- Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas played against each other in 1984
- Jordan represented Team USA, while Thomas was a member of Team NBA All-Star ahead of the Olympics
- A 21-year-old Jordan led Team USA to an 8-0 sweep against the best players of the NBA
Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas became bitter rivals throughout their time in the NBA. But even before their rivalry began, the two stars had a chance to play against each other in 1984 exhibition games between Team USA and Team NBA All-Stars.
At the time, Jordan was 21 years old and prepared to represent his national team in the 1984 Olympics. Coach Bob Knight scheduled eight exhibition games to aid in preparation for the prestigious event. Zeke shared his thoughts on how a young Jordan was a notch above the rest of the players on Team USA.
“When you look at the 80s, and I look at Jordan when he walked in, it was like, damn,” Thomas said in an appearance on Open Court. “I remember when we first played against him, it was the Olympic Team in ’84 in Phoenix. And they was doing the pros coming to play against the Olympic team. And I remember Coach Knight said, ‘This one a little different.’
“You know, in Phoenix, it was hot in the summer, and you watch guys dunking and everything, but he had a different kind of bounce, you know, jumping and dunking. And I was like, ‘Okay, alright, alright. That’s kind of nice.’ And then the game started, and this dude was so fast and so quick we was like, ‘Hold…hold. Wait a minute.'”
(Starts at 2:46)
A 21-year-old Michael Jordan was more than enough to handle a team of NBA All-Stars. The game took place before Jordan and Thomas’ future beef. While the two players locked horns numerous times later on, Zeke gave credit to Jordan where it was due.
Michael Jordan Led Team USA To An 8-0 Record Against Team NBA All-Stars
Prior to the 1992 Olympics, no NBA players were allowed to feature on Team USA. Keeping that in mind, the 1984 Olympic team featured college players such as Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Chris Mullin.
But playing against a team of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, and Robert Parish, albeit in exhibition games, was no big deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3JiHA_E0do
The two sides played eight exhibition games, and as expected, Michael Jordan stood out. So much so that Jordan’s Olympic team earned a clean 8-0 record over Team NBA All-Stars.
Evidently, Jordan’s confidence was through the roof, and it showed in the 1984 Olympics. Team USA had a spotless 8-0 record and won the gold medal. Jordan averaged 17.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over eight games.
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