The 1992 Olympic Men's Basketball Team was one of the
greatest teams ever assembled in sports. Their impact on and off the court was
outstanding. "The Dream Team" beat every opponent by an average of 44
points. Their total dominance was the complete opposite of the last Olympic
team. Because of international basketball guidelines, this was the first year
that NBA players were able to participate in the games. Because
of this change, more fans attended basketball games and other teams were star
struck by the caliber of players that they were able to compete against. This
team was very impactful in many ways. They opened the door for more
professionals to be included in the Olympics and also fueled more international
players to want to be a part of the NBA.
I
think what made this team so significant was that although in previous years
other professionals from other countries were able to compete in the Olympics,
NBA players were banned. NBA players saw this to be very unfair. Once they were
able to showcase to the world their abilities they held nothing back.
Establishing dominance was just as important as winning because of the
embarrassing bronze medal that the United States took home in the previous
Olympic Games.
While
assembling this team full of all stars, the players did not yet realize the
impact they would have on the world. During that time they saw this as an
opportunity to come together with future hall of famers and represent their
country. As the dream team was coming into its own, it was a little tough
assembling everyone’s egos because all of the players were so dominate on their
individual teams. However, Coach Daly was known for being able to manage stars
with egos. He did an elite job of getting everyone to come together as a unit. The main thing that everyone thought would be an issue was MJ and Coach
Daly’s relationship. Because Daly coached the Bulls arch rival, the Detroit
Pistons who were also known as the “bad boys” no one knew if they would be able
to get along. As it turned out, Coach Daly and Jordan bonded throughout the
experience. They golfed together just about every day. Michael even said Coach
Daly scheduled their practices around their golfing time. Jordan says the times
spent with Coach Daly are some of his most cherished moments of the 1992
Olympics.
When
the dream team arrived in Barcelona, a lot of people assumed the dream team chose
not to stay in the Olympic village because they were "big shots.” However,
they were receiving death threats. To ensure the safety of the athletes they
stayed in a luxury hotel. Fans would line up outside of the hotel every night
to be closer to some of the world’s greatest athletes. And even though the team
was in Barcelona to take care of business and win gold, they made sure they
enjoyed themselves. Many of the players got hardly any sleep because they were
up so late partying and enjoying Barcelona. To be able to perform at such a
high level while staying out all night made their success even more memorable.
Coach Daly says he did not incorporate a curfew because he would have had to
follow it. He was out as well enjoying the night life of Barcelona.
The
United States was so dominant because of their ability to share the basketball
and come together as a team. Not to mention the physical freaks of nature they
were. The smallest person on the team was John Stockton who stood at 6’1 and
175 lbs. The largest was David Robinson at 7’1 and 235 lbs. This USA team was simply stronger, faster, and more athletic
than any team that stepped on the floor with them. The members of the dream
team often credit a lot of their success to the fact that they were able to
create such good chemistry between one another. They were able to enjoy each
other off the court and create tighter bonds and lasting friendships. Many
described watching the dream team was like a performance. They were so in sync
with one another that it seemed as if they had all been teammates for years.
What they were able to pull together and do over the little time they had was
remarkable.
Most
say the most memorable face of this 92’ dream team was their leading scorer
Charles Barkley. Charles averaged 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assist per
game. Barkley was also well known for his
attitude and his flamboyant tactics with the media. There was a questionable
elbow by Barkley against an Angola player. Barkley claims he was being elbowed
and hit first. The other members of the team had to let him know that they did
not want the name of being “the ugly Americans” so he had to control his
emotions. Other than this incident Barkley steered clear of
negative attention from the media during this time. In fact, although people
advised the players not to roam in the city alone for safety reasons; Barkley
was one of the only members who decided to do so anyway. Barkley became a man
of the people while walking through the streets of Barcelona. The fans loved
him for this. He described his experience of roaming through the streets of
Barcelona as incredible and that the people were fantastic. Everyone wanted
pictures and autographs and the feeling was very surreal. Charles even went
over to the Olympic Village and hung out with players from other teams. Charles
was described as America’s best ambassador during this Olympic time. Charles
realized that this Olympic experience was an equivalent to winning an NBA
Championship, which he was never able to do, LOL!
The
next game for USA would be the huge story. Their opponent was Croatia which was
also Toni Kukoc’s team. Toni had recently been picked up by the Chicago Bulls
and received a larger contract than Scottie Pippen. This is not something that
sat well with Michael and Scottie. They wanted to use this opportunity to show
that Toni was not needed for the success of the Bulls. Pippen and Jordan took turns
guarding Toni throughout the game. Their goal was to harass Kukoc the entire
game. MJ and Pippen certainly got the best out of Kukoc and made the game
extremely frustrating for him. Toni finished the game with 4 points and 7
turnovers.
Magic
Johnson and Larry Bird were the only two players who retired after the
Olympics. This was their last opportunity to be able to play in front of the
world as well as their fans. Magic and Larry had become really great friends
after being drafted into the league the same year. Their chemistry stood out on
the court. This time was so special to Magic because he had just recently
announced that he was living with HIV and doctors had just cleared him to
participate in the Olympic Games. During the late 80s and early 90s there was
not much knowledge about this disease, so there were a lot of people against
the idea of Johnson participating in the games. But for Magic this was indeed a
special time and going home with the gold medal would complete his career.
Larry was starting to battle with the injury bug so he knew that after the
Olympic Games this was it for him. He also cherished these last moments of
playing the game he loved. Larry and Magic described this experience as some of
the greatest times of their career.
Michael
Jordan, who is of course known as the best player in the history of basketball
had a strong influence on pulling this team together. Michael was reluctant to participate
at first and even wanted find a gracious way to decline. Jordan did not
understand why it was so important for him to be a part of the games until he
was actually there. After a talk with NBA executive Rod Thorn he warmed up to
the idea. Michael said he would commit to playing if the league’s other top
players planned to participate. MJ had the largest single-handed
impact on fans around the world. The other members of the dream team had never
seen any celebrity have such a huge effect on fans the way Michael Jordan did.
His popularity globally was impeccable. The reactions and emotions he pulls out
of people when they saw him was mind blowing. Jordan was by far
the team’s largest superstar.
Other
players from around the world were so amazed by the play of these athletes that
during games they would take pictures and shake the hands of these players.
Even after being beaten by 40 or more points they would ask for autographs and
pictures. However, the dominating performance by the U.S. impacted the role of
international players in the game today. As predicted by a famous international
player, Drazen Petrovic, the USA team was defeated 20 years later in the World
Championships. And as we see today international teams have
a much more significant role in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs who just won the
NBA championship is full of international players. Because of the dream team,
players of other nations are starting to take the game by force.
Overall,
the dream team is a historic moment that will probably never be replicated.
This team set the standard for USA basketball; they changed the play of
international players, inspired fans all over the world, and made the 1992
Olympics so magical for the United States. As Magic Johnson said, “If this is
how it’s going to end, this is how I wanted to go out.” Their impact lifted
basketball, and made the game so much more global today. This was a moment in
Olympic history that can never be forgotten.
-EBHoops
