1992 Dream Team faced 13 NBA players, 2024 Dream Team faces 61 NBA players

[8Ball]

Who was the best international player in 1992 olympics? Toni Kukoc? :lol


Meanwhile put together a team of top international players today and they would beat the 92 Dream Team by 44 points easy.

Giannis
SGA
Jokic
Jamal Murray
Doncic



The more sunlight we shine onto what happened in the 90s, the worst off it looks.

[3ba11]

It's funny because the gap is due mostly to exposure, not because there are actually a materially-higher proportion of NBA-caliber players in the international pool.

And we're talking about a thin line between playing in the NBA for a few months or a guy that has a long and decorated overseas career - it's a thin line, and this factor coupled with the aforementioned lack of exposure in previous eras confirms that the so-called superior talent of today's era is vastly overstated and not that material.. The fact that we barely beat South Sudan is because we ourselves haven't improved and our brand of ball has actually declined - that's what it shows

[1987_Lakers]

MJ won Gold in the '84 Olympics because 13 countries boycotted the Olympics.

[highwhey]

MJ won Gold in the '84 Olympics because 13 countries boycotted the Olympics.

so what you're telling me is it's an asterisk Olympic medal?

[And1AllDay]

them mikey fanbois aint gonna like this one op :oldlol:

[ShawkFactory]

It's funny because the gap is due mostly to exposure, not because there are actually a materially-higher proportion of NBA-caliber players in the international pool.

And we're talking about a thin line between playing in the NBA for a few months or a guy that has a long and decorated overseas career - it's a thin line, and this factor coupled with the aforementioned lack of exposure in previous eras confirms that the so-called superior talent of today's era is vastly overstated and not that material.. The fact that we barely beat South Sudan is because we ourselves haven't improved and our brand of ball has actually declined - that's what it shows

USA plays South Sudan today in a real game and are 29 point favorites.

[warriorfan]

Who was the best international player in 1992 olympics? Toni Kukoc? :lol


Meanwhile put together a team of top international players today and they would beat the 92 Dream Team by 44 points easy.

Giannis
SGA
Jokic
Jamal Murray
Doncic



The more sunlight we shine onto what happened in the 90s, the worst off it looks.

how many nba players did bron face when he got bronze?

[sdot_thadon]

how many nba players did bron face when he got bronze?

How many all nba players were on that squad and how many minutes did "Bronze" get? Sounds like he was the leader of the team the way you tell it.

[WhiteKyrie]

Yes, better on the average international competition inspired by the dream team itself. That doesn’t however make the dream team inferior to the current USA basketball rosters, you do realize two things can be true, right?

[WhiteKyrie]

Yes, better on the average international competition inspired by the dream team itself. That doesn’t however make the dream team inferior to the current USA basketball rosters, you do realize two things can be true, right?

[8Ball]

It's funny because the gap is due mostly to exposure, not because there are actually a materially-higher proportion of NBA-caliber players in the international pool.

And we're talking about a thin line between playing in the NBA for a few months or a guy that has a long and decorated overseas career - it's a thin line, and this factor coupled with the aforementioned lack of exposure in previous eras confirms that the so-called superior talent of today's era is vastly overstated and not that material.. The fact that we barely beat South Sudan is because we ourselves haven't improved and our brand of ball has actually declined - that's what it shows

Up 20 points right now :lol

https://i.ibb.co/gJDYMP3/Screenshot-2024-07-31-at-4-44-06-PM.png

[8Ball]

Yes, better on the average international competition inspired by the dream team itself. That doesn’t however make the dream team inferior to the current USA basketball rosters, you do realize two things can be true, right?

I am talking about 1992 Dream Team competition, which was nothing more than a sack of worn out peanuts.


To address your post:

All the top international players today were born well after 1992, so they weren't even there to "witness" it.

In fact, most of these top international players today witnessed LeBron in the mid 2000s as they were growing up in their early teens. Jokic was like 14 when Bron won his first MVP.

[Axe]

The 2024 team are going to win all the way regardless of how impressive the international talents today are because they are freaking stacked. Anyone can be in the bench or play like crap and they are still going to win.

[8Ball]

The 2024 team are going to win all the way regardless of how impressive the international talents today are because they are freaking stacked. Anyone can be in the bench or play like crap and they are still going to win.

Yes, 2024 USA team is also stacked.

[Lebron23]

Michael Jordan Rest In Peace

[sdot_thadon]

Yes, better on the average international competition inspired by the dream team itself. That doesn’t however make the dream team inferior to the current USA basketball rosters, you do realize two things can be true, right?

Doesn't make them superior either, that can also be true. Bird and Magic were both further past it than Lebron is at 39 on this team, Stockton was hurt and Laettner was a token. The one thing the 92 team had going for them was they had almost the entire all nba teams, but 2024 may be just ad good if not better player for player. We literally have the best player on the champs and an Mvp catching DNPs on this team.

