History 📜 Without MJ👑 = Barkley’s 🔥 Immortality 🏀

We are about to enter the final season in which Michael Jordan would have won a championship. But in this alternate history, with him completely removed from the era, another superstar stepped into the spotlight and dominated the late 1980s and 1990s — Charles Barkley.

Barkley collected championships in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1992 alongside John Stockton and the Dallas Mavericks. In 1997, while Jordan claimed his fifth title in the real world, Barkley earned his fifth ring as well — this time helping Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler capture their first. Now, as the 1998 playoffs begin, Barkley has a chance to match Jordan’s total with a sixth championship.

For Olajuwon, the journey has been just as fascinating. In real life, he won back-to-back titles during Jordan’s first retirement. But in our world, he only broke through last season. 

The 1994 Rockets had been upset in the first round by the 7th-seeded Utah Jazz led by David Robinson, while the 1995 Rockets were stopped in the Conference Finals by the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, powered by Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman.

Before diving into the 1998 playoff results, it’s important to look back at the impact of the 1997 draft class. Just as in real life, Tim Duncan went first overall to join David Robinson, but in this universe he didn’t land on the Spurs. 

With Robinson sidelined most of 1996–97 due to injury, the Jazz tanked, finishing with the league’s third-worst record. In real life, that gave the Spurs the No. 1 pick. In this timeline, it gave the Jazz Duncan — a franchise-altering player.

Several other rookies quickly made their mark. Chauncey Billups and Antonio Daniels both started for their teams, with Billups helping the Golden State Warriors return to the playoffs, while Daniels and the Detroit Pistons remained stuck in the lottery. 

Ron Mercer, Tracy McGrady, and Maurice Taylor all earned starting roles with the Cavaliers, Clippers, and Nuggets, though each of those franchises missed the postseason as well.

Perhaps the most surprising rookie was Brevin Knight, drafted by the Chicago Bulls. After losing Chris Mullin to the Indiana Pacers, Chicago seemed destined for the lottery. 

But Knight proved to be a steal, emerging as arguably the team’s third-best player behind Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Thanks to his play, the Bulls finished 6th in the Eastern Conference and avoided a complete collapse.

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Out of the 29 first-round picks, these rookies made the biggest immediate impact on their drafted teams. As the years progress, though, there’s no doubt more names from this class will rise to prominence.

Now, onto the 1997–98 season, where in the Eastern Conference the New York Knicks (54-28) finished on top. This marks only the second time in our 14-year history that Patrick Ewing and the Knicks have claimed the East’s best record.

 

They are also the defending Eastern Conference champions, coming off a Finals loss to Barkley and the Rockets. Last season they stormed to the Finals as a 3 seed, and though they dropped four more games this year, they enter the playoffs as the top dog in the East.

Rising seemingly out of nowhere, the Milwaukee Bucks (52-30) secured the No. 2 seed. The franchise hadn’t made the playoffs since 1994, which was Tom Gugliotta’s final season in Milwaukee. Now, with a reloaded roster led by Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Terrell Brandon, the Bucks are suddenly back in the mix and eyeing a deep run.

Just behind them are the Atlanta Hawks (51-31), finishing third — their best regular season since capturing the 1994 championship. Mookie Blaylock remains the lone holdover from that title team. 

The Hawks retooled last year and pushed to the semifinals before falling to the Knicks. With a strong supporting cast around their veteran leader, Blaylock now aims to bring the Hawks back to the Finals and restore their former glory.

At No. 4 sit the New Jersey Nets (47-35). Last season was the greatest in franchise history — 62 wins and a trip to the Conference Finals — but they fell to the Knicks in a tough series. This year has been more difficult, as the team lost former All-Star Vin Baker to Seattle, a blow that explains much of their 15-win decline.

The rest of the East playoff bracket is rounded out by the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. Ever since Chris Webber joined the Wizards, they’ve become a dangerous playoff team, pulling off two upsets in the last three years.

 

The Bulls remain led by two-time champion Scottie Pippen, and while their roster isn’t what it once was, no one takes a Pippen-led squad lightly in the postseason. 

The Magic are clearly on the decline, falling from being a consistent 4–5 seed the past three years to a lower seed now. The biggest surprise, though, is the return of the 76ers, who hadn’t been in the playoffs since 1993. Powered by All-Star Kevin Garnett, they surged back into relevance and could be a dark horse.

