Kobe - I agree with him

[NeoV]

I'm really tired of all this 'dream team' BS.

Yes, it was a great collection of players - many of whom were well past their primes.

Magic/Bird where shells of themselves by then, and really shouldn't be a factor in the discussion, at all.

I'd still say Jordan is the best player on the floor - but after that, it's LeBron, Kobe, and Durant.

Barkley would struggle against their size and athleticism.

Robinson/Ewing could be effective, but both of those guys were more jump-shooting centers than true post-up centers.

Of course there is no way to ever know for sure, but it is fun to speculate.

Also - keep in mind what Kobe said - they could be them in a game. He didn't say a 7 game series (and again, I'm not 100% sure they couldn't anyway).

For Jordan and Barkley to get all "that's crazy" about it - I don't agree with them at all.

 

[JMapleton]

You're ignoring the rest of the team.

Pippen, Malone, Stockton, Drexler, Ewing, Robinson.

Laettner (who was chosen over Shaq), Bird, and Johnson were the only weak spots.

Of course players always get better over time, but I would side with the 1992 team.

 

[NoStateofMind]

You're ignoring the rest of the team.

Pippen, Malone, Stockton, Drexler, Ewing, Robinson.

Laettner (who was chosen over Shaq), Bird, and Johnson were the only weak spots.

Of course players always get better over time, but I would side with the 1992 team.

This.

Todays NBA basketball players hold no candle to the legends of the 90's. No, not even close. Kobe may be a hall of famer once its all said and done but he's deluding himself if he thinks todays team could hold up. Laughable.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Yeah, umm.... no. First off, the 1992 Olympic squad was far and away the best guys currently in the NBA save Isiah Thomas and Hakeem Olajuwon. I mean, who, honestly, are you adding to that team? Dominque Wilkins, James Worthy, Dennis Rodman or Dikembe Mutombo would've been better than Laettner... but after that, every single player on that team was the best in the league at the time. The 2012 squad? No Howard, no Rose, no Wade, no Bosh, no Griffin, no Aldridge, no Nowitzki, no Garnett, no Rondo, no Pierce, no Nash, no Bynum, no Gasols... There's a lot of talent on the squad, but are you honestly telling me you'd prefer Iguodala, Harden, Chandler and Davis to Rose, Wade, Howard and Aldridge? Come on now.

Secondly, all that stuff about "in their prime..." Let's end that travesty of an argument right away. Michael Jordan was in his prime. Scottie Pippen was in his prime. Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullen, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Karl Malone... Come to think of it, virtually all of the 1992 Dream Team was in their prime, save Bird and Magic, and Magic Johnson had one of the best All-Star game performances in history earlier that year. They weren't over the hill by any metric, unless you assume the entire team was Larry Bird, in which case, they only would have won every game by 15 points and not 43.

If there was a temporal anomaly where today's Olympic team could face the 1992 squad, could they win a game? Sure. Could they play them even? Probably pretty close. Would they win a series of any length? No. Not a chance. I don't care how the game has changed, the 1992 Dream Team was as close as any team has ever come to perfection, with 3 of the 5 best players of ALL TIME. You aren't beating that with guys like Andre Iguodala, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler and Russell Westbrook on your team. They aren't of the same caliber. They just aren't.

 

[RPD]

Jordan's reply summed it up nicely. 11 HOF'ers on their team. 2012 learned from 1992.

1992 team will never be topped.

 

[QueBert]

Kobe needs to keep his big mouth shut, they would lose 10/10 times to the 92 team. Even past their prime Bird & Magic would be better than everyone except Lebron, Durant & whoever you consider #3 in the league right now. People who say Magic was past his prime are hilarious to me. He wasn't in his prime but he was still a beast. The worst player on that team imho was Mullen or Latiner, both of which are HOF'ers. And both would still be better than 75% of this bullshit 2012 team.

Kobe really needs to never speak again again spewing this fucking nonsense.

 

[FallenHero]

Kobe needs to keep his big mouth shut, they would lose 10/10 times to the 92 team. Even past their prime Bird & Magic would be better than everyone except Lebron, Durant & whoever you consider #3 in the league right now. People who say Magic was past his prime are hilarious to me. He wasn't in his prime but he was still a beast. The worst player on that team imho was Mullen or Latiner, both of which are HOF'ers. And both would still be better than 75% of this bullshit 2012 team.

