1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team

U.S. Olympic team (1992) yes Dream Team September 2026 March 2026 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team Chuck Daly 1992 Summer Olympics 16px USA Charles Barkleyhttps://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/2943/tid/379/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/accumulated-statistics.html USA accumulated statistics 1992 Olympic Games : Tournament for Men ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM archive.fiba.com August 27, 2019 April 9, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230409020932/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/2943/tid/379/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/accumulated-statistics.html dead 18.0 USA Karl Malone 5.3 USA Patrick Ewing 5.3 USA Scottie Pippen 5.9 1988 1996 The men's national basketball team of the United States competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and won the gold medal. Nicknamed the "Dream Team", it was the first American Olympic team to include active professional players from the National Basketball Association (NBA). Team USA defeated its opponents by an average of 44 points during the tournament.The Original Dream Team https://web.archive.org/web/20120516085220/http://www.nba.com/history/dreamT_moments.html May 16, 2012 . nba.com. Retrieved August 12, 2010.https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/games-of-the-xxvth-olympiad-1992.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20150429183112/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/games-of-the-xxvth-olympiad-1992.aspx dead April 29, 2015 Games of the XXVth Olympiad -- 1992 USA Basketball The team has often been described as the greatest sports team ever assembled.McCallum Jack Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever 2013 Random House Publishing Group 9780345520494 313 https://books.google.com/books?id=-8KJGlUvrPYC&pg=PA313 July 31, 2020 April 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065758/https://books.google.com/books?id=-8KJGlUvrPYC&pg=PA313 live "This Day in Sports: The Dream Team Takes Gold in Barcelona ". ESPN. August 8, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2012.nbc20120731 The team was collectively inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. The Naismith Hall of Fame calls the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet".https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/1992-united-states-olympic-team/ 1992 United States Olympic Team August 14, 2010 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame CBS Interactive dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100818075707/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/1992-united-states-olympic-team August 18, 2010 In addition to the team induction, 11 players and three coaches have been inducted individually into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Forming the team Background Before the 1992 Olympics, FIBA rules barred players from the United States' National Basketball Association from participating in Olympic tournaments, and only amateurs were eligible for the U.S. Olympic teams, which were composed of collegiate and, especially in the 1950s, AAU players. Other countries used their best players from their domestic professional leagues.gq In the 1988 Summer Olympics, the Americans lost to the USSR and settled for bronze, their worst finish in the history of the Games.Soviets Roll Past Yugoslavs for the Gold https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/30/sports/the-seoul-olympics-men-s-basketball-soviets-roll-past-yugoslavs-for-the-gold.html May 8, 2020 The New York Times Associated Press September 30, 1988 January 10, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180110201120/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/30/sports/the-seoul-olympics-men-s-basketball-soviets-roll-past-yugoslavs-for-the-gold.html live On April 7, 1989, at a special congress in Munich after the 1988–89 FIBA European Champions Cup finals, FIBA delegates voted, 56-13, to allow professional basketball players to participate in its international events, including the World Cup and the Olympics. The Amateur Basketball Association of the United States of America (ABAUSA, renamed USA Basketball after the vote) voted against the move due to "colleges and high schools that make up most of [ABAUSA's] constituency [opposing] it." A Soviet proposal to limit the national teams to only two NBA players for the first few years was unanimously rejected.Hubbard Jan The Vote That Cleared the Way for NBA Players to Play in FIBA Competitions https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2020/04/fiba-votes-for-open-competition.