Forgotten Hero of Michael Jordan's Historic Shot Against the Cavs Now Tied to a $67bn Dynasty
Michael Jordan, the undisputed Chicago Bulls legend, reigned over an unparalleled dynasty that clinched two jaw-dropping three-peats. Yet, one particular basket stands supreme, immortalized as 'The Shot'.
1989 saw the Bulls squaring off against the relentless Cleveland Cavaliers, engaging in one of the greatest five-game playoff series of all time. Despite a staggering 50-point performance from His Airness, the Cavaliers forced a tense Game 5 decider at home, leading 2-2.
The final minute of the game was a nail-biting rollercoaster, with five lead changes. With only three seconds left and the score at 100-99 in favor of the Cavaliers, the ball found its way to Jordan's hands. Everyone in the arena knew the drill.
Craig Ehlo, who had nailed the go-ahead basket earlier, found himself locked in a double team with Larry Nance. Jordan deftly shoved off Nance and received the inbound pass from Brad Sellers. With the buzzer sounding, he unleashed a dagger from the foul line, sending the arena into a frenzy.
Ehlo's despairing reach merely added to the drama as Jordan fist-pumped triumphantly mid-court, surrounded by his ecstatic teammates.
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The Bulls' victory was not the team's last hurrah in the 1989 playoffs. After beating Patrick Ewing's New York Knicks, they lost to their archrival Detroit Pistons, who stunningly swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Ehlo, the forgotten hero of that dramatic game, moved on from the Cavaliers in 1993, joining the Atlanta Hawks for three seasons before a stint with the Seattle Supersonics. He called it quits in 1997. Standing at 6ft-6in, Ehlo played ball for Washington State before being drafted as a third-round pick by the Houston Rockets in 1983.
Post-retirement, Ehlo became an analyst for Gonzaga men's basketball games and later served as an assistant coach for Eastern Washington University. Despite leaving the coaching world in 2013, Ehlo resurfaced as a color analyst for his alma mater, the Cougars, in 2019.
In 2024, Ehlo received a well-deserved spot in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. These days, he resides in Washington with his family, collaborating with sportswear giant Nike for basketball camps nationwide. Crossing paths with fellow icon and Cavaliers great LeBron James on occasion, Ehlo reflects on The Shot, 30 years later.
In a rare interview, Ehlo shared his thoughts on the fateful play. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to go in. It seemed flat when it hit the rim, but boy, when it did... it's a moment etched in my memory, forever linked with Gatorade and Nike," he reminisced, reflecting on the tackle, the leap, and the ecstatic celebration that followed.
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With an extraordinary legacy, Craig Ehlo remains a vital footnote in basketball history, inspiring awe and admiration, even decades after his defining moment.
- The NBA and MMA rankings might be dominating headlines today, but Craig Ehlo's iconic moment in 1989 continues to echo in the annals of basketball history.
- Craig Ehlo, the forgotten hero whose shot stunned the world, moved on from the Cleveland Cavaliers and had stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Seattle Supersonics in his post-NBA career.
- Away from the basketball court, Ehlo served as an analyst for Gonzaga men's basketball games and later worked as an assistant coach for Eastern Washington University before leaving the coaching world in 2013.
- Ehlo's collaboration with sportswear giant Nike for basketball camps nationwide and his induction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 are testaments to his lasting impact in the sports world.
- Craig Ehlo, whose classic encounter with Michael Jordan remains one of the most memorable moments in basketball history, shared his recollection of 'The Shot' in a rare interview, reminiscing about the tackle, the leap, and the celebration that followed, forever linked with Gatorade and Nike.