Kobe really needs to never speak again again spewing this fucking nonsense.

that pretty much ends the discussion right there. Kobe is a tool.

 

[OCGuy]

A bunch of "Get off my lawn" people in this thread. Of course the "Dream Team" had awesome players, but they were beyond prime at that point.

The athletes today are freakish.....Bird and Magic wouldn't hold a candle to this year's team.

 

[thegimp03]

Call me when 11 of this year's players make the Hall of Fame.

 

[tynopik]

Kobe may be a hall of famer once its all said and done

is my sarcasm meter broken?

 

[tynopik]

Call me when 11 of this year's players make the Hall of Fame.

Mark Spitz set 7 world records at the '72 Olympics

Now those times won't even get you on the team.

That '92 team is just as close to '72 as it is to 2012.

 

[QueBert]

Barkley said today that only 3 players on this team could have even made the 92 team. While I'd maybe throw another name to make it 4, definitely the majority of the '12 lineup wouldn't have even been considered as potential members. Kobe's as arrogant as he is stupid, and that's really saying something because he's the most arrogant asses in the league. This isn't the nostalgia talking either, I'm not remembering differently because it was so long ago. The 92 team really was that good.

Isiah Thomas didn't make the team, he literally would be #4 on this one. What's depressing is all the kiddies who are nodding yes at Kobe thinking this squad could beat the greatest ball team to ever be assembled.

 

[thegimp03]

Mark Spitz set 7 world records at the '72 Olympics

Now those times won't even get you on the team.

That '92 team is just as close to '72 as it is to 2012.

Like I said above, call me when 11 of this year's players make the Hall of Fame.

 

[Childs]

I'm really tired of all this 'dream team' BS.

Yes, it was a great collection of players - many of whom were well past their primes.

Magic/Bird where shells of themselves by then, and really shouldn't be a factor in the discussion, at all.

I'd still say Jordan is the best player on the floor - but after that, it's LeBron, Kobe, and Durant.

Barkley would struggle against their size and athleticism.

Robinson/Ewing could be effective, but both of those guys were more jump-shooting centers than true post-up centers.

Of course there is no way to ever know for sure, but it is fun to speculate.

Also - keep in mind what Kobe said - they could be them in a game. He didn't say a 7 game series (and again, I'm not 100% sure they couldn't anyway).

For Jordan and Barkley to get all "that's crazy" about it - I don't agree with them at all.

Barkley played when big men rebounded, not shot outside and flopped when you got near them. Magic was still a top 5 player, and the year before he was in the NBA finals. And if he didnt get hurt they might have beat the Bulls. Robinson and Ewing both had inside games, could post up, and they could drive from outside. And then there is Mullins, Stockton and Malone.

Basically the only thing reasonable in this post is Bird was out of his prime. You are talking about a team full of top 50 all time players who played well into the 90s/00s. In fact the only ones to not play in the Finals past 92 was Mullins, Magic and Bird, and Magic left because of HIV. Both Bird and Magic won multiple championships. Past their prime my ass. If I need to win a game and had to choose between Magic or Lebron, I would take Magic in a heat beat. Match up the 92 team vs the 12 rosters, and I dont think I'm talking anyone from the 12 team over the 92. Jordan over Kobe, Mullins/Bird over Durant, etc.

You're underrating the original Dream Team, and overrating this years team. This years team might have 3 HOF players when their careers are done. 92 team had 14 out of 15, with the 15th being arguably one of the best college players of all time.

 

[tynopik]

Like I said above, call me when 11 of this year's players make the Hall of Fame.

There's lots of players who made the hall of fame who wouldn't be able to make a roster today.

The game evolves, players get more athletic. What was once dominant becomes the new norm and then becomes subpar.

To say that because they made the hall of fame, they are automatically better than today's players is just ignorant.

 

[Miramonti]

Kobe's smokin dope laced with bad hallucinogenics. This team has one mediocre center. They would so outrebounded by Robinson, Ewing, and Barkley, it would be embarrassing.