[8Ball]

Doesn't make them superior either, that can also be true. Bird and Magic were both further past it than Lebron is at 39 on this team, Stockton was hurt and Laettner was a token. The one thing the 92 team had going for them was they had almost the entire all nba teams, but 2024 may be just ad good if not better player for player. We literally have the best player on the champs and an Mvp catching DNPs on this team.

1992 "Dream Team" were in name only. Borrowing the ghost of Bird and Magic that weren't NBA worthy anymore.

2024 Team much more talented.

[1987_Lakers]

1992 "Dream Team" were in name only. Borrowing the ghost of Bird and Magic that weren't NBA worthy anymore.

I agree when it comes to Bird, dude couldn't ball anymore. Magic on the other hand still had game. He retired in the middle of his prime and the Olympics were like 8-9 months after he retired.

[sdot_thadon]

Here's MJ's thoughts on the 92 team playing in 2012:


"If we're in this same situation as 2012 with the talent we had, could we compete against the talent that's in Europe now? I think we could. Would it be as dominant as it was in '92? Probably not. I still think you'd see the separation between the two [American teams], but I think international play has gotten better—tremendously it's gotten better. You've got more of those guys coming and playing in the NBA than what it used to be. I think globally basketball has grown, and I think the Dream Team had a lot to do with it," Jordan said

[90sgoat]

The 92 team would win easily against the 24 team and I say that while actually respecting the 24 team quite a bit.

I respect the 24 team, particularly Curry, Lebron, Durant and AD, those guys are legends, even Lebron (I move him to 8th all time), but that's really nothing compared to facing a team of prime MJ, prime Barkley, prime Pippen, prime Ewing, prime Drexler, prime Malone, prime Mullins, prime David Robinson.

How you gonna deal with that size and athleticism?

You going to have 6'8'' Bam match up against Robinson? Tatum guarding Karl Malone? Curry against MJ? Barkley against Booker?

The 92 team would find mismatch after mismatch.

[Phoenix]

There is one aspect to this argument that I haven't seen discussed in detail: if the 2024 Dream Team is beating a team like South Sudan by 17 points( and barely beat them by 1 in the exhibition)....how much are they beating the 92 Team by? Would the 92 Dream Team lose to South Sudan? Where does the 92 Team fall amongst the current Int'l teams?

[RRR3]

There is one aspect to this argument that I haven't seen discussed in detail: if the 2024 Dream Team is beating a team like South Sudan by 17 points( and barely beat them by 1 in the exhibition)....how much are they beating the 92 Team by? Would the 92 Dream Team lose to South Sudan? Where does the 92 Team fall amongst the current Int'l teams?
South Sudan still has NBA players, I'm pretty sure there were teams the Dream Team faced that didn't have any.

[Phoenix]

South Sudan still has NBA players, I'm pretty sure there were teams the Dream Team faced that didn't have any.

Yeah but my question is, where are we hypothetically putting the 92 Team amongst the current crop of Int'l teams? They aren't blowing out teams but 50, but are they still winning gold?

I also to this point haven't seen this 2024 team as being some indomitable force yet. They've had to rely heavily on 39 year old Lebron in the clutch, KD went nuclear against Serbia but you can't expect that every game, AD has been very good, ditto for Jrue and White in their roles, Bam good, Booker pretty good, Embiid and Steph mediocre, Tatum eh. Like I haven't seen a collective effort that makes me think they're out of reach for the more notable Dream Teams of the past. Canada will be a good test. Yes I get that they'll look less dominant against better competition, but unless we're saying the 92 Dream team is worse than some of these other teams.....

[8Ball]

The 92 team would win easily against the 24 team and I say that while actually respecting the 24 team quite a bit.

I respect the 24 team, particularly Curry, Lebron, Durant and AD, those guys are legends, even Lebron (I move him to 8th all time), but that's really nothing compared to facing a team of prime MJ, prime Barkley, prime Pippen, prime Ewing, prime Drexler, prime Malone, prime Mullins, prime David Robinson.

How you gonna deal with that size and athleticism?

You going to have 6'8'' Bam match up against Robinson? Tatum guarding Karl Malone? Curry against MJ? Barkley against Booker?

The 92 team would find mismatch after mismatch.


Mismatch my ass, the 92 team can't shoot 3s, 2024 would score more points.


LeBron, Embiid, AD, Kevin Durant, Curry and you are talking about size mismatches? N please.

[RRR3]

Yeah but my question is, where are we hypothetically putting the 92 Team amongst the current crop of Int'l teams? They aren't blowing out teams but 50, but are they still winning gold?

