Speaking in a segment on the 'BIG podcast,' former NBA big man Shaquille O'Neal detailed his experience during the '90s Olympics. While he was left off the iconic 1992 Dream Team, he made the cut in 1994 and again in 1996 for the 'Dream Team III' which he says would have destroyed the original.
“I made the Dream Team II but that was the world games. I didn't make the 92 team but they wanted to appease me and put me on the '94 team. Then they put me on the Dream Team III. It was a joke... It was easy, but now it’s not so easy. I know you got LeBron and those guys coming back, it ain't gonna be easy like it used to be. I remember when we were here and Europe was here… now the gaps really, really close. Dream Team II could have killed Dream Team I. '94 is Dream Team II and we could've beaten Jordan... easily."
The original Dream Team went viral in the 90s for its collection of legends and talent. From Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson to Larry Bird and Charles Barkley, the roster was complete with proven stars at every position. Naturally, they went undefeated in the tournament and had the entire world mesmerized with their dominance of the sport .
Shaq was apparently in play for the Dream Team as a rookie fresh out of college but he was left off the roster over Christian Laettner in the summer of '92. Two years later, however, he was one of the first players invited to participate in the World Games, which the USA would go on to win with him and legends such as Derrick Coleman, Joe Dumars, Kevin Johnson, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Dan Majerle, Reggie Miller, Alonzo Mourning, Mark Price, Steve Smith and Dominique Wilkins. O'Neal averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds. He recorded two double-doubles and went a perfect 8-0 in the tournament.
O'Neal was also on the team during their run in the 1996 Olympics. O'Neal, 24, was joined by Penny Hardaway, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Hakeem Olajuwon, Grant Hill, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, and Karl Malone. The team, dubbed "Dream Team III" also won the gold medal that year after a 95–69 win over Yugoslavia.
Shaq averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in the tournament and totaled 8 blocks over eight games. He was crucial in their undefeated run to win the gold.
But after USA coach Lenny Wilkens decided to play David Robinson more minutes in the gold medal game, things changed for Diesel. He took the decision as a personal slight and turned down the chance to participate in any more Olympics after that, refusing invitations to join the team in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
With two gold medals, Shaq decided he was finished and he still looks back with pride on his short stints with Team USA. While the world was unable to keep up with Team USA back then, they were as close to unbeatable as any team could get with legends like Shaq, Hakeem, Barkley, and Reggie Miller putting their talents together.
Even with no Jordan, Bird, or Magic Johnson, I believe the 'Dream Team' sequels would have been enough to challenge the '92 squad and Shaq clearly agrees. It's just a shame we'll never get a chance to see the matchup for ourselves.
Related: Gilbert Arenas On Shaquille O'Neal In The Modern NBA: "Can You Average 60 And 34?"
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