The Last Dance captured a specific moment in sports history by documenting the final season of the 1990s Chicago Bulls. Its unique release years later eventually offered a rare look at professional basketball during one of its most intense and celebrated championship runs.
This quiz asks about how that footage was handled, why it stayed hidden for two decades, and the filming process behind the scenes. You will answer questions about team dynamics, editing choices, and the specific hurdles faced by the production crew.
If you enjoy this subject, look at our pages on behind-the-scenes production, documentary filmmaking, or memorable iconic films.
What was the primary focus of the archival footage captured by the NBA Entertainment crew that eventually became ‘The Last Dance’?
1997-98 Chicago Bulls season
1997-98 Chicago Bulls season
Michael Jordan’s retirement tour
Michael Jordan’s retirement tour
2002 NBA Finals documentary
2002 NBA Finals documentary
1992 Dream Team retrospective
1992 Dream Team retrospective
Who primarily controlled whether or not the extensive archival footage would be released to the public for many years?
Jerry Reinsdorf
Jerry Reinsdorf
Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Adam Silver
Adam Silver
What was the main reason cited for the roughly 20-year delay in releasing the footage?
The footage was lost in a studio fire
The footage was lost in a studio fire
Jordan was waiting for the ‘right time’ to feel the footage was appropriate for public view
Jordan was waiting for the ‘right time’ to feel the footage was appropriate for public view
The NBA was under contract to keep the footage private for 25 years
The NBA was under contract to keep the footage private for 25 years
The crew destroyed the tapes after the 1998 season ended
The crew destroyed the tapes after the 1998 season ended
Which key team member was reportedly unhappy about being excluded from the documentary’s final edit?
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Luc Longley
Luc Longley
Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
What type of intimate content does producer Jason Hehir state was mostly left on the cutting room floor?
A focus on the personal lives of the coaching staff
A focus on the personal lives of the coaching staff
Detailed breakdowns of the 1993 team’s championship run
Detailed breakdowns of the 1993 team’s championship run
In-depth coverage of Jordan’s first retirement and baseball career
In-depth coverage of Jordan’s first retirement and baseball career
More extensive footage of the team’s practice sessions and locker room arguments
More extensive footage of the team’s practice sessions and locker room arguments
What significant global event prompted the expedited release of ‘The Last Dance’ to help meet public demand for sports content?
The 2020 pandemic quarantine
The 2020 pandemic quarantine
The release of the book ‘The Jordan Rules’
The release of the book ‘The Jordan Rules’
The 2008 NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jordan
The 2008 NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jordan
The 2016 NBA Finals return to Chicago
The 2016 NBA Finals return to Chicago
How extensive was the filming access granted to the crew during the 1997-98 season?
The crew lived and traveled everywhere with the team for the entire season
The crew lived and traveled everywhere with the team for the entire season
The crew was instructed to film only at games, not practice sessions
The crew was instructed to film only at games, not practice sessions
The crew only had access to the team for the first and last month of the season
The crew only had access to the team for the first and last month of the season
The crew was forbidden from filming inside the team locker room
The crew was forbidden from filming inside the team locker room
Why was so much content inevitably cut from the final edit of the documentary?
Michael Jordan requested that his interactions with Phil Jackson remain private
Michael Jordan requested that his interactions with Phil Jackson remain private
The NBA deemed certain scenes ‘unprofessional’ for a sports documentary
The NBA deemed certain scenes ‘unprofessional’ for a sports documentary
They didn’t want to show the tension between Jordan and his teammates too clearly
They didn’t want to show the tension between Jordan and his teammates too clearly
The length of the original footage was over 500 hours, necessitating massive cuts for a 10-part series
The length of the original footage was over 500 hours, necessitating massive cuts for a 10-part series
Which famous incident shown in the documentary featured a heavily detailed, multi-scene narrative that some felt could have been even longer?
