Former Lakers forward Tracy Murray has shared a vivid account of the fierce pickup games held at the legendary Jordan Dome during the filming of the 1996 movie Space Jam. Murray, who was an extra in the film, described the intense competition between NBA stars, including a memorable showdown between Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.
Murray told NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that Michael Jordan was “tough” during his 1995 comeback after baseball, noting, “He still hadn’t lost a step. He was just knocking the rust off, but he was STILL Michael Jordan.” The Jordan Dome, a private gym where the stars played, attracted elite players from across the league, creating an environment like an NBA All-Star game every day.
The setup inside the dome featured a court resembling the old Long Beach Arena floor and amenities like a golf net and poker tables. Celebrities such as the Wayans family, Queen Latifah, and many from Black Hollywood frequently watched these games. “Everybody that was somebody came through and watched,” Murray recalled.
Murray emphasized the caliber of players present, listing Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Larry Johnson, Rod Strickland, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill, and many others. He pointed out that everyone played their natural positions, which added to the high level of competition.
The games were played to seven points, forcing players to be ready from the start. “You were only going to seven. So you’d better be ready to strap it up or else you’re sitting for a couple hours,” Murray said. The intensity was clear in a particularly heated game between Jordan and Miller, who share a well-known rivalry.
“The most intense game I remember was when Reggie and Mike were playing,” Murray said. “The trash-talk was DISRESPECTFUL on both ends. It was like NBA Playoff games with those two.” Despite the fierce competition, Murray said it was “a joy to watch” the pride and love of the game displayed by two Hall of Famers in a no-pay pickup setting.
Murray also touched on the idea of the Houston Rockets facing Jordan’s Bulls in the NBA Finals. Supporting a past statement by Kenny Smith, Murray agreed that the Rockets would have beaten Chicago, mainly due to the dominance of Hakeem Olajuwon. He called Olajuwon “the most dominant big man that I’ve ever played with and that I have ever seen,” recalling Olajuwon’s overpowering performance against David Robinson during his MVP year.
