The Last Dance: The truth behind the Flu Game, Jordan wanting to run it back among 5 things we learned in Episodes 9-10

2. The alleged truth behind the Flu Game

For years, there’s been speculation and conspiracy theories over what really ailed Michael Jordan during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, during with he notched 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a much-needed road win over the Utah Jazz.

In a game where he looked deathly ill and physically weak, some believed it was just the flu, which is how it became known as the “Flu Game.” Others thought it was food poisoning, as was reported that night. Still others thought the man was just hungover.

Whether people will believe the words coming straight from the GOAT’s mouth remains to be seen, but Jordan set the record straight on what was really ailing him heading into that pivotal Finals game against Utah.

According to Jordan, his best friend George Koehler and trainer Tim Grover, MJ ordered pizza and five guys showed up to deliver it, which was obviously unusual. Jordan woke up throwing up, couldn’t keep any food down and was suffering from food poisoning throughout the day.

This is unlikely to satiate the conspiracy theorists out there who will go to their graves believing the GOAT was just hungover, but even if that were the case, that might have made his legendary performance even more incredible.

Also, word to the wise: Don’t order any pizza from Utah, and definitely don’t eat it if five guys show up to deliver it.