“Only Royalty Who Superseded Michael Jordan”: When Magic Johnson Compared $2 Billion Worth Teammate to Monaco’s Princes

The 1992 Dream Team is perhaps the greatest basketball team ever assembled. A squad that included the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird certainly deserves all the praise. But when such personalities meet, the stories they create together are inadvertently incredible. Apart from their glory on the Olympic platform, the Dream Team also had ample legendary moments off the court. One such moment included the royals of Monaco. Apparently, Johnson while meeting Prince Rainier and Prince Albert compared them to MJ.

Before the start of the Barcelona Olympics, the Dream Team was practicing in Monte Carlo. When they arrived in the city, the Royal family of Monaco invited the team to a reception.

Johnson, who was known for being a smartly dressed and charming man, arrived at the reception dressed in a black and white tuxedo. After meeting with Prince Rainier and Prince Albert, Johnson was so impressed he ended up claiming Prince Rainier and Prince Albert superseded Jordan.

Magic Johnson claimed Prince Rainier and Prince Albert superseded Michael Jordan

During their time together in Barcelona, Magic and Michael developed their bond even further. Despite their argument over who was the best player in the world, the two were still cordial.

Jordan, at the time, was reaching the peak of his popularity. He had become a global phenomenon, the likes of which the NBA hadn’t seen before. In fact, it was perhaps this popularity that led to Magic claiming Jordan was also royalty.

In the book When the Game Was Ours, which was written by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Johnson wrote of the time the Dream Team was invited to a reception held by the Royal family of Monaco. The book revealed how Johnson after meeting Prince Rainier and Prince Albert claimed that they were the only royalty that superseded even Jordan.

When the Game Was Ours: “That evening the Dream Team attended a reception hosted by Prince Rainier and Prince Albert, and Magic, resplendent in a black-and-white tuxedo, declared that the Rainiers were the only royalty who superseded Jordan.”

Magic accompanied Jordan to a casino

The book by Johnson and Bird also detailed the time in Monte Carlo when Michael Jordan visited a casino. With his gambling obsession already becoming popular, Jordan found an unlikely company in Magic Johnson while visiting the establishment.

Apparently, Johnson accompanied Michael to bring his teammate luck. It’s not clear whether Johnson was actually able to do that. But it certainly shows that the camaraderie between the Dream Team superstars was unparalleled.