Bill Murray recalled the moment he realized why he shouldn’t compete against Michael Jordan and Larry Bird on the set of ‘Space Jam.’
Bill Murray has admitted that golfing with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird during the filming of Space Jam was more stressful than it was enjoyable.
Murray, who was a big part of the Space Jam movie, would play golf with Jordan and Bird during breaks, shooting at a golf course.
Bill Murray recalls tense golf games with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird
Bill Murray reflected on his time working on the 1996 film during an appearance on The Flying Coach podcast, hosted by Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll.
While shooting Space Jam, Murray, Jordan, and Bird would often play a few holes between scenes — but the atmosphere was far from laid-back.
“That’s when I realised that I did not want to play golf with Michael Jordan. Uh oh. But it was fun to play with them, and it was fun to goof around. It made it easier to shoot the scenes.”
“I knew Michael some, just from being around the Bulls games. Larry I got to know. I took a little while, as you probably know, but he’s a delightful person.”
The Ghostbusters star said that spending time on the course with the two NBA greats made filming the movie’s sports-heavy scenes feel more natural.
Bill Murray’s scenes with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird featured a game of golf
The actor didn’t just play golf during breaks with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Bill Murray’s initial scenes with the legendary basketball stars featured them playing a round of golf.
As many fans will remember, the scene with the trio proved to be the catalyst for Michael Jordan to share the screen with iconic Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny.
The actor’s mix of basketball nostalgia, comedy anecdotes, and stories about working alongside Jordan and Bird offered a rare glimpse into one of sport and cinema’s most iconic collaborations.
As Murray put it, sharing the course with legends like Jordan and Bird was unforgettable — even if it convinced him he never wanted to do it again.
Read More: What happened when Brooks Koepka once mocked Michael Jordan on the 17th hole of their match
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