NOSEBLEED SPORTS MEDIA
MJ Mondays
NO DEBATE. JUST RECEIPTS.
VOL. 1, NO. 12 · MAY 18, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE DREAM TEAM WON BY 43.8 POINTS PER GAME. JORDAN AVERAGED 14.9 — BY CHOICE.
Dream Team Point Differential — 1992 Barcelona
Olympics
+43.8 32 pts 14.9
DREAM TEAM AVG WIN CLOSEST GAME JORDAN PPG
The 1992 US Olympic Basketball Team went to Barcelona and outscored opponents by an average of 43.8
points per game. They beat Angola by 68. They beat Croatia in the gold medal game by 32 — the 'closest'
game of the tournament — after Croatia scored the most points any team had against the Dream Team.
Jordan was the best player in the world and averaged 14.9 points per game — because he was willing to
defer to the system. He led the US in steals. The dream team won 8 games. No opponent came within 32
points.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers 1992-11-20
13 7 21/39 L
POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS FG RESULT
Back From Barcelona.
FIRST GAME BACK. 54 POINTS. THEY STILL LOST.
November 20, 1992. Jordan returned from the Olympics — fresh off the Dream Team gold medal — to the
regular season. His first road game was in Los Angeles against the Lakers. He scored 54 points, grabbed 13
rebounds, and dished 7 assists. The Bulls lost. Magic Johnson had retired. The Forum was different. Jordan's
54-point effort in a loss became one of the most overlooked individual performances of the entire dynasty
run.
MJ VS TODAY 03
The Dream Team vs Today's USA Basketball
1992 DREAM TEAM 2024 USA BASKETBALL
AVG MARGIN LEBRON JAMES TEAM
+43.8 PPG Won Gold
ROSTER VS CLOSEST GAME
Jordan, Magic, Bird, Barkley... Closer margins
GOLD MEDAL GLOBAL TALENT GAP
Yes Much smaller
The 1992 Dream Team wasn't just the best Olympic basketball team ever assembled — it fundamentally
changed the global growth of the sport. Every international player who grew up idolizing Jordan, Magic, and
Bird developed their game trying to beat an impossible standard. The 2024 US team won gold against a world
that the Dream Team directly created. The gap from 43.8 down to single-digit wins by 2024 is the Dream
Team's longest-lasting impact.
Was the Dream Team the greatest sports team ever assembled?
YES — BEST ROSTER EVER BEST BASKETBALL TEAM, NOT ALL SPORTS '96 BULLS WERE BETTER
TODAY'S PLAYERS WOULD COMPETE
THE COLDEST MJ MOMENT 04
THE SELECTION THAT CHANGED THE NARRATIVE
Jordan And Isiah Thomas Were Not On The Team
Together.
Isiah Thomas was widely expected to make the 1992 Dream Team — he had been one of
the best players of the 1980s, a two-time champion, a Hall of Famer. He wasn't selected.
Multiple accounts, including statements from Jordan, suggest Jordan made clear he would
not play on a team with Thomas. The selection committee, managing the relationships of
the world's most famous athletes, left Thomas off. Thomas never made it to Barcelona.
Jordan won a gold medal. Some conflicts don't need resolution — they just need a winner.
I had my reasons.
— MICHAEL JORDAN, WHEN ASKED ABOUT ISIAH THOMAS AND THE DREAM TEAM
THE MJ STAT VAULT 05
AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY — 1992
OLYMPICS JORDAN'S PPG — 1992 OLYMPICS
+43.8 The Dream Team won by nearly 44 points 14.9 Third on the team, by design. He deferred
per game. The closest game was a 32- to the system. He still led the team in
point win over Croatia in the gold medal steals.
game.
POINTS — MARGIN OF VICTORY VS GAMES PLAYED — 8 WINS, 0 LOSSES
ANGOLA The Dream Team never trailed at any point
The Dream Team won by 68. Angola in the tournament for longer than a
scored 48 points total. The entire game possession or two. They were never in
felt like a scrimmage. danger.
YEAR THE GLOBAL BASKETBALL REVOLUTION BEGAN
Every international star from Nowitzki to Gasol to Giannis grew up watching the Dream Team. Jordan's
influence on global basketball is immeasurable.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Joe Dumars
DETROIT PISTONS · 1985–1999
2X CHAMPION · 1989 FINALS MVP · 6X ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
The Gentleman Who Guarded Jordan Better Than Anyone
Joe Dumars was the primary Jordan defender for the Bad Boys Pistons — the man assigned to slow down
the unslowable. He averaged 17.8 PPG for his career, won the 1989 Finals MVP (against Magic Johnson, not
Jordan), and was selected to 6 All-Defensive Teams. He's in the Hall of Fame. He's also barely mentioned in
any Jordan conversation despite being the most skilled individual defender Jordan regularly faced.
The Jordan Connection: Jordan called Dumars the toughest defender he ever faced. Not the most physical —
the most skilled. 'Joe D could actually guard me. Most people just fouled me.'
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
MJ MONDAYS The Jordan Era · 1984–2003
Every Monday. No exceptions.