Los Angeles Lakers: When Air Jordan Met Magic Johnson

INGLEWOOD, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers Earvin "Magic" Johnson (L) and Michael Jordan (R) of the Chicago Bulls laugh with a reporter 02 February during their post-game press conference at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. This was the second game after Johnson's return to the Lakers since he retired in November 1991 after contracting the virus that causes AIDS. The Bulls won 99-84. AFP PHOTO Tiziana SORGE (Photo credit should read TIZIANA SORGE/AFP via Getty Images) /

3 of 4

(Photo credit should read KARL MATHIS/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Dream Team

Meeting does not necessarily mean clashing.

In 1992, Magic and Jordan teamed up in Barcelona on the USA Basketball Olympic Team. The legendary team, better known as the Dream Team, that would go down as the greatest team in sports history. It featured the best players that generation of NBA had to offer, many of them among the greatest in history of basketball.

Although retired for the HIV virus, Magic could not miss such a historic roster. His Airness, obviously, topped the USAB’s recruiting list.

Easily the greatest backcourt ever. The best point guard and the best shooting guard in the history of the game. Can’t argue. The ultimate passer and the ultimate scorer. A former Defensive Player of the Year and a former steal leader. The tournament could not but be ultimately entertaining with those two spectacular players to lead that Hall of Fame selection.

The Dream Team won the gold medal destroying its adversaries, but the real games (one in particular) took place in closed practices, when the Americans split in two teams and scrimmaging one against the other. In the most famous, Magic led one team, Michael the other one, because they needed to confront and prove who was better.

According to many of the players who took part in that scrimmage, that was the greatest game ever played.

Home/Lakers History