The Sixers and Bucks replaced the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets, both of whom stumbled this season, after being in the playoffs last season. The Heat, still reeling from the loss of Shaquille O’Neal, narrowly missed the playoffs by three games despite having Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning. 

The Hornets, meanwhile, collapsed after losing Jerry Stackhouse, and with Anthony Mason failing to replicate his breakout All-Star campaign from last year, they fell a stunning 12 wins short of their 1997 mark.

In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets (64-18) claimed the best record in the league. With momentum from last year’s championship, they now stand poised to become the first team since Charles Barkley’s Mavericks in 1990 to win back-to-back titles. Houston with their veteran core of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Barkley, have their eyes firmly set on a repeat.

The Los Angeles Lakers (58-24) grabbed the No. 2 seed and reclaimed the top spot in the Pacific Division. They last finished here in 1995, when a young team led by Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton broke through.

 

Mourning may be gone, but Payton remains, now partnered with Shaquille O’Neal for a second season. With “The Glove” and “The Diesel” together, the Lakers are again a serious threat to reach the Finals.

Just behind them, the Dallas Mavericks (59-23) locked up the No. 3 seed. This is the third straight season they have made the playoffs led by All-Star Grant Hill.  

Last year ended with disappointment when they were eliminated in the Semis by the Sacramento Kings. Now, they’re aiming to return to the championship heights of the late 80s and early 90s, though this roster looks entirely different from Barkley’s dynasty.

At No. 4 are the Utah Jazz (53-29), led by a fully healthy David Robinson and powered by rookie sensation Tim Duncan, who claimed league MVP honors. 

In this universe, the MVP is determined by stats alone — and Duncan’s dominance as a first-year player made him the choice. With Robinson back and Duncan already playing like a franchise cornerstone, the Jazz are suddenly one of the most dangerous teams in the West.

The rest of the playoff field includes the Minnesota Timberwolves (5th), Phoenix Suns (6th), Golden State Warriors (7th), and for the first time ever, the Vancouver Grizzlies (8th).

 

Minnesota has now earned the 5 seed for the third straight year, and they’ve already shown they’re capable of pulling off an upset. The Suns continue their slow decline in the post-Barkley era, but despite three more losses than last year, they actually finished higher in the standings — a reflection of the West’s sharp drop-off after the top four seeds. 

The Warriors make their return to the postseason after missing out last year, thanks in large part to the addition of Jim Jackson. And finally, the Grizzlies break through with their first-ever playoff berth, led by All-Star Antoine Walker, giving Vancouver its first taste of postseason basketball.

Replacing last year’s playoff trio of the Kings, Spurs, and Nuggets are this year’s Jazz, Warriors, and Grizzlies. The Nuggets, who snuck in as the 8 seed in 1997, slid backwards with seven more losses, largely due to the departure of floor general Mark Jackson. 

The Spurs, once a perennial playoff fixture, stumbled badly, missing the cut by eight games. While Karl Malone remained an All-Star, the supporting cast around him declined sharply. 

But the biggest collapse came from the Sacramento Kings, who plummeted by a shocking 27 more losses than a year ago. With franchise cornerstone Shawn Kemp leaving for Cleveland, Latrell Sprewell was left to carry the load, and without Kemp, both he and the team regressed significantly.

As the 1998 Playoffs tipped off in the East, the defending conference champions #1 New York Knicks squared off against the #8 Philadelphia 76ers. 

On paper, it looked like a quick sweep, but the Sixers had more than just raw talent in Kevin Garnett — they also had the experience of former champion Derrick Coleman (’94 Hawks). 

Down 0-2 heading back to Philadelphia, Coleman played like the All-Star he once was, delivering dominant performances in both Games 3 and 4 to tie the series. 

It was his first All-Star season since leaving Atlanta, and he proved his value by keeping Philly alive. But back at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks reminded everyone why they were the East’s top seed. Allen Iverson dropped 30 points while Patrick Ewing anchored the paint with a double-double, sending New York through with a Game 5 victory.

The #2 Milwaukee Bucks and #7 Orlando Magic series wasn’t nearly as dramatic. The Bucks, making their first playoff appearance since 1994, were led by their young core of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Terrell Brandon, and Ray Allen, and they wasted no time taking control. 

