Patrick Ewing had a special sideline gig in his career, appearing in the 1996 sports comedy film 'Space Jam.' Starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, and the rest of the Looney Tunes squad, the New York Knicks legend played a himself as one of the NBA stars whose basketball talent was stolen by evil invading aliens known as Nerdlucks.
While the general vibe of the movie production was all fun and games, Big Pat confessed that MJ also had time to poke around and reveal his ever-competitive trash-talking habits.
Talk your trash
The player casting of Space Jam was stacked and star-studded. In addition to Michael and Patrick, Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley made special appearances. This cast of characters couldn't be more compelling, considering their respective traits and intriguing personalities, perfectly complementing the movie's persona.
Alongside each other, all these NBA stars had a good time throughout the movie's shooting. They bonded easily, from playing basketball and the other off-court stuff. As such, there were also times when taunting existed, and MJ didn't hold back, reminding everyone that he was the alpha within the room.
"We went out to L.A. and for our scenes, mines, Charles, Larry (Johnson), (Muggsy Bogues), Shawn Bradley, I think it took us about a month to do so. It was a lot of fun. We would play pickup ball after the shoot was over, we'd go out to dinner, we'll play pool, talk trash, talk about everybody's career. Of course, Michael, he is one of the biggest trash talkers that you've ever had the opportunity to meet or play against. He was always riding Charles and myself that we hadn't won anything as yet," he said on the Roommates Show (42:50).
Pat and Chuck were Michael's rivals during the early '90s, and he beat both of them on his way to steering the Chicago Bulls' first three-peat. On his end, Ewing can only take the beating for himself as he and his Knicks team couldn't overcome Jordan's dominance.
Related: "Besides, he wasn't on the team" - Scottie Pippen was upset with Michael Jordan for including his infamous playoff drama in 'The Last Dance'
An unforgettable experience
In the end, Pat is grateful and happy that he enjoyed a wonderful chance to be a part of the movie. This made him even more remarkable in the eyes of everyone, not as a basketball great but as one of the pitiful victims who contributed to the transformation of the 'Monstars'.
"It was a great experience. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the opportunity to be around those guys and learning from those guys. Just being around all those people in the movie, just learning that job. It's funny because today, more people know me from that movie than me being a player," Ewing said . "... I'll be coming through the airport, and a little kid [would say], 'Aren't you the guy that was in Space Jam?' They don't say, 'Are you that great player?' They say, 'Are you the guy that was in Space Jam?"Patrick Ewing recalls Michael Jordan’s savage trash-talking during Space Jam's filming: “He was always riding Charles and myself that we hadn’t won anything”
Despite drawing mixed reactions upon its release, Space Jam became a box office hit and is now widely regarded as one of the most iconic sports cartoon films. It clearly defined a generation contributing to MJ's fame as a cultural icon. Unlike its successor , it was a massive success that will always remain a classic piece of art that transcends all ages.
Related: "I'd be Michael Jordan in this era" — Patrick Ewing argues why he would be the GOAT of this era
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