The epic Jordan-led summer pickup games on the set of 'Space Jam'
Michael Jordan was fresh off the sting of what would turn out to be the
last playoff series loss of his career, to the Orlando Magic in the
second round. Movie or no movie, he was determined to return to his
place atop the NBA. So he ordered the construction of a tented hardwood
basketball court on the Warner Bros. studio lot and laced up his
Concords. Word got out, and an array of NBA players came through.
Besides the movie co-stars such as Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley,
Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, there were the likes of Grant Hill,
Rod Strickland, Glen Rice, Dennis Rodman, Juwan Howard, Steve Smith and
Cedric Ceballos. Shaquille O'Neal came by. Magic Johnson, less than a
year shy of his return to the NBA, made an appearance. Reggie Miller
showed up for what turned into a clear-out-and-let-em-go-at-it game,
with the trash talk flying.
"It was like an NBA all-star game
every day," said Tracy Murray, who was coming off the third season of
his 11-year pro career that summer.
Except it had regular-season
intensity. So many players showed up that losing meant a two- or
three-game wait to get back on the court. Veteran center Olden Polynice
came by and made the mistake of thinking, "It's the summertime, they're
going to be bulls----ing."
"Come to find out, they weren't bulls----ing," Polynice said.
Murray
credits the cutthroat competition with priming him for a breakout
season -- he made 116 more 3-pointers and his scoring average jumped by
11 points, setting him up for a nice free-agent contract that provided
the bulk of the $22 million he made in his career.
For Jordan, it was the launchpad to the Bulls' record-setting 72-10 season, capped by a championship.
(ESPN.com)
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