Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley have all issued statements after Kobe Bryant said that the 2012 Olympic team would beat the Dream Team. Michael, Magic, and Barkley all agreed that the comment was ridiculous. Larry Bird, however, has a different take.
The legendary three-point shooter said that it would be a tough match but the 2012 Olympic Team would probably pull it off. After all, it’s been twenty years since Bird played professional basketball and the Dream Team players are all pretty old now.
Bird said: They probably could. I haven’t played in 20 years and we’re all old now.
The hypothetical debate started earlier this week when Bryant said that the 2012 USA Men’s Basketball Team could beat the Dream Team. Bryant took a small step back from his bold claim later on, saying that he meant that his team could beat the Dream Team in one game. A 7-game series was another question.
Bryant said:
“The fact is, they have [Patrick] Ewing and [David] Robinson and those big guys, it’s tough. If you’re asking me, ‘Can you beat them one game?’ Hell yeah, we can beat them in one game. You didn’t ask me if we could beat them in a 7-game series. In one game, we can beat them. No question about it.”
Jordan, Johnson, and Barkley all laughed off Kobe’s claim.
Johnson said:
Our ’92 team had too many winners, were too smart & too competitive to lose to Kobe & the 2012 team. I am excited to watch them though.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 12, 2012
Our ’92 team had too many winners, were too smart & too competitive to lose to Kobe & the 2012 team. I am excited to watch them though.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 12, 2012
It’s a question without answer, but I have to ask: Who would win? The Dream Team or the 2012 USA Men’s Basketball Team?
Really? These guys are good but don't have the heart of the '92 "TEAM"! It's all about "ME" now. They would get a good lesson on team work!
There is no half court O now. RUN AND GUN is all they know.
@ Randy, no they wouldn't get a lesson. They wouldn't recognize one if they came with books and a teacher. This team is a joke. The guys from 1992, they are what basketball should be. Kobe would be in a corner with a dunce cap on.
@ Randy, no they wouldn't get a lesson. They wouldn't recognize one if they came with books and a teacher. This team is a joke. The guys from 1992, they are what basketball should be. Kobe would be in a corner with a dunce cap on.
In 1992, 11 in the hall of fame…. Enough said…..
Kobe Bryant has lost his mind if he thinks this 2012 team could beat the 92 dream team!
shame on kobe challenging a bunch of senior citizens of basketball to a ball game. someone needs to put him over there knees and give him a good spanking, where is jelly bean bryant? he is bulling the old guys where is his punishment? new school wants to run old school little boys might learn something even in one game.
Kobe probably didn't realized that the 1992 Dream at that time was all on their Prime lol, goodluck with that.
Kobe speaks 5 languages, has a college degree, a gold medal and 5 rings…while I don't agree with his opinion here, he is far from stupid, you are using hyperbole here Jon.
Whoa, slow down there! I wasn't talking about his obvious intelligence. After all it takes a really smart guy to speak 5 languages, beat a rape rap and figure out how big a diamond one has to give to keep the wife out of the tabloids. I was referring to being absolutely schooled by just about anyone on the REAL dream team. BTW, Jordan has 6 and Kobe doesn't have the "Zen Master" anymore.
The Dream Team are the real deal. Not one player is a filler player. The 2012 team does not have an answer for Malone, Ewing or Robinson. The Dream Team guards woukl just about kill the 2012 guards. This would have been a fun exercise for the Dream Team.
umm you are aware around this time jordan was the number one ball hog he wasnt a full team player yet.
It would be a great game and lets be honest the dream team didnt even go against a team that could be a challenge.
I say the 2012 mens team would win. the game of basketball has changed and honestly I see them winning. Stockton and Malone are my favorites of all time but kobe, lebron, durant and melo (don't sleep on melo) could prove to be a tough match up. now if rose and some of the other injury list players were playing ill give it all no problem to 2012.
even at full strength I wouldnt give it all to the 2012 team. I would lean toward them no problem but I cant underestimate the dream team lol. it wouldnt surprise me if the Dream Team pulled off the victory specially having Jordan
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The only one who could match up defensively against Kobe on the dream team is Jordan and Pippen, anyone else he's taking the rock to hole on.
Eh, not so sure he could get past David Robinson or Ewing. Think he might get spanked going up. I also think Chuck would knock him down with his huge elbow he liked to throw.
You must be young Andre, the game has changed, but it has changed for the worse. They don't know how to play today, there biggest problem is that they play with the attitude of "its all about me." Maybe not lebron but he can't take over a game like Jordan, Barkley, Robinson… etc…
He was in the Olympics, besides Barkley was the leading scorer for the U.S. in 92, not Jordan.
Edward Adam Jackson: If Kobe was in his prime? Sure, only MJ or Scottie could guard him. But he's not in his prime now-he's 33. He would have been the 2nd oldest player on the 1992 team, behind only Bird. Clyde Drexler in his prime could guard Kobe now (not in Kobe's prime though, no contest). Keep in mind I said guard him, not stop him.
Andre J Bennett: That's because a team has never existed that could be a challenge to them, and still doesn't.
If they played under today's officiating the 2012 team would definitely win. Everyone on the Dream Team would be fouled out by halftime. If they played with 92 officiating, no contest. Kobe's the only one on that team that played when the handcheck was still legal.
too many people are missing the point, the match-ups favor the 92 squad. Who's Lebron going to cover – Ewing, Robinson? The 2012 team is all about pressure – okay so who's guarding the 6'8 Johnson at the point? Magic can see over anyone. Anthony gets eaten up by international bigs – can he really check Barkely or Malone? Chandler gets in foul trouble now – how's he going to hold up against Hall of Famers? The 2012 has two weapons on offense – quickness and athleticism – two things that means nothing when the team you're up against has beasts in the middle – Ewing, Robinson, Malone, Barkely and quick perimeter defenders, Pippen, Drexler, Jordan.
92 team wins by 12 points, maybe more if they shoot a ton of free throws , or the 2012 team starts pressing and leaves Bird and Mullin open. I think the 2008 would fair better. I may even take the 1996 squad over this team.