Refusing to Play in the ?Dream Team?, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas? Snub Had Different Effects on Michael Jordan for 1992 Olympics

The 1992 Olympic team with NBA legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, and so forth is arguably one of the best teams ever put together. The Dream Team dominated every opponent they faced and clinched the Gold medal without much struggle. The NBA wanted to popularise the league around the world and the Olympics was the perfect stage to do it. Jordan and the Dream Team played a huge role in popularising not just the league but also the game of basketball.

However, there was a possibility that MJ might not join the iconic Dream Team we know today. As per reports, the six-time champion initially did not want to compete in the 1992 Olympics.

Michael Jordan did not want to play in the 1992 Olympics

Author Sam Smith wrote the book The Jordan Rules which revolved around Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. According to the book, Michael Jordan did not want to play for team USA in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. However, there was pressure from Magic Johnson and his sponsors to join the team.

Sam Smith noted, “Jordan had not planned to play in the Olympics, but under pressure from fellow stars such as Magic Johnson and from his commercial sponsors, he eventually acquiesced.”

As the team list came out with Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s names, there was a major snub in NBA legend Isiah Thomas. Thomas had led the Detroit Pistons to two straight NBA titles. So his snub made the headlines. Furthermore, there were reports that MJ played a hand in the snub and it was a huge controversy.

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The author touched on the controversy as well stating Jordan joked about not having Thomas on the team. Smith wrote, “Would he play? Jordan was asked. Jordan hesitated, but as is his custom, he joked, knowing Daly was coach and assuming that meant a spot for Thomas, “I don’t play on no teams with Isiah.””

However, Smith also recounted that the selection committee was already leaning towards not selecting Thomas so MJ’s joke did not change the verdict.

Jordan on Isiah Thomas

The Detroit Pistons were a huge roadblock for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls for years. So there was a huge rivalry between the teams. So when there were rumors about Jordan being the reason behind Isiah Thomas’ omission from the Dream Team, many believed.

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But the five-time MVP has always maintained he was not the reason behind the controversy. In the docuseries The Last Dance, Jordan reiterated this. The six-time champion even stated that he has huge respect for Thomas. However, there are still multiple reports that point fingers at MJ for Thomas’ snub.