“Get Out the Way”: Years Before Turning His Back on Michael Jordan, 6X NBA Champion Explained How Star of 1992 Dream Team Came to ‘Existence’

The 1992 USA Olympic basketball team was not called the ‘Dream Team’ for no reason. Today, this lineup would be straight out of a fan’s fantasy. Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson were the definitive stars of this team that won the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics. Shaping the team for gold was a whole other story. One clip from the Dream Team‘s practice is especially hit among fans today.

A video gave insight into the Dream Team, including one heated practice session. It was Jordan’s team vs Johnson’s team. During that practice, one of Jordan’s teammates-turned-foe was in awe of his talent.

Scottie Pippen praised 1992 Michael Jordan

It’s 2023 and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are far from friends. After winning NBA championships as teammates on the Chicago Bulls roster, the duo had a public falling out two decades later. Since the release of Jordan’s documentary, The Last Dance, the feud has escalated and bitter feelings have spilled out.

Pippen sang a different tune on another documentary. One that was covering the 1992 Dream Team. It referred to one of the most epic practices the team had.

Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan divided the Dream Team roster into two to play a real game. The clip of that practice and those same teammates commenting on it has resurfaced. It’s Pippen’s comments though that have surprised many.

It was a particularly lazy practice and these NBA pros with college students in the mix weren’t playing like they usually do. So Head Coach Chuck Daly conspired with Magic Johnson to fuel the team. Johnson goaded Jordan into a challenge and it was on from that point.

In The Last Dance, Jordan would recall how Johnson was still the phenomenal force on the court. Their teammates only remembered MJ’s fiery persona.

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Pippen was in Jordan’s team and they were playing for bragging rights. “He never liked to lose,” Pippen said about how a little provocation from Magic was all it took for Jordan. “Michael always got that look. When you see that look, then you know just give him the damn ball and get out of the way.” 

Jordan and Pippen’s fractured relationship

Scottie Pippen has been vocal about how he was portrayed in The Last Dance since it came out. It gets complicated with Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa, dating Jordan’s son, Marcus.

Pippen hasn’t held back about his remarks against Jordan since then. While he praised Jordan for his Dream Team prowess, in 2023, he bashed his style of play.

The former NBA pro called Jordan’s style of play “selfish” while hyping LeBron James. He outrightly called the NBA legend a “horrible player” and “horrible to play with.”

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While fans have remain divided on the Pippen-Jordan feud, they did not agree with Pip on this. Jordan may have not been the best team player, but he was a championship-winning one. And Scottie did say, better to give him the ball and “get out of the way.”