The USA Men’s Basketball Team has been as dominant as it gets when it comes to the Olympics, with the country winning 16 gold medals, which makes them a powerhouse.
The roster was stacked, with Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller, Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon, Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal, Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, and guard John Stockton, among many other stars.
Even though the team lacked the magic of the 1992 “Dream Team” and it didn’t include the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan– he wanted to let others get their chance at greatness -, the 1996 roster got to enjoy the gold medal in their own house, Atlanta, Georgia.
O’Neal put skates on Pippen and Payton
The ’96 iteration of Team USA boasted an absurd amount of size, with a young Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson manning the middle. Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Grant Hill and Scottie Pippen were similarly opposing at the forward spots.
Having a youn O’Neal on the roster was a luxury, as we can tell by a video that resurfaced online where we see Shaquille going 1-on-1 versus Pippen – widely considered among the best perimeter defenders in NBA history – and Gary Payton – nicknamed “The Glove” because of his exceptional defensive prowess, specifically his ability to tightly guard opposing players, making them feel like a ball trapped in a glove -.
When it came down to the actual competition at the 1996 Olympics, Shaq was a very effective asset, playing a key role in the gold-medal winning Team USA. He was a dominant force, contributing significantly to the squad’s success, though he reportedly felt his minutes in the gold medal were limited.
The 1996 squad overcame a big loss
The 1996 Olympics USA squad dominated in a similar fashion as the 1992 “Dream Team” did in Barcelona, Spain. They won each Olympic match by at least 22 points, and all but one team member (Anfernee Hardaway) became a Hall of Famer.
Charles Barkley, who was part of the 1992 USA Basketball Team, led the 1996 squad in scoring and rebounds, even though his skills began to decline. He also would’ve repped three Olympic teams had Bob Knight, citing Barkley’s defense, not cut him in 1984. Knight later said that was a mistake.
David Robinson, the Admiral, made a return to the 1996 Basketball Team, where he was a primary option and earned additional basketball stripes. He patrolled the lane like a mighty aircraft carrier for nearly 20 seasons in the NBA. He led the nation in rebounding and blocked shots in 1987 and his efforts got him the Naismith and Wooden Awards that year.
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