The 1992 USA Dream Team was simply sensational. It was the first time that the United States sent NBA players to the Olympics after failing to win a gold medal in the last Olympics.
The 12 players in the Dream Team were Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Christian Laettner, and John Stockton. There is one thing common about every player on the team except one.
11 out of the 12 players who were part of the Dream Team were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Well, the only one left out was Christian Laettner, who in all honesty was a doubtful selection in the first place. But there was a reason for Laettner’s selection over the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Rodman, etc.
Scottie Pippen recently unveiled his reservations about the selection of Laettner to the team. In his latest book, “Unguarded,” Pippen wrote:
Via Sportscasting:
“I agreed with each pick except Laettner. I didn’t think he would fit in, and I was right. The committee should have chosen another NBA player, and plenty were worthy. My preference was Dominique Wilkins.”
While there is hardly anyone who would argue for the selection of Dominique Wilkins. Even if the NBA legend was selected in the team, he would not have been able to play. He tore his achilles in the 1991-92 season and was out until November 1992.
At the end of the day, even without Wilkins, the 1992 Dream Team was simply too much for any other team in the Olympics anyway. Team USA didn’t lose a single game throughout the entire campaign.
What’s more surprising is that head coach Chuck Daly never even called a timeout throughout the Olympics. These things prove that 1992 Team USA was head and shoulders above the rest of the teams.
Maybe things would have been different if Yugoslavia was also there in the Olympics. Many believe that the 1992 Yugoslavia Dream Team vs. the 1992 USA Dream Team is the greatest matchup we never got to witness.
Whatever be the case, one thing is for sure, the 1992 USA Dream Team will forever hold a special place in the hearts of basketball fans.
