Why did USA go to the pros in men's basketball?

Question

I wasn't paying much attention to sports when it happened so I don't know the logic behind it. Check history and USA has won 17 gold to EVERYONE else's 6. Go back to 1984 and the USA (amateur) team played the NBA all-stars in three games and won every single one of them easily.

Throwing superstars together and expecting them to act as a team just doesn't make much sport sense.

Answer 1

It makes sense to me because the pros are just that much more expierienced that the college/amateur players. So it woukd be tough to take thoes players and throw them into a situation as big as the OLYMPICS!!!

Answer 2

Basketball is global and the rest of the world has caught up...We need to re establish our dominance on top....evryone else can follow..

Answer 3

The last time the US sent amateurs in Olympic basketball back in 1988 in Seoul, we only won bronze. Not even David Robinson could handle a young and agile Arvydus Sabonis (back then for the Soviet team). The rest of the world has caught up with us The NBA pressured FIBA to lift the ban on pros to come up with the Original Dream Team in 92 to reclaim our preeminent position basketball.

Sixteen years later in 2k4, the world caught up with us again and our "Redeem" team is currently trying to restore our place on top of the basketball world.

Answer 4

That's why this years team has been together for 3 years. Maybe you should go back to not paying attention.

Answer 5

Amateurs would not do better. Preposterous.

The reason we haven't done as well is obvious, the rest of the world has caught up, back then when you mentioned the rest of the world wasn't nearly as good.

simple as that.

Answer 6

Because they wouldn't of won all the gold medals they have