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20200411114729/https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2020/04/fiba-votes-for-open-competition.aspx dead April 11, 2020 USA Basketball May 5, 2020 April 8, 2020Federation Rule Change Opens Olympics to N.B.A. Players https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/08/sports/federation-rule-change-opens-olympics-to-nba-players.html The New York Times August 5, 2020 April 8, 1989 September 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230920065103/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/08/sports/federation-rule-change-opens-olympics-to-nba-players.html live The decision led to professional players, particularly those from the NBA, dominating the sport at the highest levels of international competition. The change also warded off competition from the Goodwill Games, the biggest rival of the Olympics at the time, which was seeking to bring professional players into its basketball events."Basketball federation will allow NBA players in Olympics", The Washington Post News Service, via The Olympian, April 8, 1989, page 2C.Kalb Elliott https://books.google.com/books?id=1715slX-OrEC&pg=PA71 The 30 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All-Time Weinstein Mark 2009 Skyhorse 9781602396784 71 May 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065800/https://books.google.com/books?id=1715slX-OrEC&pg=PA71 April 8, 2023 liveFreedman Lew https://books.google.com/books?id=OgjHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA121 The 100 Most Important Sporting Events in American History 2015 ABC-CLIO 9781440835759 121 May 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408104641/https://books.google.com/books?id=OgjHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA121 April 8, 2023 live Selections USA Basketball asked the NBA to supply players for its 1992 roster;McCallum Jack February 19, 1991 Lords of the Rings https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/02/18/lords-of-the-rings-with-nba-players-eligible-for-olympic-action-in-92-si-picks-a-powerhouse-five-from-left-michael-jordan-patrick-ewing-magic-johnson-karl-malone-and-charles-barkley dead https://web.archive.org/web/20230113024606/https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/02/18/lords-of-the-rings-with-nba-players-eligible-for-olympic-action-in-92-si-picks-a-powerhouse-five-from-left-michael-jordan-patrick-ewing-magic-johnson-karl-malone-and-charles-barkley January 13, 2023 August 1, 2020 Sports Illustrated the league was initially unenthusiastic about this idea.gq The notion that the NBA wanted to redeem the 1988 loss? Patently wrong. From our view, we were stuck with playing in the Olympics. We didn't see it becoming the phenomenon that it became.gq NBA Commissioner David Stern on the NBA's initial lack of enthusiasm for playing the Olympicsalt=Jordan receiving a ball from a referee|thumb|Michael Jordan was offered a co-captainship but he deferred to Bird and Johnson The first ten players for the team were selected on September 21, 1991: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls, John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks, Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors, David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, and Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers.Sam Smith. "Olympian Jordan: 'We'll kill 'em.'" Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1991. 13. On the cover of its issue of February 18, 1991, Sports Illustrated labeled the forthcoming American roster as the "Dream Team".Dream Team XXX Summer Olympics NBC August 10, 2012mccallum19910218 On May 12, 1992, Clyde Drexler of the Portland Trail Blazers was chosen over Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons for the final professional roster spot.Whitaker Lang July 2012 The Dream Will Never Die: An Oral History of the Dream Team https://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201207/dream-team-20th-anniversary-1992-olympics-usa-basketball?printable=true GQ https://web.archive.org/web/20120616015700/https://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201207/dream-team-20th-anniversary-1992-olympics-usa-basketball?printable=true June 16, 2012 June 12, 2012 As an acknowledgment to the previous amateur system, the U.S. basketball committee decided to include one collegiate player on the team:Pros, college players combine https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19900914&id=wHhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6727,2166056 Ellensburg Daily Record September 23, 2014 November 19, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211119193750/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19900914&id=wHhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6727%2C2166056 liveMccallum Jack BEHIND THE INTERVIEWS: LAETTNER http://www.jackmccallum.net/2012/06/10/behind-the-interviews-laettner/#.VCFXyWTF_wN Jack Mccallum September 23, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20150413223117/http://www.jackmccallum.net/2012/06/10/behind-the-interviews-laettner/#.VCFXyWTF_wN April 13, 2015 dead Christian Laettner of Duke University was added on May 12, 1992, chosen over Louisiana State University's Shaquille O'Neal."Drexler, Laettner join Olympic team https://web.archive.org/web/20211120032011/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I7UxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OuIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5497,8535804&dq=drexler-laettner-join&hl=en November 20, 2021 ". Reading Eagle. May 13, 1992. Retrieved August 12, 2010. Most of the players on the team were at or near the peaks of their NBA careers.mccallum20120702 Bird had back trouble, but was selected due to the team's historic nature. Robinson had played with the 1988 Olympic team and was eager to earn a gold medal at Barcelona.Tim Povtak. "Robinson is riveted on gold ". Orlando Sentinel. June 30, 1992. Retrieved August 13, 