Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the documentary The Last Dance, which delivered the most comprehensive and captivating look at sports greatness ever captured on screen, transcending basketball to become a cultural phenomenon.
The Last Dance is a 2020 American sports documentary miniseries co-produced by ESPN Films and Netflix. Directed by Jason Hehir, premiering on April 19, 2020, and concluding on May 17, 2020, the series consists of 10 episodes with an average runtime of 47-54 minutes each. The series was released weekly from April 19, 2020 to May 17, 2020, with two episodes airing each Sunday on ESPN, while outside of the United States, the episodes were released on Netflix the day after their ESPN airing.
The series revolves around Michael Jordan’s career, with particular focus on the 1997–98 season, his final season with the Chicago Bulls. What makes The Last Dance extraordinary is its unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage from the Bulls’ final championship run, combined with candid interviews from Jordan himself, who had rarely spoken so openly about his career and personal life.
The documentary brilliantly weaves together sports history, personal drama, and cultural impact, creating a narrative that appeals to basketball fans and general audiences alike. The series became a global phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing compelling entertainment when live sports were suspended worldwide.
The Final Championship Run: Greatness Under Pressure
The central storyline follows the Chicago Bulls’ 1997-98 season, which team management declared would be the last dance for Michael Jordan and the core team members. The series features exclusive footage from a film crew with an all-access pass to the Bulls, providing an intimate look at the pressure, personalities, and politics surrounding the team’s pursuit of their sixth championship in eight years.
The documentary expertly uses this final season as a framework to explore Jordan’s entire career, jumping between timelines to show how past experiences shaped the championship team. The tension between Jordan, coach Phil Jackson, and general manager Jerry Krause provides the emotional core of the series, as viewers witness the dissolution of one of sports’ greatest dynasties.
Michael Jordan: The Man Behind the Legend
Michael Jordan serves as the primary focus and narrator of his own story, providing unprecedented insight into his mindset, motivations, and competitive drive. The documentary reveals Jordan’s relentless perfectionism, his controversial gambling habits, his complicated relationships with teammates, and the personal costs of pursuing greatness at the highest level.
Jordan’s candid discussions about his father’s murder, his brief baseball career, and his feuds with opponents and teammates show a more vulnerable side of the basketball icon. The series doesn’t shy away from Jordan’s more difficult personality traits, including his treatment of teammates and his legendary vindictiveness toward perceived slights.
Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman: The Supporting Dynasty
The series includes interviews of many NBA personalities, including Jordan’s teammates (Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr) and other key figures from the Bulls organization. Scottie Pippen’s relationship with Jordan forms one of the most compelling storylines, showing both the partnership that defined the Bulls’ success and the tensions that arose from Jordan receiving most of the credit and financial rewards.
Dennis Rodman’s segments provide some of the documentary’s most entertaining moments, showcasing his eccentric personality and explaining how his unique talents complemented Jordan’s leadership. The series effectively demonstrates how these supporting players were essential to the Bulls’ championship runs while acknowledging the hierarchy that placed Jordan at the center of everything.
The Cultural Impact: When Sports Transcends Entertainment
The documentary reaches its emotional peak when exploring Jordan’s impact beyond basketball. The series examines how Jordan became a global brand, revolutionizing sports marketing and celebrity culture. His influence on fashion, advertising, and popular culture transformed him from an athlete into a cultural icon whose impact continues decades after his retirement.
The final episodes dealing with Jordan’s second retirement and the team’s breakup are particularly poignant, showing the end of an era that defined 1990s sports culture. The series effectively captures the bittersweet nature of witnessing greatness that cannot last forever.
Phil Jackson and the Championship System
Then-Bulls head coach Phil Jackson provides crucial perspective throughout the series, explaining his Zen philosophy and triangle offense that became synonymous with championship basketball. Jackson’s interviews reveal the challenges of managing enormous egos while maintaining team chemistry, and his eventual departure adds another layer of drama to the final season.
The supporting cast of teammates, coaches, and opponents helps create a complete picture of what made the Bulls special during their championship years. Each perspective adds depth to the central narrative about pursuing perfection in professional sports.
ESPN/Netflix Phenomenon
The Last Dance became a massive success for both ESPN and Netflix, earning a 9.0 rating on IMDb and becoming the most-watched documentary in ESPN history. The series premiered during the COVID-19 pandemic when live sports were suspended, leading to unprecedented viewership as audiences craved sports content. The documentary’s global reach was enhanced by Netflix’s international distribution, making it accessible to viewers worldwide. The Last Dance set new standards for sports documentaries with its production values, storytelling techniques, and unprecedented access to archival footage and key personalities.
Essential Viewing for Anyone Who Appreciates Excellence
If you love stories about pursuing greatness against all odds, The Last Dance is the perfect series to binge on ESPN or Netflix. It transcends sports to become a meditation on excellence, leadership, and the price of legendary achievement.
Why This Legendary Documentary Demands Your Immediate Attention
Positive Points:
- Unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with Michael Jordan
- Masterful storytelling that weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives seamlessly
- Outstanding production quality with stunning archival footage and contemporary interviews
- Appeals to both hardcore basketball fans and general audiences with compelling human drama
- Cultural significance extends far beyond sports, examining celebrity, marketing, and American culture
Negative Points:
- Heavily focuses on Jordan’s perspective, potentially minimizing other contributors’ viewpoints
- Some critics argue it presents an overly favorable view of Jordan despite acknowledging his flaws
- Limited exploration of the Bulls’ opponents and the broader NBA context during their championship runs
- At 10 episodes, some segments feel repetitive for viewers seeking more concise storytelling
- The documentary was produced with Jordan’s involvement, raising questions about editorial independence
The Last Dance isn’t just a sports documentary – it’s a masterpiece about human ambition, greatness, and the complex personalities required to achieve legendary status in competitive endeavors.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 10 episodes (completed miniseries)
- Platform: ESPN/Netflix
- Release Year: 2020
- Current IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
- Genre: Sports Documentary Biography
- Production Type: Western documentary series
- Status: Completed miniseries
- Main Protagonists: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, Dennis Rodman
- Main Antagonists: Jerry Krause (GM), Detroit Pistons, various NBA opponents and rivals