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Bench Warmer
Jordan: ‘No Way’ I’d Have Recruited Bird, Magic
Michael Jordan on Sunday confirmed what a lot of pundits and players have suspected: He’d never combine forces with his rivals to form a super team, the way LeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) have joined Dwyane Wade(notes) in Miami.
"There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’" Jordan told NBC Sports after playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada. "But that’s … things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. … In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."
Jordan did note that the three played together on the Dream Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, but said that wasn’t a competitive situation.
Jordan, as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, one of the teams in Miami’s division, will get to see the trio up close at least four times next season. …
Another reaction to Miami’s broadside against the Eastern Conference: Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo(notes) reminded The Palm Beach Post that the Celtics, with their Big Three intact, are still around.
"As far as the East, we’re the champs," Rondo said Sunday at, of all things, a charity game co-hosted by Dwyane Wade.
Rondo added that he "wouldn’t compare" the Wade/James/Bosh trio to his guys: Kevin Garnett(notes), Paul Pierce(notes) and Ray Allen(notes). He did say that keeping everyone involved is a balancing act, one that second-year pro Mario Chalmers(notes) likely will be asked to perform in Miami (unless LeBron winds up running the point).
Naturally, Rondo isn’t backing down from the challenge Miami presents.
"I do look forward to playing against them," he said.
Michael Jordan on Sunday confirmed what a lot of pundits and players have suspected: He’d never combine forces with his rivals to form a super team, the way LeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) have joined Dwyane Wade(notes) in Miami.
"There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’" Jordan told NBC Sports after playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada. "But that’s … things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. … In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."
Jordan did note that the three played together on the Dream Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, but said that wasn’t a competitive situation.
Jordan, as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, one of the teams in Miami’s division, will get to see the trio up close at least four times next season. …
Another reaction to Miami’s broadside against the Eastern Conference: Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo(notes) reminded The Palm Beach Post that the Celtics, with their Big Three intact, are still around.
"As far as the East, we’re the champs," Rondo said Sunday at, of all things, a charity game co-hosted by Dwyane Wade.
Rondo added that he "wouldn’t compare" the Wade/James/Bosh trio to his guys: Kevin Garnett(notes), Paul Pierce(notes) and Ray Allen(notes). He did say that keeping everyone involved is a balancing act, one that second-year pro Mario Chalmers(notes) likely will be asked to perform in Miami (unless LeBron winds up running the point).
Naturally, Rondo isn’t backing down from the challenge Miami presents.
"I do look forward to playing against them," he said.
