People often use Michael Jordan’s performance with the Bulls in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals as a comparison for anything incredible – and yeah, it was pretty amazing to see a clearly-ill MJ still absolutely dominate on the court. However, 23 years later, we’re learning that he in fact probably just had the runs from some bad pizza. Via TMZ:

Michael Jordan is coming clean about his epic flu game performance in the 1997 NBA Finals … saying he didn’t actually have the flu — it was some bad pizza.

Remember, #23 was dealing with “flu-like symptoms” before a crucial Game 5 against the Utah Jazz … and fought through the pain for a 38-point performance to give the Bulls a 3-2 lead.

But, MJ’s trainer, Tim Grover, revealed it was actually food poisoning — not the flu — that had Jordan under the weather … after a late-night order from the only place that was open — a pizza shop.

When the pie was delivered, Grover says 5 dudes pulled up to Jordan’s hotel room … and the trainer hinted there could have been something fishy going on, saying, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

Glover’s instincts were right … ’cause MJ woke up at 2 AM “throwing up left and right.”

“So, it really wasn’t the flu game. It was food poisoning,” MJ admitted on ESPN’s “The Last Dance.”

IF you’ve ever had bad food poisoning, you know playing ANY SPORT while sick is still jaw-dropping – and the way that #23 played that day?  Damn. Let’s all hope they never putt hat pizza place on blast or the guy that didn’t wash his hands before putting pepperoni on their pie would probably have to go into witness protection.