Milwaukee held serve at home, winning the first two games. With their backs against the wall, Penny Hardaway and the Magic stole Game 3, but that would be the extent of their fight. The Bucks closed it out in Orlando, winning the series 3-1 and proving they were no fluke.

The other two Eastern matchups, however, were battles that went the full five games. In the highly anticipated #3 Atlanta Hawks vs. #6 Chicago Bulls showdown, two championship pedigrees collided. 

The Hawks had won their title in 1994, while the Bulls had lifted the trophy in 1993 and 1995. Scottie Pippen had been at the heart of every Bulls playoff run, while Mookie Blaylock had been central to Atlanta’s battles with Chicago throughout the decade.

 

On paper, Atlanta was deeper, but the Bulls carried championship DNA with Pippen, Toni Kukoč, and Dennis Rodman, who himself had reached the Finals with the Spurs back in 1995. In the end, it came down to Game 5 in Atlanta. With the home crowd roaring, it was Steve Smith’s 27-point performance that pushed the Hawks to a 109-105 win, ending Chicago’s season.

The #4 New Jersey Nets vs. #5 Washington Wizards series was another tight, back-and-forth battle. The Nets were coming off their second-ever Conference Finals run just a year ago, while the Wizards (formerly the Bullets) had made a name for themselves with first-round upsets in recent seasons. 

But without Vin Baker, the Nets lacked their old centerpiece, and that absence loomed large. In Game 5, Chris Webber and Rod Strickland dominated, both posting double-doubles as Washington pulled off the upset with a 103-96 victory on the road.

When compared to reality, the differences are striking. In real life, the Pacers, Hornets, and Bulls all advanced alongside the Knicks. In this universe, only New York moves on in both timelines. The Pacers and Hornets didn’t even make the playoffs here, and the MJ-less Bulls, despite Pippen’s efforts, couldn’t get past the Hawks.

In the West, the Houston Rockets once again stood tall as the #1 seed for the third straight year. With the addition of Charles Barkley last season, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler finally secured their long-awaited championships. Now the trio entered the 1998 playoffs chasing even bigger history — back-to-back titles, while Barkley himself sought a sixth championship ring, something no player had achieved since the legendary Celtics dynasty of the 1960s. 

Their first-round opponents, the playoff-debuting Vancouver Grizzlies, were led by All-Star Antoine Walker. But the young franchise looked overwhelmed against Houston’s battle-tested core, and the Rockets swept with ease, 3-0.

The #2 Los Angeles Lakers faced the #7 Golden State Warriors in another matchup that leaned heavily toward the favorites. With Shaquille O’Neal anchoring the paint and Gary Payton orchestrating the backcourt, the Lakers were determined to push the Diesel back to the Finals stage. 

The Warriors, returning to the playoffs after just a one-year absence, looked very different from their Mutombo-led days. Now they leaned on newly acquired Jim Jackson, but the talent gap was too great. 

After dropping the first two games in Los Angeles, Golden State managed to steal a win at home to force a Game 4, but the Lakers responded with authority, closing the series 3-1.

The #3 Dallas Mavericks also wasted little time in dispatching their opponent. With Grant Hill leading the way and veteran John Stockton hunting his fifth ring, Dallas handled the #6 Phoenix Suns in convincing fashion. The Suns, still searching for an identity after losing Barkley two years ago, had no answer for the Mavericks’ depth and fell in four games, 3-1.

That left the only real drama of the West’s opening round: the #4 Utah Jazz vs. #5 Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, Utah had all the advantages. 

They finished 11 games ahead of Minnesota in the standings, and their frontcourt featured former two-time MVP David Robinson alongside rookie sensation Tim Duncan, who had just been crowned league MVP — the first rookie in our 14-year history to win the honor. 

But once the series began, the narrative flipped. The Timberwolves’ trio of Tom Gugliotta, Stephon Marbury, and Joe Smith attacked relentlessly, pushing the heavily favored Jazz to a decisive Game 5 in Salt Lake City. 

There, the pressure seemed to crush Duncan. The rookie MVP was a complete non-factor, scoring only 7 points before fouling out, while Minnesota stormed to a stunning 107-99 victory. The Wolves advanced, and the Jazz were left stunned.

