Dream Team 2012 will likely always be compared to the 1992 Dream Team, not solely for their gold medal performances, respective 8-0 records, impressive margins of victory or rosters full of NBA legends, Hall of Famers past and future. Everyone likes a measuring stick for success, and these two teams are as close in terms of talent and accomplishments as one will find.
While each team succeeded in their goal of capturing Olympic gold, the debate will rage on as to which team is better. Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan went back and forth on this, each saying their respective team is better, and of course where controversy and headlines lie, Charles Barkley will not be far behind with his opinion. The ‘92 Dream Teamers are taking this personally and for good reason. So easy it is to forget that the collection of players representing the USA in 1992 was the best basketball team ever assembled, now or ever.
Every team put forth for competition and scrutiny since has wilted in comparison. By breaking down each roster and matchup between these two great teams, the winner is clear:
Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant
To be entirely fair here, these are two of the greatest hoopsters to ever lace them up. I feel privileged to have grown up watching both these players in their prime as their dominance, athleticism and sheer will to win is unparalleled. Kobe Bryant may eventually retire with better numbers than Jordan, maybe even more championships than his Airness, but at the end of the day Michael Jordan is...well Michael Jordan, and there isn’t a basketball player out there that hasn’t at one time or another attempted to imitate Jordan on the court; and that includes Kobe. Advantage '92 Team
Clyde Drexler vs Russell Westbrook
People forget how good a player Clyde Drexler was in his day. Drexler was a 10-time NBA All-Star, won a championship with the Houston Rockets, was named as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and elected to the basketball Hall of Fame. Russell Westbrook is a young player who posts impressive numbers; Westbrook can score, rebound and pass the ball. Unfortunately, Westbrook just doesn’t do it as well as "Clyde the Glide" used to. Let’s see Westbrook carry these numbers for another fifteen years, and then this comparison would be a lot more even. Advantage '92 Team
Patrick Ewing vs Tyson Chandler
This is another comparison that just isn’t even close. Patrick Ewing played 17 years in the Association where he was an 11-time All-Star, named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and inducted into the Hall of Fame upon retirement. Tyson Chandler has played 11 seasons and thus far has career averages of 8.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 1.4 blocks per. During these 11 seasons, Chandler has no All-Star appearances and was only just named the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The one thing Chandler has that Ewing does not is of course that championship ring which Tyson got with the 2011 Mavericks. Advantage '92 Team
Larry Bird vs Andre Igoudala
Comparing Larry Bird to Andre Iguodala is being unjust to Iguodala. Andre brings a nice game, he can score, he rebounds and passes well, but he isn’t going to win a team a Championship. Bird’s career numbers were outstanding, but it was the intangibles that brought him true lore. The "Hick from French Lick," as Bird was known, went on to win three Championships, two NBA finals MVP’s, was a three-time league MVP, named as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame. This matchup is as easy as it comes. Advantage '92 Team
John Stockton vs Deron Williams
John Stockton had a 19-year career that included 10 All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA Team nominations. Stockton is the all-time leader in assists and steals; he was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Deron Williams is a better scorer and is more athletic than Stockton ever was, but Deron does not come close to the playmaking ability of Stockton. In Williams best statistical year for dishing out assists, he had 862; by comparison, Stockton’s best was 1164. Advantage '92 Team
David Robinson vs Kevin Love
The "Admiral" David Robinson played 14 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs where he won two NBA Championships. During Robinson’s career, he was named Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and League MVP. Robinson was named an All-Star and nominated to the All-NBA Team on 10 occasions. Robinson was also named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Kevin Love received a couple months of publicity and support as a potential MVP candidate last season. This one isn’t even close. Advantage '92 Team
Chris Mullin vs James Harden
Chris Mullin had a very good professional career, remembered mostly for his years spent with the Golden State Warriors. A left-handed, sweet-shooting forward, Mullin spent 16 years in the Association where he posted career averages of 18.2 ppg, 3.5 apg and 4.1 rpg; all good enough to get the call to join the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. James Harden has only played three years in the league; however, he has shown that he will be a special talent. Harden posted a 16.8 ppg average to go along with 3.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, all the while coming off the bench in a sixth man role last season. I’m basing this comparison on speculation that Harden will continue his improvements and have a similarly long career as Mullin did. Advantage '12 Team
Magic Johnson vs Chris Paul
Magic Johnson revolutionized the point guard position. Playing at 6’9”, Johnson was not your prototypical NBA point guard, but his court awareness and passing is what earned him the nickname he has become synonymous with. Johnson is mentioned as one of the games greats for good reason; he retired with five NBA titles, three MVP awards and a place in the Hall of Fame. Magic’s 2012 counterpart Chris Paul is a fantastic point guard, arguably the best playing right now. Paul continues his excellent play and posts great looking numbers; however, Paul will have to be satisfied with All-Star nods and All-NBA Teams because he isn’t likely to win any MVP awards or Championships, not with Durant and Lebron around anyways. Advantage '92 Team
Anthony Davis vs Christian Laettner
These two players match up here due to their lack of professional basketball experience at the time of the Olympic participation. Laettner was drafted 3rd overall in 1992 by the Timberwolves, he went on to play 17 years in the Association and retired with 12.8 ppg and 6.7 rpg career averages. Anthony Davis was the consensus 1st overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. Davis will be a solid NBA player, and if he stays healthy, he should surpass Laettner at the end of the day. Advantage '12 Team
Charles Barkley vs Kevin Durant
Charles ‘The Round Mound of Rebound’ Barkley was a great player, retiring as one of four players with more than 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in a career. Barkley played in 11 All-Star games, was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is one of the league’s biggest stars of today. Durant is a scoring machine and became just the eleventh player to repeat as scoring champion. Durant probably won’t reach Barkley’s all around career numbers, but he will exceed him in career points and perhaps get the biggest one-up on Barkley; that NBA Championship ring. Advantage '12 Team
Karl Malone vs Carmelo Anthony
Karl Malone is one of the best power forwards in NBA history. Suffice to say that Malone was a slam dunk for nomination to the Hall of Fame and was an easy selection as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players. Carmelo Anthony is a good player and a good scorer who will get his All-Star appearances and 2nd Team All-NBA selections. Anthony will not win any league MVP awards and most certainly will not top Malone as the NBA’s all-time scoring champion. Advantage '92 Team
Scottie Pippen vs Lebron James
Scottie Pippen was a very good player who played on great teams and alongside the greatest player in Michael Jordan. Lebron James will go down as one of the greatest as well, maybe not in the same class as Jordan but nonetheless a great. James’s career accomplishments speak for themselves, highlighted by his recent NBA Championship, three league MVP awards, five times named 1st Team All-NBA, Rookie of the year and three-time All-Defensive 1st Team awards. Lebron’s career averages after nine years are 27.6 ppg, 6.2 apg and 7.2 rpg. By comparison, Pippen retired with career averages of 16.1 ppg, 5.2 apg and 6.4 rpg, along with six NBA Championships and inclusion in the 2010 Hall of Fame class. One day Lebron will have his place in the Hall too; while he probably won’t get six championships, he will be remembered as one of the greatest. Advantage '12 Team
Conclusion
The winner here is clear, the 1992 USA Dream Team reigns supreme. Let’s all stop comparing the ’92 Olympic ensemble of NBA legends with any future cast of players. There is no comparison now or ever; let’s all anoint this team as the single greatest collection of basketball players the world will ever see and leave it well enough alone. To do anything else would be a disservice to all those who would be held up for comparison.