The 1992 United States Men's Basketball national team, commonly known as the Dream Team, is widely considered as the greatest basketball team ever put together. Led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, the Dream Team had 11 players who are now members of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Collectively, the team combined for 117 All-Star appearances, 100 All-NBA selections, 15 MVPs, and 23 NBA Championships.
The Dream Team's dominance left many in awe- including their opponents. It dominated in exhibition games before winning by nearly 44 points per game in the Summer Olympics, which is second in average margin of victory to only the 1956 national team -which did not feature NBA players- in the United States Olympic history. The Dream Team was also the first national team to average 100 points (117.3) per game. Its dominance set a standard for future teams. Since then, the United States won have the gold medal in men's basketball in seven of the last eight Summer Olympic Games. However, it also made things more challenging for subsequent teams, with the expectation being gold medal or bust.
In the entire Olympic Tournament, the Dream Team played nine NBA players, including three combined in the semifinals against Lithuania and Croatia. Its popularity spearheaded basketball's growth as a global game and the NBA launched its NBA Academy program. In 2024, there were 51 players on Olympic rosters that are currently on NBA rosters and another 30 players with NBA experience.
Three of those players -Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- made All-NBA teams last season. Jokic and Antetokounmpo have won four of the last six NBA MVP awards while Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in voting last season and fifth the year before. That does not include Victor Wembanyama, who won Rookie of the Year last season and may join them as an MVP and All-NBA players before the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Team USA went through Jokic and Serbia in the semifinals by four before taking out Wembanyama and France in the finals by 11 points. Even with the closer victories, Team USA won its Olympic games by an average of 19 points per game. It secured another gold medal behind Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, the team's top three leading scorers and the three best players of their generation.
The three of them each had their moments leading as Durant scored 23 points on 8-for-9 from the floor in the first meeting against Serbia. James led the team in rebounds and assists and dropped a triple-double in the semifinal victory over Serbia. James has the only two triple-doubles in the United States' Olympic Basketball history. Curry had a slow start to the Olympics, but he stepped up when his country needed the most. He scored 36 points in the semifinal victory over Serbia and followed that up with 24 points against France. He made 17 3s over the two games, including four in the closing minutes to put France away.
The Dream Team would look to attack inside with Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and Karl Malone. However, the 3-point shooting and lineup versatility are a couple reasons why I would favor the 2024 team in a matchup. Curry is the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time. Durant is one of the most efficient scorers of all-time and one of the greatest shooters ever at his size. Durant would pose matchups at power forward as would James, who would also facilitate the offense. James is coming off a season in which he shot a career-high 41% from deep. Additionally, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White would provide plenty of outside shooting among others.
We've just watched the Celtics essentially out-math their way to a title by attempting six more 3s per game than their opponents and making four more per game. Relative to the era, the 2024 national team would have a big edge from the perimeter with Larry Bird and Chris Mullins being the highest volume 3-point shooters on the Dream Team. Additionally, they will feel comfortable countering with Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Bam Adebayo in the paint.
The 2024 team did not have a college player like Christian Laettner on the Dream Team. Cooper Flagg, who ironically will also play his college ball at Duke like Laettner, showed well on the USA's Select Team. However, he will have to wait until 2028 or 2032 for his first opportunity on the senior national team. This would make Laettner the worst of the 24 players between the two teams by a significant margin. Derrick White would be considered the Laettner equivalent on the 2024 team, but he was only added after being an injury replacement for Kawhi Leonard. Still, White was a positive factor during the gold medal run.
Typically, the 12 players that make up Team USA are at their peaks, which seems obvious since it is the best 12 that the United States has to offer. However, two of the three headliners on the Dream Team, Bird and Johnson, were not. Bird played for the Dream Team following the 1991-92 NBA season, which would be his last. Bird retired after nerve issues in his back hampered his final two seasons. Johnson had retired at the beginning of that season after testing positive for HIV. He also dealt with knee issues during the Olympics.
Now, James, Curry, and Durant are all 36 or older, but they also are not far from their peaks. All three averaged at least 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, and five assists per game last season. In particular, James at 39 would be one of the three best athletes on the floor along with Jordan and Edwards even if he has lost a step from his days in Miami.
Additionally, the Dream Team is the more accomplished roster with their careers being finished, the 2024 group is not far behind with a combined 78 All-Star appearances, 59 All-NBA selections, 8 MVPs, and 14 NBA Championships. The younger players on the team like Edwards, Booker, Adebayo, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton will add to that tally significantly over the next 10 years.
In the 1988, the United States lost to the Soviet Union and settled for bronze, which was a contributing factor to NBA players eventually being allowed to participate in the Summer Olympics. However, had the Dream Team roster been assembled that year, I believe it would have a stronger case for being the best US Olympic roster with Bird and Johnson being in their primes amid the Lakers-Celtics rivalry. At their ages at the time of those specific Olympic games, I give the edge to the 2024 group over the Dream Team.
