“The greatest moment for all of us” is how the 5x NBA Champion Magic Johnson defined winning in the 1992 Olympics. Surely, we all have heard of the NBA today. But just four decades back, it too had to fight for its name. Then, it was the Dream Team, starring the likes of Johnson, Michael Jordan, and more, who pushed it over the sinking horizon.

Along with that, these superstars also bridged the gap and echoed Team USA around the globe. But it wasn’t an easy journey. The Lakers legend was burdened with a task -if he had failed, then possibly there would have been no Dream Team, or the Dream Team we know and cherish could have been in danger. But first let’s talk about the formation of it, which was earlier frowned upon.

In the 1988 Olympic Games, the Men’s Team USA suffered a shock loss in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal. Even before the event, the exclusion of NBA stars from the Olympics was a bad idea as per then FIBA Secretary General Boris Stankovic. “It is nonsense to have millions of players in the world as FIBA members but not the 300 best players,” he said in 1986. On 7th April 1989, his vision came to fruition with a resounding 56-13 vote split.

In Munich, the FIBA nations voted in favor of allowing the NBA players to represent in the Olympics. Also, the body voted in favor of dropping the word “Amateur” from its name, going from the Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur to the Federation Internationale de Basketball. However, still decided to retain the FIBA moniker. Thus, a few years later, the Dream Team was formed.

The first 10 players were revealed on an NBC show hosted by Marv Albert. The order was Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Later Clyde Drexler and Christian Laettner were announced as the final 2 members of the team. Laettner was the only collegian on the team, having won his second national player of the year and helped Duke win back-to-back championships.

Formation of the team was not easy, so they entrusted Magic Johnson with the task of creating the dream team.

Johnson helping the Olympics ‘Dream’ come to reality.

Speaking with Katty Kay BBC News, in her series Influential a month ago, Magic Johnson spoke about the Olympics journey. The 5X champion revealed that he was given a chance to come back from retirement for the national team. But only if he fulfilled certain conditions from the NBA Commissioner Stern.

The first task – convincing 2 of the highly decorated and respected players Michael Jordan and Larry Bird to play for the Dream Team. Magic revealed that he wasn’t going to give up on the opportunity to don the Stars and Stripes proudly and represent their country. According to the book ‘The Jordan Rules,’ MJ had apparently said, “Why Would I?” before joining the Dream Team.

Since His Airness had already won the gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics, Magic had already prepared a speech where he’d ask Jordan to hang out every night and play cards together, play golf all day, come to the game, and just score 30 at halftime and take a breather. Apparently, it worked and Jordan was part of the team. Convincing Larry Bird was tough as he was struggling with back injuries.

“Larry this is a chance for our kids to see us play in the Olympics not on the Boston Celtics not on the Lakers,” said Magic Johnson. He further gave a similar offer to his long-time rival in the NBA to play fewer minutes. “You can just play 10 minutes a game. All I want to do is come down and do a no-look pass to you. And you shoot a three-pointer we both going to be very happy.”

And happy they were, not only for the iconic Olympics but for the impact years later. With players inducted into the U.S Olympic Hall of fame, the Naismith Hall of Fame, and the FIBA Hall of Fame.