2010. Johnson had retired from the Lakers in November 1991 after testing positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. His teammates expected Johnson to die from the disease, and he later described his selection for the Olympics as "almost like a life saver", evidence that he could still overcome the illness and live a productive life.nbc20120810 The Australian Olympic delegation threatened to boycott the games in protest of Johnson's presence, fearing that he might infect other athletes. Their threats backfired, however, as Johnson received even more public support.Olympic Support Overflows for Magic Johnson After Australian Complaints https://web.archive.org/web/20200106220200/https://apnews.com/0852574637126f349d914ebaa1b6a337 January 6, 2020 apnews.com, Mike Harris, January 24, 1992 Ewing, Jordan, and Mullin had won gold at the 1984 games; Malone had not made the team and saw his non-selection in 1984 as a challenge.gq Jordan declined head coach Chuck Daly's suggestion that Jordan serve as the public face of the team, and Bird and Johnson were selected as co-captains.nbc20120810 Over the previous 13 NBA seasons leading up to the 1992 Olympics, these three superstars had won 10 NBA championships and received seven NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and nine regular-season MVP awards. Isiah Thomas left off team There was speculation that Isiah Thomas was not part of the team because Jordan would participate only if Thomas was not on the roster. At the time, it was widely believed that Jordan did not like Thomas because he was seen as the "ring leader" of the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s and early 1990s; nicknamed the "Bad Boys", the team employed overtly physical tactics against Jordan in the NBA Playoffs. In his 2012 book Dream Team, author Jack McCallum quotes Jordan as saying to Team USA selection committee member Rod Thorn, "Rod, I don't want to play if Isiah Thomas is on the team".McCallum Jack Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever 82 Ballantine Books 2012 https://archive.org/stream/dreamteamhowmich00mcca#page/82/mode/1up 9780345520487 registration Internet Archive May 13, 2020 In 2020, Thorn and Jordan denied directly mentioning Thomas's name in discussions.O'Shaughnessy Haley 'The Last Dance' Details the Grudges and Grievances of Michael Jordan May 3, 2020 The Ringer https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/3/21245917/michael-jordan-the-last-dance-episodes-5-6 May 13, 2020 May 10, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200510133951/https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/3/21245917/michael-jordan-the-last-dance-episodes-5-6 livehttps://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29112818/dream-team-architect-rod-thorn-michael-jordan-never-discussed-isiah-thomas/ Dream Team architect Rod Thorn: Michael Jordan never discussed Isiah Thomas April 29, 2020 ESPN April 29, 2020 en-US April 30, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200430071817/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29112818/dream-team-architect-rod-thorn-michael-jordan-never-discussed-isiah-thomas live According to Jordan in the documentary series The Last Dance, he asked Thorn, "Who's all playing?" to which Thorn responded, "The guy you're thinking about is not going to be playing." After the selection of the first ten members of the team, Johnson released an official statement in support of Thomas, but years later it was discovered that his support was less than enthusiastic. In the book When the Game Was Ours, Johnson said, "Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics. Nobody on that team wanted to play with him."MacMullan Jackie Johnson Magic Bird Larry When the Game Was Ours https://archive.org/details/whengamewasours00bird registration 2009 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 262 978-0-547-22547-0 Laettner's selection over O'Neal thumb|upright=0.7|alt=|Christian Laettner (pictured in 2014) was chosen to represent college athletics. The selection committee considered several college players, including Harold Miner, Jimmy Jackson, and Alonzo Mourning in addition to Shaquille O'Neal and Christian Laettner.Drexler, Laettner complete U.S. Olympic team roster https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19920513&id=EBtIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HoEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5610,3957459 September 26, 2014 The Victoria Advocate April 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065802/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19920513&id=EBtIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HoEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5610,3957459 live O'Neal was the number-one pick in the 1992 NBA draft, but Laettner's Duke Blue Devils teams won consecutive National Championships in 1991 and 1992. Coached by Mike Krzyzewski, who also was a first-time assistant coach for the Olympic program, Laettner was the Naismith College Player of the Year and scored the game-winning basket as time expired in the 1992 NCAA Eastern Regional final. Although O'Neal was a two-time Consensus NCAA First Team All-American in 1991 and 1992, his team lost in the second round of the 1992 NCAA men's tournament. Laettner's college success and coach's endorsement ultimately secured his position on the team.McCallum, Jack (2012). Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever. Random House Publishing Group. Chapter 17. Success on the court Early scrimmages To help the team prepare for the Olympics, a squad of the best NCAA college players was formed to scrimmage them. USA Basketball selected players whose style of play, it hoped, would resemble that of the Europeans the Dream Team would face. Members included the penetrating guard Bobby Hurley, all-around players Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway, outside shooter Allan Houston, and the tough Chris Webber and Eric Montross.nbc20120810 Hill and Hardaway would play for the 1996 national team, and Houston on the 2000 team."1996 USA Men's Olympic Games Roster https://web.archive.org/web/20081006084324/http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=moly_1996 October 6, 2008 ." usabasketball.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2014."2000 USA Men's Olympic Games Roster https://web.archive.org/web/20100103175710/http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=moly_2000 January 3, 2010 ." usabasketball.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2014. The Dream Team first gathered at Main Gym on the campus of the University of California, San Diego, in late June, astounding and intimidating the collegians who watched them practice. However, on June 24, the Dream Team lost to the NCAA team, 62–54, after underestimating the opposition.gq Daly intentionally limited Jordan's playing time and made non-optimal substitutions; assistant coach Mike Krzyzewski later said that the head coach "threw the game" to teach the NBA players that they could be beaten. The teams played again the following day, with the Olympians winning decisively in the rematch.Richard Sandomir. "The Dream Team's Very Bad Day https://web.archive.org/web/20120808021406/http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/the-dream-teams-very-bad-day/ August 8, 2012 ". The New York Times. May 9, 2012. Some of the college players visited Jordan's hotel room afterward and asked their hero for his personal items as souvenirs.gq Tournament of the Americas The Dream Team made its international debut on June 28 at the Tournament of the Americas, an Olympic qualifying event in Portland, Oregon.gq The team defeated Cuba 136–57, prompting Cuban coach Miguel Calderón Gómez to say, "You can't cover the sun with your finger."Tim Povtak. "Dream Team dazzles in laugher ". Orlando Sentinel. June 29, 1992. Retrieved August 13, 2010. Marv Albert, who announced the game, recalled that "it was as if [the Americans] were playing a high school team, or grade school team. They were so overwhelming...a blowout after blowout."nbc20120810 The Cubans were the first of many opponents who were more interested in taking photos with the Americans than playing them.gq The next five games were also easy victories for Team USA, which ended the tournament on July 5 with a 127–80 victory over Venezuela in the championship game to win the tournament and be one of four Americas squads to qualify for the Olympics."From Rip City to Barcelona https://web.archive.org/web/20151223115847/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AA8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6822,1672263&dq=dream-team+tournament+of+the+americas+venezuela&hl=en December 23, 2015 ". Associated Press. Toledo Blade. July 6, 1992. Retrieved August 13, 2010. Olympics alt=Robinson taking a shot|thumb|David Robinson taking a free throw The team trained for the Olympics in Monaco for six days, practicing two hours a day and playing exhibition games against other national teams. During their time away from the court, the squad spent time enjoying the nude beaches, Monte Carlo's casinos,mccallum20120702 and dining with royalty.gq There was no curfew; as Daly stated, "I'm not putting in a curfew because I'd have to adhere to it, and Jimmy'z [a noted Monte Carlo nightclub] doesn't open until midnight."mccallum20120702 For one scrimmage, the group divided into two teams: Blue (led by Johnson, with Barkley, Robinson, Mullin, and Laettner) and White (led by Jordan, with Malone, Ewing, Pippen, and Bird). Drexler and Stockton did not play because of injuries.A 2012 NBA TV documentary covers this scrimmage, but the segment mixes video clips from other scrimmages as well.McCallum Jack 25 Years Later: THE 'MYSTICAL' DREAM TEAM SCRIMMAGE July 23, 2017 JackMccallum.net https://jackmccallum.net/2017/07/23/25-years-later-the-mystical-dream-team-scrimmage/ November 7, 2018 November 7, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181107145157/https://jackmccallum.net/2017/07/23/25-years-later-the-mystical-dream-team-scrimmage/ deadAdams Micah The Dream Team scrimmage in Monte Carlo July 23, 2017 ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/133080/the-scrimmage-in-monte-carlo November 7, 2018 November 7, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181107145349/http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/133080/the-scrimmage-in-monte-carlo live Daly told the teams to play "All you got now. All you got." White won, 40 to 36, in what Jordan recalled as "the best game I was ever in" and Sports Illustrated later called "the Greatest Game Nobody Ever Saw".https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/07/24/usa-basketball-game-nobody-saw The Greatest Game Nobody