Current:Home > MyLenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice -Prime Capital Blueprint
Lenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice
View
Date:2025-04-16 07:43:01
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! (335)
Related
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- These Facial Cotton Pads From Amazon Are The Only Ones I Use For Makeup And Skincare
- Iran airs video of commandos descending from helicopter to seize oil tanker bound for Texas
- The FBoy Island Universe Is Expanding With FGirl Island Spinoff and a New Home
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- What the latest U.S. military aid to Ukraine can tell us about the state of the war
- Over 50 gig workers were killed on the job. Their families are footing the bills
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Shirtless Calvin Klein Ad Will Make You Blush
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- A digital conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages on behind the scenes of war
Ranking
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- We're Gonna Need a Shot After Pedro Pascal Reacted to His Viral Starbucks Order
- Tamar Braxton Is Engaged to Queens Court Finalist Jeremy JR Robinson
- Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal shooting of Belize police officer
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Abbott Elementary Star Quinta Brunson’s Epic Clapback Deserves an A-Plus
- Wife of police officer charged with cyanide murder in Thailand as list of victims grows to 13
- Why the Ingredients of Ice-T and Coco Austin's Love Story Make for the Perfect Blend
Recommendation
What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
SpaceX brings 4 astronauts home with midnight splashdown
A retro computer museum in Mariupol beloved by children was attacked by Russia
A digital conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages on behind the scenes of war
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
How one book influencer championing Black authors is changing publishing
A Mariupol native has created a site for residents to find missing loved ones
What Ukraine war news looks like from Russia