By Josh Cohen
Aug. 5, 2016
ORLANDO -- It’s been 32 years but Jeff Turner vividly remembers his gold medal journey at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
He recalls the roster selection process in Bloomington, Indiana and how competitive it was. He still appreciates being one of the 12 chosen that year to wear USA across their chest.
Turner, who just weeks prior to the Olympics was drafted by the New Jersey Nets and years later became a key role player on the Orlando Magic’s 1995 team that went to the Finals, remembers Bob Knight’s coaching memos and guidance. Knight, who was widely considered one of the elite collegiate coaches at the time, kept the USA squad focused and hungry.
And then there were all the team bonding experiences. It was an amazing opportunity for Turner to play with and learn from eventual all-time greats like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin.
They were really all amateurs at the time. NBA players were not approved to participate in international competition. However, the 1984 USA national team was loaded with talent. While Jordan, Ewing and Mullin were the headliners, others such as Sam Perkins, Alvin Robertson and Wayman Tisdale were nothing to sneeze at.
But to nobody’s surprise, including Turner, Jordan was the cream of the crop.
“He quickly became our leader,” Turner said about MJ. “The thing about Michael that we learned was that his competitiveness was on another level. That’s what separated him from the rest.”
As part of one particular bonding experience, coach Knight had the entire team at his house. They played pool and, as Turner remembers so distinctly, Jordan wouldn’t let anyone leave until he was the decisive winner.
“It didn’t matter if it was a card game, ping pong or pool, if Michael was playing winning was the most important thing,” Turner said.
Unlike today when perennial NBA All-Stars in the prime of their professional careers compete in the Olympics, back then they were all a bunch of determined and voracious youngsters. As a result, they never took anything for granted. They knew they needed to watch tons of film and practice incessantly to ensure success.
“Every game we were prepared,” said Turner, who totaled 13 points and 17 rebounds in the eight games combined. “We were confident but coach Knight kept us focused and we worked hard.”
Team USA won each game fairly convincingly. They cruised past China, Canada, Uruguay, France and Spain in Group B pool play. West Germany gave them a challenge in the quarterfinals, but USA’s youngest player, Steve Alford, propelled them with 17 points that night.
USA eliminated Canada in the semifinals and dominated Spain in the final to capture the gold.
Turner, who grabbed two rebounds in that victory, still says standing on the podium and receiving the gold medal is one of the greatest moments of his life.
“It was a really special moment,” he said. “There’s something about playing for your country that means so much.”
Turner’s gold medal currently hangs inside a display case at his Central Florida home. He says it’s the one award that he feels super proud to boast about.
USA’s triumph in 1984 was the only gold medal won by the Americans in men’s basketball that decade. The United States boycotted the Olympics in 1980 because of political tension with the Soviet Union. In 1988, the U.S. lost in a stunner to the Soviets in the semis and settled for the bronze.
Shortly after that Olympic year, FIBA decided it was time to allow NBA players to compete in international competition. From that point on – aside from a disappointing outcome in 2004 – USA has dominated hoops around the globe. Jordan, Ewing and Mullin – who starred on the ’84 squad – returned to the Olympics and were part of the 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona. Team USA hasn’t lost a game in international play since 2006.
As this year’s U.S. team prepares for another run at the gold, it’s important for all the players to understand what it means to represent their country and wear the red, white and blue.
Having that pride and passion, as Turner knows, is what makes playing for the U.S. so special.