Ever Saw Sports Illustrated July 2, 2012 McCallum, Jack https://web.archive.org/web/20150412081817/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/07/24/usa-basketball-game-nobody-saw April 12, 2015 live Because of security concerns due to the team's celebrity, the Dream Team did not stay in the Olympic Village.Greenberg Alan U.S. Team: All-Stars to All-World https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-07-26-0000114550-story.html Hartford Courant May 20, 2020 July 26, 1992 November 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124072306/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-07-26-0000114550-story.html live The Olympic Village had only four guards at the gate when the team arrived to pick up their credentials; one of the guards, upon seeing the Dream Team, grabbed his camera and his child while the team members were mobbed by other Olympic athletes. Daly also stated that the beds in the Village were too short to allow his tall players to get proper rest.Richardson Steve Dream Team Besieged by Everyone, Defends Staying Outside Village https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1992-07-26-2875102-story.html Dallas Morning News May 20, 2020 July 26, 1992 November 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124124603/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1992-07-26-2875102-story.html live As a result, the team stayed at Barcelona's Hotel Ambassador, where USA Basketball occupied 80 of the hotel's 98 rooms. Fans were not allowed to enter the lobby, but did gather outside the hotel, hoping to see their favorite players. "It was like Elvis and the Beatles put together," Daly said.Alex Sachare. When Seconds Count. Sports Publishing LLC, 1999. 192. 1-58382-015-9. Opposing basketball players and athletes from other sports often asked to have photographs taken with the players.Bryan Burwell. At the Buzzer! Doubleday, 2001. 150. 0-385-50145-5.mccallum20120702 In an interview years later, Charles Barkley recounted that "we got death threats".Sheridan Chris Charles Barkley relives Dream Team https://www.espn.com/nba/halloffame10/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=100812-dreamteam May 20, 2020 August 10, 2010 March 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200324143640/https://www.espn.com/nba/halloffame10/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=100812-dreamteam live Despite that assertion, Barkley walked around the city alone. When asked where his bodyguards were, he held up his fists and answered, "This is my security."gq alt=|thumb|Charles Barkley proved controversial due to his aggressive gameplay and trash talking. He ended up being the highest-scoring member of the team. Jordan was the only player who studied the opposition, carefully watching game tapes.gq He and the other Americans enjoyed the opportunity to get to know each other in a casual setting, often playing cards all night and, for Jordan, playing several rounds of golf daily with little rest.nbc20120810 Opposing teams were overwhelmed by the Americans, losing by an average of 43.8 points per game. This was the second-largest Olympic Games point differential, surpassed only by the 53.5 point-per-game margin achieved by the 1956 US Men's Basketball Team. The Dream Team was the first to score more than 100 points in every game. Its 117.3 average was more than 15 points higher than that of the 1960 US team."Nightmare is over for U.S. https://web.archive.org/web/20211118205851/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9LorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-KIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1651%2C4643303&dq=team-usa+43.8&hl=en November 18, 2021 " Reading Eagle. August 9, 1992. Retrieved August 14, 2010. Johnson later recalled, "I look to my right, there's Michael Jordan...I look to my left, there's Charles Barkley or Larry Bird...I didn't know who to throw the ball to!"nbc2012081030 Greatest NBC Olympic Moments Costas, Bob (host) NBC July 31, 2012 In a press conference before the team's first Olympic game against Angola, Barkley quipped, "I don't know anything about Angola. But Angola's in trouble."Casstevens David Somebody's Gotta be Me" The Wide, Wide World of the One and Only Charles Barkley 1994 Andrews and McMeel 9780836280746 5 https://books.google.com/books?id=EYnMIItWYh0C May 18, 2020 April 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065801/https://books.google.com/books?id=EYnMIItWYh0C live Herlander Coimbra of Angola recalled that "those guys were on another level—a galaxy far, far away".gq During the game, Barkley elbowed Coimbra in the chest and was unapologetic after the game, claiming he was hit first. Barkley was called for an intentional foul on the play. Coimbra's resulting free throw was the only point scored by Angola during a 46–1 run by the US.Cook Byron Barkley sarcastic after easy win https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920727&id=FQ8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788,7328159 Toledo Blade July 27, 1992 September 19, 2016 August 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210826135545/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920727&id=FQ8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788,7328159 live The U.S. team won, 116–48, but its global reputation was damaged by Barkley's elbow. After the game, Jordan