Marques Johnson shares playing pickup with Michael Jordan on the sets of Space Jam: “You had my poster on your wall”
Michael Jordan had a chance to play with some of the best players during his time as an NBA player. One player he looked up to before he made it big in the league was former Milwaukee Bucks wing Marques Johnson, who shared a hilarious story about his encounter with the Chicago Bulls legend.
Johnson had a chance to be a guest on his son's show with Gilbert Arenas recently. The five-time All-Star had many iconic moments on the court, however, his story with Jordan is one of the most memorable. In the new episode of "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas," Marques told the story of his run-ins with MJ on the set of "Space Jam."
"So, Michael Jordan calls up UCLA and tells them to bring some players out, he's in town," Johnson said. "They've got a whole facility out there, with the Long Beach State floor and a big dome and just great basketball everyday.
"My oldest son, Kris, was at UCLA, so I would take him up to the run every day. But before the run, we'd play a lightweight three-on-three before the NBA guys got there. I'm like in my 40s at the time. So, it's Dean Cain, who's Superman and sometimes, Queen Latifah would get out there and mess around. So, it's just real lightweight.
"At the end of the run, I did a little lightweight dunk. So, Michael Jordan said, 'Hey, old man. Don't be trying to dunk. That wasn't part of your game.' I was like, 'Man, look. Whatever I was doing, you had my poster on your wall in college, so I was doing something right. 'Yeah, you got me there. You was my favorite player. I used to love your game.'"
No matter how vicious Jordan was in talking smack to other players, he couldn't do the same to one of his favorite players.
Also read: When Michael Jordan was "threatened" with a lawsuit by Ellen Cleghorne: “Don’t make me take away everything you earn!”
Michael Jordan used the "Jordan Dome" to scout players' weaknesses
In 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA after retiring to try out his luck in baseball. Over the summer, he filmed the classic film, "Space Jam," and made a specific request to Warner Brothers Studios as he continued filming. MJ asked for a basketball dome build, so that he'd be able to work on his game during the offseason.
The Bulls star invited NBA players every day to slowly observe his competition's weaknesses, according to his former teammate, B.J. Armstrong.
"He had the idea if we invited the best players in the league out here, we would get a chance to see everybody before the season started," Armstrong said.
Michael Jordan playing in pick-up games on the SPACE JAM set at The Jordan Dome aka The Bubble.
Each night from 7:30-10PM, MJ & up to 22 NBA players would play there.
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"And this was the opportunity for him to see everybody, and we would do scouting reports. This is what Chris Mullin would do. This is what Reggie Miller would do."
Michael Jordan was using the Jordan Dome pickup games to make scouting reports on opponents https://t.co/M5HdQyJHHk
Jordan's competitiveness and desire to win is truly special.
Read more about Michael Jordan's basketball dome here.