In terms of parallels with reality, only the Lakers advanced in both timelines. In real life, the Sonics, Spurs, and Jazz also moved on. But in this world, the Sonics and Spurs didn’t even qualify for the postseason, and the supposedly dominant Jazz suffered a shocking early exit.

Back East, the Conference Semifinals opened with the #1 New York Knicks squaring off against the #5 Washington Wizards. The Knicks were the defending East champions, their magical run last year ending in heartbreak against the Rockets in the Finals. 

That trip marked the first time in the Ewing Era they had even reached the Conference Finals stage. Now, the Wizards — led by Chris Webber and Rod Strickland — were determined to follow that same path.

The franchise, then known as the Bullets, had only one prior Conference Finals appearance in 14 years (back in 1986). This was already their third semifinal appearance in recent seasons, and they believed this was finally their moment. 

On paper, New York still looked like the stronger team, but just as in the opening round, it was Washington’s dynamic duo of Webber and Strickland who repeatedly stole the spotlight.

With the series tied 2-2, the two stars put on a clinic in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, silencing the crowd with a stunning 110-98 victory. Suddenly, the defending East champs were pushed to the brink. 

Back in D.C., the Wizards kept the momentum rolling. Ewing and Allen Iverson tried to fight back, but the Wizards had too much firepower. The final buzzer sounded, the score read 114-109, and the Wizards took the series 4-2, pulling off one of the most shocking upsets in league history.

Meanwhile, the #2 Milwaukee Bucks were learning a hard lesson against the battle-tested #3 Atlanta Hawks. The young Bucks, led by Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Terrell Brandon, and Ray Allen, were unprepared for Atlanta’s mix of experience and hunger. 

The Hawks stunned Milwaukee in Game 1, and after the Bucks tied the series, Atlanta seized full control at home, winning Games 3 and 4. Down 3-1, Milwaukee showed some resilience with a gritty Game 5 win to keep their season alive, but back in Atlanta, the Hawks’ frontcourt duo of Christian Laettner and Dikembe Mutombo dominated inside. The Hawks closed it out with a 117-105 win, advancing to the Conference Finals.

Our 1998 Eastern Conference Finals are set: the Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards. It’s a completely different matchup than what happened in reality, where the Indiana Pacers squared off against the Chicago Bulls. 

Still, there are parallels beneath the surface. In our world, the Bulls, much like the real-life Hawks, suffered first-round exits, while our Pacers, like their Wizards, never even reached the postseason.

Out West, the stage was just as dramatic. The top-seeded Houston Rockets squared off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in one semifinal. 

The last time the Wolves advanced as a 5 seed was in 1996, when they too met the #1 Rockets. Two years later, the cast had shifted — Charles Barkley was still in Phoenix back then, and Stephon Marbury wasn’t yet in the league. 

But despite the fresh faces, the outcome remained the same: the veteran Rockets handled business, 4-2, finishing the series with a road elimination win. After taking control in a pivotal Game 5, Houston wasted no time putting Minnesota away in Game 6, leaning on their championship experience.

On the other side, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers delivered a heavyweight battle. Despite being the #3 seed, Dallas held homecourt over the #2 Lakers, and that edge proved decisive in a crucial Game 5. 

With the series tied 2-2, the Dallas crowd was electric, and Grant Hill and company rose to the moment. Feeding off the energy, they pulled away late for a 111-102 win, taking a 3-2 series lead.

Back in Los Angeles, the Lakers fought desperately to stay alive. Shaquille O’Neal dominated inside, and Gary Payton did his best to steady the offense. 

But the night belonged to Michael Finley, who exploded for 32 points, including 15 in the 4th quarter to silence the Forum crowd. His clutch heroics closed the door on the Lakers, giving Dallas the 4-2 series victory and their first trip back to the Conference Finals since the early 90s glory days.

That sets up the 1998 Western Conference Finals: a Texas showdown between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. A far cry from reality, where it was the Utah Jazz and Lakers. 

In real life, the Rockets once again fell to the Jazz; but in our timeline, Houston and Utah never meet in the postseason, despite the Jazz boasting a strong roster with David Robinson and Tim Duncan. 