said, "There just wasn't any place for it. We were dominating the game. It created mixed feelings, it caused a mixed reaction about the U.S. There's already some negative feelings about us." The incident changed the narrative; instead of the Americans being viewed as a highly skilled team beating an underdog, some viewed them as bullies.Barley's elbow taints U.S. win https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19920727&id=36lJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VQ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1544,3336682 Bangor Daily News July 27, 1992 September 19, 2016 April 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065804/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19920727&id=36lJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VQ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1544,3336682 liveSansevere Bob The Ugly American? His name is Barkley https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1914&dat=19920725&id=yAogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X2UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2601,5252758 Sun Journal July 25, 1992 September 19, 2016 November 5, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211105024141/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1914&dat=19920725&id=yAogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X2UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2601%2C5252758 live Daly started Jordan in every game, and Johnson started in five of the six games he played, missing two games because of knee problems.Barnard, Bill. "Knee injury knocks Magic out of Dream Team lineup against Germany." https://web.archive.org/web/20210721125810/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19920729&id=TV4PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kYYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3579,2868782 July 21, 2021 The Bulletin [Bend, Oregon], July 29, 1992. Retrieved May 15, 2013. Pippen, Bird, Mullin, Robinson, Ewing, Malone, and Barkley rotated in the other starting spots.gq Barkley was the Dream Team's leading scorer during the Olympics, averaging 18.0 points per game.https://www.espn.com/nba/halloffame10/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=100812-dreamteam Charles Barkley relives Dream Team Chris Sheridan ESPN.com August 13, 2010 August 15, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100818015619/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/halloffame10/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=100812-dreamteam August 18, 2010 live The player-selection committee had been unsure about including him, worried that he would not represent the United States well.gq The closest of the eight matches was Team USA's 117–85 victory over Croatia in the gold medal game. Croatia, participating as an independent nation in the Olympics for the first time since its separation from the former Yugoslavia, briefly led the Dream Team by a score of 25–23 in the first half.re19920809FIBA. "USA-Croatia Box Score https://web.archive.org/web/20201119163754/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/A/grid/4/rid/1063/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html November 19, 2020 ". FIBA Archives. 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2012. By the end of the game, Team USA had pulled away and Stockton agreed to a Croatian player's plea not to shoot.https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/10/sports/10iht-hoop_6.html The Dream Team Is Finished, but Its Legacy Will Linger The New York Times August 10, 1992 August 12, 2012 Thomsen, Ian June 1, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130601131631/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/10/sports/10iht-hoop_6.html live Pippen and Jordan aggressively sought the opportunity to guard Toni Kukoč of Croatia. He had just signed a contract with the Bulls for more money than Pippen, who believed that the team's negotiation with the Croatian had delayed his own contract. Tired of hearing about Kukoč's talent, Pippen and Jordan agreed to, as Jordan later said, "not...let this guy do anything against us." McCallum described the two Bulls as "rabid dogs" against Kukoč.gqnbc20120810 Croatia had lost to the Dream Team 103–70 in their first game. The only team besides Croatia to hold the margin under 40 points was Puerto Rico, which lost 115–77 in the quarterfinals. Legacy alt=|thumb|Mike Krzyzewski returned to coach the United States men's basketball several times after the 1992 Olympics. Sports Illustrated later stated that the Dream Team was "arguably the most dominant squad ever assembled in any sport" and compared it to "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, the Allman Brothers at the Fillmore East, Santana at Woodstock."mccallum20120702 In 2009, the team was elected to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. The following year, the team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.1992 Olympic champs into Hall of Fame . Associated Press. ESPN. August 3, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010. It was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.http://www.fiba.basketball/news/dream-team-shaq-and-kukoc-headline-2017-class-of-fiba-hall-of-fame-inductees Dream Team, Shaq and Kukoc headline 2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame