Champagne & Cigars : Michael Jordan’s Championship Celebrations

The quest for an NBA Championship has never been an easy journey.  Few have the strength, talent and teammates to win against the world’s elite athletes.  Consistently regarded as the best to ever play basketball, Michael Jordan dominated the NBA throughout the ’90s, racking up six championship rings and six Finals MVP trophies over an eight-years span.  Each of those championship runs ended in similar fashion – with cigar smoke and champagne showers.  As a toast to Michael Jordan’s playoff excellence, and in anticipation of the release of the upcoming Air Jordan 6 “Cigar and Champagne” Pack, we revisit some of the best celebratory moments of MJ’s career. 

1990-91 NBA Championship

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to pick up their first NBA Championship.  Michael Jordan averaged 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds per game en route to his first ever NBA Finals MVP award while rocking the Air Jordan 6. 

1991-92 NBA Championship

The ‘92 NBA season ended with the Chicago Bulls prevailing over the Portland Trail Blazers to win their second straight championship in six games.  His Airness averaged 32.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, claiming his second Finals MVP award while wearing the Air Jordan 7. 

1992-93 NBA Championship

In the 1993 Finals, Jordan and the Bulls conquered MJ’s 1984 draft mate Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in six games to claim their third straight championship.  The Bulls were the first team to three-peat since the Celtics in the ‘60s.  Jordan ended the series averaging 41.0 points, 6.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds a game, taking home his third consecutive NBA Finals MVP award while wearing the Air Jordan 8. 

1995-96 NBA Championship

After two years of watching the NBA Finals from home, the Chicago Bulls made their way back to the NBA’s biggest stage.  This time, they defeated the Seattle Super Sonics in six games to take the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to the Windy City.  MJ was honored with his fourth Finals MVP trophy while lacing up the Air Jordan 11 during the championship chase. 

1996-97 NBA Championship

The Chicago Bulls went on to triumph over the Utah Jazz in six games in the ’97 NBA Finals.  The world witnessed another stellar series performance from MJ, in which he averaged 32.3 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds a game, which propelled him to his fifth Finals MVP trophy.  He did it while wearing the Air Jordan 12. 

1997-98 NBA Championship

The Utah Jazz returned for a rematch against the Chicago Bulls in the ’98 NBA Finals, but the result was the same as the year before.  The series ended in the sixth game, with a pull-up game winner by Jordan.  That shot went on to be remembered as the “Last Shot” by one of the best athletes to ever walk the earth…as a Bull, at least. 

His Airness graced the court in the Air Jordan 13 for a majority of the playoffs, but switched over the to the Air Jordan 14 for a portion of the finals.  MJ averaged 33.5 points, 2.3 assists and 4 rebounds to earn his sixth and last NBA Finals MVP award.