I also to this point haven't seen this 2024 team as being some indomitable force yet. They've had to rely heavily on 39 year old Lebron in the clutch, KD went nuclear against Serbia but you can't expect that every game, AD has been very good, ditto for Jrue and White in their roles, Bam good, Booker pretty good, Embiid and Steph mediocre, Tatum eh. Like I haven't seen a collective effort that makes me think they're out of reach for the more notable Dream Teams of the past. Canada will be a good test. Yes I get that they'll look less dominant against better competition, but unless we're saying the 92 Dream team is worse than some of these other teams.....
I mean, if you just transported the 92 dream team to 2024 and had them play the 2024 team, they get annihilated simply based on math. You're not beating a modern team taking like 8-12 3s a game. 3PT shooting is another reason other countries can be more competitive now.

[Phoenix]

I mean, if you just transported the 92 dream team to 2024 and had them play the 2024 team, they get annihilated simply based on math. You're not beating a modern team taking like 8-12 3s a game. 3PT shooting is another reason other countries can be more competitive now.

So what's being said or implied ( not you specifically) is that the 92 Team wouldn't medal in this years Olympics. How they compare to the 2024 team I'm less interested in debating then how they fare in general against the current crop of international teams. Basically, they should be losing to a team like South Sudan.

[RRR3]

So what's being said or implied ( not you specifically) is that the 92 Team wouldn't medal in this years Olympics. How they compare to the 2024 team I'm less interested in debating then how they fare in general against the current crop of international teams. Basically, they should be losing to a team like South Sudan.
Idk if they'd lose to South Sudan in a serious game (anything is possible) but I don't think they could beat France, Canda, Spain, etc. Certainly not team USA. If they had time to learn the modern game, it would be very different but you're getting crushed by competent teams if you're just spamming 2s. Even the most 3PT averse teams now are shooting an astounding number of 3s.

[Phoenix]

Idk if they'd lose to South Sudan in a serious game (anything is possible) but I don't think they could beat France, Canda, Spain, etc. Certainly not team USA. If they had time to learn the modern game, it would be very different but you're getting crushed by competent teams if you're just spamming 2s. Even the most 3PT averse teams now are shooting an astounding number of 3s.

These kinds of discussions basically have to account for whether you're just plucking a team from 30 years ago as they were into a different era, or figuring all of those guys would have adopted modern sensibilities and traits. It's an extension of why I don't partake much in GOAT conversations nowadays for a league that's existed for 75 years, it ends up inherently disadvantageous to past players. The same thing will happen to todays guys when the year 2050 rolls around and they're playing in space lol.

[RRR3]

These kinds of discussions basically have to account for whether you're just plucking a team from 30 years ago as they were into a different era, or figuring all of those guys would have adopted modern sensibilities and traits. It's an extension of why I don't partake much in GOAT conversations nowadays for a league that's existed for 75 years, it ends up inherently disadvantageous to past players. The same thing will happen to todays guys when the year 2050 rolls around and they're playing in space lol.
Well sure but if we're giving them modern traits and everything we're not discussing the actual 92 team. People need to preface it with "if they had time to adapt to the modern league" when they say old school teams would dominate today.

[3ba11]

it's a meaningless stat because there were just as many NBA-caliber players back then but there wasn't as much exposure or scouting to get them over here, so most of them stayed overseas - even the best guys that came over here almost didn't make it and it took many years and delays to get them over here - Kukoc, Radja and Sabonis didn't get here until they were 26 and older.. Other guys simply never made it... And we're also talking about a lot of borderline NBA guys that are barely making today's NBA and having a 3 game career or something - these guys only today's NBA because of the superior exposure that today's NBA has - it's a thin line for borderline NBA guys, and this factor coupled with the lack of scouting makes the thread title meaningless.

In addition to the lack of scouting, there was

[3ba11]

it's a meaningless stat because there were just as many NBA-caliber players back then but there wasn't as much exposure or scouting to get them over here, so most of them stayed overseas - even the best guys that came over here almost didn't make it and it took many years and delays to get them over here - Kukoc, Radja and Sabonis didn't get here until they were 26 and older.. Other guys simply never made it... And we're also talking about a lot of borderline NBA guys that are barely making today's NBA and having a 3 game career or something - these guys only today's NBA because of the superior exposure that today's NBA has - it's a thin line for borderline NBA guys, and this factor coupled with the lack of scouting makes the thread title meaningless.

[8Ball]

it's a meaningless stat because there were just as many NBA-caliber players back then but there wasn't as much exposure or scouting to get them over here, so most of them stayed overseas - even the best guys that came over here almost didn't make it and it took many years and delays to get them over here - Kukoc, Radja and Sabonis didn't get here until they were 26 and older.. Other guys simply never made it... And we're also talking about a lot of borderline NBA guys that are barely making today's NBA and having a 3 game career or something - these guys only today's NBA because of the superior exposure that today's NBA has - it's a thin line for borderline NBA guys, and this factor coupled with the lack of scouting makes the thread title meaningless.

Kukoc, Radja and Sabonis are garbage vs SGA / Jokic / Giannis / Luka.


1992 internationally had near zero top all-nba calibre players in the olympics.