The sequel is never as good as the original. That principle should hold true for “Space Jam 2,” both on and off the screen.
Yes, there was an off-screen mythology to the original "Space Jam" in addition to the film itself. “The Jordan Dome,” built by Warner Brothers for Michael Jordan to keep up his fitness and basketball training regimen while filming in between the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, is one example.
Another are the allegedly legendary pickup games that took place at night after days of shooting. Given the cast — which featured Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsey Bogues and many more with NBA credentials — it’s easy to believe some competitive runs went down (this J.A. Adande feature from 2016 offers a phenomenal account). B.J. Armstrong said Jordan used the games as a means to scout top players around the league in the offseason.
Reggie Miller, one of many non-cast members from around the league to receive an invite to play pickup, recounted those bouts in Episode 8 of “The Last Dance.” They were in keeping with the style of play of the era.
“It was some of the best games. No officials. You’re calling your own fouls,” Miller said in the documentary. “So it’s a little bit more rugged and raw.”
Naturally, these games also served as a vessel to laud Jordan’s legendary drive.
“I don’t know (how) he (Jordan) did it,” Miller said. “I don’t know how he filmed all day and then still had the energy to play three hours. We would play until like 9 or 10 at night. He’d still have to get weight lifting in, and then his call time was like at 6 or 7 in the morning. So I don’t know how…
NBA
“This dude was like a vampire, for real.”
Any speculation, past or present, that the making of "Space Jam" could have been a distraction to Jordan can be left at the door with that quote. Steve Kerr said, in the run-up to the 1995-96 season, Jordan was in outrageous shape and "foaming at the mouth."
The movie debuted in November 1996, five months after the Bulls capped a record-breaking 72-win regular season with their fourth NBA championship in six years.
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