This team has no big men in the post. Barkley, Ewing, and Malone would pummel thru this team's defense.

The dream team never had a problem scoring the ball. This team will. They did in '08 and they did in the world's in '10. Fortunately they had Kobe's clutch in '08 and Duran't hot hand in '10, but outside of them (and a few key shots by wade), no one was consistent and they'd have plenty of droughts.

If Derrick Rose was playing, he would be offensively unmatchable at the pg position. He would create a lot of difficulties with his unstoppable penetration. But that's moot, he's not on the roster.

Jordan and Pippen were a couple of the game's greatest defenders, on-ball and off. David Robinson was also a great defender. Tyson Chandler is solid but no Robinson, and he's the only big shot blocker.

Add to that the dream team was stocked with experienced players who really knew what it took to win the biggest games. They would have the edge against this team late in the 4th quarter.

I don't see how this team can even be talked about in the same breath as the dream team. They haven't even won the gold yet, so they should stfu, because it is going to be no simple challenge.

 

[QueBert]

There's lots of players who made the hall of fame who wouldn't be able to make a roster today.

The game evolves, players get more athletic. What was once dominant becomes the new norm and then becomes subpar.

To say that because they made the hall of fame, they are automatically better than today's players is just ignorant.

Jordan's more athletic than anyone on the '12 team except James by a LONG SHOT. And even Jordan Vs James is going to be = at worst for Mike. You gonna tell me Chandler's more athletic than Robinson? Paul, Westbrook & Williams are more athletic, but they're still not as good as the dudes on the 92 squad. Basketball's about more than Athleticism. Take the Lakers from back then and put them against the Lakers every year Kobe's won a ring, I he wouldn't have a single one. All the athleticism in the world isn't going to beat out heart and skill. Even the players who weren't exactly fast or athletic on the 92 team possessed things nobody on this one does. There's no equivalent to Stockton here, who cares that Bird & Magic didn't dunk. You have no passer like Magic, you have nobody with the heart of Bird. And I won't even get into how the Dream team would wipe floor with these dudes when it comes to toughness.

Last years Heat wouldn't have won the title 20 years ago, the year before that the Mavs wouldn't have fucked with the bulls or the lakers back then. As much as I love Griffin, Ewing would have made him look like a rookie.

 

[Arkaign]

Jordan's more athletic than anyone on the '12 team except James by a LONG SHOT. And even Jordan Vs James is going to be = at worst for Mike. You gonna tell me Chandler's more athletic than Robinson? Paul, Westbrook & Williams are more athletic, but they're still not as good as the dudes on the 92 squad. Basketball's about more than Athleticism. Take the Lakers from back then and put them against the Lakers every year Kobe's won a ring, I he wouldn't have a single one. All the athleticism in the world isn't going to beat out heart and skill. Even the players who weren't exactly fast or athletic on the 92 team possessed things nobody on this one does. There's no equivalent to Stockton here, who cares that Bird & Magic didn't dunk. You have no passer like Magic, you have nobody with the heart of Bird. And I won't even get into how the Dream team would wipe floor with these dudes when it comes to toughness.

Last years Heat wouldn't have won the title 20 years ago, the year before that the Mavs wouldn't have fucked with the bulls or the lakers back then. As much as I love Griffin, Ewing would have made him look like a rookie.

This x11,111,111,999,000

Don't get me wrong, there are legends out there today. I don't even like Kobe or LeBron, but I know that they're top quality players in today's league. If anything I think the modern primadonna elites are weak-hearted compared to the elder legends, and many many instances of this can be cited. That's not to say there aren't some tough SOBs playing today, but few of them are headliner types with big endorsements.

I'm a Dallas fan by respect of growing up here for the most part, and have watched the NBA since the early 80s, and even I can readily admit that the Mavs got there by sheer will that championship year. The talent really wasn't all there at all, but it was a classic case of will and determination winning against higher actual talent and athleticism. Coaching could arguably be a factor as well, but LeBron's implosion that year and the failure of the rest of the team to rise up was for shame.

Jordan will stand elite as the best of all time, until someone can pull off anything remotely close to his combination of leadership and championship success. TWO three-peats? Come on now. I admit I haven't looked back at Wilt Chamberlain enough, so that's arguable possibly. But Jordan is definitely better than Kobe or LeBron or anyone else playing today (so far).

