Kobe Bryant Thinks 2012 Team Would Beat ’92 Dream Team; Charles Barkley Disagrees (VIDEO)

Not too shockingly, Kobe Bryant believes his current Olympic squad could beat the most celebrated Olympic hoops team of all time. It’s a position that Charles Barkley completely disagrees with. From USA Today: “Less than 24 hours after Kobe Bryant said he thought this year’s Olympic team would win a tough game against the Dream Team, Barkley said the game would not even be close. Barkley, speaking on The Mike Missanelli Show on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia said it would be a double digit win for the Dream Team. ‘Oh yeah, that’s no disrespect,’ Barkley said. ‘I ain’t got to badmouth them. But like I said, their point guards weren’t going to beat us. That’s a no-brainer.’ He added that ‘other than Kobe, LeBron (James) and Kevin Durant, I don’t think anybody else on that team makes our team.’”

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Tags: Charles Barkley, Dream Team, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Team USA, USA Basketball

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http://slamonline.com nbk

oh, i doubt it was 100-0 i figured that was an exaggeration, but they did say they didn’t score a single point. i thought that they were serious about that.
the king

kobe is right
Sizzle

@Dungeon, I am fairly certain you can replicate this on 2k12. Just search on xbox live for the user submitted files. I am positive there is one with both the new Olympic team and the old Olympic team.
http://slamonline.com MG

Kobe is wrong. If all the top U.S. stars were playing this year, including Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, Rajon Rondo, Derek Rose, Chris Bosh, and Kevin Garnett, then I suspect it would be close. But with those players absent, it’s clear that the ’92 team would be stronger.
the king

@dreday wrong I saw all them paly jordan is the only one that can run with them
http://www.fullc0urtpress.com KHoliday

Just heard blake griffin hurt his knee, soooo thats 1 less big body for London
C-Will

The original Dream Team would kill the 2012 Team. Don’t knock Bird or Majic or any of the others because of their ages. These guys were BIG TIME Players. Majic could break down anyone guarding him; Jordan was as good a defender as he was a scorer; Bird was not only a scorer but also an excellent passer; Pippen and Barkley could play both ends of the Court; most important of all was the fact all the Dream team players were actually true team players.
WakeUp!

OMG, wake up people! We are not talking about a ’12 team playing against the ’92 team in real time at their advanced ages and coming out of retirement. We are talking about time travel here and allowing a ’12 team to go against a prime ’92 team composed of (even today) the publicly recognized most talented players to ever play the game. Noone on this current league could come close to stopping a prime Air Jordan. Noone in this current league could back down a prime Barkley. Noone in this current league could stop a prime raw force Ewing or Robinson. There has yet to be a greater shooter than a prime Bird. There has yet to be a better pg than a prime Magic. And that’s just 5 of the staff! Give me a F@%#ing break. ’92 would blow this team out!!
DreDay

Kobe is right. The King has spoken.
DreDay

I forgot the quotations on that crap.
Brains over Braun all day bruh!!
http://slamonline.com MichaelH

These little PGs of 2012 wouldn’t touch Magic. Barkley, Malone, Robinson, Ewing (TOO BIG!!!!) Chandler?? Love?? and Dunk hero? Did anyone of you who’s routing for 2012 see Bird play? Then you also talk about DEFENSE. Melo/KD? or MALONE/PIPPEN? Give me shooters in 2012 compared to Bird and Mullin. Dynamic closers although it will never come to this (MJ, BIRD, MAGIC) 2012 = Kobe, KD is not yet seasoned, LeBron?? Is it this year’s final that will make him a closer. MJ (6) MAGIC (5), BIRD (3)championships. 11 HALL OF FAMERS compared to KOBE, LEBRON, KD, maybe CP3, MELO, D-Will.
Drexler or Harden? Com’on guys stop it.
yniko

