Team USA Basketball: What About the 1996 Dream Team II?

There have been recent speculations lately about who would win in a basketball game between the 1992 Olympic Dream Team and the 2008 Redeem Team. But everyone seems to forget the 1996 Olympic Dream II team.

Because the 1992 dream team was, in my opinion, the best team ever assembled, I believe they would have beaten both the 1996 and 2008 teams—and obviously the 2000 and 2004 teams. But who would win in a matchup between the 1996 team and the 2008 team?

One of the biggest arguments against the 1992 team was that the team looked great on paper because they had superstar names—but in reality most of their players were old, retired, or injured. You can’t use that argument against the 1996 Olympic team, because all players were healthy aside from very minor injuries to Hakeem Olajuwon and Grant Hill.

Here’s how the teams would match up:

Point Guards

1996: John Stockton and Gary Payton

2008: Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Jason Kidd

It’s hard to argue against Stockton and Payton, even if the 2008 team had superstar point guards in Paul, Williams and Kidd. Stockton and Payton dominated the 1990s at the point guard position. Stockton was named the 1990s' all-decade player at the point guard position, with Payton second.

While Paul and Williams might have had speed on their side, let’s not forget Gary Payton’s tenacious defense. He would have held all the 2008 point guards in check, and disrupted the 2008 team's offense.

Everyone talks about how Kidd bring leadership to the 2008 team, and he did just that—but Stockton’s leadership and his cool control of the offense just overwhelmingly trumps Kidd’s.

Advantage: 1996

Shooting Guards

1996: Reggie Miller and Mitch Richmond

2008: Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, and Dwyane Wade

While Reggie Miller would have shot lights out, and forgotten star Mitch Richmond—did you know Richmond was voted fifth all-decade shooting guard of the 1990’s—would have made some noise, neither of them would have been able to keep pace with Bryant and Wade.

Bryant would probably be all over Miller, not letting him get a single clean look in the whole game. Wade and Bryant would have been too explosive for either Richmond or Miller to guard. Easy pick.

Advantage: 2008

Small Forwards

1996: Grant Hill, Scottie Pippin, and Anfernee Hardaway

2008: LeBron James and Tayshuan Prince

It’s hard to argue against LeBron James—but let’s not forget that both Grant Hill and Anfernee Hardaway were supposed to be the next Jordan. The 1996 Olympics were before Hill or Hardaway had their major injuries. Both Hill and Hardaway played almost identically to James, except for the fact that James can bull his way through anything.

The stats of all three are almost identical—all of them were triple-double treats in the year before their Olympics. Hill averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Hardaway averaged, 21 points, four rebounds and seven assists, and James averaged 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

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