Kim Bohuny (NBA manager of international events): We had a dinner with Prince Rainier and Prince Albert. There’s very strict protocol. You know, you can’t eat until Prince Rainier eats—things like that. We were reviewing it with the team beforehand, and I think it shocked some of our guys.

Miller: They said if the prince puts his fork down and stops eating, you all better stop eating. And Charles said, "Well, I hope he stops when I’m done eating my meal, because I’m eating my meal."

Malone: I’m from the country. Our etiquette is pretty much, "Pass me the beans," and we pass it down. No disrespect to the prince—it took me a while to understand the rules. This glass was on this side, and this fork was for this... You know what? Let me eat. You’re talking about a fish out of water—that’s how I felt. I had a nice suit on, I guess.

Carlesimo: Those practices in Monte Carlo were legendary. There was no college team, so that was actually the first time we went against each other.

Malone: The coaches always kept Magic and Michael on different teams.

Hubbard: There was one moment where Krzyzewski claps his hands and says, "Okay, plenty of time." And Michael is at the other end of the court, and he shouts out: "Fuck that! We’re going to win this game. Fuck that." You gotta figure Coach K never heard that at a Duke practice.

Krzyzewski: That’s why he’s the greatest player ever. That afternoon, the intensity of it was just beautiful to witness.

Johnson: Oh man, the best basketball I ever played was during those practices. Because everybody said, "Let’s strap up."

Wilkens: Our last scrimmage, Magic’s team was dominating Michael’s team. And the guys were teasing Michael, because he was playing golf every morning. Well, that did it. The whole thing turned around.

Thorn: He got upset, so he started to score every time down the floor. One time he drove, and the refs called, like, a real tick-tack foul. So Magic booted the ball up to the ceiling: "This is ridiculous! Just like the NBA! He gets every call!"

Hubbard: Magic was saying, "This must be what it’s like playing in Chicago Stadium," because Michael was getting the calls. And Michael said, "Well, this is the ’90s, not the ’80s."

Johnson: Michael was going at Clyde; Clyde was going at Michael. David Robinson was going at Patrick Ewing; Patrick was going after him. Karl Malone was going after Barkley, Barkley after Malone. We were just going at it, man.

Wilkens: It got so heated we had to stop it.

Hubbard: Afterward, Charles was in a really grumpy mood. He said, "He’s not the only great player on this team," stuff like that. I actually got Jordan alone, and he was kind of sheepish that he had rubbed it in so bad. He said, "How’s your boy?" and he meant Barkley. And I said, "Well, you know, he’s kind of upset." And Michael said, "He’ll get over it." That was Michael. Even on something like that, he just had to kick your ass.

Barkley: Look, you had ten all-stars going at it nonstop, trying to prove a point. Everybody had ego invested.

Carlesimo: These guys were so competitive. You couldn’t play for an hour and a half with them frothing at the mouth, because they’d kill each other. A regular NBA team, if you’re lucky, has one or two of these guys. We had twelve. They don’t want to lose a drill, don’t want to lose a shooting game, don’t want to lose anything.

Part IV: Showtime

"You ever watch a lion or a leopard or a cheetah pouncing on their prey?"

On to Barcelona. Because of security concerns, the Dream Team passed on staying at the Olympic Village and instead set up shop at the Ambassador Hotel, just off the city’s main drag, Las Ramblas.