The specific, daily diet schedule of the entire team
The specific, daily diet schedule of the entire team
Dennis Rodman’s trip to Las Vegas during the 1998 season finals
Dennis Rodman’s trip to Las Vegas during the 1998 season finals
The political views of the team’s management regarding expansion teams
The political views of the team’s management regarding expansion teams
Interviews with former Seattle SuperSonics players regarding the 1996 NBA Finals
Interviews with former Seattle SuperSonics players regarding the 1996 NBA Finals
Which narrative thread was included but arguably felt ‘short-changed’ due to the massive volume of archival footage?
Arguments over who would receive the final hotel room suites on away games
Arguments over who would receive the final hotel room suites on away games
The behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding the team’s flight arrangements
The behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding the team’s flight arrangements
John Paxson’s game-winning shot in 1993
John Paxson’s game-winning shot in 1993
The drafting of Toni Kukoč and the immediate friction it caused with Jordan and Pippen
The drafting of Toni Kukoč and the immediate friction it caused with Jordan and Pippen
What was a major internal motivation for Jordan to finally clear the release of the footage after so many years?
Because the footage was finally becoming digitally degraded and needed restoration
Because the footage was finally becoming digitally degraded and needed restoration
To celebrate the silver anniversary of the 1998 championship victory
To celebrate the silver anniversary of the 1998 championship victory
Because all the original participants had finally given their consent for publication
Because all the original participants had finally given their consent for publication
Because Jordan realized the footage was a historical asset for his children and legacy
Because Jordan realized the footage was a historical asset for his children and legacy
How did the team interact with the documentary crew after living with them for several months?
The crew was often ignored, treating them like ‘another player’ after a few weeks joined the team
The crew was often ignored, treating them like ‘another player’ after a few weeks joined the team
The crew was forced to wear team uniforms to blend in with players on the bench
The crew was forced to wear team uniforms to blend in with players on the bench
The crew was only allowed to film if a specific team owner was present
The crew was only allowed to film if a specific team owner was present
The crew had to pay a daily fee to each player for the rights to film in locker rooms
The crew had to pay a daily fee to each player for the rights to film in locker rooms
Which of these statements best characterizes the depth of the crew’s ‘living with the Bulls’ access?
The crew had to sign a restrictive agreement only allowing them to film in stadium tunnels
The crew had to sign a restrictive agreement only allowing them to film in stadium tunnels
The crew was frequently present during team flights and private team bus rides to hotels
The crew was frequently present during team flights and private team bus rides to hotels
The crew was only allowed to interview players during scheduled media days
The crew was only allowed to interview players during scheduled media days
The crew was explicitly banned from entering any team hotel rooms
The crew was explicitly banned from entering any team hotel rooms
What is the current status of the original 500+ hours of raw film that was digitized for the production?
They are still strictly private and currently stored in a climate-controlled vault at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame
They are still strictly private and currently stored in a climate-controlled vault at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame
They were donated to the University of North Carolina athletic department
They were donated to the University of North Carolina athletic department
They are now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution
They are now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution
The digitized versions are owned by the media conglomerate ESPN for all future re-broadcasts
The digitized versions are owned by the media conglomerate ESPN for all future re-broadcasts
Which of these topics received very little focus in the final 10-hour edit but was a major part of the post-Chicago era?
A detailed segment on the team’s security guards and their personal relationship with Jordan
A detailed segment on the team’s security guards and their personal relationship with Jordan
Extended dialogue regarding the team’s training camp in 1997 held in Paris
Extended dialogue regarding the team’s training camp in 1997 held in Paris
A deeper look at the impact of the lockout-shortened 1999 season immediately following the breakup of the team
A deeper look at the impact of the lockout-shortened 1999 season immediately following the breakup of the team
Interviews with the team’s bus drivers and hotel staff members during the 1998 road trips
Interviews with the team’s bus drivers and hotel staff members during the 1998 road trips
What was one of the stated structural difficulties the editing team faced when processing the massive library of footage?
