I listened to Bill Simmons' podcast this week on ESPN.com. Simmons and guest Marv Albert were reminiscing about the 1992 Dream Team and Bill asked Marv about the team's practice habits. Specifically, Simmons wanted to know if some down and dirty scrimmages took place due to the competitive nature of the greatest ballers ever (i.e., Magic, MJ, etc.). Albert replied, "YES!". Ok, not that emphatically, but he confirmed that the Dream Team did play some pick up games, with Johnson and Jordan picking the teams.
The hook of the story is that since the practices were closed to all but a select few, and since there were no cameras present to record the action, these pickup games have become something of an NBA urban legend. In the podcast, Albert more or less attested to the greatness of these games, which made me think, "wow, I wish I could have seen that!"
But here's the thing...I think I've already seen it.
How, you ask?
Let me explain. No, I wasn't at there at the fabled "Dream Sessions". But, I have watched most NBA All-Star games over the last 20 years. And isn't this what this was, a glorified All-Star game. Sure, all star games have from the late 80's/early 90's featured "not-quite-dream-teamers" like Joe Dumars and Reggie Miller, which meant more sharing of the rock from Magic and company. But there were still times during those games when the best five from the East were running against the best five from the West.
Simmons and Albert stated that these legendary pick up games were a result of the competitive nature of the Dream Teamers, who were sequestered for a summer in a Top Gun style "let's-see-who-the-best-of-the-best-really-is" mentality. But if you saw the 1992 All Star Game, which only predated the Dream Team Sessions by a few months, you saw Magic and Michael square off one-on-one at several points, especially throughout the fourth quarter. You can't tell me that the competitive juices weren't flowing then.
So I ask in closing, how unique were these Dream Team pick-up games? And perhaps the ultimate question: If the 12 Dream Teamers were picking sides, who were the two guys left out? Well, you know Laettner was one, but who was the other? Drexler? The Admiral? Stockton (who had a bum leg)?
