1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team
On the 7th of April 1989, delegates in Munich voted 56 to 13 to change international basketball rules. FIBA decided that professional players from leagues like the NBA could finally compete in Olympic tournaments. Before this vote, American teams were restricted to amateurs from colleges or AAU clubs. Other nations sent their best professionals from domestic leagues while the United States struggled with amateur rosters. The 1988 Summer Olympics saw Americans lose to the USSR and settle for bronze. That result marked the worst finish in the history of the Games for the U.S. men's team. The Amateur Basketball Association of the United States of America opposed the rule change due to pressure from schools. A Soviet proposal limiting national teams to two NBA players was unanimously rejected by the voting body. This decision allowed professionals to dominate the highest levels of international competition.
USA Basketball asked the National Basketball Association to supply players for its 1992 roster on the 21st of September 1991. The league was initially unenthusiastic about sending stars to the Olympics. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen joined John Stockton and Karl Malone as early selections. Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics completed the first ten names. On the 12th of May 1992, Clyde Drexler won the final professional spot over Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons. Speculation arose that Jordan would only participate if Thomas was not on the roster. Jordan later told selection committee member Rod Thorn he did not want to play with Thomas. Magic Johnson released an official statement supporting Thomas years after the exclusion. In When the Game Was Ours, Johnson wrote that Isiah killed his own chances. No one on that team wanted to play with him according to Johnson's account. The committee also chose Christian Laettner over Shaquille O'Neal for the collegiate slot. Laettner had won consecutive national championships at Duke University under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The Dream Team gathered in La Jolla, California, in late June to begin training. They faced a squad of top NCAA players including Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill. On June 24, the Dream Team lost to the college squad 62 to 54. Head coach Chuck Daly intentionally limited Michael Jordan's playing time during that game. Assistant coach Mike Krzyzewski later said Daly threw the game to teach the professionals they could be beaten. The Olympians won decisively in the rematch the following day. Some college players visited Jordan's hotel room afterward asking for personal items as souvenirs. The team made its international debut on June 28 at the Tournament of the Americas in Portland, Oregon. They defeated Cuba 136 to 57 in their first official match. Cuban coach Miguel Calderón Gómez remarked that you cannot cover the sun with your finger. Marv Albert described the Americans as playing against a high school or grade school team. The next five games were easy victories ending with a 127 to 80 win over Venezuela.
For one scrimmage, the group divided into two teams led by Johnson and Jordan respectively. White won 40 to 36 in what Sports Illustrated called the Greatest Game Nobody Ever Saw. Because of security concerns, the Dream Team did not stay in the Olympic Village. The village had only four guards at the gate when the team arrived to pick up credentials. One guard grabbed his camera and child while members were mobbed by other athletes. Daly stated beds in the village were too short for tall players to get proper rest. The squad stayed at Barcelona's Hotel Ambassador instead. USA Basketball occupied 80 of the hotel's 98 rooms. Fans gathered outside hoping to see their favorite players. Charles Barkley walked around the city alone despite claiming death threats existed. He held up his fists saying this was his security. Opposing players often asked to have photographs taken with the stars. They spent time enjoying nude beaches and Monte Carlo casinos during downtime. There was no curfew because Jimmy'z nightclub does not open until midnight.
Opposing teams lost by an average of 43.8 points per game during the tournament. This margin was the second largest in Olympic history behind the 1956 US Men's Basketball Team. The closest match was a 117 to 85 victory over Croatia in the gold medal game. Croatia briefly led the Dream Team 25 to 23 in the first half. By the end, Stockton agreed to a Croatian player's plea not to shoot. Pippen and Jordan aggressively sought to guard Toni Kukoč of Croatia. Kukoč had just signed a contract with the Bulls for more money than Pippen. Tired of hearing about Kukoč's talent, they agreed not to let him do anything against them. McCallum described the two Bulls as rabid dogs against Kukoč. The only team besides Croatia to hold the margin under 40 points was Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico lost 115 to 77 in the quarterfinals. Barkley averaged 18.0 points per game to become the leading scorer. He elbowed Angola's Herlander Coimbra in the chest during their opener. Coimbra's free throw was the only point scored by Angola during a 46 to 1 run.
Sports Illustrated stated that the Dream Team was arguably the most dominant squad ever assembled in any sport. In 2009, the team was elected to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. The following year, they entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. As of 2014, 11 of the 12 players on the roster had been elected to the Hall of Fame individually. Only Christian Laettner remained uninducted among the players. Three of the four coaches were also inducted into the hall. Global interest in basketball soared due to the Dream Team presence. International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch called it the resounding success of the tournament. 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. Daly said opposing teams would tell their kids they played against Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson for the rest of their lives.
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Common questions
When did FIBA vote to allow professional players in the Olympics?
FIBA voted 56 to 13 on the 7th of April 1989 to change international basketball rules and allow professionals from leagues like the NBA to compete. This decision ended restrictions that limited American teams to amateurs from colleges or AAU clubs before the vote.
Who were the first ten members selected for the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team roster?
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Christian Laettner, Shaquille O'Neal, and Isiah Thomas were among the early selections. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird completed the first ten names after Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen joined John Stockton and Karl Malone as early picks.
Where did the Dream Team stay during the 1992 Summer Olympics instead of the Olympic Village?
The squad stayed at Barcelona's Hotel Ambassador because security concerns and short beds made the Olympic Village unsuitable for tall players. USA Basketball occupied 80 of the hotel's 98 rooms while fans gathered outside hoping to see their favorite players.
What was the average point margin when opposing teams lost against the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team?
Opposing teams lost by an average of 43.8 points per game during the tournament which marked the second largest margin in Olympic history behind the 1956 US Men's Basketball Team. The closest match was a 117 to 85 victory over Croatia in the gold medal game.
When was the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
The team entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 following its election to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2009. It was also elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017 with 11 of the 12 players on the roster individually inducted as of 2014.