HOOPSANALYST

Dream Team Devolution

by Mike Goodman (8/26/04)

The '96 Olympians were almost as good as the originals. The '92 team contained all All-Stars that year, even retired Magic Johnson and Larry Bird (who did not play). Of the other 9 NBA stars, we had the whole 1st-team all-NBA and 4 from the 2nd team. We had 9 of the top 11 players from that NBA season (according to my rankings), plus Magic and Chris Mullin (#23).

The best players to miss the boat in '92 were Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigerian), Brad Daugherty (3rd team all-league), and 'Nique (injured). While Mr. Jordan declined the 1996 invitation, we still gathered a full contingent of all-leaguers. 4 from the 1st team, 4 from the 2nd, 4 from the 3rd. Besides Jordan, Shawn Kemp and Juwan Howard were left off, leaving room for some great shooters: Reggie Miller, John Stockton, and Mitch Richmond.

All 12 players were ranked in my top 30. Average rank was 12.3 (compared to 7.6 in '92). All were All-Stars, averaging 22.7 All-Star game minutes (23.2 in 1992). In all, the '96 edition was quite up there with the '92 squad.

2000 saw a radical departure, as many top players followed Michael Jordan's example and declined the honor. On this squad, we had 3 All-NBA 1st-teamers (Kevin Garnett, Gary Payton, and Jason Kidd); but only 1 each from the 2nd and 3rd units (Alonzo Mourning and Vince Carter).

Only 5 of the 12 were All-NBA, and only 7 were even All-Stars (Ray Allen and Allan Houston the others). Four didn't rank in my top 40 for the year, and one (Vin Baker) wasn't top 100. The group averaged 14.9 All-Star minutes. Average rank 30.9 (24.0 without Baker).

Now it's 2004. Tim Duncan was all-NBA first team; he's the only representative of the all-league teams. Iverson is the only other All-Star of the 12 (11). Lamar Odom is the other guy ranking in my top 20; the rest are #22-45. The 11 averaged 4.5 All-Star minutes.

HOOPSANALYST