Los Angeles Lakers icon Earvin 'Magic' Johnson has always been more than just a basketball player. That was never more evident than his early retirement in 1992 after he was diagnosed with HIV. “I just said, ‘you know what? I’m just going to be Earvin Johnson’,” the American idol recalls. “And then the greatest thing happened, which was the Dream Team.”
When Magic abruptly retired from the NBA following his shocking and stunning diagnosis, it seemed as though basketball had lost its sparkle. Many wondered if Johnson would ever be seen playing competitively again.
All it took was a call from NBA commissioner David Stern, who informed a thrilled Johnson that he was chosen to represent Team USA at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the first American Olympic team to feature active players from the NBA. Magic was understandably excited about taking his talents to the biggest multi-sport event in the world - but there was one problem: Boston Celtics star Larry Bird and Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan were both not interested in playing in Spain.
As he did when facing precarious scenarios on the court, Magic characteristically took matters into his own hands. He phoned Bird and informed the three-time MVP that this was the final chapter of their storied rivalry - their ‘last hurrah’.
Bird remained steadfast in his stance, citing nagging back injuries and his deteriorating athleticism to deny Magic, who had his heart set on finally turning out alongside his great rival. Johnson made it clear that Bird didn’t have to do anything other than what his legend was built on: shoot the basketball.
“All you have to do is go stand in the corner or stand at the top of the key, you don’t have to do nothing else - I’m going to get you the ball, all you have to do is shoot it and make it,” Magic recalls telling Bird. “You can still do that, can’t you?”
Of course, Johnson had played on the Boston legend’s fierce competitiveness to seduce him into joining the Dream Team. Deep down, Bird knew it was the right decision - and the forward admitted he needed to go to the Olympics as a member of the famous 1992 roster: “Whether I could play or not, I had to be on that team.”
Johnson admitted convincing Jordan was the far harder prospect. He hadn’t yet cultivated a relationship with the young guard in the same way he had developed alongside Bird, so Magic got to work on the future six-time NBA champion.
“Listen man, it’s been on my bucket list to play with you and Larry - and we’re going to have fun being with each other because we had never really hung out like that,” Magic told Jordan. “I had to work on him, but finally he said yes.”
The Dream Team had become a reality.
With such an unbelievable collection of talent playing on the same team, Magic wanted to prove he hadn’t lost a step. Charles Barkley, who finished as the leading scorer for the Dream Team with 18.0 points per contest, described practices as ’a dog fight’ - with Johnson leading the competitiveness which was matched by Jordan.
“He wanted to prove he was back,” said Jordan. “I wanted to prove to him that there’s new kids on the block.”
“I never wanted them to think like they had to carry me - the other nine games - and so the practices were probably the best basketball I’ve ever played in my life!” Magic quipped.
Johnson was back - and he had quickly proved the magic never left.
Do you think the Dream Team from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was the best basketball team in history? Let us know in the comments section.
“A Dream Team for America,” read an Olympic announcer. “A nightmare for its opposition.”
This was most certainly the case as the Dream Team, considered by many to be the greatest sports team ever assembled, ripped through the Olympics. Fans of other nations didn’t even mind that their players were outclassed by Team USA - they were just thrilled to watch Magic and co. play their games.
“He brought showtime to Barcelona,” ESPN’s Robin Roberts said. “There’s no doubt Magic added a little special sauce to the ’92 Olympic team.”
Coach Chuck Daly started Jordan in each game while Magic started five of the six games he played, as he unfortunately missed two matches due to a knee injury. Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Duncan Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Barkley and Bird rotated in the other starting spots.
The closest of the Dream Team’s eight matches came in the gold medal game, a 117-85 win over Croatia. Eight games turned into eight straight wins for Team USA - they had secured their place in history.
Ultimately, Magic conceded he needed the Dream Team to validate that he was going to be OK going forwards, both on and off the court.
“When you leave sports, it’s really not about the games,” Johnson revealed. “It’s about being one of the guys - and I needed to be one of the guys one more time.”
Magic certainly achieved that. Little did he know that his final appearance as ‘one of the guys’ would echo throughout the annals of basketball history forever, with the 1992 Games recognised as the catalyst for the NBA’s explosion in popularity on an international scale.
They Call Me Magic is streaming on Apple TV+
