Most people have only been able to see action from the 92 Dream Team via NBA Inside Stuff specials, half time reports or a few YouTube clips here and there. Ballislife found and proudly presents six games in their entirety. Enjoy and be sure to check out the upcoming special on NBATV.
1992 Olympics Gold Medal Game – USA vs Croatia
1992 Olympics USA – Angola
1992 Olympics Quarter Final USA – Puerto Rico
1992 Olympics Semifinal Usa – Lithuania
1992 Olympics Usa – Croatia
1992 Olympics USA-Spain
HISTORY
On September 28th, 1988, during the 24th Olympiad in Seoul, South Korea, the United States National Team lost for the second time in Olympic competition history, and this time there were no excuses. Unlike 1972, where a flurry of questionable actions occurred towards the end of the game, the 1988 US National Team was defeated fair and square by the Soviet Union. The seasoned USSR squad was led by future NBA players Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis (along with Rimas Kourtinaitis’ 28 points) against a band of collegians (and future NBA all-stars) David Robinson, Hersey Hawkins and Dan Marjerle. Up until that day, US college players were more than enough to be heavy favorites and secure the Gold Medal, so a Bronze Medal wouldn’t relieve the pain and it made it clear that the world was finally catching up.
A half-year later, on April 7th, 1989, came a important vote by the Federation Basketball Association (FIBA) that allowed for “open competition” meaning that professional players could now participate in the Olympic Games. The timing couldn’t have been better for the United States. Seeing American dominance not only challenged but defeated, USA Basketball got to work on a National Team full of NBA players. And in September 1991, about a year before the Barcelona Olympics, they came up with, arguably, the best team the United States could assemble – the result was ten NBA players, a who’s who of current NBA superstars and legends famous enough to be known by one name – Magic, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, Ewing, Pippen, Stockton and Malone, Chris Mullin and David Robinson.
