Current:Home > StocksLenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice -Finovate
Lenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice
View
Date:2025-04-28 00:10:49
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! (33)
Related
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Save 80% on Michael Kors, 50% on Banana Republic, 70% on Gap & Today's Best Deals
- Why RHONJ’s Season 14 Last Supper Proves the Current Cast Is Done for Good
- Police release images of suspects and car in killing of actor Johnny Wactor in Los Angeles
- Trump's 'stop
- Hurricane Debby to bring heavy rains and catastropic flooding to Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina
- White Sox beaten 13-7 by Twins for 20th straight loss, longest MLB skid in 36 years
- MLB power rankings: Losers of 20 in a row, White Sox push for worst record ever
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- For Canada, anything short of men's basketball medal will a disappointment
Ranking
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Proposed law pushes for tougher migrant detention following Texas girl’s killing
- Olympic triathlon mixed relay gets underway with swims in the Seine amid water quality concerns
- National White Wine Day: Cute Wine Glasses & More To Celebrate
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Taylor Swift continues to shriek during this song. At first fans thought she was falling.
- Amazon: Shoppers are distracted by big news events, like assassination attempt
- Last Day to Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Race Against the Clock to Shop the Top 45 Deals
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Noah Lyles wins Olympic 100 by five-thousandths of a second, among closest finishes in Games history
National White Wine Day: Cute Wine Glasses & More To Celebrate
Does Noah Lyles have asthma? What to know of track star who won 100m gold at Paris Olympics
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
US conquers murky Siene for silver in mixed triathlon relay: Don't care 'if I get sick'
Sha'Carri Richardson gets silver but no storybook ending at Paris Olympics
Flag contest: Mainers to vote on adopting a pine tree design paying homage to state’s 1st flag