The 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul – South Korea, in which the United States obtained an unfortunate third place behind the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, were the starting point for the almost immediate proposal and consolidation of the best basketball team that has never existed. They had to recover from that last big setback.
FIBA, aware that the already experienced players from Eastern Europe would continue to dominate the category, approved in 1989 the inclusion of professional players from the NBA. Thus, without much delay, after a great job of lobbying and marketing, the first basketball team with elite players from the largest league in the world was born on September 21, 1991, to compete in the 1992 Olympic Games, the original “Dream Team”. Trained by the legendary Chuck Daly. Below, we’ll take a look at each member of the team, ranked.
12 Christian Laettner
The only fan of the group and taken deliberately to give the team a young touch, he was chosen over Shaquille O’Neal – then also a collegiate – perhaps because of the presence on the coaching staff of Mike Krzyzewski, his coach. at the famous Duke University.
Of course, the 22-year-old had more than enough merit to be part of the team. In the selection, his participation, as expected, was not so regular, obviously due to the presence of other superstars. In Barcelona, playing as a forward he scored 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
eleven John Stockton
This squad could not miss the greatest passer in NBA history, who was coming off his fourth consecutive assist title. Despite his extraordinary previous numbers, his contribution went little more than unnoticed, appearing in only four games out of a possible 8, posting averages of 2.8 points and 2.0 assists per game.
Perhaps the presence of Magic Johnson and the versatility of his teammates reduced his minutes of action.
10 larry bird
A career of fantasy was lived by the spectacular forward of the Boston Celtics, the Great White Hope Larry Joe Bird. Member of the NBA Hall of Fame, Rookie of the Year, three times MVP and 12 times All-Star, after dealing heavily with back injuries, he accepted in the year of his forced retirement to be present as one of the leaders of the dream team.
His mere presence inspired admiration and respect from his peers. In Barcelona he averaged 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
9 magic johnson
The leader of the dream team, the most mediatic, always with a smile and an overwhelming personality, was undoubtedly Magic Johnson. With a theoretically risky participation due to his recent announcement of the end of his active playing career after testing positive for HIV, Magic was a very important base in the consolidation of the team.
The five-time champion with his beloved Los Angeles Lakers averaged 8.0 points, 5.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in the Olympics.
8 david robinson
Three seasons of experience in the league, surprisingly averaging 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocks were the credentials that Admiral David Robinson presented to belong to this All-Star plethora.
The San Antonio Spurs center, winner of the 1989-1990 Rookie of the Year award, was an important factor in the team’s dominance in the inside game, contributing 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
7 patrick ewing
New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was the perfect complement in the paint for David Robinson. Averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in Barcelona, he became a wall for opposing teams.
The absence of the Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star in this unforgettable dream team was unthinkable. Pat was also known as one of the most enthusiastic and cheerful members of the team.
6 Chris Mullin
The forward of the Golden State Warriors, Chris Mullin, was another of those called to be part of the dream team that makes history. He surpassed his individual numbers each season and earned his inclusion with averages of 25.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals in the 1991-92 NBA season.
Mullin was also coming off his fourth straight All-Star selection, so his presence was totally justified. At the 1992 Olympics he recorded 12.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
5 Clyde Drexler
Barcelona was lucky to see the talent of this great player. Clyde Drexler was called to be Michael Jordan’s replacement on the team, but he became unbeatable, and in the Olympics he averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
This member of the NBA Hall of Fame came after 5 appearances in the All-Star Game and quite respectable averages in his first 8 years, 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game
4 carl malone
Collectively, a perennial underdog (along with John Stockton) with his Utah Jazz, but a highly successful individual player, Karl Malone could not be missing from the dream team. With averages of 25.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals, how could he be left out?
In fact, this power forward, who had 19 top-level NBA seasons, was one of the most consistent players in the Olympic Games, with 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
3 scottie pippen
His detractors may argue that he always played under the shadow and protection of Michael Jordan, but even in this dream team, Pippen, with talent and enthusiasm, showed that his place in the team was not a gift.
He averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3.0 steals, in addition to playing practically every position on the team and being a wall on defense.
two charles barkley
He was another of the participants of this team that never won a championship ring but had multiple individual achievements, with pre-tournament numbers of 23.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1. 0 blocks per game. He made six of his 11 consecutive All-Star selections.
Charles Barkley was the top scorer for the dream team with 18 points per game, complemented by 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals, despite his confessed party nights in Barcelona.
1 Michael Jordan
A team made up of the biggest stars in American basketball without its top representative Michael Jordan? It could never happen. That’s why His Airness was the cornerstone for the formation of the original dream team. Much was negotiated and planned with Mike, in fact, there is even talk of a ban on a famous player of the time, Isiah Thomas.
As expected, Jordan did not disappoint in his task, being a great leader on and off the court. At the Olympics he averaged 14.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 4.1 steals to lead the dream team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics outright and undefeated.