It’s rare to see former Michigan stars Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson in the same room.
After years apart, the former college basketball stars reunited at Ann Arbor’s Chrysler Building on Martin Luther King Day.
But with Howard’s Michigan coach and four other former teammates by his side, the team regrouped to win the conference against Ohio State.
“Look Jimmy, you could go to Michigan and be in the Fab Five and they’d still be talking about you today!”
– Gus Johnson has a funny story today.
The legendary Fab Five are in the house today!
@umichbball pic.twitter.com/FsdZ6iUaY0
It was heartwarming to see Webber and Rose reunite after the former NBA players’ long relationship (via 247 Sports).
30 years later. We appreciate your love and continued support!!! Fab Five Forever!! HAIL pic.twitter.com/Vi6XlOMNkh
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) January 15, 2024
It’s no secret that Jalen and I need to be together. It just has to happen,” Webber said. Weber added that if that much time had passed, they would wait “100 years” to meet again.
He has been giving motivational speeches to Michigan teams since Howard took over as coach.
Leave a comment,
@JalenRose @umichbball pic.twitter.com/D6cgQnjB28
When Juwan Howard was hired to lead the Michigan Wolverines in 2019, it represented the reunion of the Fab Five. “Senior is special to me,” he said during his press conference introducing the team that led Michigan to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 1992 and 1993.
Fa〽️ pic.twitter.com/smI1e6KJ9F
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) January 15, 2024
Five years later, his dream was the meeting of the Fab Five: Howard, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson — reunited on Michigan’s campus for the first time in 30 years.
They were on the court for the Wolverines’ 73-65 home victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
After the game, Howard thanked his former teammates, calling them “great friends” who supported him through tough times. “Family always supports family,” Howard said after the game, standing in front of his team with the rest of the Fab Five.
“You see what real is. Real comes out when things are a little tough. Real doesn’t run away. And you see real Michigan fans here supporting this team.”
Rose averaged 14.3 points per game during his long NBA career before beginning his career as a television personality and analyst.
Howard won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat and earned a spot on the 1996 NBA All-Star team. And Weber was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame after his outstanding career. Rose, Howard, and Weber each earned more than $100 million during their careers.
In 1992 and 1993, Michigan State pulled its Final Four banner after Webber was accused of violating NCAA rules by taking money from promotions. Webber and Rose later quarreled publicly, and even after Howard was admitted, it was difficult for them to get back together.
Although Michigan didn’t return the banner and the school didn’t celebrate the Fab Five in Monday’s victory, one of college basketball’s greatest teams reunited for one of college basketball’s greatest seasons.
“It’s important to be able to show up on a day like this when you really need them,”
Howard said after the game.
“But to see a group of seniors who’ve worn this jersey, been through adversity, walk through that door and lift our team up and encourage them along the way, it was kind of inspiring to be in front of them today. It’s something special.”
Legends. pic.twitter.com/9cpqfKzpUL
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) January 15, 2024
The Michigan State basketball program is heading into a tough 2023-24 season. But there are times when Michigan is unstoppable.
The 1991-93 Fab 5 reunites on Monday when Juwan Howard coaches the team against the Ohio State basketball team.
Michigan’s “Fab 5” refers to the Wolverines of the early 1990s, consisting of Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson.
The team reunited as the University of Michigan played a tight game against Ohio State basketball. Michigan loses, but fans hang on for Fab 5 reunion:
The Fab 5 feels the love from the Michigan crowd after reuniting for the first time since their playing days 〽️ pic.twitter.com/suZ8vm3urn
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) January 15, 2024
With the exception of Ray Jackson, every member of Michigan’s previous team played in the NBA. Yes, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber and Jalen Rose are the biggest names in the league.
Great to see Chris Webber and Jalen Rose together at the Michigan game.
The Fab 5 is one of the reasons I fell in love with sports. One of my all time fav teams to watch as a kid— Your Fav Sports Bettor’s Fav Sports Bettor (@FIVESTARINVEGAS) January 15, 2024
Now, Howard will lead the Wolverines back to dominance in 2024. Michigan State is off to a slow start to the season, but they have plenty of time to pick up the pieces.
Michigan Fab 5 all in the building vs Ohio state fresh off a football championship. Who’s got it better than us? Nobody pic.twitter.com/4Nq0M6EPdn
— Darcy Henry (@darcyhenry22) January 15, 2024
He was suspended for road games due to academic difficulties, but is expected to return to his regular playing time. For the first time in 30 years, all five members of the Fab Five will meet in Michigan.
