Larry Bird claimed 1984 NBA Finals vs Lakers were rigged to force Game 7 for moneyHe respected the legacies of Johnson and Bird.Air Jordan knew that he'd be the leader when it really mattered -- on the court and with the ball in his hand.
Understanding all the dynamics at play, Jordan deferred to Johnson and Bird, and the Dream Team avoided what could have been a nasty power struggle.In turn, the best basketball team of all time obliterated the opposition. With Jordan, Johnson and Bird carrying leadership weight on the hardwood, Team USA went 8-0 during Olympic play and secured a 117-85 blowout win over Croatia for the gold medal in Barcelona.Luka Doncic becomes first NBA player in 25 years to equal legend's stunning Finals recordOf course, the super-competitive Jordan demanded a rematch and evened the score with the USA coach who once wanted to make him a co-captain along with Johnson and Bird.
In the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics entered Sunday holding a 1-0 advantage over the Dallas Mavericks entering Game 2.