Inductees FIBA.basketball August 23, 2017 September 1, 2017 March 12, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180312015928/http://www.fiba.basketball/news/dream-team-shaq-and-kukoc-headline-2017-class-of-fiba-hall-of-fame-inductees live Barkley later said, "I don't think there's anything better to representing your country. I don't think anything in my life can come close to that." Bird called the medal ceremony and the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" "the ultimate experience". Johnson said, "The 92 Dream Team was the greatest moment of my life in terms of basketball, bar none." Jordan said that the biggest benefit for him from the Olympics was that he learned more about his teammates' weaknesses. His Chicago Bulls teams later defeated Barkley, Malone, and Stockton's teams in three NBA finals.nbc20120810 As of 2014, 11 of the 12 players on the roster (all except Laettner)Levin Josh What's the Difference Between the 1992 and 2012 Dream Teams? Kevin Durant and LeBron James Played Tougher Competition. August 12, 2012 Slate http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/08/12/_2012_u_s_olympic_basketball_team_the_original_dream_team_was_great_but_lebron_james_and_kevin_durant_played_tougher_competition_.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120817000155/http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/08/12/_2012_u_s_olympic_basketball_team_the_original_dream_team_was_great_but_lebron_james_and_kevin_durant_played_tougher_competition_.html August 17, 2012 live and three of the four coaches (all except Carlesimo) have been elected to the Hall of Fame as individuals. Global interest in basketball soared due to the Dream Team.nbc20120810 International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch stated that "the most important aspect of the [Barcelona] Games has been the resounding success of the basketball tournament, as we've witnessed the best basketball in the world."thomsen19920810 Daly said of the opposing teams "They'll go home and for the rest of their lives be able to tell their kids, 'I played against Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.' And the more they play against our best players, the more confident they're going to get".Top Moments: Dream Team takes world by storm in 1992 http://www.nba.com/history/top-moments/1992-dream-team-usa-basketball NBA.com May 31, 2018 June 5, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180605053054/http://www.nba.com/history/top-moments/1992-dream-team-usa-basketball live Subsequently, the number of international players in the NBA rose. On opening day of the 1991–92 season, NBA rosters included 23 international players from 18 countries. At the start of the 2011–12 season, there were 74 players from 35 countries.Longman Jere N.B.A. Looks to Wake Up From 20-Year Dream July 28, 2012 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/sports/olympics/nba-reassesses-its-olympic-involvement.html?pagewanted=all https://web.archive.org/web/20121103101136/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/sports/olympics/nba-reassesses-its-olympic-involvement.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all November 3, 2012 live February 14, 2017 https://www.thenationalnews.com/the-92-dream-team-paved-the-way-for-global-players-to-make-mark-in-nba-1.375766 The '92 Dream Team paved the way for global players to make mark in NBA The National May 25, 2011 August 4, 2019 August 4, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190804143759/https://www.thenational.ae/the-92-dream-team-paved-the-way-for-global-players-to-make-mark-in-nba-1.375766 live Roster USA Basketball Men's National Team roster Players Coaches Pos. # Name Age Height Weight From PF 4 Laettner, Christian 22 83 6 ft 11 in m on 235 lb kg on Duke Blue Devils C 5 Robinson, David 26 85 7 ft 1 in m on 235 lb kg on San Antonio Spurs C 6 Ewing, Patrick 29 84 7 ft 0 in m on 240 lb kg on New York Knicks SF 7 Bird, Larry 35 81 6 ft 9 in m on 220 lb kg on Boston Celtics SF 8 Pippen, Scottie 26 79 6 ft 8 in m on 210 lb kg on Chicago Bulls SG 9 Jordan, Michael 29 78 6 ft 6 in m on 198 lb kg on Chicago Bulls SG 10 Drexler, Clyde 30 79 6 ft 7 in m on 222 lb kg on Portland Trail Blazers PF 11 Malone, Karl 28 83 6 ft 9 in m on 256 lb kg on Utah Jazz PG 12 Stockton, John 30 73 6 ft 1 in m on 175 lb kg on Utah Jazz SF 13 Mullin, Chris 28 79 6 ft 7 in m on 215 lb kg on Golden State Warriors PF 14 Barkley, Charles 29 78 6 ft 6 in m on 250 lb kg on Phoenix Suns PG 15 Johnson, Magic 32 81 6 ft 9 in m on 220 lb kg on Los Angeles LakersBy the time the roster was announced, Johnson had already retired from professional basketball.Head coach Chuck Daly Assistant coach(es) P. J. Carlesimo Mike Krzyzewski Lenny Wilkens Legend: From – describes teams affiliatedduring the Olympics Tournament of the Americas results The team was undefeated, with their closest margin of victory being 38 points over Puerto Rico.https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/mens-tournament-of-the-americas-1992.