ESPN’s 10-part “The Last Dance” documentary concluded with Michael Jordan’s sixth championship, the Chicago Bulls opting to rebuild rather than pursue a seventh and coach Phil Jackson being OK with walking away, but Jordan disappointed.
Jackson not only dubbed the 1997-98 Bulls season “The Last Dance” 23 years ago, but conducted the ritualistic burning of players’ sentiments about the group at season’s end to facilitate the grieving process that gave the series’ end a special poignance.
Throw in a reprise of Jordan’s quote right after arriving in Chicago in 1984 — “I just want the franchise, the Chicago Bulls to be respected as a team, like the Lakers or the Philadelphia 76ers or the Boston Celtics” from Episode 1 — and the conclusion of “Dance” has undeniable beauty.