PG
It’s really hard to compare Magic – Stockton to Paul – Westbrook
Magic – Stockton is really good at distributing the ball (slight better than Paul, way better than Westbrook) while in other hand Westbrook is one of the most athletic basketball player ever. Paul athleticism is also definitely above Magic – Stockton. In my opinion in PG position both 12 is equal with 92. But If Derick Rose plays instead of D.Will I am going to say the 12 team PG is better than dream team PG

SG
You can spend a whole year to compare which is better MJ or Kobe LOL. The difference is the back up. I think Drexler is way better than Harden or Iguodala. For me 92 SG is better than 12 SG

SF
12 has a lof of quality SF. James, KD and Melo. 92 has Pippen, Bird and Mullins. CMIIW but for me KD – James are better Pippen – Bird. The way James play is like Pippen. But he is completely in whole different level. Bird == KD (Bird is better at distributing the ball, KD is better at scoring). Melo > Mullins.
12 SF is better than 92 SF

PF
Griffin – Love – Bosh vs Malone – Barkley. Right now Love is the best PF in the world. He just needs some achievement to prove that he is the best. And Griffin is the most entertaining PF ever. Barkley plays almost like Love. They PF but they can also knock down 3 points. Malone is simply the best scorer who ever play in PF position. So I think Malone > Griffin. 92 PF is slight better than 12

C
Chandler vs Robinson – Ewing. It’s obvious that 92 C is wayyyyyy better
Even if Howard plays I think 92 C is still better. Let’s say Howard is at the same level with Robinson or Ewing
But we can’t even compare Chandler to Robinson – Ewing.
http://www.soundcloud.com/tray-5 T-Ray

Summer time really produces some dumba$$ commenters. So no one besides MJ can run with this 2012 team? Where’s JTaylor when you need em
the king

brains over dee all day go 2012
http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

@NBK, I think they were exaggerating.

I for one would think it would be a close game. But it will NEVER happen so I won’t go as far as to create an argument either way.
The Yellow Mamba

This whole debate is stupid to start with. What would you say if you were Kobe, my team is going to lose? This is just absurd.
Ann

Comeon kobe knows this team will get beat he is trying to be positive …what he is going to say we will loose before they right before they start playing in Olympic…
Ann

and Charls and Jordan are loosers for responding to Kobe for that comment
http://Slamonline.com Datkid

People have forgotten how ridiculously athletic some of the original dream team was
Will

If it was just one game, either team could win. It would have to be a best of 7 series to really find out. Missing dwyane wade and Dwight Howard is a big deal too. My gut tells me the 92 team would win in 6, but a the games would be competitive. Does Ewing and Robinson have to go out to the three point line to guard Love? That makes a big difference without those guys being at the rim. Jordan v Kobe would be so much fun to watch. I’m sure they would both try to do too much to show up the other. If you add wade and Howard I think
It’s a serious toss up. Westbrook would probably find a way to mess it up for em near the end…haha. The fact that the dream team had 11 hall of famers doesn’t mean as much as Jordan makes it seem. You can still only play 5 guts at a time and one hall of gamer doesn’t equal the next. Chris Mullen isn’t the same quality hall if famer as LeBron for example. Too bad it will never happen. My vote goes to 92 team in 6. With wade and Howard, I’m flipping a coin.
jlove23

The first thing somebody always says well guards Lebron or who guards Kobe Calm down they are only human they are not gods and they are not unstoppable. John Stockton N Magic Johnson Pg IQ is waaaaay better than the point guards on this team yea the’re faster but u got a guy like westbrook who Has a WHOLE Kevin Durant on his team and he would rather go for fifty instead of leading the league in assist. Also the key thing dat everybody is seem to be missing back then the NBA was waaaaaaay more physical than today. I mean now days the guys complain n yell n get in the refs faces but back then guys was trash talking n yelling n getting in there opponents faces. I mean lets be real they dnt have big men so all the 92 team wud have to do was go to the post where they had david robisnon ,patrick ewing , karl malone, and charles barkley who where big n very skilled n physical. Oh n they have one of the best shooters n defensive player n chris mullin . N everybody sleeping on Scootie’s Defense. All mike had to do was score easly.
http://slamonline.com nbk

And everyone talking about Magic Johnson’s age, he was younger on the Dream Team than Kobe Bryant is today. And Magic Johnson isn’t the guy who would be guarding Michael F*cking Jordan.
WakeUp!

