1984 Rookie Michael Jordan vs Bill Walton & Norm Nixon - Crunch Time Poise Like A Vet!

Michael Jordan hadn't even played in 20 career regular season games at this point, but he had amassed a plethora of high quality performances. Jordan had the epic clutch performance against Milwaukee to the tune of 37 points, in just his 3rd game. Jordan defeated Isiah Thomas in an epic contest, in Detroit, at the Pontiac Silverdome where Jordan made so many memorable plays, in just his 6th game. He dominated Bernard King & the Knicks in New York City to the tune of 33 points, in just his 7th pro game, while putting on the type of display you'd expect out of someone in their prime. He delivered his first game winner in just his 8th NBA game, against the Pacers. He put up 45 points against George Gervin, in just his 9th NBA game. He also had a stretch of three 30 point games in a 4 game stretch from games #12-#15. So, this was game #18.
Norm Nixon tied Isiah Thomas in 1984 for league lead in NBA Total Assists, putting up 11.1 assists per game during his first year after leaving the Lakers, beating out the great Magic Johnson in the process. Norm Nixon made the All-Star team in 1982 & 1985. He won NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980 & 1982.
Bill Walton led the UCLA Bruins to two consecutive NCAA championships (1972 and 1973). Walton also delivered one of the most dominant collegiate performances with his 44-point game in the 1973 Championship Game, making a staggering 21 out of 22 shot attempts. That legendary performance delivered UCLA's 75th straight win & 7th straight championship. Walton continued to shine in the NBA, anchoring the Portland Trail Blazers to their 1st championship in 1977 with exceptional shot-blocking, rebounding & passing skills. Bill Walton was 2x All-Defensive, the 1977 Blocks Champion, the 1977 Rebounding Champion, and he won the MVP award in 1978. Walton would later win the 6th man of the year in 1986. Despite his professional highs, Walton's career was beleaguered by persistent foot injuries, limiting his playing time and curtailing what many believed could have been one of the all-time great basketball careers.
Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & the Lakers were hosting the Kansas City Kings at the Forum that night, but Jack Nicholson still chose to watch Michael Jordan face the Clippers at the LA Sports Arena instead. Jack opted for Air Jordan over The Showtime Lakers! And he wasn't alone....
November 30, 1984:
Rookie Michael Jordan drew 14,366 NBA fans to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Magic Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar drew 12,766 NBA fans to The Forum in Inglewood, California
Clippers previous home game attendance: 6,261 (-8,105)
Clippers next home game attendance: 7,092 (-7,274)
Michael Jordan wasn't ultra-aggressive for most of this contest, and this would be part of an early career pattern. Jordan was committed to "running the offense". During his first 20 NBA games Jordan had 11 games where he did not attempt at least 20 shots, including 7 games where he took 15 shot attempts or less. That pattern was set in this game, with Michael "running the offense", in a less aggressive manner. That was until crunch time. In crunch time Jordan threw caution to the wind and put the foot on the gas pedal. What happened next will be remembered for generations to come!
(1984-85 Season)
TIMESTAMPS:
(Please go to comment section for full timestamps)
0:38 - Game Begins
1:00 - Michael Jordan incredible hang time shot
1:51 - Bill Walton dunk
2:28 - Michael Jordan steal & assist to Orlando Woolridge
2:39 - Jordan drops Derek Smith & assist to Woolridge
4:18 - Michael Jordan blind hangtime reverse layup and 1
10:06 - Michael Jordan jumper
11:13 - Bill Walton tip-in
11:25 - Michael Jordan jumper
12:40 - Michael Jordan jumper
13:03 - Jack Nicholson in attendance
13:21 - Bill Walton dunk
13:42 - Bill Walton alley-oop to Derek Smith
14:47 - Norm Nixon fadeaway jumper
15:12 - Michael Jordan to Caldwell Jones jumper
15:22 - Bill Walton blocks Orlando Woolridge
15:28 - Norm Nixon layup
15:47 - Michael Jordan jumper
16:14 - Norm Nixon jumper
16:47 - Norm Nixon jumper
17:05 - Bill Walton knocked to the floor
18:28 - Bill Walton put back dunk
18:45 - Bill Walton block
19:30 - Bill Walton finger roll
19:44 - Norm Van Lier catches a loose ball
21:47 - Jack Nicholson in the crowd
22:40 - Michael Jordan jumper
23:41 - Michael Cage hard screen on Rod Higgins
25:02 - Derek Smith alley-oop dunk
26:07 - Bill Walton block
26:47 - Norm Nixon jumper
28:27 - Bill Walton block
28:30 - Derek Smith up & under dunk around Jordan
29:40 - Norm Nixon jumper
30:35 - Michael Jordan free throw
31:20 - Michael Jordan clutch jumper
32:35 - Michael Jordan crunch time 1 on 1 defense vs Norm Nixon
32:51 - Michael Jordan insane clutch and 1 layup
33:56 - Replay of Michael Jordan clutch handcuffed layup
34:16 - Replay of Michael Jordan forcing Norm Nixon airball
34:58 - Michael Jordan clutch steal

[@2nerC9]

Nicholson is a legend. He has been watching NBA games since forever.

