Current:Home > ContactLenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice -NextFrontier Finance
Lenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:35:08
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! (2)
Related
- Plunge Into These Olympic Artistic Swimmers’ Hair and Makeup Secrets
- Trump’s economic agenda for his second term is clouding the outlook for mortgage rates
- Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
- Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper Prove They're Going Strong With Twinning Looks on NYC Date
- The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
- Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
- RFK Jr. grilled again about moving to California while listing New York address on ballot petition
- Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
Ranking
- 'Most Whopper
- Kraft Heinz stops serving school-designed Lunchables because of low demand
- Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper Prove They're Going Strong With Twinning Looks on NYC Date
- New Jersey will issue a drought warning after driest October ever and as wildfires rage
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- Over 1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles subject of US probe over potential engine failure
Recommendation
Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports
Olivia Munn began randomly drug testing John Mulaney during her first pregnancy
John Krasinski named People magazine’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive
Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball
Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
Judge sets April trial date for Sarah Palin’s libel claim against The New York Times
Nevada Democrats keep legislative control but fall short of veto-proof supermajority
Certifying this year’s presidential results begins quietly, in contrast to the 2020 election