Did somebody foolishly say that Kobe would kill Jordan because of his size and strength advantage? You must be drinking something. Kobe is 6’6 205 lbs. Jordan was 6’6 195 lbs. Where is Kobe’s advantage? The only reason Kobe would even be able to match up with Jordan is because he made a career of defining his game and skills after Jordan’s.
pposse

cosign jlove23 my sediments exactly. What is curious to me is if a guy like Kevin Durant would have survived and been relevant back in those days. My gut is tellin me a defender like Scottie would check KD all day every day
http://ywcss.com deric

all I keep seeing is who guards Lebron…Lmao.Obviously you guys didn’t see Jordan and Pippen in their prime and they were in their prime in 92 so let me ask you this: “Who the hell guards MJ”. he’s too quick for Kobe and way way too skilled….lebron would be too slow…so I’m waiting….and the best on the ball defenders would be MJ and Pippen…Obviously you tend to forget Pipp’s wingspan…there’s definitely no one who could match up with Barkley’s size at SF…he easily posts up Durant, and even Lebron…and all the rebounds would got to 92..and let’s not forget the obvious at point….Magic is 6’9 so he has the option of posting and freeing up 3 point shooters(bird, Mullin)…….also, who guards Karl Malone??? chris bosh? lmao…we’re talking 6-9 260 with post skills…huummmm….but this is futile as we’lln ever see..I’m sure they will come out with a video game now..lol
http://ywcss.com deric

I forgot to add that no one, and I do mean no one has that killer instinct that MJ had!!! no one ever will!!! The man never played in a 7th game for a reason. Duh….He never let it even come down to that. lmao..
http://ywcss.com deric

Correction, Jordan put on 15 lbs of muscle because of how the “bad boys” were fouling him. Jordan was 6’6 220 and his hangtime was unmatched by any so it would be hard to block his shot…No one played better perimeter defense than Jordan and Pippen so you can miss me with all that KB talk. With the exception of Lebron, most of them are too light in the azz for the dream team…Magic too big at guard. Malone and Barkley too big at forward…and I’m not going to even talk about the skills at Center…Chris bosh, KD, Kobe, Russell..all too light to be able to defend the original dream team…
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

LeBron is a beast but people are smoking some good sh*t if they think that Pip wouldn’t be able to neutralize him on the defensive end.
Kobe is great but the matchup between him and MJ is a mismatch on the offensive/defensive end.
The only matchup that can give the 92 squad any major problems is KD. There is only one Pippen to go around, so that leaves someone like Clyde to guard KD. Drexler was a very good defender in his heyday but he has no chance at slowing down KD.
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

So we think that LeBron’s baby post game would be effective against PIP? or the fact that he still cant attack the halfcourt off the dribble, what makes you think he would be able to do anything against Pip’s smothering D. This statement by Kobe is ridiculous, but he’s a competitor and never has never shied away from showing his ego. He did claim he was the number one of all time over Jordan. KD does pose problems for the squad except for the fact that he doesn’t play well under contact, and the international ref’s let a lot of stuff slide.
http://slamonline.com nbk

If you have KD in, that means LeBron is playing PF. Or Durant is. Which means one of them has to guard Barkley/Malone – and the other on Pippen. Which means, whoever Durant is guarding, will TORCH them. You know, When Jordan isn’t running circles around old man Kobe. Kobe’s age (and inability to adequately guard anyone….right Russell Westbrook?), the absence of size (Tyson freaking Chandler is the only Center on the roster. TYSON CHANDLER against David Robinson/Patrick Ewing!! Come on, that is the most lopsided mismatch in all of this, by a huge huge huge margin), and the problem of finding someone for a 2012 PG to guard without being totally exposed would be such absolutely daunting obstacles to overcome that i couldn’t see them winning more than 2 games MAX (assuming LeBron/Durant/Kobe one of them has one of those crazy can’t miss the basket unless their dead type of games) in a 7 game series. The Dream Team was just too much, even with an immobile Larry Bird.
http://slamonline.com LakeShow

