"Those guys were on their way out" - Kevin Johnson reckoned Dream Team II would've beaten the original Dream Team

The original Dream Team's dominance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is still considered the pinnacle of basketball talent. With eleven future Hall of Famers out of twelve players on the roster, with the exception of Laettner, it is only fitting that the Dream Team is regarded as the greatest basketball team ever assembled.

However, Dream Team II member and 3-time NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson once stirred the pot of basketball conversation by suggesting that the younger Dream Team II would have torched their predecessors in a real game.

"They say Dream Team I was the greatest assembly of talent ever. But a lot of those guys were on their way out," KJ told Fastbreak Magazine in 1994. "If we had to play them now, of course, I'd say the younger guys would win. But if we played those guys when they were in their prime - a young Magic Johnson, a young Larry Bird without the back problems, an enthusiastic Michael Jordan - then it might be a different story."

MJ begged to differ

Johnson understandably sided with the second iteration of the Dream Team not only because he was part of it but also because of the undeniable talent stacked on that roster. Like the original, Dream Team II also had dominant players such as Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Reggie Miller, and Dominique Wilkins, to name a few.

Though Dream Team II was also star-studded, Jordan, who averaged 14.9 points during the '92 Barcelona Olympics, was confident that the original Dream Team would have easily beaten that squad on any given day.

"Those guys are on the right team because they're definitely dreaming," MJ once said of the debate at the time. "Not only was Dream Team I better, but we could beat them right now."

An underrated debate in basketball

In retrospect, both the original Dream Team and Dream Team II were iconic squads that not only dominated their competition but also changed the landscape of international basketball.

The original Dream Team is credited for setting a high standard by showcasing exceptional chemistry and consistency. On the other hand, while not receiving the same level of acclaim, the Dream Team II did not fail to uphold the legacy established by its predecessor team.

Like the originals, Dream Team II also beat their rivals by large margins, not at the Olympics, though, but at the FIBA World Championships. More importantly, they also took home the gold medal for the country as well.

All told, this makes the original Dream Team vs. Dream Team II one of basketball's most interesting and underrated debates.

Related: "We were beating teams by 50" - Larry Johnson wants people to remember the Dream Team II ahead of the 2024 Olympics