“I’m telling you Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, if you don’t quit, every time I see you, next year I am busting your a**”: When Michael Jordan bullied the 80’s superstars into hanging up their boots

Former NFL player Ahmad Rashad narrates an incident involving Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan with the 1992 Dream Team

The showtime Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics, under Larry Bird‘s helm, shared one of the most intense rivalries in the history of the NBA. Both Magic and Bird were at the pinnacle of their respective careers. Magic and Bird met 3-times in the NBA Finals, with the former having a 2-1 lead over the Celtics legend. The two icons were on Mount Rushmore before the arrival of one Michael Jeffery Jordan.

MJ defined the term once-in-a-generation athlete. His onset in the NBA would see Magic and Bird hanging their boots and passing on the torch to Jordan.

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Though it was initially hard for the 80s’ superstars to accept a new kid on the block, they would eventually come to terms with it due to Jordan’s unfathomable basketball talent. Popular sports broadcaster Ahmad Rashad shared an incident about a heated conversation between the three icons of the game.

When Larry Bird and Magic Johnson passed the torch to Michael Jordan.

Former NFL wide receiver Ahmad Rashad narrates an iconic incident about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team involving Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

Initially, there was a discussion among the Dream Team about the best team.

“We are sitting in a room in a hotel in Barcelona—Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson…there is a conversation going on on ‘who had the best team?’… Larry Bird makes Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley stop talking totally because they never won a championship. So the conversation is about Boston, the Lakers, and Chicago,”

“I was sitting up there with Larry Bird and we were just watching. Then finally, Michael gets very upset and says, ‘Listen, all I’m telling you — I’m telling you Larry, I’m telling you Magic — if you don’t quit, every time I see you next year I am busting your a**. When I come to your arena, I’m busting your a**. I’m warning you right now, you better quit.’” 

Rashad further revealed “After time went by, Larry Bird just looks over at Magic and he says, ‘Magic, you and I were then, and Michael Jordan is now.’ And that’s how that went.”

Also Read: “The ceiling is the roof”: When Michael Jordan gave North Carolina students a questionable idiom ahead of their game against Duke

MJ dominated the hardwood, winning 6 NBA championships and being crowned Finals MVP in each case. His Airness never lost in an NBA Finals and would never even let the series go till a Game 7.