Team USA sought to show off their might by enlisting the top NBA players to represent them in Barcelona in 1992, following their disappointing third place performance in the Men’s Basketball Tournament at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley called it the “most surreal feeling” he had ever experienced, despite the fact that the star-studded lineup taking home the gold medal felt like a formality. In an interview with the iHeart podcast, he stated,
“As a person who’s been blessed to accomplish a lot of amazing things in their life, the most surreal feeling I’ve ever had is standing on that podium when they are playing the national anthem… The coolest thing I’ve ever been to in my life is the Olympics… When you are on that podium at the Olympics and they are playing your national anthem, it is one of the coolest [feelings]. We were looking at each other like, ‘Yo man, I’m getting goosebumps.’”
Barkley went on to say that getting the gold medal and standing next to Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson was “pretty special.”
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Being selected for the 1992 Olympic team, also referred to as the “Dream Team,” was a noteworthy accomplishment in and of itself.
The top 15 players in the league were guaranteed 14 of the slots, with Christian Laettner of Duke taking the final spot.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. basketball player Michael Jordan (2nd R) flashes a victory sign as he stands with team mates Larry Bird (L), Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler (R), nicknamed the “Dream Team” after winning the Olympic gold in Barcelona, Spain on August 8, 1992. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/File Photo
For every player, being a member of that team confirmed that they were among the greatest in the world at what they did. They easily won the gold, defeating Croatia 117-85 in the final to blow out the competition.
Although Barkley was never able to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy, his gold medal from the Dream Team is a wonderful consolation prize. Barkley is one of just 15 players who can honestly say they were a part of the best international team ever put together, even if many other players have championship rings.
