The 1992 Olympics saw the greatest players in the history of basketball assembled to play in one team. Famously known as ‘The Dream Team’, the USA’s Men’s basketball team comprised the biggest superstars in the NBA. Names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird were set to play in a team together.
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Michael Jordan had established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the league. And he had just completed a back-to-back and he was entering the prime of his career.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird dominated the NBA in the 1980s and were looking to hang up their boots with a last hurrah. The duo played a major role in increasing the popularity of the league.
Their rivalry on the court captivated the fans for a decade. Needless to say, the team walked through their opponents in the Olympics without breaking a sweat.
Michael Jordan dragged Magic Johnson to the casino during their dream run
In the book ‘When the League Was Ours’ written by Magic and Bird, the duo provided a glimpse into the events that unfolded in the summer of 1992. In one incident, Michael Jordan decided to visit the Monte Carlo casinos and take Magic along. Here is an excerpt from the book:
“While Larry rang up the bar tab in Monte Carlo, Magic hung with Jordan at the casino and tried to bring him luck at the blackjack table. When the clock struck midnight, Johnson, Jordan, Barkley, and Pippen flocked to Jimmy Z’s, an exclusive Monte Carlo nightclub with a retractable roof and a maze of dance floors.”
It is interesting to note here that Magic and Jordan had a disagreement the previous day over who the better player was. However, Michael believed that the Lakers legend would provide him luck on the tables. It is common for a collection of players so talented to have ego clashes along the way to success.
The success of “The Dream Team” in the Olympics
The USA Men’s National Basketball displayed utter dominance on the way to their gold medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. It was the first time that NBA players were allowed to participate in the event, and the team consisted of eleven Hall of Famers.
They played a total of eight opponents in the tournament, winning all games by an average margin of 43.8 points. Charles Barkley emerged as the highest scorer for the USA with 18 PPG, while Jordan was second with 14.9 PPG. The talent and athleticism displayed by the players took the world by storm and ignited a passion for the league that continues to date.
