Bryon Russell was the defender on Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
With the Chicago Bulls trailing the Utah Jazz 86–83 late in the game, Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone and brought it up the court. Russell, a Jazz forward and respected perimeter defender, picked him up with the championship hanging in the balance.
Jordan drove toward the free-throw line, crossed over to his left and created enough separation for a 20-foot jumper. The shot gave Chicago an 87–86 lead with 5.2 seconds remaining. John Stockton missed Utah’s final three-point attempt, and the Bulls secured their sixth championship in eight seasons.
The play is often called “The Last Shot” because it was Jordan’s final field goal as a member of the Bulls. Some observers argued that Jordan pushed off during the crossover, while Jordan and others disputed that interpretation. That controversy does not change Russell’s identity as the defender on the shot.