Tag: Dream Team

Sneakers worn by Michael Jordan, Magic …

Sneakers worn by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen while they played for the Dream Team are being auctioned. The sneakers, each signed by the Hall of Fame wearer, are part of the Lelands 2020 Spring Classic Auction that runs through June 19. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the sneakers will benefit COVID-19 relief efforts.

Q: There has been a lot of conversation …

Q: There has been a lot of conversation in the documentary about what he was like as a teammate on the Bulls. What was he like as a teammate from your perspective? Chris Mullin: It’s a totally different atmosphere when you’re playing on All-Star teams, Olympic teams. The amount of time is much shorter. Less games, more practice. The times I got to play with Michael — 1984 and the Dream Team — there was nothing really to be upset about, because we didn’t lose a game. We played eight exhibition games with the NBA, and I think we won all of them. Then we played eight games in the Olympic Games. Both in ’84 and ’92, we won all the games. My experience with Michael was we were 24-0, so that’s not bad. But look, everyone knows the drive he has, the competitive fire that burns within him and his love for the game. So I really never had anything but good experiences with Michael. As long as you’re on the same level in terms of dedication, work ethic, discipline and focus, you’re all good. That didn’t change. I saw that in 1981, and I saw that in 1998 when we played while I was with the Pacers. He was very consistent, and that’s why he’s considered the greatest of all time.

Q: In the documentary, they show …

Q: In the documentary, they show footage from a pretty intense Dream Team practice when MJ really went at it with Charles Barkley. Do you remember that practice, and was that one of the more memorable practices you’ve had? Chris Mullin: When you’re surrounded by some of the greatest players of all time, almost to a man there are habits that make them great — their daily habits, their work ethic and their discipline. Practice was our rehearsal to go out and perform on the big stage. Michael, his practice habits were elite. He really took practice seriously. It didn’t matter if it was in Chicago, Monte Carlo or Timbuktu. He was going to prepare and practice with 100% intensity. He had the unique ability to, no matter where it was or what it was, any practice session was the most important thing to him. It felt like it was the only thing going on in the world. That’s the type of intensity and focus he brought — not only to his games, but he did that in practice as well.

David Robinson — a member of the …

David Robinson — a member of the gold-medal 1992 Barcelona Olympic team — said Thomas should not have been surprised he was left off the Dream Team, he did it to himself. This is Robinson on the Bulls Talk podcast with Jason Goff on NBC Sports Chicago. “If you have a reputation and you take pride in your reputation as a ‘Bad Boy’ it kind of means people aren’t going to like you,” Robinson told Goff. “Can you be that surprised when people say ‘I don’t really want to play with the ‘Bad Boys?’… “When you talk about putting together a team, chemistry matters. It does,” Robinson said. “You can’t act like it doesn’t matter and for that team it was clear that was a consideration for all the people involved.”

What was it like playing the dream …

What was it like playing the dream team? I heard the stories about how Scottie wanted you to himself, but what’s your side of the story? NBA: I didn’t expect that. The only way I knew about Michael and Scottie was because I was drafted. I was watching them the last three summers when I was with national team or getting ready for European or World championship. I would watch the Bulls live in the Finals, so once we got to Olympics and we had the United States in our group, I wasn’t expecting anything like that. I never met these guys. I didn’t know what was going on with them and management here in Chicago, I just got surprised by the intensity. I had some other things on my mind. My wife was about to deliver her first born. Our son, he was born two or three days later in the game against Germany. I’m not using it as an excuse, it did happen and I had a horrible game. I played much better in the Finals. When you get guarded by Michael or Scottie Pippen, I don’t think there are many players that would play good. At that time, the two best defenders in the world, maybe ever. – Toni

No one, including Isiah Thomas, should …

No one, including Isiah Thomas, should be surprised that he wasn’t selected to what many consider to be the greatest team ever assembled, according to a player who was picked: Hall of Famer David Robinson. During a recent appearance on the “Bulls Talk Podcast” with Jason Goff, Robinson pointed to Thomas’ “reputation” as a determining factor. “If you have a reputation and you take pride in your reputation as a ‘Bad Boy’ it kind of means people aren’t going to like you,” Robinson said, via NBC Sports. “Can you be that surprised when people say ‘I don’t really want to play with the ‘Bad Boys?’”

“It had a huge impact in Europe. If you …

“It had a huge impact in Europe. If you see interviews that I did or Dirk [Nowitzki] or Pau Gasol, we all were affected by the Dream Team,” Parker said while interviewed by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears in the Roundball Rap. “Manu Ginobili. We all talk about it. That was the point that we where ‘wow basketball is cool’ and ‘I want to go to the NBA’. That was the first time I saw them in real life, because before it was the tapes.”