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Top 5 Worst Dream Teamers
By: Joel Brigham Last Updated: 8/25/10 12:18 AM ET
In 1992, the United States allowed professional basketball players to represent their country in international play for the first time, and the result was what will forever be known as the Dream Team. As evidenced by their recent enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame, they were probably the single greatest compilation of players in the history of the game.
But despite the fact that so many elite players all came together on the same roster, there was one player who just didn't seem to fit the mold. That player was Christian Laettner, the lone collegiate athlete on the squad who, despite having a great career at Duke never really made much of a name for himself in the NBA.
That got me thinking about other Team USA players over the last 18 years, since the inception of professionals in the international game, who weren't always quite up to the exclusive level of their teammates. Laettner, of course, is on the list, but the really surprising thing is that he's not rated #1.
Here's a look at the players who were added to a Team USA roster, either for the Olympics or the World Championships, yet never quite did live up to their superstar teammates.
(Note: I'm not including the 2010 WC rosters, in case you're wondering why there's nobody from that roster on this list).
#5 – Antonio Davis (2002 World Championships) – There's no questioning that Antonio Davis was always a hard-nosed, aggressive post presence in the NBA, but his career averages of 10 points and 7.5 rebounds give the impression that he was never really more than an above-average player. He no doubt was added to the WC roster to provide some girth for the frontline, but we can't say that he's as dominant as players like Reggie Miller, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and several others from that same roster.
Top 5 Worst Dream Teamers
By: Joel Brigham Last Updated: 8/25/10 12:18 AM ET
In 1992, the United States allowed professional basketball players to represent their country in international play for the first time, and the result was what will forever be known as the Dream Team. As evidenced by their recent enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame, they were probably the single greatest compilation of players in the history of the game.
But despite the fact that so many elite players all came together on the same roster, there was one player who just didn't seem to fit the mold. That player was Christian Laettner, the lone collegiate athlete on the squad who, despite having a great career at Duke never really made much of a name for himself in the NBA.
That got me thinking about other Team USA players over the last 18 years, since the inception of professionals in the international game, who weren't always quite up to the exclusive level of their teammates. Laettner, of course, is on the list, but the really surprising thing is that he's not rated #1.
Here's a look at the players who were added to a Team USA roster, either for the Olympics or the World Championships, yet never quite did live up to their superstar teammates.
(Note: I'm not including the 2010 WC rosters, in case you're wondering why there's nobody from that roster on this list).
#5 – Antonio Davis (2002 World Championships) – There's no questioning that Antonio Davis was always a hard-nosed, aggressive post presence in the NBA, but his career averages of 10 points and 7.5 rebounds give the impression that he was never really more than an above-average player. He no doubt was added to the WC roster to provide some girth for the frontline, but we can't say that he's as dominant as players like Reggie Miller, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and several others from that same roster.
Didn't Davis play for the Raptors both in 2001-02 and 2002-03?
The 2002 team then had three or was it more players that have played part of their career with the Raptors. Not too bad
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