Many people assert that the 1992 Dream Team belonged to Michael Jordan. As the world’s most famous basketball player and the NBA’s top talent at the time, Jordan was the team’s star. However, Magic Johnson revealed that he offered Jordan a million dollars to secure his participation.

Despite his competitive nature, Jordan considered declining the chance to play in the Olympics again. His hesitation stemmed from several reasons, one being his gold medal win in the 1984 Olympics with a team of college players. The idea of pursuing Olympic glory again, this time with fellow professional players, didn’t initially motivate him.

Magic Johnson’s role in assembling the Dream Team
The reason behind Mike’s change of heart isn’t clear, but Magic Johnson consistently claimed credit for convincing Larry Bird and Michael Jordan to join the team.

Magic stated, “David Stern and Rod Thorn only asked me to call Larry Bird and Michael Jordan and tell them they should play on the Dream Team.”

Convincing Larry Bird to join the Dream Team was easy. The Boston Celtics legend was nearing the end of his career and struggling with severe back issues. Magic simply informed Bird that he would only need to play for ten minutes each game.

However, persuading Mike was more challenging. Johnson recounted telling Jordan that the Dream Team would be so good that he could sit out the entire game after scoring 30 points in the first half. He also mentioned that Jordan could play golf and cards on his days off. Despite this, Jordan remained uninterested in the Olympics. But Magic was determined and didn’t accept no for an answer.

In 1991, Johnson said, “I’m working on him. I even told him I’d give him a million dollars if he did. But so far, he hasn’t changed his mind.”

Michael Jordan’s reluctant but impactful journey with the 1992 Dream Team
A month later, USA Basketball announced the initial ten players for the Dream Team, including Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, despite his previous statements.

In the Dream Team documentary, Michael Jordan revealed that his primary motivation was to interact with the players he faced in competition. He changed his mind because he knew the Dream Team would be unique and didn’t want to miss being part of something historic, according to his Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen.

With Jordan’s addition, the group officially became the Dream Team. Without him, the 1992 team wouldn’t have been the best, even with all the star power.

Michael Jordan excelled on the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, leading them to a dominant gold medal victory. Despite initially hesitating to join, he ultimately delivered an exceptional performance, averaging 14.9 points per game as the Dream Team won each game by double-digit margins. He thrilled fans with his athleticism, scoring prowess, highlight-reel dunks, and lockdown defense.