Why wasnt isiah thomas and dominique wilkins part of the 1992 mens usa olympic basketball team?

Question

Why wasnt isiah thomas and dominique wilkins part of the 1992 mens usa olympic basketball team?

Answer 1

Either Dominique Wilkins or Isiah Thomas SHOULD have been on that team, instead of Christian Laettner; however, USA Basketball made their greatest mistake by not inviting both to play for the Dream Team. (Yes, greater than their 2002 Team USA FIBA World Championships team mistake!) They tried to make it up, by inviting both Thomas and Wilkins to play Dream Team II in the 1994 FIBA World Championships nut it too late. Back in 1992, They say USA Basketball snubbed zeke because he and MJ don't get along too well back then while they snubbed 'nique because they saw him as a one dimensional player; only a scorer and can't defend. It would have been awesome seeing either on that team! That would have cemented the idea that the Dream Team was indeed the greatest team ever assembled in team sports history.

Here's my version of the Dream Team (If you were allowed 3 reserves)

Center: Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson

Power Forward: Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley

Small Forward: Dominique Wilkins, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars

Point Guard: Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton

Head Coach: Chuck Daly

Assistant Coaches: Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkins, PJ Carlesimo, Coach K

Answer 2

the point guard position was already occupied by two great point guards, namely magic and stockton. and unlike these two players, isiah thomas had a score first mentality than pass first. international tournament requires guards who has a pass first mentality. with regards to dominique, bird, pippen, mullin and drexler already occupied the forward spot. these 4 players shooting level are way above dominique's. guess that's primarily the reason why.

Answer 3

they had so much depth at the Guard/Forward spot that they didnt need them

Answer 4

all i know is that isiah and jordan didn't get along during that time.

Answer 5

I dont know about Dominique Wilkins. But, I know why Isiah Thomas was not on the Dream Team and that was because of Michael Jordan and their feud. If memory serves me correct these two guys in the Allstr game before the Olympics during the NBA season Isiah Thomas started at point for the East. While, Michael Jordan was starting at G. And it was said that Isiah Thomas purposely out of hatred he had for MJ kept the ball away from him so he would not put up any points. So when the Olympic committee selected the players Iisiah refused to go because of the presence of Michael Jordan on that team and the USA Bball Organization probably knew it wasnt good for team chemistry.

And as for Nique' I dont think he had a vendetta against Air Jordan but I remember the rivalry they had in the dunk competitions maybe he did not want to join for the same reason and was just more secretive about it.

Answer 6

there was not enough room on the team