22 Years Ago Today, Michael Jordan Famously Switched Hands Mid-Layup In The 1991 NBA Finals

Photo by ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/ NBAE/GETTY

22 years ago today, on June 5, 1991, Michael Jordan drove the lane against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals.

As he moved past Byron Scott with the ball in his right hand, Jordan took off for the basket intending to dunk. The Lakers’ Sam Perkins came over to try to contest the shot, but Jordan switched the ball into his left hand while in midair and gently flipped it in off the glass.

The vintage Jordan effort helped the Bulls beat the Lakers 107-86 en route to their first title. Chicago set a Finals record for team shooting percentage at .617 (50-for-81). Bulls guard John Paxson also tied a Finals record by shooting 1.000 (8-for-8) from the field, tying Scott Wedman, who was 11-for-11 for Boston in Game 1 of the 1985 Finals against the Lakers.