Dream Team onwards: USA line-ups ranked, rated by Boomers legend
A BOOMERS legend who played four Olympics has ranked and rated every USA line-up from the Dream Team onwards, sharing some epic memories of facing the superstars.
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THEY boast a Harlem Globetrotters-like record of 53-3, they haven’t dropped a game in six of their last seven campaigns and their haul of six gold medals and a bronze is more than entire countries have managed over the same period.
Team USA has been among the headline acts at each of the past seven Olympic Games.
But which is the best USA line-up since the “pro era” began in 1992?
Mark Bradtke, who represented the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and played in four Olympic campaigns with the Boomers, runs the rule over each Team USA from the inaugural Dream Team in Barcelona to the current crop in Rio.
1st - BARCELONA, 1992 (GOLD)
THE VERDICT
This was, quite simply, the greatest team ever assembled. People still talk today about their intra-squad practice match being the best game in the history of basketball that nobody saw. Look at the line-up - it’s like a Playstation game gone crazy. We were in awe of them during those Games. Every time they played it was like a ceremony. I don’t think there’ll ever be an occasion like it given it was the first time the best of the NBA were allowed to compete in an Olympics.
THE SQUAD
Charles Barkley
18.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.6 SPG
Larry Bird
8.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 SPG
Clyde Drexler
10.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.5 SPG
Patrick Ewing
9.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.9 SPG
Magic Johnson
8.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG
Michael Jordan
14.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 4.6 SPG
Christian Laettner
4.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
Karl Malone
13.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.5 SPG
Scottie Pippen
9.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.9 SPG
David Robinson
9.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.8 SPG
John Stockton
2.8 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.0 SPG
THE QUOTE
“I don’t think there’ll ever be a better team.” - Michael Jordan
“If there is, we want to play them.” - Magic Johnson
THE RESULTS
W Angola 116-48
W Croatia 103-70
W Germany 111-68
W Brazil 127-83
W Spain 122-81
W Puerto Rico 115-77
W Lithuania 127-76
W Croatia 117-85
2nd - ATLANTA, 1996 (GOLD)
THE VERDICT
These guys were relentless. You’d feel pretty good about seeing off Shaquille O’Neal, then David Robinson and Scottie Pippen would come off the bench. You were thinking, “Man, give me a break for a second!” We had a good first half against them before they pulled away in the second. There was a tremendous buzz every time they played because everything was a home game for them.
THE SQUAD
Charles Barkley
12.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.9 SPG
Penny Hardaway
9.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.4 SPG
Grant Hill
9.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 SPG
Karl Malone
8.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
Reggie Miller
11.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG
Shaquille O’Neal
9.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG
Hakeem Olajuwon
5.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 SPG
Gary Payton
5.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.8 SPG
Scottie Pippen
10.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG
Mitch Richmond
9.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 SPG
David Robinson
12.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.6 SPG
John Stockton
3.8 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.6 SPG
THE QUOTE
“For the whole couple months, (the 1992 Dream Team) got along like it was the greatest thing in the world. Nobody had an ego.
“In ‘96, it was a nightmare. Guys complained about playing time and starting the whole time. I hated it.” - Charles Barkley
THE RESULTS
W Argentina 96-68
W Angola 87-54
W Lithuania 104-82
W China 133-70
W Croatia 102-71
W Brazil 98-75
W Australia 101-73
W Serbia/Montenegro 95-69
3rd - LONDON, 2012 (GOLD)
THE VERDICT
By 2012, Olympic basketball looked very different than the Dream Team campaign 20 years earlier. There were far more competitive games with international teams now stacked with NBA players and clever coaches countering the USA’s physical game with shrewd tactics. Still, any team that boasts the likes of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Kevin Durant - to name but a few! - is always going to take some beating. And so it proved as the Americans claimed another gold.
THE SQUAD
Carmelo Anthony
16.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG
Kobe Bryant
12.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG
Tyson Chandler
4.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG
Anthony Davis
3.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.1 SPG
Kevin Durant
19.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG
James Harden
5.5 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG
Andre Iguodala
4.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.6 SPG
LeBron James
13.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.4 SPG
Kevin Love
11.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.3 SPG
Chris Paul
8.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.1 SPG
Russell Westbrook
8.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.9 SPG
Deron Williams
9.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.5 SPG
THE QUOTE
“It would be a tough one, but I think we would pull it out (beat the 1992 Dream Team).
