ESPN Last Dance Special Air Dates Announced

In the fall of 1997, as Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls began their quest to win a sixth NBA title in eight years, they agreed to let a film crew follow them all season long. The result would be a remarkable portrait of an iconic player and a celebrated team – a portrait only now being revealed, more than two decades later, in “The Last Dance,” a 10-part documentary series from ESPN Films and Netflix.

As the series chronicles the 1997-98 season in-depth, it also tells the story of how the legend of Jordan and the Bulls came to be, going all the way back to the beginning. Every chapter of Jordan’s career is covered, from his rise as a high school star in North Carolina, to his breakout with the 1982 national champion Tar Heels, to his emergence as a phenomenon in the NBA, and worldwide marketing force and cultural figure. Then of course, there are his achievements with the Bulls – a hard-earned rise to the top of the league, three straight titles, a hiatus to play baseball, and then an extraordinary return that concludes with “The Last Dance,” as coach Phil Jackson named it – with the team knowing through the 1997-98 season that in all likelihood this would be their final run together.

It’s an unlikely scenario that serves as a fascinating backdrop for the inside tale of that season, with extensive profiles of Jordan’s key teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, as well as Jackson and polarizing general manager Jerry Krause. All throughout, the tension and conflict that defined that final championship run is very much on display for fans to experience.

The result is one of the most fascinating sports documentary series ever produced  – a series viewers won’t want to miss.