To think that this magnanimous documentary was pitched to the masses during this time last year and that it’s being released two months earlier than its June 2020 debut date is more than a treat.
Rather, it comes as a beacon of reassurance that the NBA family does indeed look out for its millions upon millions of patrons who pay their undivided attention towards those storylines that stretch across this great league. And speaking of the entertainment aspect so desperately conveyed by the league and its TV partners, we’ve gotten some basketball-related content in the past two weeks, most notably the NBA 2K20 Players Tournament and the NBA HORSE Challenge.
But now, expect all of your social media sites to blow up after tonight’s kickoff of the 10-part docuseries known as “The Last Dance”, a more explicit, descriptive look at the emergence of the dominant Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, its championship reigns and eventual demise leading up to their 1997-1998 season.
As said earlier, this was supposed to air shortly after the conclusion of this year’s finals but as reality would tell the current story of humanity, an NBA Finals, let alone any playoff series, seems highly unlikely to start on time this year due to the league’s suspension as a result of the COVID-19 crisis directly affecting the world as we know it.
So, thanks to a little intervention from the likes of fans, NBA and WNBA players, and a certain superstar by the name of LeBron James begging the sports network to drop the documentary earlier on Twitter, ESPN is deciding to release a compilation of more than 22 years worth of concealed, unedited, and raw film detailing quite arguably the most memorable, marketable and influential run in the history of sports that involved six championships, multiple All-Star selections, year-end award recipients and the construction of a legacy so impactful that it will forever go un-tarnished.
Directed by Jason Hehir, this miniseries focuses on the 1997-98 champion Bulls and plans to delve deep into just what transpired in the breakup between Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr and no, it won’t pull any punches. With everybody being in the house as a result of this worldwide quarantine, it’s no secret that the anticipation for what could go down as the most anticipated sports documentary of all time has fervently increased.
We’re likely to see a different side of the man fans declare as “His Airness” tonight, so that initially mum Michael Jordan, who we all knew never gave the media that kind of kerosene to start their journalistic fire, will finally open up to the NBA universe and his many fans and prognosticators alike about why he felt the Bulls didn’t want him anymore after ’98 and what he really thought of his running mates in Chicago red during their years atop the NBA mountain.
And, some perceptions will be changed in regards to understanding his persona as a leader, cultural emblem, player, and person. That’s bound to happen. But, we’ll leave it to the producers of this already legendary series to describe that to us in whatever way they will. What will be shown tonight will be that never-before-seen footage of Jordan’s final days in a Bulls uniform, including personal tales and opinions from his teammates and coaches, and those closest around him during his time in the spotlight.
We’re scheduled to hear some wild stories tonight (apparently, more than just the already-known Jordan punching Steve Kerr in a heated practice) and in the next five weeks ahead, as the TV-14 edits of parts 1&2 air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 while the uncensored versions of the series will take place on ESPN.
The rest of the schedule goes as follows:
‘The Last Dance’ Schedule
- Sunday, April 19, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 1 and 2
- Sunday, April 26, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 3 and 4
- Sunday, May 3, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 5 and 6
- Sunday, May 10, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 7 and 8
- Sunday, May 17, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 9 and 10
*Encore showings of the previous week’s episodes will air at 7 p.m. ET.
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