“People who think we can’t beat that team for one game, they are crazy. To sit there and say we can’t, it’s ludicrous.” - Kobe Bryant
THE RESULTS
W France 98-71
W Tunisia 110-63
W Nigeria 156-73
W Lithuania 99-94
W Argentina 126-97
W Australia 119-86
W Argentina 109-83
W Spain 107-100
4th - BEIJING, 2008 (GOLD)
THE VERDICT
The comeback. After the disappointment of Athens, the USA came roaring back to win all eight games and reclaim the gold medal. Guys like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony really stepped up for them after playing more junior roles four years earlier. I don’t think you could call this one of the greatest teams the USA has turned out, but they certainly got the job done under more pressure than
THE SQUAD
Carmelo Anthony
11.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
Carlos Boozer
3.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.3 SPG
Chris Bosh
9.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.6 SPG
Kobe Bryant
15.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG
Dwight Howard
10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.6 SPG
LeBron James
15.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.4 SPG
Jason Kidd
1.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.6 SPG
Chris Paul
8.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 2.3 SPG
Tayshaun Prince
4.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.4 SPG
Michael Redd
3.1 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 SPG
Dwyane Wade
16.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.3 SPG
Deron Williams
8.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.8 SPG
THE QUOTE
“What you saw today was a team bonding together, facing adversity and coming out with a huge win.
“If it wasn’t for the determination and willpower we had, we wouldn’t be back on top of the world, which is where we are.” - LeBron James
THE RESULTS
W China 101-70
W Angola 97-76
W Greece 92-69
W Spain 119-82
W Germany 106-57
W Australia 116-85
W Argentina 101-81
W Spain 118-107
5th - SYDNEY, 2000 (GOLD)
THE VERDICT
These guys wanted to be considered on the same level as the first Dream Team, but they were not as good and they certainly weren’t as dignified. They had a healthy ego and a swagger about them, which didn’t go down well with us or the Australian audience. It started in a practice match when Vince Carter dragged down Andrew Gaze and we all got into a push-and-shove and that lack of respect from within their camp stayed throughout the tournament.
THE SQUAD
Shareef Abdur-Raheem
6.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.4 SPG
Ray Allen
9.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG
Vin Baker
8.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.3 SPG
Vince Carter
14.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
Kevin Garnett
10.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG
Tim Hardaway
5.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.0 SPG
Allan Houston
8.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.0 SPG
Jason Kidd
6.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.1 SPG
Antonio McDyess
7.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.5 SPG
Alonzo Mourning
10.2 PPG, 4.2 APG, 1.3 APG, 0.2 SPG
Gary Payton
5.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 SPG
Steve Smith
6.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.3 SPG
THE QUOTE
“The game of basketball had evolved and it had gotten better.” - Vince Carter
THE RESULTS
W China 119-72
W Italy 93-61
W Lithuania 85-76
W New Zealand 102-56
W France 106-94
W Russia 85-70
W Lithuania 85-83
W France 85-75
6th - RIO, 2016 (N/A)
THE VERDICT
Where will it all end in Rio? The American media seems a little nervous after Coach K’s Team USA had tough wins against the Boomers, Serbia and France. Krzyzewski said at the start of the tournament the Australians were capable of beating the USA, showing just how much the gap has closed over the last few years. That said, they seemed to find their groove against Argentina. A gold medal game against the Australians would be incredible!
THE SQUAD
Carmelo Anthony
13.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG
Harrison Barnes
5.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.3 SPG
Jimmy Butler
7.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 SPG
DeMarcus Cousins
9.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.5 SPG
Demar Derozan
6.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.0 SPG
Kevin Durant
18.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.0 SPG
Paul George
12.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG
Draymond Green
2.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG
Kyrie Irving
12.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.5 SPG
DeAndre Jordan
7.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.5 SPG
Kyle Lowry
4.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.8 SPG
Klay Thompson
7.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 SPG
THE QUOTE
“I’m really pleased with our great camaraderie. We love playing together. We’re out there supporting each other and becoming a tight core group. Our rotations are not really developed yet but we’ve only been together for two weeks. The great thing is there are no egos here.” - Kevin Durant
THE RESULTS
W China 119-62
W Venezuela 113-69
W Australia 98-88
W Serbia 94-91
W France 100-97
W Argentina 105-78
7th - ATHENS, 2004 (BRONZE)
THE VERDICT
This was the tournament where the rest of the world caught up with the USA. They had a talented team on paper, but they relied heavily on their physicality and less on skills and tactics. In 1992, there were very few overseas players in the NBA. By 2004, there were lots of them and that demystified the Americans and their style of play. When teams didn’t allow them easy access to the hoop and forced them out wide, it exposed some shortcomings in their skillset.
THE SQUAD
Carmelo Anthony
2.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.3 SPG
Carlos Boozer
7.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.8 SPG
Tim Duncan
12.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG
Allen Iverson
13.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG
LeBron James
5.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG
Richard Jefferson
6.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG
Stephon Marbury
10.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.9 SPG
Shawn Marion
9.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.1 SPG
Lamar Odom
9.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 2.0 SPG
Emeka Okafor
0.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG
Amar’e Stoudemire
2.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.4 SPG
Dwyane Wade
7.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 SPG
THE QUOTE
“It has not been fun. I’m about 95 percent sure my FIBA career is over. FIBA sucks.” - Tim Duncan
THE RESULTS
L Puerto Rico 92-73
W Greece 77-71
W Australia 89-79
L Lithuania 94-90
W Angola 89-53
W Spain 102-94
L Argentina 89-81
W Lithuania 104-96
Originally published as Dream Team onwards: USA line-ups ranked, rated by Boomers legend
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