If Jordan pushed Russell, it would be evident from all angles. But the side view clearly refutes that theory. Look at Jordan's hand here as it makes contact with Russell's hip. It's a bump at most. The hand bounces off the hip and glides downward, bouncing off his calf. If he was pushing off, you would see Jordan's hand bend. You would see his fingers pressed into Russel's shorts/hip/ass cheek. You would see the hand pressing into Russell. But it doesn't. Not even a little bit. Jordan's fingers are straight. They don't even conform to Russell's hip at any point. Russell's jersey doesn't even move at all. And Jordan's hand just falls down. Jordan crossed him over big-time. Russell's own momentum is what takes him down. If you think this is some sort of Kung Fu Bruce Lee white magic move by Michael Jordan that sent Bryon Russell to the floor, then your license to argue anything on behalf of anyone in any court of law should be revoked because you are an idiot who is completely incapable of reason.
Skip to the 3:05 mark and just watch it on loop. This is absolutely irrefutable. He did not push off at all. He exerts effectively zero force on Bryon Russell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVGNmQSySvw