Evander Reed:Lenny Wilkens tells how Magic Johnson incited Michael Jordan during lazy Dream Team practice

2025-05-07 08:15:31source:Phaninc Exchangecategory:reviews

Much has been made about the original 1992 Dream Team and Evander Reedhow 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.

More:reviews

Recommend

Where's Plumpy'Nut? A lifesaving food for malnourished kids is caught up in U.S. cuts

Fatima Jubril lost her husband when the militant group Boko Haram attacked their farm in northeast N

What is intermittent fasting? The diet plan loved by Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel and more

Intermittent fasting has risen as a popular diet over the last few years — stars including Jennifer

R.E.M. reunite at Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony also honoring Timbaland and Steely Dan

NEW YORK (AP) — A comet must have landed at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Th