RealGM

There were 12 players on the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. In hindsight, which twelve players would have comprised the best squad for the United States?

There are three players on the team that I would remove. First, Larry Bird, because of his horrendous back pain that limited his performance. He should have been named the captain and a coach. Second, John Stockton, because of his fractured leg, ought to have been replaced. Third, Christian Laettner, because he stuck out like a sore thumb. I would not have chosen a college player, although Shaq would have been better, but another big man isn't needed here.

In their place, I believe I would have selected Joe Dumars, Mark Price, and Reggie Miller. All three were great shooters and would have given Chris Mullin some help in that department. Mullin was really the only player who shot the 3 well and at volume in both the Tournament of the Americas and the Olympic Games.

At this point in his career, I don't think Isiah Thomas would have added much, even though he is usually brought up as a snub.

Anyway, the new squad would be broken down as follows:

PG: Magic Johnson, Mark Price
SG: Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars, Reggie Miller
SF: Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin
PF: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone
C: David Robinson, Patrick Ewing

Of course, there is a lot of flexibility here with the ballhandlers/wings, so the positions are more nominal than anything.

What changes, if any, would you have made to the Dream Team?

No Bird and it’s not a dream team.

SNPA wrote:No Bird and it’s not a dream team.

I get the nostalgia part, which is why I'd love to have him involved with the team. I just don't think the performance justifies a player slot. His shooting percentage relative to the others was pretty low, he didn't do much passing, and he was incapable of defending anyone out there and couldn't move in the full court. Not his fault, he was just at the end of his rope.

Shaq not getting in over Laettner was the only egregious mistake.

I actually like the OP's replacements except I'd keep Shaq over Mark price. Back then, when I was young without the benefit of hindsight, I thought Dominique Wilkins should've been in instead of Pippen even though I know he was recovering from injury. I recall Stockton being better (at that point in time) than Isiah Thomas, so I had no problem with it. I didn't think Christian Laettner should've been in obviously, but I also didn't anticipate Shaq being as good as he was even as a rookie. So at the time, I thought Brad Daugherty should've been another big or Reggie Miller if we ignore position.

But to answer the OP with the benefit of hindsight and taking into account injury:

- replace Stockton with Joe Dumars (can shoot, defend and play off ball)
- replace Laettner with Shaq (sure it may be overkill, but it's nice to have 3 centers vs bigger teams. DRob can easily play PF if needed)
- replace Bird with Reggie Miller (more shooting with Mullin and Dumars)

If it's on performance, the player's performance for the 1991-92 season would be the key factor, no?

Bird is a must, as it was more about big names of the recent past seasons, in which Bird was on the level of Magic and Jordan in the mid to late 80s.

Going by best players at that time, largely looking at performance of 91-92 season, I'd still include Stockton but no Laettner and instead Tim Hardaway, who I think had his best season and probably the best by a PG of the 90s. Isiah Thomas, going by big names, should have been included, as it fit with having Bird included.