Personally, i’m more thinking about a team with todays top talent. Like the Dream team was.
This lineup would win a few games in a best of 7 series.
CP3/D-Will/D-Rose
Kobe/Wade/Eric Gordon
KD/Bron/Melo
Bosh/Love/LA
Dwight/Bynum/Tyson
I know that goes out of the realm of what is being discussed, but that makes more sense since no one was ‘missing’ from the Dream Team (minus Larry’s soul)
Todays top talent is nearly on on level ground with the Dream Team’s.
IMHOpine
http://slamonline.com nbk

Lake, The Dream team didn’t have Hakeem Olajuwan, Isiah Thomas, or Dominique Wilkins.
.
Also Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Joe Dumars. Certainly Christian Laettner at the least was not on that team out of merit. SO if you going to take the best players from one year / generation, gotta do the same thing for the other. Or at least i think so.
http://slamonline.com LakeShow

It’s that damn Front Court.
Today there are no “dominant” big men..
Take out the Centers and I swear it’s even haha. It’s all just speculation.
I got faith in today’s ball players though.
The rules would also play a huge part. (Hand checking and such)
http://slamonline.com nbk

yeah, the difference as i see it, is mainly the front court, and the 2012′s teams inability to put their PG’s on anyone they can guard even semi adequately
http://slamonline.com LakeShow

Can Magic guard Chris Paul any better than vice versa? I don’t think so personally. Paul is a crafty, quick lil guy. No way Magic can stay in front of him any better than CP3 could defend Magics post up.
http://slamonline.com nbk

Magic can stand 10 feet away and still contest shots. Hard to beat a guy with speed when there is a 6’9″ guy and Robinson or Ewing lurking at the hoop.
http://slamonline.com nbk

at least to beat him more than he beats you. Magic was 2 years removed from an MVP award. He’s the greatest PG of all time. Who would you give the advantage too? Magic Johnson at 32 or Chris Paul? Seriously?
http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

If there’s hand checking, 1992 wins in a blowout; today’s players rely so much on having a first step. Take that away, and I’d love to see Westbrook/Blake/Deron/Harden try to score. And even a Dwight/Bynum duo pales to Hakeem/Robinson (if we’re just taking best available). If we do that…let’s go through:
—–
PG’s:
Magic>CP3
Stockton>Westbrook
Isiah>Deron
SG’s
Jordan>Kobe
Drexler=Wade
SF’s
LeBron>Scottie
Durant>Bird
Wilkins=Melo
PF’s
Malone>Love
Barkley>Griffin
C’s
Hakeem>Dwight
Robinson>Bynum
—-
If I missed players at their positions, my bad. But that’s a 12 team roster from basically the best players of the era. To me, that’s not even a close matchup. 7 game series, I’d go 4-1, 1992. Under either rules.
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

I love how someone said that “LeBron couldn’t attack the halfcourt off the dribble”. You must not have been watching LeBron since HS. The boy was born to attack the basket in the halfcourt, in the fullcourt, in the post. No one for maybe MJ, Nique and AI was better at attacking the rim. You don’t avg. 27ppg for your career when for more than half his 9 yrs in the league the boy was an average jumpshooter.
LeBron on the other end will be able to shutdown Pip with ease and would give Magic and Bird fits.
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

If we were talking about a 1 game between both squads. I would have LeBron at PG, Kobe at 2, KD at 3, KLove at 4 and TC at 5. 2012 would get killed at the center spot but Barkley would have a hard time stopping Love as Love would when guarding CB. LB would dominate KD on the offensive end but it’s not like LB was a stellar defender himself. Kobe’s will and stubbornness would ensure that he battles MJ at every turn and every cut. LeBron’s length and size ensures that Magic wouldn’t be a able to abuse him on the low block and Magic stands no choice at even slowing LeBron down.
Now it is when you get to both benches that you will see 92′s teams full strength.
http://slamonline.com LakeShow

