I was 10 years old in 1992. I would play Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat at the arcade, then shoot hoops until neighbors started complaining. My favorite movie was White Men Can't Jump, and my favorite league, the NBA, was thriving.
The league was full of stars, some just entering the league, and the game's popularity was at its apex. As the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era was coming to an end, a shooting guard in Chicago was in the midst of revolutionizing the way we view athletes.
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School and the NBA season ended around the same time, as always, leaving summer without good hoops to watch most years. But 1992 was not like most years. That summer, true fans of the NBA were treated to something epic: A conglomeration of the greatest talent in the world took the court for the United States men's Olympic basketball team.
The team arguably was made up of the greatest point guard, the greatest shooting guard, the greatest small forward and maybe the top two power forwards the game had ever seen. Looking at the roster as a whole -- aside from the questionable selection of Christian Laettner over Shaquille O'Neal -- there are few if any weaknesses. Combine that with a collection of foreign countries that had yet to embrace basketball, and you see why the average margin of victory for the original Dream Team at the Olympics was 43.8 points.
Foreign basketball players were in awe of their American counterparts. They asked for autographs from their favorite NBA stars. But it didn't take long for admiration and awe to become envy and hatred.
Fast-forward almost 16 years, and much has changed. The USA team that was once able to intimidate opposing teams just by showing up has become the biggest target of upset-minded opponents. Countries around the world have not only accepted basketball, they've created a culture of hoops that rivals that in any other sport.
With the increased popularity came more difficult and polished opponents for American teams. Commissioner David Stern's 1992 idea of creating the most popular sport in the world, once a pipe dream, seems entirely plausible today.
Along with the substantial jump in talent around the world, those players have increased the level of play in the NBA. With more foreign-born players being drafted and signed, their fundamentally correct style has balanced out a league full of flash and freakish athleticism. In today's top American players, you'll notice a rebirth of fundamental skills to go along with the increased size, speed and physical gifts they've always possessed.
Today's NBA players are clearly more sculpted and closely monitored than those in the 1990s. They understand the importance of weight training and staying in shape throughout the year, and training staffs are better educated and supplied to push players beyond their perceived limitations.
But with all the differences between today's NBA players and those of the early '90s, it's hard to imagine a group being more complete than the 1992 Dream Team. There are certainly players today far better than Laettner and Chris Mullin, but greatness on the NBA court doesn't automatically transfer to international success. Take a look at USA Basketball results from 1996-2006 to see what I mean.
A team capable of dominating Olympic play -- which follows international rules -- must have as many skilled shooters as stars. Not a single person would say Michael Redd is a better player than Lebron James. But if Team USA trailed by three points with only seconds remaining, chances are you'd want Redd -- or even Mike Miller -- taking the shot.
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So when comparing the 1992 Dream Team with the one that will most likely play this summer in Beijing, there are many important factors to take into account. In the breakdown below, you'll see where each holds an advantage and what makes one better than the other.
A couple things to keep in mind. First, each player will be considered healthy and playing in his prime. Second, the game is on a neutral court with a neutral crowd. Finally, the 2008 roster is based on the prospective list of available players. From that group, I chose what I felt would be the most complete team with the best chance of international success.
So let's take a look at who would win the battle between the Dream Teams of 1992 and 2008.
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Coaching: 2008
After allowing Larry Brown to embarrass a nation of NBA fans in 2004, decision-making responsibilities were thankfully given to Jerry Colangelo. He was given sole responsibility for selecting the team and made it clear he would ask players for a three-year commitment.
Colangelo's next good decision was to hand the reins to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, with assistants Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Mike D'Antoni (now of the Knicks) and Nate McMillan of the Trail Blazers. This unit of basketball geniuses working with the 2008 team might force 1992 coach Chuck Daly into taking a timeout -- which he never had to do in the Olympics.
Roster depth: 1992
The 2008 Dream Team could easily put up a roster of 20 or more incredibly skilled, great players. In narrowing the list to 12, there is not a single weakness. Comparing the top eight players on the two teams, there is little if any separation.
If these teams were to play a single game, the chances of the bottom four players getting more than a few minutes is extremely remote. But for the purposes of comparison, the foursome of Redd, Jamison, Chandler and Miller doesn't carry the weight of Pippen, Drexler, Mullin and Laettner (yes, even with him).
Starting five: 2008
My childhood self officially wants to punch myself in the face with this one. Never in my life could I imagine a greater starting five than that of the 1992 Dream Team. After thinking long and hard, however, I have to give the slightest edge to this year's team.
To begin, point guard is held down by one of the top two in the NBA -- who has yet to even near his ceiling as a player. On his own, Chris Paul caused many basketball purists to wonder if he might already be the most skilled point to ever play the game. Magic Johnson has a clear size advantage, but this is international ball, so zones are legal.
We'll leave shooting guard last and move to the matchup of James and Bird. Like those at each position in these starting fives, you have two of the best to ever play the game facing off. But if they were to play against one another, Lebron's size, strength and speed would be too much for Bird to counter effectively.
At power forward, I made Barkley the starter over Malone, but either of these guys would have his hands full with Howard or Stoudemire -- depending on who starts where. Barkley and Malone would put up numbers and get it done offensively, but keeping Howard off the offensive boards would be problematic.
At center, The Admiral would be a great matchup with whatever big man takes the paint position for the '08 team. Howard and Stoudemire can rotate from center to power forward depending on who's on the floor, and each big man has the athletic ability Robinson was known for. But Robinson would hold his own or get the better of the center battle.
Last but not least, the starting shooting guards might be the two greatest players in the history of the league. Jordan and Bryant have the greatest sets of skills and the crazy-eyed determination it takes to dominate defensively. I'd have to give Jordan the edge, of course, with the six rings in his trophy case.
X-factors (role players, second unit): 2008
Here's where the 2008 team wins. Coach K and his unit of basketball brains made sure to include specific role players along with superstars. For added shooting touch from beyond the arc, Redd, Miller and Jamison were brought in. For a top-notch shot blocking and rebounding presence, Chandler was selected. The specialization of specific skills from top to bottom on the 2008 roster leaves them without weakness.
As for the second unit, the guys who would come off the bench first, there's no question the '08 team is superior. The second group of five players for 2008 would be: Williams, Wade, Anthony, Jamison and Chandler. For the 1992 team, it would be: Stockton, Drexler, Pippen, Malone/Barkley and Ewing. While '92 is stronger in the paint, the 2008 backcourt would either increase the team's lead while on the court or keep it from dwindling away.
Final score: 2008 wins 116-114
For all these reasons, I barely choose the 2008 team over the Dream Team of 1992. The game would be the hardest and most closely played you could imagine, but the lessons learned in recent years about how to build an Olympic team would benefit 2008 enough to make it better all around.
To the basketball purists and historians who feel I'm too high on today's players, just remember that the only things we remember about those we no longer can watch are the good times.
As perfect as you remember all the players on the 1992 Dream Team being, just remember they were far from it. Well, other than Jordan, that is. But even the single greatest player of all time wouldn't be enough to take down a perfectly compiled team of NBA studs and role players.
