News; Sam Smith's Top 23 Michael Jordan memories

Veteran NBA reporter and columnist Sam Smith gives us his top 23 Michael Jordan moments. Smith, the author of The New York Times bestseller The Jordan Rules, has been writing exclusively for Bulls.com since October 2008 and covered the Bulls and the NBA for the Chicago Tribune for 25 years. Come back here daily for the rest of Smith's list, and check out NBA.com on Sept. 11 for more on Jordan's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Who Says I Can't Defend :: Dec. 12, 1987
Jordan had been called just a scorer the season before when he averaged 37.1 points and was left off the all-defensive teams.

This game was a symbolic one as Jordan had 44 points and nine assists in the win, but also blocked shots of both Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson in leading both teams with five blocks and five steals.

Jordan became the only scoring leader to also win Defensive Player of the Year and was first team all-defense every full season the rest of his Bulls career.

Pops' inspiration :: May 17, 1992
The Knicks had forced a Game 7 in an angry, ugly, brutal conference semifinals, and Jordan wasn't sure how to proceed.

He said he talked at length before the game with his father, James, who counseled him not to lay back but come out aggressive and take the game.

Jordan did with 18 first-quarter points and 29 in the first half on the way to 42 as the Bulls won going away.

Keeping the Kids in their Place :: Feb. 8, 1998
Kobe Bryant, in his first All-Star Game, was determined like a young gun fighter to show up Jordan in what looked like his last.

Bryant came out with a 360-degree dunk and lob dunk, but Jordan led the East to a big win with a game-high 23 points, team-high eight assists, six rebounds and team-high three steals and won his third All-Star Game MVP award.

LaBradford Smith :: March 20, 1993
This was pure Jordan.

The night before in Chicago, a little-used second-year guard, Smith, scored 37 points against Jordan though the Bulls won. Smith was chirping about it. Jordan told teammates he'd get 37 in the first half the next night in Washington.

Jordan scored 36 and missed a shot at the halftime buzzer for 38. Jordan ended with 47 in the easy win.

Going Pistons Hunting :: March 4, 1987 & April 3, 1988
Jordan scores 61 points to break his team's regular-season record of 58 as he outduels Isiah Thomas, who had 31 points and 18 assists, in a memorable overtime duel.

Then on Easter Sunday in 1988 on national TV and in the final game of a road trip that was primarily in the Western Conference, Jordan scores 59 points, blocks Thomas' attempt at a game-winner with 24 seconds remaining and then is fouled and makes the winning free throws.