1992 Dream Team should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame?

Question

Why is the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Dream Team not inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame yet?! They do induct teams. Arguably, this team made the most impact on the game of basketball, more than any other, because of its performance in 1992. Basketball became global due to this team. Maybe someone should start a petition...

Answer 1

Yes. Beat every team by an average margin of 42 ppg. That is unreachable these days.

Answer 2

I totally agree. The Dream Team definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame. No other team comes close to surpassing the greatness that the Dream Team had.

In response to the previous posts:

I also totally agree that Christian Laettner did not deserve to be on that team. USA Basketball should have chosen either Isiah Thomas or Dominique Wilkins to be on the Dream Team.

Yes, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame do induct non-NBA teams, players, coaches, TV commentators and referees. They have done so in the past like college, foreign and women's division players, coaches and teams. They even inducted the Harlem Globetrotters!

Answer 3

I agree. Most of the players on that team. Actually, all of the players on that team except Christian Laetner belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

Answer 4

Thats a good question... They should have been inducted already.. They were the best team ever put assembled.. I know theres a waiting period to be inducted but im sure there is a rule for inducting a whole team into the hall of fame

Answer 5

because not everyone on the team is eligible for even a nomination.

there's a 5 year wait from the last day you played pro for a person to submit a nomination.

P.S. If Christian Laettner doesn't deserve a nomination, then so shouldn't Kobe... ROFL!  Bunch of haters.  Laettner actually averaged 17 points and 9 rebound in the NBA during the 90's against competition such as Sir Charles, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem the Dream, and David Robinson.

Answer 6

Laettner averaged 18.2 ppg and 8.7 reb/game as a rookie...that was his best season.  

He ended up as a 12 pt 7 reb a game player for his career.

If anything, he's the reason that the team HASN'T been inducted.

FG%, 1992 Olympics:

Laettner  -   45.0%

Jordan   -    45.1%

Everyone else was 50% or better...most were WELL OVER 50%

You can find the Olympic Team's results and stats here:

http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?ne...

USA  116  Angola  48

USA  103  Croatia 70

USA  111 Germany 68

USA  127  Brazil   83

USA  122  Spain  81

USA  115  Puerto Rico 77

USA  127  Lithuania  76

USA  117  Croatia  85  (Gold Medal Game, this was as close as anyone got to them)

And that team wasn't put together over a 3 year period, either. Those guys didn't need to practice together for 3 years in order to have a shot at the gold... that's because they all knew how to play basketball.

If Yao Ming makes the HOF some day because of his international impact, then the '92 team should definitely be in there as well, for the same reason.

Answer 7

Im not completely familiar with the Naismith Hall of Fame and im not going to lie, my knowledge of the 1992 US basketball team is minimal, but i think the Hall of Fame can only induct NBA teams.  The 1992 "Dream Team" is not an NBA team.  One example is Christian Laettner, who actually was playing in college when he joined team USA.