3<\/p>\n Michael Jordan and Larry Bird were part of the famous 1992 Olympic Dream TeamCredit: GETTY<\/p>\n Back in the summer of 1992, Team USA’s ‘Dream Team’<\/a> held a scrimmage as part of preparation for the Barcelona Olympics.<\/p>\n With over 11 future Hall of Famers, the scrimmage was stacked with the NBA’s finest ever.<\/a><\/p>\n Five-time NBA<\/a> champion Johnson recalled how he provoked Jordan during, what he calls, the ‘greatest’ ever scrimmage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe scrimmage was the greatest basketball that we all had ever played in because of the fact that every player on the team was a Hall of Famer, an All-Star in their own right,” Johnson said on The Jimmy Kimmel Show.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really fun. We got out on them by 10, 12 points, you know. And so, you know, I had to make Michael go to the \u2018Air Jordan\u2019 level. <\/p>\n “So I said, \u2018Okay, I\u2019m gonna go here and talk a little trash to him and see what\u2019s going to happen\u2019 right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this is when the torch got passed. So I said, \u2018Look, MJ, if you don\u2019t turn into Air Jordan we\u2019re gonna blow you guys out.\u2019 <\/p>\n “I\u2019ve never seen a man take something so personal and then go out there and just take that scrimmage over.\u201d<\/p>\n Viewing Jordan’s competitiveness level, in what was a practice session, signalled to Johnson that this Bulls guard was the league’s best player.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was amazing to see him come out and just dominate, and I\u2019m talking about dominating the best in the game,” he added.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Jordan declared himself the best player to Johnson and BirdCredit: GETTY 3<\/p>\n The Dream Team went on to win goldCredit: GETTY<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when we know that the torch was being passed from myself and Larry onto Michael. But I\u2019m gonna tell you the moment that really got us. So, we got back to the hotel, right. <\/p>\n “And so, the NBA<\/a> had built a nice lounge for the players. And so, Michael\u2019s up there and he\u2019s smoking on his cigar. Larry and I just sitting there, having a Coke or whatever.”<\/p>\n Although if Johnson needed any more confirmation that he was the league’s best, he got it from Jordan himself in an epic seven-word statement.<\/p>\n \u201cHe says, guys, and he put his hand on my shoulder, put his hand on Larry\u2019s shoulder. ‘And said, \u2018Guys, there\u2019s a new sheriff in town.\u2019” Johnson recalled.<\/p>\n “And so we was like, \u2018oh man, what can we say?\u2019 We said, \u2018You know what? You\u2019re right, it\u2019s your league now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n After winning the Olympics<\/a> with that same team, Jordan went on to dominate his USA teammates for the years to come.<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg declares there’s only one answer in GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James<\/p>\n His illustrious resume is evidence of that.<\/p>\n Michael Jordan’s achivements<\/p>\n Jordan ended his career with six championships that came from six NBA Finals, as he ended his career having never lost a season-ending series.<\/p>\n Along with his rings, Jordan picked up six NBA Finals MVP awards and five more in the regular season, along with ten scoring titles and 14 All-Star selections.<\/p>\n In 1988, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year, an accolade that sums up the complete player he was when coupled with his offensive awards.<\/p>\n The great was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. cementing his legacy with\u00a0many considering the former Bulls star as the best player of all-time<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Michael-Jordan-Larry-Bird-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jordan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2179229914.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-473165692.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n