39 Years Ago Today, Michael Jordan Broke Playoffs Record Against Celtics Forcing Larry Bird to Utter Iconic Words

“49 points, 63 points, I just want to win again,” Michael Jordan said of his jaw-dropping record. As the NBA playoffs commence, tension and excitement fill the air. As the OKC Thunder face the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets go up against the Warriors, it’s hard not to recall the legendary 1986 game when Michael Jordan’s greatness was first recognized. On April 20, 1986, a young Michael Jordan delivered a performance for the ages, scoring a record-breaking 63 points against the formidable Boston Celtics—a feat that left even Larry Bird in awe. Things haven’t changed much, even after all these years.

After missing a significant portion of his sophomore season due to a foot injury, Jordan returned with a vengeance. But when he stepped back on the court, he delivered an explosive performance. His competitive fire was on display as he went on to break the NBA playoff scoring record in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Boston Celtics, which Larry Bird and the Celtics ultimately won 135–131. The Celtics swept the series, but Jordan made history. How?

The Chicago Bulls player scored 63 points, hitting 22 of his 41 shots and going 19-of-21 from the free-throw line. What did Jordan have to say about his performance? “Fifty points, 49 points, 63 points, I just want to win again. The points don’t mean anything to me,” he said.

With that, he broke NBA legend Elgin Baylor’s record of 61 points, which he set in 1962. Baylor made the record in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics.

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Bird was awestruck. “I didn’t think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us. He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan,” he said. Jordan’s former teammate John Paxon also had high praise, “Michael was doing so much and so well, I found myself just wanting to stop and watch him — and I was playing.”

The Bulls legend’s sole aim was to win. He went on to earn global fame as he led the Bulls to win 6 championship titles in the 90s. Jordan didn’t however like his new name.

Michael Jordan felt “embarrassed” at his new nickname

This was after he had won five championship titles and become a global icon. During an interview in France, MJ admitted that he felt embarrassed when people referred to him as God. “I play a game of basketball, I try to entertain for two hours, and then let people go home to their lives; I could never consider myself a god. It’s certainly an embarrassing situation for me,” Jordan said.

This sentiment was echoed during the 1993 NBA Finals, where Jordan’s Chicago Bulls faced off against Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns. The series was a showcase of elite talent, with both players at the peak of their powers. In Game 3, despite Jordan’s 44-point effort, the Bulls fell to the Suns in a triple-overtime thriller, 129–121. Barkley, known for his candidness, remarked post-game, “Man! Michael Jordan shot the ball 43 times! Damn, that’s unbelievable. He’s going to be icing his elbow, too.”

Jordan, ever the competitor, responded emphatically in Game 4, delivering a masterclass with 55 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading the Bulls to a 111–105 victory and a 3–1 series lead.

While Barkley and the Suns won Game 5, the Bulls recovered and secured the championship with a Game 6 victory. After the loss, Chuck described Jordan as “The Black Jesus” as per the book Sir Charles: Wit and Wisdom of Charles Barkley. While MJ refuses such a high honor, for many, he displayed God-like skills if not God himself.

via Getty

But it turns out that while the term “Black Jesus” has been associated with Jordan, it’s noteworthy that he reportedly coined this nickname himself during a 1987 exhibition game against Reggie Miller. After Miller’s trash talk, Jordan retorted, “Don’t ever talk trash to Black Jesus.”

In the crucible of the Boston Garden, amidst the roar of a hostile crowd and against one of the NBA’s most formidable teams, a young Michael Jordan delivered a performance for the ages. This game, etched in history, was the genesis of a journey and a legend.