The 1992 Dream Team defeated its opponents by an average winning margin of 44 points and dominated opposing teams like no other. But heading to their semis showdown against Lithuania, Magic Johnson didn't want to take any chances.
A day earlier, the U.S. women's basketball team suffered a shocking upset at the hands of the Unified Team (name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union) 73-79, ending their gold medal hopes. Two days before, the Dream Team defeated Puerto Rico 115-77 in the quarterfinals. While it was another blowout win for the Americans, Michael Jordan scored only four points in the game. With the Lithuanians possibly posing a threat, Magic knew they needed more offense from MJ, so he tried to fire him up.
“I told Michael, ‘Michael, I don’t need you to be Michael Jordan. I need you to be Air Jordan,’” recalled Magic.
Magic wanted Mike to bring back Air Jordan
In 1992, Jordan reached the summit of the sport after winning back-to-back NBA championships. He had become a complete basketball player and one that dominated the game on both ends of the court. Before that, Mike was known as Air Jordan, the high-flying star who was a one-man scoring show.
Since winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988, Jordan consistently made the All-Defensive First Team until his first retirement in 1993 and during his Bulls comeback from 1996-98. MJ was also an All-NBA First Team member from 1987-1993 and 1996-1988. So when he played for the Dream Team, Jordan was a two-way force who could do whatever he wanted to on the court.
Against Lithuania, however, Magic only needed Jordan to put up the points on the scoreboard. And sure enough, His Airness responded with a vintage Air Jordan performance with 21 points on 9-18 shooting as Team USA walloped Lithuania 127-76.
Related: "You could just feel it, the lack of respect" - Alonzo Mourning on the tense environment in the gold medal game against France in the 2000 Olympics
MJ played 36 holes of golf and guarded Puerto Rico's point guard man-to-man
Interestingly, Charles Barkley told a story of MJ, David Robinson, and head coach Chuck Daly playing golf the morning before the Puerto Rico game. However, although Barkley, Robinson, and Daly left after playing 18 holes, Mike stayed on the golf course for 18 more. After playing 36 holes of golf in the morning, Jordan stubbornly insisted on guarding Puerto Rican starting PG James Carter in their afternoon game after he heard that Carter said not-so-nice things about him.
"Michael Jordan was crazy," Barkley said . "Me, him, Chuck Daly, and David Robinson go play golf. We're playing Puerto Rico that afternoon. Chuck says, 'Hey, guys, we played 18. Let's go.' Michael said, 'I'mma play another 18.' 'We got a game tonight.' He says, 'I'll be good."
Whether it was golf or guarding Carter that led to Mike shooting just 1-11 from the floor in the game, the Dream Team needed Air Jordan to resurface. Not only did MJ respond with a 21-point game versus Lithuania, but he also ended up scoring his personal best of 22 points as the Dream Team fulfilled its mission to bring back the gold to the United States.
Related: "I am more disappointed today than I was back when I was not selected" -Isiah Thomas on handshake snub as the reason he didn't make the Dream Team
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