The Origin Story of Dream Team I

There was a whole lot of story to tell before the formation of the historic 1992 USA Men’s Olympic basketball team.

What is the best basketball team ever assembled? The answer to this question is pretty much undebatable. The 1992 USA Men’s Olympic Team, affectionately and accurately called “The Dream Team”, was a collection of talent on one team unlike the world had ever seen or has seen since.

And, might I add to make you jealous, I got to see them play in person when I was 11 in an exhibition match before the Olympics began.

Prior to the 1992 Olympics, professional athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. This was a rule that was not only relevant in basketball, but resulted in a situation where from 1936 (when basketball was first added as an Olympic sport) until 1988, the USA Men’s Olympic basketball team was comprised of some of the best college talent the country had to offer.

The reason for this change of approach in 1992 to allow in professional athletes was mostly done due to the way certain countries, most notably Russia,(nee, the Soviet Union) were getting around this particular rule.

In order to get its very best athletes into the Olympics, USSR/Russia would conscript them into the…