AussieSteve
09-11-2021, 12:04 AM
If no one was out injured, no one opted out, and if pros were allowed to play from the beginning, which USA Olympic team is the best on paper?
My vote is 1988.
PG: Magic, Thomas, Stockton
SG: Jordan, Drexler
SF: Bird, Wilkins
PF: Barkley, Malone, McHale
C: Ewing, Parish
All these players are 1st ballot HOFers. All were close enough to the middle of their primes. The oldest player would have been Parish at 34. The youngest would have been Malone at 25.
This team is better than the 1992 Dream team in my opinion, because Bird and Magic were both still at their best. It's admittedly weaker at the 5 without DRob, and with '88 Ewing not being as good as '92 Ewing.
Has USA talent been better than this at any point in an Olympic year?
My vote is 1988.
PG: Magic, Thomas, Stockton
SG: Jordan, Drexler
SF: Bird, Wilkins
PF: Barkley, Malone, McHale
C: Ewing, Parish
All these players are 1st ballot HOFers. All were close enough to the middle of their primes. The oldest player would have been Parish at 34. The youngest would have been Malone at 25.
This team is better than the 1992 Dream team in my opinion, because Bird and Magic were both still at their best. It's admittedly weaker at the 5 without DRob, and with '88 Ewing not being as good as '92 Ewing.
Has USA talent been better than this at any point in an Olympic year?