Before going into his game against Team USA Men’s Basketball in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Serbian national squad head coach Svetislav Pesic stated that the Team USA squad was the best team in basketball history, better than even the vaunted 1992 Dream Team.
“We are playing against an exceptional team,” Pesic told Meridiansport. “I think it is the best team in national team’s basketball history.”
But does the 2024 Team USA Men’s Basketball squad, who took home the gold medal after defeating France 98-87 in the championship round, have the credentials and star power to rank them higher than the iconic 1992 Dream Team, one of the most, if not the most legendary assemblage of players in sports history?
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes so, even going so far as to say that the crux of this year’s team, Lebron, Steph and Durant are better than Jordan, Magic and Bird, the revered triumvirate of the 1992 squad.
“I’m gonna put a lot respect to the old heads when you talk about Larry, Magic, and Jordan,” he said. “I mean you think about. Bird and Magic they saved the game of basketball. Jordan was Disneyworld to to the game of basketball. I still got J’s on my feet. My closet is filled with Js. Great.”
Perkins started with Steph Curry, whose playing style and shooting proficiency he believes has changed the game of basketball forever.
“When it comes to Steph, KD, and Bron, it’s just different” Perkins said. “It’s just different. What they done for the game of basketball. We talk about Steph Curry, right, has changed the game forever. Has completely changed the point guard position. He has given hope to all the undersized athletes in a basketball world that they could make just solely based on how he’s able to move without the ball, his skill, and most importantly his shooting. The greatest shooter of all time.”
Perkins then shared his thoughts on Kevin Durant, who he believes is the greatest scorer in Team USA Men’s Basketball history.
“Then you go over to Kevin Durant,” Perkins continued. “Kevin Durant in my eyes is the greatest scorer to ever touch the damn basketball. When you talk about being 7 foot, 7’1, I know he says his 6’9 but I beg to differ and when it comes down to him putting the ball in the bucket, we’ve never seen nothing like this in life. Again he has changed the game of basketball. That’s why we’re seeing guys like Victor Wembanyama at 7’4, 7’5 that’s able to step out on the wing and give you two dribble pull ups, has the in and outs, and things of that nature. It’s because of KD. He’s efficient. He gets it done. Multiple scoring titles. Two time finals MVP. One time MVP.”
Perkins then shared his thoughts on LeBron James, whose description he kept short and sweet on account of LeBron’s resume speaking for itself.
“What can we say?” Perkins said. “He’s going to be eligible for his pension in about five years and he’s still going strong. Still one of the best players in the game. The most important player to basketball and his resume speaks for itself. “
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