The 2008 Men’s Basketball Team has received more hype and attention, arguably, than any U.S. Basketball Team since the 1992 “Dream Team”. This is because the 2008 roster has more big-name talent than the previous 2 incarnations; both of whom ended up performing below expectations. The 2000 team won Gold (barely), and the 2004 team memorably limped to the Bronze. The 2008 team is expected to win the Gold, and I believe this is for a good reason. While the 2008 team does not measure up to the 1992 team, which is perfectly understandable, it has much more in common with the 1996 team than it does the 2000 and 2004 teams. The 1996 team is certainly good company! It is virtually forgotten now, as it didn’t receive 10% of the hype of the 1992 team, but the ’96 team was nearly as dominant in its run to Olympic Gold. I plan on proving this by giving a brief synopsis of the previous Olympic teams, since 1992, to make it easier to compare those teams to this year’s squad.

 

1992: The “Dream Team”

The 1992 team was the perfect storm. It was headlined by, arguably, the 3 greatest basketball players in the history of the game: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. If they are not the 3 greatest, they’re close, and at that time they were probably the 3 most world re-known basketball players in the world. However, this team was far from a 3-man show. In fact, Bird and Magic were mere role players on this squad. The top 8 scorers on this team were all clearly in their prime, aged 26-29. The only players who did not log significant minutes were John Stockton and college player Christian Laettner. The 1992 “Dream Team” destroyed every awestruck opponent they faced on their way to the Gold.

Key Measureables

Average age: 28
Average NBA Experience: 7 years
Total All-Star appearances: 68
Total MVP awards: 9
Average margin of victory: +44
Assist pct: 65%
3PT %: 40% (54 makes)
FG %: 58%
FT%: 73%
Blocks per game: 6
Steals per game: 22
Rebounding margin: +13
Olympic Vets: 4 (Jordan, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson)

1996: “Dream Team II”

I was 16 years old when this Olympics took place, and was highly offended by the team being called a “Dream Team”. Larry Bird was my favorite player as a kid, so a team without him, as well as Magic and Michael, was nobody’s “Dream Team” as far as I was concerned. I didn’t feel that unproven players like Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway (who, we forget, was awesome back then) were worthy of the respect and admiration that my beloved 1992 team received. I was, essentially, correct, as both the media and the opposing teams were not nearly as awestruck with the 1996 version. However, now that I can look back on this team objectively, I can honestly say that they may have deserved the title a heck of a lot more than I thought they did at the time. This team ran through the (presumably better) competition almost as efficiently as the 1992 team did. It may not have had the top-end star power of the 1992 team, but this was a deep, veteran team that did not have a single player whose prime had passed him. After looking at the numbers, I had a VERY difficult time concluding that this year’s 2008 team was better than this team.

Key Measurables

Average age: 29
Average NBA Experience: 8 years
Total All-Star appearances: 69
Total MVP awards: 3
Average margin of victory: +32
Assist pct: 69%
3PT %: 39% (48 makes)
FG %: 56%
FT%: 68%
Blocks per game: 3
Steals per game: 14
Rebounding margin: +13
Olympic Vets: 6 (Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Mitch Richmond, Stockton)

2000 Team

The novelty of NBA players in the Olympics had clearly worn off by 2000. This was in full effect for the media, many fans, and apparently for many NBA players as well, as by this time players like Shaquille O’Neal were declining invitations to be a part of Team USA. I was pretty indifferent to this team at the time. My only clear memories of this team are the ridiculous Vince Carter dunk over Frederic Weis, and the fact that this team nearly lost a couple of games, including a 1 point heart attack special against Lithuania. This team’s guard play may have saved the day, as they had 3 pure point guards (Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway), as well as some excellent outside shooters (Ray Allen, Allan Houston, Carter, Steve Smith). They needed the shooting because this team lacked star power, without a single MVP, and 3 players clearly on the downside of their careers in Smith, Hardaway, and Vin Baker. This team also lacked the athletic wing defenders that the better Olympic teams featured. They were also the best rebounding teams of all the teams I researched, with that effort being led by Kevin Garnett’s 9 boards a game.

Key Measureables

Average age: 27
Average NBA Experience: 6 years
Total All-Star appearances: 30
Total MVP awards: 0
Average margin of victory: +22
Assist pct: 57%
3PT %: 42% (54 makes)
FG %: 52%
FT%: 72%
Blocks per game: 4
Steals per game: 7
Rebounding margin: +18
Olympic Vets: 1 (Payton)

2004 “The Bronze Team”

The 2004 team was an embarrassment on many levels. More NBA players than ever before declined to participate, giving them some responsibility for this debacle. This team was extremely young and inexperienced. It only featured 3 players over the age of 25; 2 of them being Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, who aren’t exactly known for their leadership skills. This team didn’t have a single veteran of Olympic basketball and was coached by a guy not known for his love of young players, Larry Brown. This team was re-known for its lousy chemistry, and it showed on the court. This team had absolutely atrocious ball movement in comparison to past teams, as there was an assist involved in less than 50% of made baskets. The team shot a lower percentage from 3 point land than any previous team – yet they heaved more of them up (140) than any other U.S. Olympic team. They allowed their opponents to shoot a scorching 48% from the field and 44% from deep. Their athleticism allowed them to out-rebound their opponents by a significant margin; which is probably the only reason they were able to medal at all.

Key Measurables

Average age: 23
Average NBA Experience: 4 years
Total All-Star appearances: 14
Total MVP awards: 3
Average margin of victory: +4
Assist pct: 47%
3PT %: 31% (44 makes)
FG %: 46%
FT%: 67%
Blocks per game: 4
Steals per game: 11
Rebounding margin: +11
Olympic Vets: 0 (though Coach Brown played in 1964)

2008: The “Redeem Team”

Key Measurables

Average age: 25.5
Average NBA Experience: 6 years
Total All-Star appearances: 38
Total MVP awards: 1
Average margin of victory: N/A
Assist pct: N/A
3PT %: N/A
FG %: N/A
FT%: N/A
Blocks per game: N/A
Steals per game: N/A
Rebounding margin: N/A
Olympic Vets: 5 (Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carlos Boozer)

I guarantee that this team outperforms both the 2000 and 2004 teams, which is not exactly going out on a limb. Only time will tell if their legacy will match or exceed that of the 1996 team, but I would certainly think they’ll be held in similar esteem. This is the first team since the “Dream Team” to feature an all-time great at his absolute peak, in Kobe Bryant. I would argue that the 1-2 punch of Kobe and LeBron James is the best in the history of U.S. Basketball; keeping in mind that Oscar Robertson and Jerry West were still college kids back in 1960. In terms of age and experience, they are much closer to the “Dream Team” than the “Bronze Team”. Between 3 point guards and veteran leadership, this is a team that should be expected to move the ball plenty, and shoot north of 50% from the field. The only deficiencies I see are few pure shooters, and a lack of significant shot blockers. That being said, this is a gold medal team. This team will win in a much more convincing fashion than the far inferior 2000 team. The “Redeem Team” may not dominate statistically the way the 1996 team did, but remember, they are facing significantly better competition. It appears the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee has put out the first team worth watching in 12 years. I’m looking forward to seeing them in action!

Matt Bertrand can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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