The producers had to cut significant footage because the original film was not high-definition 4K quality
The producers had to cut significant footage because the original film was not high-definition 4K quality
The producers were under legal pressure to cut scenes that showed team owners in a negative light
The producers were under legal pressure to cut scenes that showed team owners in a negative light
The producers struggled to balance the narrative between the 1998 present and the historical flashbacks
The producers struggled to balance the narrative between the 1998 present and the historical flashbacks
The producers were afraid to include the full extent of the team’s internal conflict, fearing it would upset stakeholders too much
The producers were afraid to include the full extent of the team’s internal conflict, fearing it would upset stakeholders too much
In what year did the actual production and filming of new, contemporary interviews for ‘The Last Dance’ primarily take place?
2015
2015
2020
2020
2012
2012
2018
2018
Which critical moment of the 1998 season was successfully captured by the crew living with the team?
The crew was restricted from filming the final championship celebrations inside the locker room due to security concerns
The crew was restricted from filming the final championship celebrations inside the locker room due to security concerns
The crew captured footage of the team’s final meeting in the locker room after winning the championship trophy
The crew captured footage of the team’s final meeting in the locker room after winning the championship trophy
The players confiscated the crew’s camera equipment during the final game’s victory party
The players confiscated the crew’s camera equipment during the final game’s victory party
The crew lost the tapes of the final celebration due to a technical error in the editing suite
The crew lost the tapes of the final celebration due to a technical error in the editing suite
Which of these thematic elements was a central focus that the ’20 years of waiting’ allowed to be viewed with historical context?
The daily friction between the players and Jerry Krause regarding team management philosophy
The daily friction between the players and Jerry Krause regarding team management philosophy
The specifics of the team’s sponsorship deals and personal endorsements of each player
The specifics of the team’s sponsorship deals and personal endorsements of each player
The relationship between Jordan and Bob Costas during interviews
The relationship between Jordan and Bob Costas during interviews
The medical history of Ron Harper and his role on the defensive unit
The medical history of Ron Harper and his role on the defensive unit
Which of these is widely considered the ultimate purpose of the archival project being finalized in 2020?
To justify the high payroll costs of the 1990s Bulls roster to contemporary sports economists
To justify the high payroll costs of the 1990s Bulls roster to contemporary sports economists
To boost Jordan’s brand value after his time as a team owner in Charlotte
To boost Jordan’s brand value after his time as a team owner in Charlotte
To bridge the gap between older fans and the modern generation of NBA followers during a sports drought
To bridge the gap between older fans and the modern generation of NBA followers during a sports drought
To be the definitive record of the 1990s basketball era
To be the definitive record of the 1990s basketball era
Who was Andy Thompson, and what role did he play in the production of the raw footage?
He was the team’s lead psychologist and often served as a mediator for the cameras
He was the team’s lead psychologist and often served as a mediator for the cameras
He was the director of player relations who facilitated the crew’s access to the locker room
He was the director of player relations who facilitated the crew’s access to the locker room
He was the person who convinced Jordan that the footage belonged in a documentary rather than a private vault
He was the person who convinced Jordan that the footage belonged in a documentary rather than a private vault
He was the primary camera operator who lived with the team for the entire season
He was the primary camera operator who lived with the team for the entire season
What is true regarding the participation of the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls players in the documentary interviews?
The documentary showed that every player from the team was invited and accepted the invitation to speak on camera
The documentary showed that every player from the team was invited and accepted the invitation to speak on camera
The NBA forced everyone to participate for contractual reasons, meaning 100% of the team gave interviews for the show
The NBA forced everyone to participate for contractual reasons, meaning 100% of the team gave interviews for the show
Several former players declined to be interviewed, limiting the scope of certain stories about the 1998 team dynamic
Several former players declined to be interviewed, limiting the scope of certain stories about the 1998 team dynamic
The interview process took nearly 10 years because of conflicting schedules between retirees and filming locations
The interview process took nearly 10 years because of conflicting schedules between retirees and filming locations
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