Michael Jordan 1996: 48pts Vs. 76ers, "Stackhouse Game"

Drama loves company. This was one of the few statement games by the older and wiser MJ. With rookie Stackhouse mouthing off to the press about how he held his own against MJ during his summer-UNC warmup sessions, MJ was quietly enraged. To add to that, Vernon 'Mad' Maxwell was upset that the Bulls were getting so much press with MJ's return after retirement that he spewed nonsense to the press as well. It awoke the sleeping giant.

With cool and calm efficiency, MJ destroyed the two in this game as their comments were unacceptable. Toying with Stack the whole game, MJ frustrated him into shooting 4-11 for 13 pts. Smothering Mad Max the other half of the time, MJ ruined him into shooting 1-8 for 4 pts. On the other end, MJ chose to hit 64% with a butter-like J to go 18-28 in 3 quarters for 48 pts and 10 rebounds. With his exploits responsible for a 30 point lead, MJ rested the 4th, iced his knees and asserted his physical and mental mastery of the game while marching his way to a record 72 win season that year.

"You do not look at Michael Jordan in the eye because he'll take that as a challenge and he'll dominate you. You do not make him mad. Whenever I played against him, I just looked at the ground." (Jayson Williams, NJ Nets.)