1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team
Encyclopedia
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
players. Often considered one of the strongest teams assembled in any sport, it defeated its opponents by an average of almost 44 points en route to the gold medal against Croatia
Croatia national basketball team
The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation...
at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
held in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. Chuck Daly
Chuck Daly
Charles Jerome "Chuck" Daly was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching...
served as coach, assisted by Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens
Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA...
, P. J. Carlesimo, and Mike Krzyzewski.
Forming the team
At the 1988 Summer Olympics1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, the United States national basketball team, made up of college stars, finished in a disappointing third place. After FIBA opened the Olympics to professional players in April 1989, USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
began looking to the NBA to supply players for its 1992 Olympic roster. The first ten players for the Dream Team were officially selected on September 21, 1991: Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
and Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
of the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
of the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
of the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin (basketball)
Christopher Paul Mullin is a retired American basketball player and former general manager of the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He has also been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame....
of the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, and Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
(later traded to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
). David Robinson had played with the 1988 Olympic team, and was especially eager to earn a gold medal at Barcelona.
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...
of the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
was added to the team on May 12, 1992, along with Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner
Christian Donald Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player and entrepreneur. He had a distinguished college and national career, and played in the National Basketball Association for thirteen seasons, from 1992–2005. He is presently a minority holder for the Major League...
of Duke University
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
. Laettner was the only player selected for the national team without any professional experience, and beat out Louisiana State University
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
's Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
for the final spot on the roster.
Tournament of the Americas
The Dream Team made its debut on June 28, 1992, at the Tournament of the Americas, an Olympic qualifying event in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The team defeated Cuba
Cuba national basketball team
The Cuba national basketball team is the national basketball team from Cuba. Cuba won the bronze medal at 1972 Summer Olympics and the 4th place 1974 FIBA World Championship...
136–57, prompting Cuban coach Miguel Calderón Gómez
Miguel Calderon Gomez
Miguel Calderón Gómez is a former basketball player from Cuba, who won the bronze medal with the men's national team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.-References:*...
to say, "You can't cover the sun with your finger." The next five games were also easy victories for Team USA, who ended the tournament on July 5, 1992, with a 127–80 victory over Venezuela
Venezuela national basketball team
The Venezuela men's national basketball team represents the Venezuela Basketball Federation in international competitions such as the International Basketball Federation , the International Olympic Committee , the World Championship, the South American Basketball Championship, the Pan American...
.
Olympics
At the Olympics, opposing teams were overwhelmed by the talent of the American roster, losing by an average of 43.8 points per game. The closest of the eight matches was Team USA's 117–85 victory in the gold medal game against CroatiaCroatia national basketball team
The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation...
. Charles Barkley was the Dream Team's leading scorer during the Olympics, averaging 18.0 points per game.
Fans in Barcelona greeted the Dream Team with great enthusiasm. Fans gathered outside the team's hotel, hoping to see their favorite players. "It was like Elvis and the Beatles put together," remarked Chuck Daly. Opposing basketball players and athletes from other sports often asked to have photographs taken with the players. Barkley noted, however, in a 2010 interview, that there was a dark side to the Dream Team's fame:
Legacy
The "Dream Team" is regarded by many as the greatest basketball team ever assembled. The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and is one of only eight teams enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In addition, as of 2011 eleven of the twelve players on the roster (all but Laettner) and three of the four coaches (all but Carlesimo) have been elected to the Hall of Fame as individuals.Roster
|}| valign="top" |
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
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Legend:
- From describes teams affiliated
during the Olympics
|}
Olympics results
| Game | Point for USA | Point for opponent | Opponent | Point differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116 | 48 | Angola Angola national basketball team The Angola national basketball team represents Angola in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Federação Angolana de Basquetebol. Angola has been a member of FIBA since 1979... |
|
| 2 | 103 | 70 | Croatia Croatia national basketball team The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation... |
|
| 3 | 111 | 68 | Germany Germany national basketball team The German national basketball team for men is the basketball side that represents Germany in international competitions. Their biggest successes are the victory in the European Championship of 1993 at home in Germany, the silver medal in the 2005 European Championships and the bronze medal in the... |
|
| 4 | 127 | 83 | Brazil Brazil national basketball team The Brazilian National Basketball Team represents Brazil in FIBA's basketball competitions.-Men's team:First drafted in 1922, the men's team has won two World Championships , three bronze Olympic medals , four Americas Championships and five Pan American Games .-Olympic Games:-FIBA... |
|
| 5 | 122 | 81 | Spain Spain national basketball team The Spanish national basketball team is the basketball team representing Spain in international competitions, organized and run by the Spanish Basketball Federation... |
|
| 6 | 115 | 77 | Puerto Rico Puerto Rico national basketball team The Puerto Rico men's national basketball team represents Puerto Rico in international basketball competitions such as the Olympics, the World Championship, and the Americas Championship... |
|
| 7 | 127 | 76 | Lithuania Lithuania national basketball team The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in.... |
|
| 8 | 117 | 85 | Croatia Croatia national basketball team The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation... (Gold medal match) |
|
| Source: | ||||
Statistics
| Player | GP | GS | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4 | 59 | 83 | .711 | 7 | 8 | .875 | 19 | 26 | .731 | 18.0 | 4.1 | 2.4 | |
| 8 | 3 | 25 | 48 | .521 | 9 | 27 | .333 | 8 | 10 | .800 | 8.4 | 3.8 | 1.8 | |
| 8 | 3 | 37 | 64 | .578 | 6 | 21 | .286 | 4 | 10 | .400 | 10.5 | 3.0 | 3.6 | |
| 8 | 4 | 33 | 53 | .623 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 10 | 16 | .625 | 9.5 | 5.3 | 0.4 | |
| 6 | 5 | 17 | 30 | .567 | 6 | 13 | .462 | 8 | 10 | .800 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 5.5 | |
| 8 | 8 | 51 | 113 | .451 | 4 | 19 | .211 | 13 | 19 | .684 | 14.9 | 2.4 | 4.8 | |
| 8 | 0 | 9 | 20 | .450 | 2 | 6 | .333 | 18 | 20 | .900 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 0.4 | |
| 8 | 4 | 40 | 62 | .645 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 24 | 32 | .750 | 13.0 | 5.3 | 1.1 | |
| 8 | 2 | 39 | 63 | .619 | 14 | 26 | .538 | 11 | 14 | .786 | 12.9 | 1.6 | 3.6 | |
| 8 | 3 | 28 | 47 | .596 | 5 | 13 | .385 | 11 | 15 | .733 | 9.0 | 2.1 | 5.9 | |
| 8 | 4 | 27 | 47 | .574 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 18 | 26 | .692 | 9.0 | 4.1 | 0.9 | |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | .500 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 2 | 3 | .667 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 2.0 | |