Amazing Moments in Olympic History: The Dream Team
USOC March 25, 2009
Photo: Mike Powell/ALLSPORT
USA Basketball team members Michael Jordan (middle) Scottie Pippen (left) and Clide Drexler (right) acknowledge the crowd after receiving their gold medals during the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
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In Barcelona in 1992, professional basketball players from the NBA were allowed to compete for the first time in an Olympic Games. The result for Team USA was the greatest collection of basketball players ever assembled.
NBA stars Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan headlined the roster. Fellow NBA players, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, and college star Christian Laettner rounded out the team.
The "Dream Team" as they were known, beat their eight opponents by an average of 44 points. They dominated the competition, defeating Croatia to win the gold medal in the finals.
Beyond their outstanding play, the "Dream Team" helped build an international following for the sport. They gave the world a taste of basketball at its very best, and global interest in the sport rose.
Basketball's global popularity has increased so much that it may even rival soccer. And much of this can be attributed to the success of the 1992 U.S. Men's Basketball Team, the "Dream Team."
"Amazing Moments in Olympic History" will be published every Wednesday on teamusa.org. Check back weekly to see more landmark achievements and incredible feats in the history of Team USA and the Olympic Movement.
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