[@leonblack751]

This when Jordan show you much intelligence he was at time too lead them Bulls to victory 🐐

[@TiltBrook]

Interesting about the court. This was the first year that the Clippers were in Los Angeles. This court, at the LA Sports Arena, was only used for the Clippers during their first season in LA. The next year, they had a totally different court and design. But if you notice here, the center court reads; “LA Sports Arena,“ in blue and white coloring. This is the exact same color scheme that the Lakers used when they played at the LA Sports Arena after moving from Minneapolis, and before moving to The Forum. This court is the original Los Angeles Lakers basketball Court that they kept at the LA Sports Arena after the Lakers moved out, and before the Clippers moved in from San Diego

[@linnstr8609]

Wow, interesting observation! But I think based on the NBA 2k court and photos I've seen online, the Lakers had the center court logo in blue and red (instead of white here) and the sidelines as blue. Also, blue and white were part of the Clippers colors at the time. I think their first year at the LA Sports Arena, they modified the colours of the original Lakers court to make it uniformly red, and retained the original center court design. Then the next year they changed the center court logo.

[@BlitzSportsNetwork]

TIMESTAMPS: 0:38 - Game Begins 0:49 - Marques Johnson hook 1:00 - Michael Jordan incredible hang time shot 1:38 - Derek Smith layup 1:51 - Bill Walton dunk 2:28 - Michael Jordan steal & assist to Orlando Woolridge 2:39 - Jordan drops Derek Smith & assist to Woolridge 2:57 - Steve Johnson dunks on Bill Walton 3:03 - Derek Smith and 1 3:58 - Derek Smith baseline jumper 4:18 - Michael Jordan blind hangtime reverse layup and 1 4:45 - Marques Johnson bank shot 5:15 - Derek Smith put back 5:30 - Norm Nixon crossover & drive 5:50 - Derek Smith transition bucket and 1 6:33 - Norm Nixon jumper 7:48 - Marques Johnson assist to Harvey Catchings 8:33 - Norm Nixon jumper 8:55 - Harvey Catchings dunk 9:09 - Junior Bridgeman jumper 9:18 - Junior Bridgeman jumper 9:32 - Lancaster Gordon to James Donaldson dunk 10:06 - Michael Jordan jumper 10:42 - Lancaster Gordon jumper 11:13 - Bill Walton tip-in 11:25 - Michael Jordan jumper 11:44 - Derek Smith jumper 11:57 - Marques Johnson jumper 12:40 - Michael Jordan jumper 13:03 - Jack Nicholson in attendance 13:21 - Bill Walton dunk 13:42 - Bill Walton alley-oop to Derek Smith 14:47 - Norm Nixon fadeaway jumper 15:12 - Michael Jordan to Caldwell Jones jumper 15:22 - Bill Walton blocks Orlando Woolridge 15:28 - Norm Nixon layup 15:47 - Michael Jordan jumper 16:14 - Norm Nixon jumper 16:47 - Norm Nixon jumper 17:05 - Bill Walton knocked to the floor 18:21 - Derek Smith jumper 18:28 - Bill Walton put back dunk 18:45 - Bill Walton block 19:20 - Harvey Catchings block 19:30 - Bill Walton finger roll 19:44 - Norm Van Lier catches a loose ball 20:55 - Michael Cage jumper 21:28 - Derek Smith jumper 21:47 - Jack Nicholson in the crowd 22:14 - Junior Bridgeman layup 22:40 - Michael Jordan jumper 23:05 - James Donaldson jumper 23:26 - Derek Smith layup 23:41 - Michael Cage hard screen on Rod Higgins 24:08 - James Donaldson jumper 25:02 - Derek Smith alley-oop dunk 26:07 - Bill Walton block 26:47 - Norm Nixon jumper 27:56 - Rory White layup and 1 28:27 - Bill Walton block 28:30 - Derek Smith up & under dunk around Jordan 29:40 - Norm Nixon jumper 30:35 - Michael Jordan free throw 31:20 - Michael Jordan clutch jumper 32:35 - Michael Jordan crunch time 1 on 1 defense vs Norm Nixon 32:51 - Michael Jordan insane clutch and 1 layup 33:56 - Replay of Michael Jordan clutch handcuffed layup 34:16 - Replay of Michael Jordan forcing Norm Nixon airball 34:58 - Michael Jordan clutch steal

[@RyuHazaki]

Many centuries ago, before fire was invented. I was once playing basketball, and an older gentleman told me I reminded him of Norm Nixon. I was so proud of that moment I proceeded to miss every shot I took afterwards😂😂😂😂 Thank you so much for posting these classics👏👏👏👏

[@markedwards2194]

Ol Norm was a very good player yea the 17 points and 11 assist a game is casual SMH

[@uncletony6210]

The players almost needed flashlights playing at the old Sports Arena.

[@sniperjay0916]

A prime Bill Walton and Norm Nixon versus a young Michael Jordan...first time seeing Mr.Walton play other thean games with the Celtics. This is absolutely phenomenal for me,thank you!

[@josedomingues23]

When I get the notification for one of these new videos I get so happy. I watch these many times over and I want you to know your hard work is well appreciated sir.

[@SwaggerLikeUz]

Awesome content as usual, Blitz! I’ve only seen highlights from this game so thx for sharing this rare classic. :)

[@victormartin3539]

The goat Michael Jeffrey Jordan

[@ericwright2594]

rip Orlando Woolridge

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

With a name like Catchings you better take care of the incoming passes....

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

Huh. I would have thought that Caldwell Jones would win the tip over Walton.

[@williamshereef2755]

BULLS WIN!!