It's kinda understandable if you didn't actually watch them play. Magic had retired from the NBA because of his HIV in 1991, so it's understandable that someone just wracking their brain for who the biggest names in basketball were at the time might have not have thought to try him.
The '92 Olympic team didn't take Shaq because he had signed a huge endorsement deal with Pepsi and Coke was the official sponsor of the Olympics. Remember, 1992 was the height of the so called "Cola Wars."
@thisisfun - That is just plain wrong. Magic, Bird, and Jordan on one team? Nobody is taking that down. Wasn't Carmelo on the team that couldn't even win the gold? I think Lebron and Duncan were on that team too. They got the Bronze in 2004.
Tony Parker is from France. He wouldn't be a part of a US Olympic team. Neither would Ibaka. And if you think that bunch you called off could have taken down the '92 bunch in their prime, I feel sorry for the basketball you've been watching.
It's two very different styles of ball. I think the modern guys would give these guys a run for their money only because nearly every player on the court these days can knock down long range shots. Dirk, Durant, Love, even Mirotic from the bulls are all 6-10 or taller and can drop 3 pointers. The days of a Patrick Ewing are dwindling. You would see the dream team drive to the bucket and play with their back to the basket. You would see the modern guys shooting long range shots, and as long as they are on, they could beat this team. BUT the dream team era defense was tighter, so their looks wouldn't be as good as they are now. It makes for an interesting discussion.
It's even too mild a comparison. I have no idea that there even is a 60 point game but mention basketball and the first name that comes to mind is Michael Jordan.
Every single time, I guess Isaiah Thomas and then I'm surprised when it doesn't work. Weird, since his exclusion was such a big deal at the time. The story apparently goes that others on the team, particularly Michael Jordan, didn't want him there, and Jordan may even have refused to play if Thomas was on the team.
Then, as now, I expected a certain player from the Pistons and another from the Hawks to be on the team, probably at the expense of...well, I can't write the names without giving away answers. But the Human Highlight Film was injured, and the Pistons player was not popular with the other players.
BOOMSHAKALAKA!