At the age of 38, Michael Jordan came back from his second retirement in 2001. His Airness took that 0.1% chance alongside his front-office role for the Washington Wizards. At the time nobody knew how Jordan would cope with new athletes and whether he would have any significant impact. Ultimately, he left a lasting one, which Carmelo Anthony did take notes for since he was drafted the very next year.
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“So, I just remember watching him, like, just, you know, like as a basketball player and like, damn, he just looked, like, he looked so different,” Carmelo Anthony started on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “Like, he don’t look, you know, he’s not MJ of all. Like, he’s not MJ flying through the air, but the game looks so easy to him.”
Melo goes on to explain how efficient MJ still was with his dribbles and shot fakes. His 3-point shooting of 29.1% was his seventh-highest career overall from his 15-season-long run. But Michael Jordan adapted since he was not that quick and picked his spot while shooting. He would go on to average 22.9 points per game — the 10th-highest mark in the NBA — along with 5.7 rebounds. MJ also added a 51-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets to then become the oldest to do so.
“They can’t do shit about it. Like, nobody can do shit about it,” the Knicks legend recalled. But seems like it is just NBA Michael Jordan that Melo has all the praise for.
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Last month, the former Knicks star speaking about his All-Time USA 5, left out MJ to give the final spot to his former best friend. “Myself, Durant, LeBron, Kobe. Michael Jordan would be that [fifth player], but for the USA, I would put Barkley.” Carmelo Anthony looked for one with more FIBA and national experience, which MJ seemed to lack. “But the fact that he only played in that one Olympics…” (he would be wrong about that).
Before being part of the ‘Dream Team’, Michael Jordan already had achieved Gold during the 1984 Olympics. As a collegiate athlete, MJ put on a show by averaging 17.1 points. It was also the reason why he was hesitant to be part of the 1992 Olympics.
How the Dream Team was formed alongside Michael Jordan and Larry Bird
Magic Johnson had already retired from the league but made a return in the 1992 All-Star game. It was not the only return, he was honored with a place in the Olympics team but on a condition from then Commissioner. David Stern gave a task to the Lakers legend to successfully onboard Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, to form the Dream Team.
Larry Bird, because of injury concerns, was hesitant as he wanted to focus on the upcoming season. But Johnson convinced him that playing for the nation was of utmost respect and above their Celtics-Lakers rivalry. But the same wouldn’t work on MJ, since he had already won it before.
Instead, Magic Johnson said, “Hang out every night and play cards together.” Plus added extra incentive for Jordan as he could, “Play golf all day, come to the game, just score 30 at halftime and go sit down.” Thus Johnson was successful in creating the ‘Dream Team’ and MJ participated in his second and final Olympics. Which Carmelo Anthony seemingly forgot.
