When Michael Jordan went out of his way to defend Bird’s inclusion on the Dream Team. MJ rejected the idea that Bird being on the iconic team was just symbolic.
▪️ “I don’t care how old or how much pain Larry Bird is in,” Jordan said. “Name me a forward in this league who is not on the team yet who can rebound, throw the outlet pass to start the fast break, shoot the 3-pointer, play in the half court and have the presence of Bird.”
When the 1992 Dream Team was formed, Larry Bird was battling serious back problems, which limited him to playing in just 45 games in the 1991-92 NBA season.
At the time, the three-time MVP was far from his prime, and many believed his inclusion on the team was merely symbolic, especially since an Olympic gold medal would have been a perfect send-off for the Boston legend. 35-year-old Celtics. However, Michael Jordan had a different perception.
