Why Michael Jordan was the only player studying game film at the 1992 Olympics: “I never underestimate anyone”

The skill gap between Team USA and other countries was quite large, as evidenced by the dominant American campaign. However, the Dream Team took every game seriously and worked on their chemistry during practices.

One player didn’t just work on the court; he also did some off-court study. According to Branford Marsalis, bandleader of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Michael Jordan was the only player on the legendary USA squad who studied game film.

Just like Mike

“I saw a lot of the guys around the hotel,” Marsalis told GQ. “I saw Jordan sitting watching Angola on tape, just staring, looking for weaknesses. I said, ‘I don’t even want to bother you, but why are you watching this game?’ And he said, ‘I always take my opponent seriously. I never underestimate anyone.’ It wasn’t lost on me that he was the only guy watching the game.”

As the cliche goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. MJ had the physical gifts to succeed in the sport, but he knew that he had to work extra hard to remain on top of the food chain. Yes, he was with the Dream Team, but he had no plans to take his position for granted.

Barkley vs Angola

True enough, Angola gave Team USA a bang for their buck. While the Americans easily beat them 116-48, Angola wasn’t just a pushover team. They were very physical, so much so that one player even hit Charles Barkley with a forearm.

Chuck didn’t just turn the other cheek. On one possession, the legendary forward retaliated by elbowing his opponent.

“They were playing a little chippy, and I warned him a couple of times. I thought he was getting away with a few cheap shots,” Barkley said.

Jordan was concerned with Barkley’s antics—they were not on their home soil. “His Airness” feared that the officials would kick him out of the competition if Chuck didn’t calm down.

“If he keeps this up, they’re going to throw him out of the Olympics,” Jordan said. “We’ve already created some ill feelings here, which didn’t help.”

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. Team USA and Angola played on without any extra physicality, with the greatest squad ever just letting their superior basketball IQ and athleticism take over.

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