I'd love to see the next MJ-level player. I think maybe some of the guys now are 80-90% there, but it's just not the whole enchilada yet. I hope I live to see it.

I think what it will ultimately take is someone whose whole heart and soul is in that game. Someone whom loves that even more than endorsements, megabucks salaries, or anything else. And that, I don't see at this time from someone with the skill and physicality to gel with that.

 

[Miramonti]

I'd love to see the next MJ-level player. I think maybe some of the guys now are 80-90% there, but it's just not the whole enchilada yet. I hope I live to see it.

That will require someone who has world class endurance like he had, which was more than any of these other stars, past or present. That, inspired by his insatiable competitiveness, enabled him to be elite offensively and defensively during a game, as well as take it to another level and be the best closer in the game.

With all of the awesomeness that some of these other players have, like Kobe and James, none have his endurance to compete on both ends of the floor like he could.

 

[manimal]

kobe was forced into this by the context of the questions wasnt he?

Was he supposed to say "Boy MJ was swell. I would love to wear his pin"


Like the guy isnt spose to have confidence in his team and teammates?

mfg story

I personally will be happy when its back to college and semi pro players. Shitz getting boring.

 

[jaha2000]

Different game these days too.
1992 = no blood, no foul.

How many times you think Barkley is going to let anybody drive in the lane before he makes them think about it next time?

Are they better athletes today? One could argue that, however the game was so much more physical back then, there is no way the guys of today could play like that. They would be flopping and crying to the ref about getting a hand check.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Different game these days too.
1992 = no blood, no foul.

How many times you think Barkley is going to let anybody drive in the lane before he makes them think about it next time?

Are they better athletes today? One could argue that, however the game was so much more physical back then, there is no way the guys of today could play like that. They would be flopping and crying to the ref about getting a hand check.

Agreed

When I watch the games this day and age it blows my mind how many times little guys drive in and no one is there to stop them (many times players are just watching, not even moving towards the ball to block it etc).

Pathetic these guys get paid so much at times....

Kobe is WAY over rated. You give as many attempts to ANY player in NBA and they can do as well.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm really tired of all this 'dream team' BS.

Yes, it was a great collection of players - many of whom were well past their primes.

Magic/Bird where shells of themselves by then, and really shouldn't be a factor in the discussion, at all.

I'd still say Jordan is the best player on the floor - but after that, it's LeBron, Kobe, and Durant.

Barkley would struggle against their size and athleticism.

Robinson/Ewing could be effective, but both of those guys were more jump-shooting centers than true post-up centers.

Of course there is no way to ever know for sure, but it is fun to speculate.

Also - keep in mind what Kobe said - they could be them in a game. He didn't say a 7 game series (and again, I'm not 100% sure they couldn't anyway).

For Jordan and Barkley to get all "that's crazy" about it - I don't agree with them at all.

If they played 10 times assuming both teams had players in their primes, the 2012 team might win once and even that probably wouldn't happen. If they played 10 times with the current 2012 team and the 1992 team composed as it was (with some past-prime players), the 2012 team might win 2 or 3 at the most. I don't think people understand the level of the players on the 1992 team -- the NBA was at a different level in the mid-80s to mid-90s. Players might be more athletic now, but they aren't better basketball players. I think you could've taken a group of second or third tier NBA players from the late 80s, place them in the 2004 Olympics, and the US still easily wins gold.

I'm not sure how old you are, but for those of us who lived through the 80s and witnessed the original Dream Team in action, it was quite awesome.

Oh, and I'll leave this here for us old guys -- a favorite ad of mine and showing just what the world faced : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3cRbg2RbGk

 

[edro]

You all have nostalgia delusion. I think it would be a pretty fair game.

The dream team had much better shooting, but today's team has much more speed, power, ball handling, etc.

"Back in the good ole days!!!"

 

[Via]

Barkley would struggle against their size and athleticism? Barkley was one of the most athletic players ever. At 6'4" he routinely dominated players much taller than he was.

Ewing was not a post up center? That sentence tells me that you never saw that era play.