The NBA had also seen an influx of internationals as a result of the first Dream Team inspiring other nations to pick up the orange ball. The Dream Team nickname had probably worn off by 1996, but there were still top players on each incarnation, and some still used the term going into the 2004 Olympics, when the talent had taken an undeniable dip. In fact, that was the impetus as well for opening the European office two years later in 1994.” Pau Gasol talked about the fact that it happened in his hometown and inspired him and a generation of kids like him to follow the players and the league. “I think you can trace back the big bang of the NBA to the Dream Team in 1992. “It was pivotal,” he told Sky Sports earlier this year. Vice-President of NBA Europe Ralph Rivera believes it was this moment that acted as a catalyst for the rest of the world catching up to the USA in terms of talent. Aside from the latter, there had never been a better collection of basketball talent put together. The men’s USA team comprised Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullen, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, and, in a nod to the college athletes that previously represented the USA at the Olympics, Christian Laettner. The moniker came from the 1992 Olympics when professional basketball players from the NBA were first allowed to suit up for their nation. It was the worst iteration of what some were still calling the ‘Dream Team’. Had all these players been brought in at their peak this could have been a gold medal team, but the mix of inexperience and lesser talent wasn’t enough to support the duelling superstars that represented chalk and cheese on the hardwood, Iverson and Duncan.Īllen Iverson and Tim Duncan at the 2004 Athens Olympics And of course Duncan, who was arguably the best player in the NBA. They were joined by Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Carlos Boozer - none of whom were ever the best guy on a good team - and a pair of dominant ball handlers in Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson. But so too was Emeka Okafor, who hadn’t played a minute of professional basketball. When you look back at the names that joined Team USA, it’s not a terrible list: rookies LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were there, as was sophomore Amar'e Stoudemire. The team reached the round of 64 in the NCAA tournament, losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.Twitter Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this Privacy Optionsīut without Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, Vince Carter, Mike Bibby, Ray Allen and Elton Brand - all top players at the time in the NBA - or other elite players such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett or Chauncey Billups, the USA fielded a group of young men without much professional experience and only B-grade talent. After losing in the first round, their final conference record was 11–8 (7 wins more than the previous season). UCLA entered the Pacific-10 conference tournament with a regular season conference record of 11–7. The 2004–05 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.
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