Will 'Last Dance' Michael Jordan meme supplant Crying Jordan?

Jason Owens
·Staff writer
Updated ·3 min read

Is this the new Crying Jordan?

Sports Twitter’s most persistent and played-out meme might have some competition thanks to long-standing NBA beef.

What prompted the Jordan new meme

One of the highlights of Sunday’s broadcasts of episodes three and four of Michael Jordan/Bulls documentary “The Last Dance” revisited the icy relationship between Jordan and Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas.

Thomas’ Pistons beat Jordan’s Bulls twice in the Eastern Conference Finals en route to the 1989 and 1990 NBA championships. They were tough, physical series that saw the “Bad Boy” Pistons take a physical approach to defending Jordan, often leaving the future Hall of Famer on the floor.

When the Bulls swept the Pistons in the 1991 playoffs en route to Jordan’s first NBA title, the Pistons left the court after Game 4 without shaking hands. There were no well wishes and no cordiality. It was a different time in the NBA.

Jordan not buying Thomas’ explanation

At least that’s how Thomas painted it when speaking with ESPN about the moment.

“During that period of time, that’s just not how it was passed,” Thomas said. “It just wasn’t. You can go back and look at any of those old games or whatever. When you lost you left the floor.”

That incident is blamed for Thomas being blackballed from the 1992 Olympics Dream Team that Jordan starred on and Thomas was certainly good enough to play for. And Jordan still holds a grudge to this today.

A still image from the video of Jordan watching Thomas’ comments caught instant Twitter fire.

Let the memes begin

That’s a relatable and recognizable look. We all know the exasperation being expressed in that moment. Which in the world of social media makes the moment instantly meme-able.

In case you missed it, here’s the rest of Jordan’s reaction to Thomas’ comments, which contains some NSFW language (but you’re watching at home anyway, right?) and sums up that look on his face.

This meme’s just catching steam, but it looks like it has some staying power. Will it supplant Crying Jordan?

Probably not. Because the internet doesn’t always know how to let a meme die.

This probably has something to do with Michael Jordan's feelings about Isiah Thomas. (AP Photo/Mark Elias)
This probably has something to do with Michael Jordan's feelings about Isiah Thomas. (AP Photo/Mark Elias)

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