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Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, largely because of his adept scoring and shrewd defensive abilities. But on occasion, MJ also showed his playmaking abilities and put together all-around one-of-a-kind performances.
Passing was Michael Jordan's strongest suit, as he always looked to score. When the team needed points, he was invariably the go-to guy. There were numerous games throughout his career where he recorded zero assists, which goes to show how much of a non-passer Michael Jordan was.
However, Michael Jordan unlocked his point-guard abilities at times and consistently found the open man. We all know His Airness liked to take on challenges and score through double teams or humiliate trash-talking players.
Michael Jordan's job was to get buckets, and he did that with utmost diligence. He was the best player on the Bulls' roster, so he had to carry the team at the offensive end.
Perhaps the Chicago Bulls would have had a lot more success if Michael Jordan was a better distributor of the ball. But it is difficult to fault a player who took the franchise to six NBA Finals and won them all.
On that note, here's a look at the top five games where Michael Jordan had high assists numbers.
#5 Chicago Bulls vs Seattle Supersonics - 15 assists
During the 1988-89 NBA season, Michael Jordan continued his league dominance. He won the NBA scoring champion award for the third time that season, and averaged a career-high eight assists per game.
The then Seattle Supersonics had no answer for Michael Jordan's awesomeness. Although it was not a high-scoring game for the player, Jordan focused more on his distribution, and did an excellent job. He ended the game with 18 points, 15 assists and three rebounds
#4 Chicago Bulls vs Denver Nuggets - 15 assists
Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their 19th win of the 1984-85 season over the Denver Nuggets on January 14, 1985. It was an exceptional performance by the rookie, who he was by far the best player on the floor that night.
The Bulls won the game 122-113, thanks to the exploits of MJ. Of the 33 total assists the Bulls recorded that night, Michael Jordan contributed 15. At the end of the game, he recorded his first-ever career triple-double, tallying 35 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds.
#3 Chicago Bulls vs LA Lakers - 16 assists
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls made the trip to the Staples Center on March 21, 1989, to face Magic Johnson and the LA Lakers. Although the Lakers were favorites for the game, the Bulls fought hard for a victory.
It was a closely contested game, with the contest going right down to the wire. It was a Johnson-Jordan showdown, as both players tried to rally their teams to victory before the Bulls eventually came out on top.
Michael Jordan registered 21 points and 16 assists on the night, half as many assists as the entire team. Although his scoring was not at the level he usually produced, it was enough to guarantee victory for his team.
#2 Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks - 16 assists
Michael Jordan was cooking during his rookie season, and was not scared to show how great he was. After following up his first-ever triple-double with another in the 1984-85 season, he registered one more as the season came to a close.
Jordan recorded his final triple-double of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks, registering 32 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds. Despite his impressive scoring, his ball distribution was more praise-worthy.
#1 Chicago Bulls vs Portland Trail Blazers - 17 assists
Two matches after registering 16 assists against the Lakers, Michael Jordan put together his best performance in terms of assists. He dropped 17 dimes to help the Bulls overcome the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Bulls coasted through the game, as the Blazers could not match up with Jordan's brilliance. Even as a bonafide creator, getting 17 assists in one night was a mean achievement.
Michael Jordan did it all, securing a 128-113 victory for the Bulls. He ended the game with 34 points, 17 assists, seven rebounds and six steals.
Guess the Lakers players!
