Biggest What If: Could Jordan's Bulls Win a Four-Peat in 1999?

One thing is certain now that "The Last Dance" has wrapped things up with the airing of their final two episodes yesterday: it solidified Michael Jordan's status as the game's greatest player of all-time.

But that didn't stop fans from having more question, especially with the revelation at the end of Episode Ten that Coach Phil Jackson was offered an opportunity to coach the Chicago Bulls in the 1998-1999 season even though Jerry Krause, the late general manager of the Bulls, said at the beginning of the 1997-1998 season that that season was going to be Jackson's final run at the helm even if the team would go 82-0. And to make things more interesting, Michael Jordan said that had Jerry Krause didn't make that statement and that, had the front office offered a one-year contract for the 1998-1999 season, he would have signed. Ron Harper would have signed. Dennis Rodman would have signed. Scottie Pippen might be needed to be convinced but if Phil Jackson was there and so was Michael himself, His Royal Airness believed that Scottie Pippen wouldn't miss a chance to go for their seventh National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.

That revelation begs the question: Could Jordan and company have done it in 1999?

If the core of the 1998 Bulls team that won its second three-peat was retained for the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season, they would have done more than just winning 13 games in that 50-game regular season. If you think about it, the core of the Bulls was still in its prime years with Michael Jordan even admitting that the 1998 championship was the best among the six championships he won because that was the year when "the craftmanship came in" with regards to how he was able to his body as well as his mind to play the game. Plus, pundits also noted that none of the teams during the 1998-1999 season were dominant and that, a Jordan-led Bulls could have easily dominated a shortened season. 

If Jordan and his fabled Bulls were retained that season, the New York Knicks would have never reached the NBA Finals despite being the eighth-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. It would have been another Eastern Conference Finals rematch between Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller. Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs would have been a great challenge to Chicago's dynasty. But could they have beaten Gregg Popovich's 1999 Spurs team? Yes. They have the championship experience. And more importantly, they would have been led by the greatest player of all-time in Michael Jordan. And yes, Steve Kerr would have won a four-peat with the Bulls instead of with the Spurs. 

Photo is from CBS Sports