A 1992 USA Basketball Dream Team
The very first Olympic USA basketball dream team, in 1992, lost the first time they stepped on the court together.
That’s right, the team of Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Christian Laettner and Carl Malone lost their very first scrimmage in La Jolla, California. Did you know that all but one of those players are currently in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
How About A Scrimmage?
Chuck Daly, the then head coach of the dream team, brought in a bunch of college players to take on the “Dream Team” in their first scrimmage and he knew exactly what he was doing. He brought in future NBA talents like Chris Webber, Alan Houston, Eric Montrose, Bob Hurley and Penny Hardaway. This team was fashioned to simulate the European teams that they would face, and the College All Stars kicked the crap out of the dream team. So much so that Chuck Daly called the game/scrimmage after only 20 minutes and declared a win for the college stars.
Humilty At It’s Finest
This was all part of Chuck Daly‘s brilliance. He was a great manager of people and players and he wanted to teach the dream team right off the bat that they were capable of losing. The next day they played the same college All-Stars and didn’t allow them to score for the first 10 minutes.
Charles Barkley & Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan once said those inter-squad games and the scrimmages he played with the Dream Team were “the best basketball games I’ve ever played.” The biggest ambassador during that 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona was Charles Barkley. He was out on the street every night signing autographs and meeting people. It was pretty amazing.
Michael Jordan, on the other hand, was very typical Michael. He would stay up playing cards with the guys till five in the morning, have a 7 AM tee time and play 36 holes, and then go out and have 20 points at halftime that night. Impressive, right?
Selections For The 2020-2021 U.S. Olympic Teams
The Mens Olympic Team
This team is seeking a fourth consecutive Olympic title.
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
The notable players that are not attending due to injury or due to other reasons are Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, Kawai Leonard and Paul George. At the time of this article Dream Team 2021 a.k.a Scream Team 2021, has already lost their first two exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia. OUCH.
Let’s Hear It For The Ladies
In the pursuit of thier seventh straight Olympic gold medal, the women’s Team USA has unveiled its basketball roster, and it’s loaded with many of the sport’s most dominant athletes.
Leading the team on the court will be five-time Olympians Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and eighth-leading scorer, respectively, hoping to win their fifth straight gold medals.
Here are the lady Dream Teamers for Tokyo 2021( they will undoubtably win the the gold medal as they are the well deserved odds on favorites):
Ariel Atkins (Mystics), Sue Bird (Storm), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Aces), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Diana Taurasi (Mercury), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Breanna Stewart (Storm), A’ja Wilson (Aces), Tina Charles (Mystics), Sylvia Fowles (Lynx) and Brittney Griner (Mercury).
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