Marques Johnson Talks MJ And The Last Dance
Josiah Johnson talks with Marques Johnson about his cameo on The Last Dance and the times he spent around Michael Jordan.
Video Transcript
JOSIAH JOHNSON: So now as you gentlemen saw in the Jordan doc Sunday night, MJ gave love to another famous MJ. I'm pleased to welcome five-time NBA All-Star, college basketball Hall of Famer, first John Wooden Award winner, and the creator of your favorite creator, my pops, Marques Johnson. How you doing, Pops?
MARQUES JOHNSON: Hey, man. You know, sheltering at home, I guess, is the buzz word, man. But I'm doing good. I'm doing good, all things considered.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: MJ doc is taking the world by storm. You made a cameo in episode five. What did you think when you saw young MJ in his college dorm with your poster on his wall, saying that you were one of his favorite players?
MARQUES JOHNSON: Well, you know, it's got to be like a career highlight for me. But I knew that already, because when he shot "Space Jam," I went out there, and he gave me some grief about dunking the basketball. And I told him whatever I was doing, I was doing something good, because you had my poster on your wall at North Carolina. And MJ was like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, you got me on that one, and you was one of my favorite players, man. I used to love your game. But to hear him actually say it, you know, during "The Last Dance" was moving, man. I really felt good about it.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: And obviously, for everybody who doesn't know, like I said, you're a five time NBA All-Star, two-time All NBA. You know, you played against Jordan a few times. What was that like for you? Do any memories stand out from you of you being on court with MJ?
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MARQUES JOHNSON: Well, actually, I think three times All-NBA, but who's counting?
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But the biggest memory was his rookie year. Came out to the sports arena, had a great young player playing for the Clippers-- the team that I played on-- Derek Smith. They were going at it. And I set a back screen on Michael, and Michael came through the screen with elbows up. And I was like, hey, rookie, watch the elbows! He was like, hey, vet, watch the screen. I was like, OK. You know, he was brass, he was cocky even back then. But just his strength, man-- he broke through a double team and hit a big and-one down the stretch of that game that was the shot that sealed the deal. So he was a phenomenal player from the first time he stepped up to the court in the NBA.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: So you played MJ on the court. You guys actually got to hang out off the court too. How was MK on the court versus MJ off the court?
MARQUES JOHNSON: Well, I mean, he just had a great way about him. My fondest memory of that was during the 1986 All-Star game. He had a foot injury. We were at the hotel banquet. And Willie Nelson was the performer. We didn't want to see him, so I left. Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan were waiting outside in front of the hotel. This guy drives up in this beat up Lincoln Continental. He was like, hey Marques, Patrick, Michael, y'all need a ride back to your hotel? We were about 20 minutes away.
So we jumped in the back. It's me, Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jordan. We were all kind of complimenting each other on our respective games. And Patrick says to Michael, Michael, don't bring that stuff inside. That's my office. And Michael says something that I'll never forget. He said, Patrick, I got a hide and seek show you ain't seen yet. And that was Michael. He was just confident, but he was funny, he was clever. And that's one of my fondest memories of hanging around Michael Jordan.
JOSIAH JOHNSON: All right, Marques. Well, thank you for joining us on "Dunk Bait." We appreciate you, and stay safe. Make sure you're washing your hands, and appreciate you for giving me life.
MARQUES JOHNSON: And don't touch my face. I got you, buddy, all right.
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