on the sport. Among these unforgettable highlights, his game-winning shot in Game 6 of the ’98 NBA Finals stands out prominently, often regarded as one of the most talked-about plays in basketball history.

Even years later, the debate surrounding that crucial moment continues to ignite intense conversations among fans and analysts alike. Many still argue that Jordan indeed pushed Russell off just enough to create the space.

Whether one believes this to be true or not, the lasting impact of that play remains undebatable. It has been forever etched into the annals of NBA history and celebrated as one of the greatest shots of all time.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.

Source: Utah News