Meanwhile, the real 1998 Mavericks missed the playoffs entirely, but our alternate Mavericks, with John Stockton running the point and Grant Hill as their drafted franchise star, are legitimate contenders for the crown. 

The Eastern Conference Finals featured the #3 Atlanta Hawks vs. the #5 Washington Wizards. For the third straight series, it was Chris Webber and Rod Strickland who entered as the highest-rated players on the court. The question lingered: could Washington finally break through to the NBA Finals for the first time in our 14-year history?

Just as in their showdown with the Knicks, the Wizards once again found themselves heading into a Game 5 on the road with the series tied. But unlike New York, Atlanta had former champion Mookie Blaylock keeping his team composed and locked in. The Hawks managed to squeak out a win behind another strong performance from Steve Smith, who poured in 25 points to give Atlanta a 3-2 edge.

Back in D.C., however, the Wizards punched back hard. Strickland and Webber were unstoppable, dominating the flow of the game and forcing a decisive Game 7.

The series finale in Atlanta was nothing short of a thriller. Neither side ever led by more than five, and the game saw nine lead changes. With the Hawks clinging to a two-point lead, the Wizards had the ball for the final possession. 

They milked the clock before feeding Webber in the post. As Dikembe Mutombo closed in to swat, Webber spotted Strickland wide open in the corner. Rod caught the ball and immediately let it fly — but before it could rise, Kerry Kittles came flying in to block it. The buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted, and the Hawks survived, advancing to their first Finals since 1994.

Out West, the storyline was eerily similar. The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks battled for both Western Conference supremacy and Texas bragging rights. 

It was also Stockton vs. Barkley II. Back in 1996, Barkley’s Suns squared off against Stockton’s Mavericks in a first-round 3/6 matchup, their first playoff meeting as ex-teammates. Barkley’s Suns won that clash in a decisive Game 5.

Now, two years later, the stage was far bigger: a trip to the NBA Finals. While Stockton’s role had diminished to make way for Grant Hill and Michael Finley, Barkley had become the missing piece of a Rockets team already loaded with legends. Both squads traded blows across the series, pushing it all the way to a Game 7 in Houston.

This time, experience triumphed over youth. Hakeem Olajuwon turned back the clock with a 34-point masterpiece, anchoring the Rockets on both ends. Houston pulled away late for a 123-117 victory, sealing their third straight Finals appearance.

The 1998 NBA Finals were set, and unlike reality — where it was Jordan’s Bulls vs. Malone’s Jazz for the second straight year — our world gave us a different clash: two proud franchises, two former champions, and one ultimate showdown: Hawks vs. Rockets.

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The 1998 NBA Finals featured the 1997 defending champion Houston Rockets vs. the 1994 champion Atlanta Hawks. But while Houston returned with their full championship core intact, the Hawks looked very different — with Mookie Blaylock the only player still around from their title run four years earlier.

The Rockets came out firing, protecting home court with authority. They took a commanding 2-0 lead, as Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Clyde Drexler reminded everyone why they were champions. But the Hawks weren’t about to go quietly. Back in Atlanta, they fed off their home crowd and stormed back with two straight wins of their own, evening the series at 2-2.

Game 5 in Atlanta was a classic. With the Hawks threatening to take control of the series, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler delivered one of the greatest performances of his career. He poured in 40 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter alone, completely taking over the game. Afterward, Barkley summed it up perfectly: “He was unstoppable.” The Rockets escaped with the critical road win to go up 3-2.

Now back in Houston for Game 6, the defending champs smelled blood. The Rockets dominated from start to finish, never letting Atlanta find a rhythm. The celebration was on in Houston as the Rockets closed it out, cementing their status as the league’s new dynasty.

In reality, Michael Jordan won his sixth title in 1998, cementing his place in basketball immortality. But in our world, it was Charles Barkley who claimed that honor. Once considered a star who couldn’t win “the big one,” Barkley now stood tall as a six-time champion and eight-time Finals participant. With no Jordan blocking his path, Barkley flourished into one of the most decorated players in league history.

For the Rockets, this marked their second straight championship, making them the first team since Barkley’s late-’80s Mavericks dynasty to go back-to-back. From 1988–1990, Barkley’s Mavs won three straight — and now the question looms:

Can the Rockets match that feat and make it three in a row?

Stay tuned for Season 15 — Coming Soon!