Former NBA star Tracy McGrady recently offered his opinion on how the 2024 Team USA compares to the legendary 1992 Dream Team.
McGrady did not hesitate when asked to compare the two squads. “The Dream Team is better,” McGrady said.
He emphasized that the dominance of the Dream Team was unmatched, noting how they intimidated every opponent they faced.
“They had everybody on the court intimidated. That’s why they blew ‘em out by 50,” McGrady added during the interview.
The 2024 Team USA, dubbed “The Avengers” by LeBron James, recently secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Led by a blend of veteran superstars and rising stars, they won games with an average margin of 15 points.
Despite their overall success, the Americans faced stiffer competition in certain games, winning by just four points against Serbia in the semifinals.
In the gold medal game against France, Team USA claimed an 11-point victory to secure the championship.
The roster of the 2024 team featured big names like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid.
It also included emerging talent like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Derrick White.
While the 2024 team undoubtedly had significant talent, McGrady’s comparison focused on the sheer dominance of the Dream Team.
The 1992 Dream Team is widely regarded as the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Their roster was packed with Hall of Fame players, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
They dominated their competition during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, winning games by an average of 43.8 points.
Their presence on the court was so overwhelming that opponents often sought autographs and photos rather than seriously competing.
In contrast, the 2024 Team USA faced more competitive international teams, a testament to the evolving global talent in basketball.
Though they won gold, their path to victory involved closer games, highlighting how much the landscape of international basketball has improved since the days of the Dream Team.
However, McGrady’s point was clear—despite the growth of international competition, the dominance and intimidation factor of the 1992 Dream Team was on a completely different level.
