Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are often credited for spreading the gospel of the NBA over a national stage and rightfully so. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics rivalry was what put the league on the map for millions to tune in. Michael Jordan on the other hand, should be credited for globalizing the NBA.
Advertisement
Jordan’s spectacular play earned him a championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1991 and 1992. By that time he had already secured endorsements with the likes of McDonald’s and Gatorade and had his incredibly successful Jordan Brand line of sneakers be distributed worldwide.
However, it was Jordan’s involvement with the 1992 Dream Team that represented the United States in the Barcelona Olympics that truly introduced NBA basketball to the world. As expected, MJ, despite not being the leading scorer on the Olympic team (Charles Barkley), was at the crux of this movement.
Michael Jordan on the importance of an Olympic gold medal
The Dream Team of 1992 was perhaps the strongest basketball team ever assembled. Despite the fact that LeBron James believes the 2008 Redeem Team could’ve beaten them, the 1992 Olympics squad is truly one of a kind.
During an interview with Playboy in 1992, Michael Jordan was asked about the importance of an Olympic gold medal. This was the first time league players were allowed in the Olympics and it was clear that MJ valued gold in Barcelona quite a bit.
“The [NBA] title is for Chicago and the Bulls fans around the United States, but the Olympics are for everybody in the United States and then some,” said the 5x MVP.
Prior to this statement of his, Jordan would also go on to explain why Magic Johnson had returned to professional basketball after his HIV announcement less than a year prior. “He has accomplished everything in terms of basketball except for one thing: He’s never played in an Olympics game. Never had that gold medal. And that can be eating at him.”
Michael Jordan and the Dream Team won gold
Regardless of the hoopla surrounding Isiah Thomas and his exclusion from the Dream Team, the 1992 USA basketball squad dominated their competition. Their first game together in Group A saw them beat Angola 116-48.
They would continue this level of dominance throughout the Olympics. They beat Puerto Rico and Lithuania by a combined 87 points in the quarter finals and the semi finals to advance to the finals where they beat down on Toni Kukoc and Croatia 117-85, earning themselves a gold medal that reportedly pays them $37,500 per player.
