Current:Home > MarketsLenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice -Visionary Wealth Guides
Lenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice
View
Date:2025-04-18 10:55:13
Much has been made about the original 1992 Dream Team and how competitive the practices were, considering the players probably knew weren't going to get much competition once the team set foot in Barcelona.
Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens, who was an assistant on the Dream Team, tells of one instance when practice wasn't going as planned, and head coach Chuck Daly was starting to fume at the lack of intensity.
"For a coach, it was a dream come true to have that kind of talent. And they were always ready. ... And they challenged one another."
"Guys were going through the motions, one time," Wilkens said to host Bob Kendrick on the Black Diamonds podcast.
Wilkens said he called Magic Johnson over to discuss the practice.
"We don't have to be here all day. We can be here as short a period of time depending on how we perform," Wilkens said he told Johnson.
HALL OF FAME: How Dream Team influenced inductees
Johnson didn't need another word, telling Wilkens, "I got it, coach. I'll take care of it."
According to Wilkens, Johnson talked to a few of his teammates about how they were playing and then came to Michael Jordan.
"He started to get on Michael and that's all we needed," Wilkens said. "Michael went berserk."
Jordan's antics forced Daly to stop the practice, fearing that a team member would get hurt.
"We laugh about it to this day. I saw Magic not too long ago ... and he reminded me of it," Wilkens said.
Of course, the Dream Team, the first time USA Basketball used professionals in Olympic competition, steamrolled its opponents in Barcelona by an average of 44 points a game on the way to the gold medal.
veryGood! (882)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Amid stall in contract talks with UAW, GM, Stellantis investigated for bad faith by NLRB
- Germany pulled off the biggest upset of its basketball existence. Hardly anyone seemed to notice
- Climate protester glues feet to floor, interrupting US Open semifinal between Gauff and Muchova
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- MLB's eventual Home Run King was an afterthought as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa raced to 62
- Latin America women’s rights groups say their abortion win in Mexico may hold the key to US struggle
- Lahaina's children and their families grapple with an unknown future
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Coco Gauff tops Karolina Muchova to reach her first US Open final after match was delayed by a protest
Ranking
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Man shot during Lil Baby concert in Memphis: What to know
- Rail infrastructure in Hamburg is damaged by fires. Police suspect a political motive
- Tahesha Way sworn in as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor after death of Sheila Oliver
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- California governor signs bill to clear hurdles for student housing at Berkeley’s People’s Park
- 'All day hydration': Gatorade expands sports drink brand with new Gatorade Water
- Lawsuit blames Peloton for death of NYC man whose bike fell on his neck during workout
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Stock market today: Asian shares weaken while Japan reports economy grew less than expected
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
Spanish prosecutors accuse Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player at World Cup
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Project Runway: All Stars 2023 Winner Revealed
Marc Bohan, former Dior creative director and friend to the stars, dies at age 97
Hunt for Daniel Abed Khalife, terror suspect who escaped a London prison, enters second day