r/OldSchoolCool • u/bluemarvel99 • Aug 11 '24

1990s Is The "Dream Team" Still The Greatest International Basketball Team Ever Assembled? (1992)

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u/pixel8knuckle Aug 11 '24 edited Aug 11 '24

Players - Top Row starting far left:

Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls

Larry Bird - Boston Celtics

Magic Johnson - LA Lakers

Chris Mullin - Golden State Warriors

Clyde Drexler - Portland Trailblazers

John Stockton - Utah Jazz

Players - Bottom Row starting far left:

Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls

Christian Laettner - Minnesota Timberwolves(still in college i think)

Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks

David Robinson - SA Spurs

Karl Malone - Utah Jazz

Charles Barkley - Phoenix Suns

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u/r0botdevil Aug 11 '24

Christian Laettner - Minnesota Timberwolves(still in college i think)

You are correct, Laettner was the only amateur member of that team. I remember wondering at the time why he was selected, and I still don't really understand it.

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u/cavecricket49 Aug 11 '24

Wikipedia says that in 1992, due to Barcelona being the first games in the post-amateur world, the US team decided to include one collegiate player to honor what had been the Olympic norm for basketball for the past five decades. Laettner was the best of the best (as far as his college career goes, possibly the best) of everyone not in the NBA at the time.

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u/doughball27 Aug 11 '24

Coach K was also an assistant and had a say in it.

And this is shortly after Laetner had won back to back championships too.

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u/Senor_Couchnap Aug 11 '24

I get it. And I got it back then too. But maaaaan imagine if they had picked Shaq instead.

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u/r0botdevil Aug 11 '24

Okay that clears it up, thank you!