Veteran analyst picks LBJ-led 2024 Team USA over MJ's 1992 Dream Team: "Pippen not close to Jayson Tatum and Ewing not nearly as good as Davis"
Veteran sports analyst Colin Cowherd thinks that the 2024 Team USA led by LeBron James is better than the 1992 U.S. Dream Team led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
He made a bold statement in the latest episode of FS1's "The Herd with Colin" Cowherd while discussing the U.S. squad's 86-72 victory over Canada in their tune-up game on Wednesday. Herd highlighted how this year USA has a deeper and more talented squad than the Dream Team, underscoring how today's game has significantly evolved from back in the day.
The analyst said:
"Basketball is so much better now than it's ever been. The game is incredible. Jayson Tatum did not start last night, and he's better than Scottie Pippen... Anthony Davis on this team is a much better player than Patrick Ewing.
LeBron now is much better than Magic was to me at 32 or 33 years old. Our young guys are Ant (Anthony Edwards) and Tyrese Haliburton, their young guy is Christian Laettner, give me a break. This team is old man aging very gracefully, KD, LeBron and Steph..."
"The 1992 team was amazing... But it was a very position-oriented game but players can do everything and anything now. This team's bench has starters on that team... Scottie Pippen not close to Jayson Tatum. Patrick Ewing is not nearly as good as Anthony Davis... Michael Jordan is the best to most of you all-time and that's fine, I think LeBron does more better..."
In 1992, the U.S. Dream Team swept their way to the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics with an average winning margin of 44 points.
The team was composed of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (Chicago) Magic Johnson (LA Lakers/retired), Larry Bird (Boston), Patrick Ewing (New York), David Robinson (San Antonio), Chris Mullin (Golden State), Charles Barkley (Phoenix), Clyde Drexler (Portland), John Stockton and Karl Malone (Utah) and Christian Laettner (Duke).
The same success is what James and Team USA will try to achieve in the Paris Olympics beginning later this month.
LeBron James says Team USA still finding its form but vows to be ready come the Olympics
LeBron James and Team USA struggled early in their first pre-Olympic tune-up game against Canada on Wednesday but eventually got it together to pull away with an 86-72 victory. It was something 'The King' said was to be expected but confident of addressing come the Olympic Games itself.
The LA Lakers superstar spoke about their performance against Canada and how they expect to get better moving forward.
James said:
"We know we can be a lot better, but we've only been together four days. All the miscues offensively, and the turnovers. We'll get better with that ..."
Against Canada, James, who is gunning for his third Olympic gold, finished with seven points, five rebounds and three assists.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves led the way with 13 points, followed by Steph Curry (Golden State) with 12 and Jrue Holiday (Boston) with 11 points. The LA Lakers' Anthony Davis had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with four blocks.
The rest of Team USA includes Devin Booker and Kevin Durant (Phoenix) Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Bam Adebayo (Miami) and Jayson Tatum and Derrick White (Boston).