BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
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Michael Jordan Responds To Kobe Bryant: 1992 Dream Team Better Than 2012 USA Squad
Well put, Jordan.
For Kobe to suggest this current team is even in the conversation with that 92 Dream Team is actually offensive - particularly before they've even won the Gold Medal.
Comparing the rosters, it's just laughable.
Starting 5:
Magic >>>>>>>>>> Paul
Jordan >>>> Kobe
Bird <<< Lebron
Barkley = Durant
Ewing >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chandler
As for Kobe's comment about them being out of their prime, really only Bird was, Magic was still playing at a very high level. Had Bird been in his prime, the Lebron comparison might be closer to a draw.
The bench - it's not even worth breaking down. That Dream Team bench was all (outside of Laetner) Hall of Famers. Now, you got a guy who doesn't even start on his own team (Harden) alongside a bunch of guys who haven't done more than play somewhat above average for mediocre teams (Igoudala, Love, Melo, Deron). At most, you'll get a couple HOFers out of that bench, but it's mostly just trash compared to the 92 Dream Team - and honestly only 3 guys from this team would even make the 92 squad (sorry Chris Paul, but John Stockton was a better PG).
What that 92 team did will never happen again. It was literally the best players in the game at a time when two great eras were overlapping (Bird/Magic and then Jordan), at the peak of basketball - the stars will never align like that again. You'll never get all the greats to line up to play like that again - and even if you did, I just don't know if the talent would compare.
"For him to make that comparison, it's one of those things where it creates conversation," Jordan said. "I guess we'll never know. I'd like to think that we had 11 Hall of Famers on that team and whenever they get 11 Hall of Famers you call and ask me who had the better Dream Team. Remember now, they learned from us. We didn't learn from them."
Well put, Jordan.
For Kobe to suggest this current team is even in the conversation with that 92 Dream Team is actually offensive - particularly before they've even won the Gold Medal.
Comparing the rosters, it's just laughable.
Starting 5:
Magic >>>>>>>>>> Paul
Jordan >>>> Kobe
Bird <<< Lebron
Barkley = Durant
Ewing >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chandler
As for Kobe's comment about them being out of their prime, really only Bird was, Magic was still playing at a very high level. Had Bird been in his prime, the Lebron comparison might be closer to a draw.
The bench - it's not even worth breaking down. That Dream Team bench was all (outside of Laetner) Hall of Famers. Now, you got a guy who doesn't even start on his own team (Harden) alongside a bunch of guys who haven't done more than play somewhat above average for mediocre teams (Igoudala, Love, Melo, Deron). At most, you'll get a couple HOFers out of that bench, but it's mostly just trash compared to the 92 Dream Team - and honestly only 3 guys from this team would even make the 92 squad (sorry Chris Paul, but John Stockton was a better PG).
What that 92 team did will never happen again. It was literally the best players in the game at a time when two great eras were overlapping (Bird/Magic and then Jordan), at the peak of basketball - the stars will never align like that again. You'll never get all the greats to line up to play like that again - and even if you did, I just don't know if the talent would compare.
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