39 Years After International Victory With Michael Jordan, 61YO NBA Veteran Talks About the Road Untaken

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is one of the most recognizable names in the sport of professional basketball. Having played for over 16 NBA seasons, Jordan led his team to six championships and was named the Finals MVP in each one of those victories. The opportunity that kicked off Jordan?s career gave his former teammate a footing to stand on. 39 years after the same, the NBA veteran opened up on the route he could have taken had he not gotten into basketball.

The legacy His Airness left behind remains a topic of conversation for people even today.

Jeff Turner could have taken up another major sport

61-year-old former Orlando Magic forward Jeff Turner was part of the Olympic Gold medal-winning USA team in 1984, alongside Michael Jordan. During an interview dated back to 2022, Turner revealed that baseball was his first love when growing up.

Testing the temperature of both waters, Turner found himself to be more adaptable to professional basketball. ?As the tallest kid in school, I eventually got into basketball, but I didn?t really think of it as a career,? said Turner during the interview.

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Taking his dreams into stride, the aspiring player was eventually drafted by the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) during the 1984 NBA Draft. With an NBA career that spanned over 10 years, the 6ft 9 player established himself as a force to be reckoned with. The article by the US Sun further highlighted how the NBA star began his career at Vanderbilt University.

The 1984 Olympics established Michael Jordan and Turner as prominent basketball players

During the same period, Turner was selected as a member of the US Basketball National Team for the 1984 Olympics. Coached by the legendary Bobby Knight, the team consisted not only of Michael Jordan but also of renowned names like Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing.

The team kicked off the Olympics by winning back-to-back games. Michael Jordan led his pack by scoring an average of 17.1 points per game, while Turner couldn?t make it to the double figures. After defeating Spain by a score of 96-65, the USA secured the Gold medal for themselves. The Olympic tournament was an introduction to the world of the skills and prowess possessed by Michael Jordan.

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The foundation he laid there only helped him to rise higher. For Turner, the tournament helped to mark his entry into the NBA.