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If an avid fan of basketball were told that the greatest collection of stars in their generation was teaming up for a project, one would think that it would be because of the Olympics or any other large sporting event. But, the greatest ensemble of talent on the court was probably assembled due to the help of Buggs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes. Whether it was Space Jam with Michael Jordan or Space Jam: A New Legacy starring LeBron James, every hooper fell in love with the sport because of these movies. Muggsy Bogues even remembers how it impacted his family.
The first Space Jam was such a hit that it impacted a lot of hoopers' lives. From the first time they saw Michael Jordan interact with the Looney Tunes to the final buzzer of that battle with the Monstars, everyone had their favorite moment. For Muggsy Bogues, the moment that stuck with him the most was when his basketball prowess was stolen from him. He even recalled how his children reacted when that moment was shown on the screen, via The Knuckleheads Podcast.
“Well believe it or not my kids were young at the time. When I brought it home and they saw it, I mean of course they really thought that they stole my powers. They thought, ‘Hey your powers are gone.' But, I told them, ‘You didn’t see me touch the ball, they gave it back to me.' The kids in the neighborhood used to knock on my door to say the same thing, Mr. Muggsy, you got your powers back,” the five-foot and three-inch tall NBA legend declared.
Which Space Jam was better?
Eventually, Space Jam with Michael Jordan got old. Executives and people around the basketball world clamored for a new reboot of the beloved film. It was the perfect time because LeBron James was the new face of the league nearly three decades later.
It had new stars like Diana Taurasi, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, and Nneka Ogwumike. This cast for Space Jam: A New Legacy was a stark contrast to guys like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley. But, Muggsy Bogues can't help but compare the two. After all these years, he still thinks that the original is better than the one with LeBron James.
“Well, look we saved the planet. You know what I’m saying? He saved his son from the digital world. But, I give LeBron credit. Because, it’s very difficult to be up there and you know their cameras and how to deliver that. So, I really give him credit. I think we had a lot more substance in ours,” he said.
The new generation may start loving the version with James more. This is given its updated animation style and a story that connects better with the digital age. But, the classic with Jordan will definitely be remembered for years to come. While the gaps in generations get larger, certain pieces of media in basketball history will always remain great.
