Members of Team USA spoke about which players from the iconic 1992 Dream Team their games are similar to. Kevin Durant claimed his game was similar to Michael Jordan’s. Jayson Tatum likened himself to fellow Celtics legend Larry Bird, with Stephen Curry doing the same, comparing his game to Warriors legend Chris Mullin.
Kevin Durant: “Yeah I know who was on the team. Michael Jordan”
Jayson Tatum: “I’m a Celtic. People will like this, I’mma say Larry Bird.”
Stephen Curry: “Chris Mullin, two great shooters.”
Devin Booker: “I wouldn’t compare myself to any of those guys. I have a lot of respect for them.”
Anthony Edwards: “Ahhh, no.”
Reporter: “Is there a player from Dream Team that you think your game resembles?”
Kevin Durant: “Michael Jordan.”
Jayson Tatum: “Larry Bird.”
Steph Curry: “Chris Mullin.”
Anthony Edwards: “Ahh no.” 😅
(via @FIBA)pic.twitter.com/QWTvFl1CQV
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 25, 2024
Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards notably refused to name comparisons from the Dream Team. Booker was respectful, whereas Edwards was his usual nonchalant self. But the players that did give comparisons did make some interesting parallels to their Dream Team counterparts.
Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan play different positions, with MJ working as a guard, or even a small forward, whereas Durant plays a forward position almost exclusively. With both players being known for their mid-range scoring, the comparison does seem valid.
As for Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird, their similarities begin and end with them being Celtics superstars. Bird was an incredible shooter, whereas Tatum’s game involves more slashing thanks to his athleticism. However, Tatum is also a decent shooter so one can see where he is coming from.
As for Stephen Curry and Chris Mullin, both aren’t just Warriors legends but are also recognized as all-time great shooters, with Curry being considered the greatest shooter of all time. Other Team USA stars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Haliburton didn’t make any comments in this video.
Is 2024 Team USA Better Than The Dream Team?
There has been a lot of discussion about the quality of Team USA’s roster in 2024, compared to the iconic 1992 Dream Team that won gold at the Olympics in Barcelona. Recently, Charles Barkley spoke about why his 1992 Team USA roster was better than 2024’s Team USA roster.
It should be noted that the level of competition on the global stage right now is far higher than it was in 1992. Team USA in 2024 will face at least 61 active NBA players, whereas the Dream Team only faced 9 active players in the NBA during their dominant run to the gold medal.
Considering the depth of the roster, there is a fair argument to be made on either side. The three defining players of a generation are joined by several superstars in the league on both teams, and one just has to decide which one they prefer.
Of course, this argument will fall apart if Team USA fails to win gold at the Paris Olympics. If 2024’s team can’t secure gold at the Olympics like the Dream Team, any comparisons between the two will not be merited as they didn’t achieve the same levels of success at the highest level of Olympic basketball.