Just a Dream

Clyde Drexler takes the ball out by passing it to Magic Johnson. Johnson dribbles up the court with all the swagger and poise only the best point guard of all time could muster. He threads the ball under his legs quickly leaving one defender in the dust. He turns on the speed at half court, looks right, but slings the ball around his back to the left resulting in another seamless fakeout. He swiftly dishes the ball to the hulking Charles Barkley. Barkley backs down his defender, a man likely regretting the decision to guard the behemoth power forward. Barkley spots a teammate near the three-point line in the corner and passes to Chris Mullin. Mullin pump fakes once, sending his defender into the stratosphere. All the while, the incomparable Michael Jordan streaks down the middle of the court. Mullin sees an opportunity too good to be true. He hurls the ball towards Jordan just as he lifts off from near the foul line. His Airness catches it in midair, with his trademark tongue drooping from his mouth, and slams the ball through the hoop with one hand. MJ lands like a cat and turns up the court with a confident smirk, sending the crowd into immediate hysteria.

They were an unstoppable force. A group of 12 all-stars who assembled together to create the most legendary team in all of basketball history. So storied was the United States 1992 men’s Olympic squad that they earned the nickname “Dream Team.” They were the ultimate package, the best players on the planet, on one team.

Headlining the team was of course Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the best player of all time. The rest of the team was comprised of 10 NBA players that included: Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, and last but not least, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Christian Laettner of Duke University was also selected to the team, the lone collegiate member with no professional experience.

Top row from left: Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Karl Malone
Bottom row from left:  Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan

Take one look at the aforementioned team, take a step back for a second, and realize the sheer amount of talent. Every single one of the players was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame (with the exception of Christian Laettner). Also consider the fact that the Dream Team didn’t just beat the other teams to win the 1992 gold medal at Barcelona, they demolished them by an average deficit of nearly 44 points. It just didn’t seem fair. The closest game played by the team took place during the gold medal match when the United States won by a staggering 32 points with a score of 117-85.

Could another team ever even come close to equaling or surpassing such a force? For years, few sports analysts or professional athletes thought it possible, yet the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s team had other plans, a rubric designed to supplant the Dream Team as the best team of all time. Led by LeBron James, whom most analysts regard as the current best player in the world, the team was also composed of numerous other talented athletes. The 11 others members of the team included: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Deron Williams, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, and rookie Anthony Davis.

With such a gifted roster, it becomes more reasonable to understand how some of the 2012 team rationalized that they could beat the Dream Team. Their perfect 6-0 performance en route to winning the gold medal in the London Olympics lends itself even further to that idea. Although their margin of victory of 32.1 points was lower than the Dream Team’s 43.8 points, the 2012 team managed to set a number of records of its own. During a game against Nigeria the team scored an Olympic record 156 points, shattering the old record of 138 set by Brazil in 1988. The team also set U.S. records for three-pointers (29), field goals (59), field goal percentage (71%), and margin of victory (83 pts). Carmelo Anthony even set a U.S. single game record by scoring 37 points in the game.

The 2012 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team touting their gold medals

Though that dominating performance showcased just how good the team could be, they were not truly tested until later games. They barely edged Lithuania by five points in a 99-94 victory. The gold medal match also offered a thrilling battle against Spain in which the U.S. won narrowly 107-100. Many critics will jump at the chance to point out how close these games were when juxtaposing the 2012 team with the Dream Team. While it's true that the Dream Team’s margin of victory was higher and they didn’t really experience any close games like the 2012 team, the level of competition in 1992 may have been lower when compared to present-day international talent. For instance, in 1992 the U.S. team faced Croatia- a squad with only two NBA players- in the final and beat them by 32. In contrast, the 2012 U.S. team’s closer seven-point victory is made more understandable given that seven NBA players were on Spain’s team.

With all the evidence finally assembled, perhaps a just decision can finally be reached as to which American team would come out on top. As far as player-by-player comparison goes, clearly the best player on the court would be Michael Jordan. Joining Jordan on the starting roster would likely be Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and Larry Bird. The 2012 team’s expected lineup would probably consist of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Tyson Chandler.

One of the most obvious points of comparison is the 2012 team’s lack of a star center. Though talented, Tyson Chandler simply wouldn’t be able to keep up with Patrick Ewing or David Robinson for that matter. The Dream Team would have to get the nod in that category. As far as the rest of the team goes, the point guard battle would in all likelihood be won by Magic Johnson and John Stockton, though the trio of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Russell Westbrook would give them a run for their money. LeBron would most definitely make an impact as the best player for his team, and the aging Kobe Bryant would yet again turn back time and lend a hand with his veteran leadership and scoring ability.

Pictured from top to bottom: the 1992 team and the 2012 team. Note: Blake Griffin (No. 14)
did not participate due to injury and was replaced by Anthony Davis (not pictured).

In the end though, it’s difficult to imagine the 2012 contenders dethroning the Dream Team. Although a number of current players will surely win more championships, set more records, and eventually end up in the Hall of Fame, the odds of them conquering the 1992 team just seem unlikely. But perhaps likelihood of victory isn't the real issue; instead, maybe what basketball scholars and contemporary analysts should realize is that the Dream Team blazed the trail for future American Olympic teams. The current group of players, LeBron and Kobe included, have learned from that team, taken pages from their book and created their own separate legacy. When basketball critics of the future look back on the accomplishments of both teams, one aspect of comparison will be perfectly clear: both squads represented their decade's pinnacle of basketball success, but what the Dream Team achieved is something so special and unprecedented that it can never be duplicated.