Article by Ashton Horne | Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff
If you have never watched Olympic basketball before, then this is the year to tune in. Since the early 1900s, America’s basketball teams have made their dominance known on the court. For the longest time, it was traditional that only amateurs play; but in 1989, the rules were changed so the U.S. could field players from the NBA. This change led to the assembly of the 1992 “Dream Team,” arguably the most dominant team of all time in basketball.
You might have heard of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird, just a few of the greatest basketball icons to ever play. Larry Bird has said, “Once you are labeled the best, you want to stay up there, and you can’t do it by loafing around. If I don’t keep changing, I’m history.”
Determination is what set the Dream Team apart from the rest that year. Everyone on that team had the most important characteristic in basketball: heart.
Now let’s skip to current day and view our roster. Team USA is coming off a 2008 gold medal campaign and looking to nab another one. With who, you ask? Well, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Durant are a handful of the superstars we have to make this a possibility.
One might ask how twelve players develop chemistry after only two weeks together, especially when they compete against one another during the regular and playoff seasons. The answer is simple: camaraderie.
Of course, camaraderie is only a word, but it is also a key component when teams are striving to reach a common goal.
“Determination is what set the Dream Team apart from the rest that year. Everyone on that team had the most important characteristic in basketball: heart.”
Head coach of the men’s basketball team for the 2012 Olympics, Mike Krzyzewski, one said, “A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That’s how I want you to play.”
This year, team USA’s roster is going to be the most talented since the Dream Team. All of the players mentioned above bring ambition, talent, and dedication to the court every time. Competition for our country will be none, and you can quote me.
Watching the Olympics gives you a proud feeling of how far we’ve come with the sport of basketball and how game diversity continues. The USA’s basketball team has won a medal every time they have been to the games and still hold the record amount of gold medals. When you have the time this summer, be sure to catch our remarkable team in London from July 28 through August 12.