The first freshman team to start an NCAA title game, the Fab Five played together in the 1993 NCAA Championship, losing 77-71 to North Carolina.
It was the “timeout game” where the Wolverines were called for a technical foul after Webber called a timeout and Michigan didn’t.
Rose told reporters during the game that the players returned to Ann Arbor for Martin Luther King Jr. Support Howard that day.
The Badgers entered Monday’s game on a five-game losing streak, and Rose explained that supporting his former teammate and teammate when Michigan struggled was the reason.
Great teamwork. Michigan’s Fab Five reunited in college basketball for the first time since they played three decades ago to watch the Wolverines beat Ohio State 73-65 on Monday.
Chris Webber and Jalen Rose have been at odds, including an NCAA scandal in which two Final Four banners were removed from the rafters of the Chrysler Center.
“If you’re mourning someone’s funeral, you can connect with them while they’re still alive,”
Rose told The Associated Press during halftime.
“We did it,” Weber said. Juwan Howard’s health concerns prompted the pair to join forces with Jimmy King and Ray Jackson to help the Michigan State basketball coach, who was reeling from a five-game losing streak just four months after taking the job. Had heart surgery. Weber and I were on the same page, we were on the same page and broke our bread like brothers.”
Rose said.
“I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, watching my brother, Juwan Howard, lying on a gurney about to undergo heart surgery.”
Five former players pose for a photo at midfield after Michigan defeated the Buckeyes. Weber said he last played Michigan basketball as an NBA player in 1993-94, when four of his former teammates were in their junior seasons.
“I’m excited to be back,” said Webb, who sat courtside at Michigan with Rose, King and Jackson, flanked by Howard. In 2018, Jim Harbaugh invited him to a football game.
In 2002, the NCAA ordered UM to cut ties with Webber and other former players, none of whom were from Lima, a decade after a federal investigation into student misconduct and Ed Martin is now deceased.
The NCAA told Michigan in 2002 to dissociate from Webber along with a few other former players — none from the Fab Five — for a decade because a federal investigation revealed the now-deceased Ed Martin gave them more than $600,000 when they were students.
The NCAA broke the rules when the Fab Five took over college basketball in the early 1990s, promoting shorts and black socks on the basketball court across the country.
Michigan State took the banners from all four of its 1992 and 1993 Final Four games, wrapped them in plastic, and stashed them behind a locked door in the basement of the narrow cage, and other items such as Civil War diaries from the history library.
Although Weber said he didn’t have time to think about the banners as he stood where they were hanging, Ross had plenty to say.
“It would be awesome if Michigan would consider retiring the numbers of the Fab Five,”
Rose said. “Or one banner with all of our numbers on it.”
Fans reacted as follows:
Always been a Jalen fan. Any thoughts to give a shout out to Montross? He battled Chris and Juwan pretty hard in both games in 93. I think Jalen got the put back for the win at the buzzer in the early season game.
— Jeff Sykes (@byjeffsykes) January 15, 2024
I’ve never enjoyed watching ball more than ya’ll gentlemen did it. Thank you
— Danny Irishman (@dannyirishman1) January 15, 2024
My favorite college team ever. Why does Ray Jackson look like y'alls Grandpa? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Lucha Dad (@LuchaFamily) January 15, 2024
The best starting 5 ever assembled. They could still make it to the Elite Eight right now..
— Stephen Scott Sr. (@StevenScotSr) January 16, 2024
This is like that hood pic with the OGs from the 90s that used to slang bricks and had car phones but grew out of the streets and settled down and got jobs at Amazon and w/ Sanitation but now 30 years later the homies reunited at the Waffle House for one last blast from the past.
— Papa Brain (@AngrySince87) January 16, 2024
👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ta70bn4wyM
— Shabina Harlow 🏴☠️ (@blackseaharlow) January 15, 2024
Everyone should bookmark this tweet
— Sutton (Steve Yzerman's Burner) (@CallMe_Stubs) January 15, 2024
the 5 kids that revolutionized a college sport in America.
— Smokovic1970 (@smokovic1970) January 15, 2024
LEGENDS….. REALLY???The most celebrated underachievers!!! Couldn’t win the big ten title or a natty! I’m a Michigan fan! Stop celebrating mediocrity Michigan! SMH
— Hogan Logan (@Sloganhogan) January 15, 2024