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20150429204708/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/mens-tournament-of-the-americas-1992.aspx dead April 29, 2015 MEN'S TOURNAMENT OF THE AMERICAS -- 1992 USA Basketball +Tournament of the Americas resultsGameDateUSA pointsOpponent pointsOpponentPoint differential1 June 28, 1992 136 57 CUB 792 June 29, 1992 105 61 CAN 443 June 30, 1992 112 52 PAN 604 July 1, 1992 128 87 ARG 415 July 3, 1992 119 81 PUR 386 July 5, 1992 127 80 VEN(gold medal game) 47 Tournament statistics +Player tournament statistics Player GP FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% REB/AVG PTS/AVG AST BLK STLCharles Barkley 6 34 58 .586 2 5 .400 28 33 .848 40/6.7 98/16.3 10 1 12Larry Bird 2 8 11 .727 3 4 .750 0 0 .000 7/3.5 19/9.5 2 0 3Clyde Drexler 5 27 39 .692 5 11 .455 10 12 .833 13/2.6 69/13.8 33 2 5Patrick Ewing 5 27 43 .628 0 0 .000 5 8 .625 26/5.2 59/11.8 2 10 6Magic Johnson 6 19 34 .559 3 9 .333 17 20 .850 25/4.2 58/9.7 54 0 7Michael Jordan 6 29 53 .547 9 23 .391 9 12 .750 23/3.8 76/12.7 30 5 11Christian Laettner 6 18 31 .581 3 7 .429 5 8 .625 16/2.7 44/7.3 2 0 3Karl Malone 6 33 53 .623 0 0 .000 23 39 .590 35/5.8 89/14.8 9 4 5Chris Mullin 6 31 49 .633 15 30 .500 9 14 .643 18/3.0 86/14.3 14 1 9Scottie Pippen 6 20 30 .667 2 6 .333 6 9 .667 26/4.3 48/8.0 37 2 8David Robinson basketball 6 32 42 .762 0 0 .000 7 13 .538 32/5.3 71/11.8 5 11 5John Stockton 2 5 6 .833 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 1/0.5 10/5.0 12 0 1 Olympics results The team was again undefeated, with their closest outing being the 32-point victory over Croatia for the gold medal. 1992 7 26 16:30 (CEST) Group A, Game 1 https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/A/rid/1059/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html ANG 48 116 USA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 68, tournament largest 16–64 32–52 Macedo, 10 Conceição, 7 Conceição, 2 Barkley, 24 Barkley, 6 Johnson, 10 W 1992 7 27 20:30 (CEST) Group A, Game 2 https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/5/grid/A/rid/1059/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html CRO 70 103 USA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 33 37–54 33–49 Petrović, 19 Rađa, 8 Kukoč, 5 Jordan, 21 Malone, 5 Pippen, 9 W 1992 7 29 20:30 (CEST) Group A, Game 3 https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/8/grid/A/rid/1059/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html USA 111 68 GER Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 43 58–23 53–45 Bird, 19 Malone, 5 Jordan, 12 Schrempf, 15 Schrempf, 8 Rödl, 2 W 1992 7 31 22:30 (CEST) Group A, Game 4 https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/12/grid/A/rid/1059/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html USA 127 83 BRA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 44 60–41 67–42 Barkley, 30 Ewing, 9 Drexler, 10 Schmidt, 24 dos Santos, 9 Ponikwar de Souza, 7 W 1992 8 2 22:30 (CEST) Group A, Game 5 https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/15/grid/A/rid/1059/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html ESP 81 122 USA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 41 35–65 46–57 Jiménez, 23 Andreu, 7 Jiménez, 6 Barkley, 20 Ewing, 10 Pippen, 9 W 1992 8 4 22:30 (CEST) Quarterfinals https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/A/grid/4/rid/1061/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html USA 115 77 PUR Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 38 67–40 48–37 Mullin, 21 Laettner, 8 Pippen, 8 Ortiz, 13 Ortiz, 8 Carter, 4 W 1992 8 6 22:30 (CEST) Semifinals https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/A/grid/4/rid/1062/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html LTU 76 127 USA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 51 30–49 46–78 Marčiulionis, 20 Sabonis, 8 Marčiulionis, 8 Jordan, 21 Robinson, 8 Johnson, 8 W 1992 8 8 22:00 (CEST) Gold medal game https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/A/grid/4/rid/1063/sid/2943/_/1992_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/statistic.html CRO 85 117 USA Barcelona, Spain Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Point differential: 32, tournament closest 42–56 43–61 Petrović, 24 Rađa, 6 Kukoč, 9 Jordan, 22 Ewing, 6 Johnson, 6 W Olympic statistics +Olympic player statistics Player GP GS FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% PPG RPG APGCharles Barkley 8 4 59 83 .711 7 8 .875 19 26 .731 18.0 4.1 2.4Larry Bird 8 3 25 48 .521 9 27 .333 8 10 .800 8.4 3.8 1.8Clyde Drexler 8 3 37 64 .578 6 21 .286 4 10 .400 10.5 3.0 3.6Patrick Ewing 8 4 33 53 .623 0 0 .000 10 16 .625 9.5 5.3 0.4Magic Johnson 6 5 17 30 .567 6 13 .462 8 10 .800 8.0 2.3 5.5Michael Jordan 8 8 51 113 .451 4 19 .211 13 19 .684 14.9 2.4 4.8Christian Laettner 8 0 9 20 .450 2 6 .333 18 20 .900 4.8 2.5 0.4Karl Malone 8 4 40 62 .645 0 0 .000 24 32 .750 13.0 5.3 1.1Chris Mullin 8 2 39 63 .619 14 26 .538 11 14 .786 12.9 1.6 3.6Scottie Pippen 8 3 28 47 .596 5 13 .385 11 15 .733 9.0 2.1 5.9David Robinson basketball 8 4 27 47 .574 0 0 .000 18 26 .692 9.0 4.1 0.9John Stockton 4 0 4 8 .500 1 2 .500 2 3 .667 2.8 0.3 2.0 See also Sports Olympic Games Team USA Basketball (video game) Notes References 30em External links Olympics statistics at FIBA.com 1992 Dream Team: Classic Photos https://web.archive.org/web/20140212014709/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1001/dream.team.1992.classic.photos/content.1.html February 12, 2014 background:#002B54; color:#FFFFFF; a #E31937 2px; Category:United States at the Olympic men's basketball tournament United States Olympics Category:FIBA Hall of Fame inductees Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees