April 29, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Louisiana Tech legend Karl Malone is one of the 12 players of the star-studded 1992 Team USA "Dream Team" that has been nominated for the U. S. Olympic Hall of Fame, and fans can propel Malone and his teammates into the honor by voting.
From now through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame. The inducted class will include five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians and USOC representatives. For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.
1992 Dream Team
From the start they were penciled in as the 1992 Olympic gold medalist team. The media, their opponents, and fans of basketball all agreed that this team would be unbeatable. And it was. Featuring basketball's best of the best, the U.S. men were never challenged in their eight-game run to the gold medal as a new era of international basketball made its debut. International rules, which had previously prevented only NBA players from being eligible for Olympic basketball, were changed by the FIBA membership on April 7, 1989, by virtue of a 56-13 vote in favor of "open competition." With the rule change, USA Basketball set forth on its mission of assembling the best possible team. Featuring eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Patrick Ewing, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Karl Malone, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Chris Mullin, eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Scottie Pippen, eventual three-time Olympian David Robinson and eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist John Stockton, the U.S. squad averaged an Olympic record 117.3 points a game. In fact, the USA won by an average of 43.8 points and the closest any opponent could come was 32 points (117-85 versus Croatia in the gold medal game). "You will see a team of professionals in the Olympics again," said USA coach Chuck Daly. "But I don't think you'll see another team quite like this. This was a majestic team."
1992 USA Men's Olympic Team Roster
NAME POS HGT WGT AGE AFFILIATION (SCHOOL) HOMETOWN
Charles Barkley F 6-6 250 29 Phoenix Suns (Auburn) Bala Cynwyd, PA
Larry Bird F 6-9 220 35 Boston Celtics (Indiana State) Brookline, MA
Clyde Drexler G 6-7 222 30 Portland Trail Blazers (Houston) Portland, OR
Patrick Ewing C 7-0 240 30 New York Knicks (Georgetown) Fort Lee, NJ
Earvin Johnson G 6-9 220 32 Los Angeles Lakers (Michigan State) Beverly Hills, CA
Michael Jordan G 6-6 198 29 Chicago Bulls (North Carolina) Chicago, IL
Christian Laettner F 6-11 235 22 Duke University Angola, NY
Karl Malone F 6-9 256 29 Utah Jazz (Louisiana Tech) Salt Lake City, UT
Chris Mullin F 6-7 215 29 Golden State Warriors (St. John's) Alamo, CA
Scottie Pippen G/F 6-7 210 26 Chicago Bulls (Central Arkansas) Northbrook, IL
David Robinson C 7-1 235 27 San Antonio Spurs (U.S. Naval Acd.) San Antonio, TX
John Stockton G 6-1 175 30 Utah Jazz (Gonzaga) Salt Lake City, UT
HEAD COACH: Chuck Daly, New Jersey Nets
ASSISTANT COACH: Lenny Wilkens, Cleveland Cavaliers
ASSISTANT COACH: P.J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall
ASSISTANT COACH: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University (NC)
TEAM PHYSICIAN: David Fischer, Minneapolis, MN
TEAM PHYSICIAN: Steve Lombardo, Los Angeles Lakers
TEAM PHYSICIAN: Norman Scott, New York Knicks
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Ed Lacerte, Boston Celtics
