PARIS — In the history of American sports, few teams, in any discipline, have managed to generate enough interest to become global phenomenon Like Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan. At a time when television was the only window to the rest of the world, the legendary number 23 broke the barrier that limited the NBA in North America like no other before him. Jordan was (and still is) such a sensation, to the point where it was hard to tell where the player began and the merchandising ended.
The NBA was well aware of the importance of the shooting guard and tried to exploit it to its name. Michael Jordan and his image The Chicago Bulls reach every corner of the globe.
At the height of the Jordan phenomenon, the league chose to bring the team led by Phil Jackson on tour in Europespecifically the tournament between teams that caused the most anticipation in Old continent. Hand in hand with McDonald’s, the NBA’s top sponsor at the time, in 1987 McDonald’s Championship which in the last years of the 20th century united FIBA with the American league. What started out as an effort to bring Arvydas Sabonis closer to the NBA ended up being a preseason tradition where the champions or best teams of major leagues and tournaments were measured against their respective teams opposite the lake.
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So in 1997, months after Jordan’s Bulls won their fifth ring (second in a row) they appeared in Paris to face Spain’s FC Barcelona (ACB champion), Argentina’s Atenas de Córdoba (League of Clubs champion South America), Paris. Basket Racing (French LNB champion), Benetton Treviso (Italian Serie A champion) and Greek Olympiacos (European Cup champion). In other words, the best of the best outside the United States.
In the ranks of the last set, the Olympiakosthere was a player whose career had recently taken off and had become a one of the best on the European scene. Your name, Artouras Karnisovas.
Raised under the sports umbrella of his father, Mykola, o future executive vice president of operations of the Chicago Bulls he developed to become part of the brightest generation Lithuania has ever known in this sport. Thanks to his father’s contacts, he was able to enjoy opportunities that others in that region of the former Soviet Union could not, such as access to Video films of the final matches between Lakers and Celtics in the 1980s or experience the Hawks’ visit to the ‘second world’ in 1987.
When the opportunity presented itself (and the highest levels of government allowed it), he made the jump to the NCAA at the University of Seton Hall despite the fact that he knows no English at all. In fact, his application letter to the university was written in Greek. This experience in the United States enriched his game and made him take two steps forward compared to others in his age group, quickly moving to one of the best clubs of the 90s, which was boat, and from there to the other big one, Olympiakos.
The Bulls appeared in October 1997 in the French capital as a team is detached. The problems between Scotty Pippen and management about its renewal, its unpredictability Dennis Rodman (who wasn’t in the tournament) and the heavenly aura that accompanied Jordan made this a delicate moment to get the most out of the group on a competitive level. And yet it doesn’t even trap her psg of Bozidar Malikovic It was enough to prevent them from reaching the final.
There the Greeks were waiting for them, who with Karnisova’s last-gasp winning shot gave the Piraeus the victory over Atenas de Córdoba.
“I hope the fans are very happy despite the short time I was on the pitch“.
This quote from Michael Jordan at the end of the 104-78 Finals perfectly sums up the dominance of a team that appeared in the game without Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman. The most of 300 US dollars since some paid to see the legend of the Bulls in that duel at the Palais Omnisports it was worth it. With 27 points, MJ was the figure but who was surprised Karnisovaswho was crowned top scorer for the Greeks with 19 points.
As a forward, he barely matched Jordan, connecting their routes on individual actions as a result of the game, with his main trademark Toni Kukoc. However, Karnisovas had to suffer being the unwitting protagonist of many best moments MJ’s workincluding a lost crown and other mythical genius.
“When I remember the moments I played against Michael Jordan, my memory goes back to the game against the Chicago Bulls when I was at Olympiakos.” recalled Karnisovas in 2020. “It was an incredible experience when you think they were going for their sixth championship.”
As fate would have it, almost 26 years after that afternoon at the foot of the Seine, Artouras Karnisovas go back to Paristhis time as a member of it Chicago Bulls Y as one of the most valuable executives in the entire NBA. The stadium will be the same, albeit with a different name, and his brilliant leap will now be unable to help Billy Donovan’s side add a much-needed win against Detroit Pistons.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
