Michael Jordan Was 34 Years Old in His Last Season With the Chicago Bulls

At 34 years of age, Michael Jordan was still at the peak of his powers during his final season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-98. Though nearing the end of his illustrious career, Jordan showed no signs of slowing down as he led the Bulls to their second three-peat, capturing his 6th NBA championship and 6th Finals MVP award.

Reviewing Michael Jordan‘s Legendary Career

Before analyzing Jordan‘s final Bulls season, it‘s worth recapping his legendary career accomplishments leading up to that point:

• Born in Brooklyn in 1963, MJ grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina
• Drafted 3rd overall by the Bulls in 1984 after a standout college career at UNC
• Won Rookie of the Year in 1985 after averaging 28.2 points per game
• Became the first player to win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in 1988
• Won his 1st NBA title and Finals MVP in 1991 at age 27
• Led the Bulls to their first three-peat from 1991-1993, winning 3 straight Finals MVPs
• Retired abruptly before 1993-94 season at only 30 years old
• Returned to basketball in March 1995, wearing #45 before switching back to his iconic #23
• Led the Bulls to a second three-peat from 1996-1998 to finish his career with 6 titles

In total, Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA, 13 of them with the Chicago Bulls. Let‘s take a closer look at his astonishing accomplishments in what turned out to be his final chapter with the Bulls.

Dominating the NBA at Age 34 in His Last Bulls Season

Having come out of his first brief retirement, Jordan was determined to end his Bulls career by accomplishing something never achieved before – a second three-peat.

At 34 years old, an age when most players are fading from their peak, Jordan put together an MVP-caliber season in 1997-98:

• Averaged 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game
• Shot 46.5% from the field and 23.8% from 3-point range
• Scored at least 30 points 42 times, including a 51-point outburst against the Hornets
• Named to All-NBA First Team for record 11th time in his career
• Named All-Defensive First Team for record 9th time
• Top 5 in the NBA in points per game, steals per game, PER, Win Shares, Box Plus/Minus

As these stats show, Jordan was still clearly the most dominant player in the NBA during his final Bulls season at 34 years old. His scoring average, efficiency, defense and overall play remained unmatched.

Jordan‘s brilliance powered the Bulls to the best record in the East at 62-20. He saved his best for the playoffs, averaging 32.4 points per game in the postseason as Chicago marched to the Finals again.

Cementing His Legacy With a Final Finals MVP

Facing the Utah Jazz for the second straight year in the 1998 Finals, Jordan rose to the occasion once more. He averaged 33.5 points per game as the Bulls prevailed in 6 games to capture their 6th championship.

Jordan scored 45 points in the decisive Game 6, including the legendary game-winning shot with 5 seconds left to close out his Bulls career perfectly.

His 6th Finals MVP trophy cemented Jordan as undoubtedly the greatest NBA player of all time. At 34, he showed the same unparalleled scoring ability, competitiveness and championship resolve that defined his prime.

No player in NBA history had ever averaged over 33 points per game in the Finals at Jordan‘s age. His age-defying Finals performance remains one of the crowning achievements of his impeccable career.

Comparing MJ‘s Last Dance to Other NBA Legends

To fully appreciate Jordan‘s excellence in his final Bulls season, let‘s compare it to a few other all-time greats during their last hurrahs:

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (age 41): 10.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 22.9 MPG (1989-90 season)
• Wilt Chamberlain (age 36): 13.2 PPG, 18.6 RPG, 42.3 MPG (1972-73 season)
• Kobe Bryant (age 37): 17.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 28.2 MPG (2015-16 season)
• LeBron James (age 36): 30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 37.2 MPG (2020-21 season)

Jordan clearly stands out from this group, nearly matching his career scoring average while playing over 38 minutes a game at age 34. His sustained excellence even in the twilight of his career is a testament to his legendary work ethic and competitive drive.

The Drive Behind Jordan‘s Dominance in his Mid-30s

So how did Jordan maintain such MVP-caliber play deep into his 30s? Much of it can be attributed to his unwavering work ethic and determination to be the greatest.

Some insights into what fueled his final season dominance:

• Obsessive training regimen – yoga, weightlifting, drills to keep his body prepared
• Competitive fire – constantly creating challenges and slights to motivate himself
• Mastered fundamentals – footwork, shooting, defense that relied on skill vs athleticism
• Intelligence – veteran experience to dissect defenses and pick his spots wisely
• Leadership – set the tone with his rigorous approach that teammates followed

Jordan‘s mental stamina and will to win were also unparalleled. As Bulls coach Phil Jackson said, "He was a genius at finding ways to motivate himself." At 34, he still discovered new ways to push his limits.

Life After the Last Dance – Washington Wizards Comeback

Jordan retired again in 1999 after his final triumphant season with the Bulls. He became the President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards in 2000.

But his competitive juices couldn‘t be contained in the front office. At age 38, Jordan announced he would return to the court with the Wizards for the 2001-02 season.

Though past his prime, MJ proved he could still score at an All-Star level in his two seasons with Washington:

• 2001-02: 22.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.42 SPG at age 38
• 2002-03: 20.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.50 SPG at age 39

Jordan retired for the 3rd and final time in 2003 at age 40 after his two seasons as a Wizard. Though unable to capture the magic of his Bulls days, his time in Washington showed MJ‘s supreme skill and conditioning could still compete at basketball‘s highest level.

The Last Dance Cements Jordan as the Undisputed GOAT

Michael Jordan‘s final season with the Chicago Bulls only bolstered his status as the greatest player in basketball history. At 34 years old, he turned in one of the most dominant and efficient scoring seasons by a perimeter player at that age.

Winning his 6th championship and Finals MVP in 1998 was the perfect culmination to his impeccable 13-year tenure with the Bulls. By leading Chicago to a second three-peat, Jordan cemented himself as not just the best of his era, but the best to ever play the game.

From his otherworldly athleticism and clutch scoring to his competitive spirit and work ethic, Jordan set the blueprint for being a champion. The way he persevered through challenges, motivated his teammates and finished his Bulls career on top provides a blueprint that athletes across every sport continue to follow today.

While many helped him along the way, from Phil Jackson to Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan‘s sustained excellence and dominance – even at age 34 in his final Chicago season – leaves no doubt that he is the NBA‘s undisputed GOAT. His Last Dance with the Bulls exemplified Jordan‘s legacy as a consummate champion and once-in-a-lifetime icon who fundamentally changed basketball forever.