^Nice Taylor, I like the analysis.
http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

Wilkins better than melo, not equal.
http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

JT, swap Barkley for Malone though. Mailman can beat up on Love on both ends of the floor. Then you’ve got Chuck on the bench. Crazy.
James Moore

Johnnyyyj:
“I think this is completely retarded, 1st Kobe is the best SG of all time so he would kill Michael Jordan because of the size and strength of kobe”.

They are the same size!! Both 6 foot 6. Kobe is about 9 lbs heavier so I don’t think there is any noticeable difference. Most important thing to remember is who was more dependable at crunch time. Jordan!!! That’s why he’s got 6 rings. Dream Team all the way!!
surety

While most of the analysis has been pretty good on this debate, much of it still centers on comparisons of individual talent. The main reason why the 92 team is better is because they’re better as a team. All of those players were collectively better at playing a team game than the players of today. You have guys on the 2012 team who still struggle to mesh well with their own NBA teammates. Blame that on the individualized nature of the game of today.
AQWORD

^^^ Word 2 dey Mamas ^^^
CAM

Bottom line is these new guys play in a league that is overall just weaker than the what the 92 squad came from. With that said, Kobe’s guys would get destroyed! no matter old rules or new. If you play old school new guys would not be able to handle the physical contact, they would be crying for fouls. Not to mention a Ewing or Robinson or even Malone just sitting in the paint daring anyone to go to the hole. Remember old rules mean NO 3 SEC defensive call! If you notice, back in the day everyone had to turn their back at one point if they were handling the ball. Too much contact you would get ripped. New rules 92 squad still kills em because now the game is so much easier! No big man standing in the paint waiting! Jordan and company would have a field day! Oh and you cant touch me! please! These new guys are cream puffs compared to the originals! and that’s worse than a cupcake! Also, 92 squad just has a better basket ball IQ! As well as better shooters. I don’t believe they could beat the 96 squad either. Penny, Grant Hill (before injuries) Reggie Miller, Steve Smith, Pippin, Gary Payton, Stockton, Mitch Richmond, Barkley, Malone, Shaq, D. Robinson, and Olajuwon! Man thats rough!
CAM

Oh! And if you believe Kobe is the best SG to play the game you must be really young and never got to watch MJ! No comparison! Check the Stats! Clyde Drexler was better too!
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

Lebron doesnt attack the rim in the halcourt the last time he did that effectively was against the Pistons as a cavalier. Listen I respect his greatness, but lets not act like its blasphemy to point out someones flaws; and Lebron’s most certainly is his dribble attack against a set halfcourt. Two examples to illustrate my point, the Dallas series in which they lost the chip, Jason Kidd stifled his dribble-drive attack, and by him posting up this year it eliminated his need to dribble to get to his mid-range game, thus making him more effective in the halfcourt set. Also Lebron just began to attack the post this year, fullcourt he has always been a beast. One last example is his struggle for production at the end of shot-clocks or games while he has the ball in his hands, not only do the early double teams send him into assist mode, its either that or long jumpshooting Lebron, which is where you would try to force him if you were the defensive player.
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

One last point about international ball, the zones dont have to shift like they do in the NBA. Oh and the difference also lies in the fact that as great as the 92 players were individually they are more team orientated than this years squad. Kobe being Kobe and MJ being MJ. Besides Lebron who is the glue on this team? Please get that Love would give Barkley or Malone problems thought out of your head, both of those guys would eat his lunch easy, they both are too strong for him offensively and both put in work on the defensive glass, Barkley is more athletic jumping wise then K.Love and Malone has more endurance, and both have finely tuned elbows that struck fear in the NBA back then.

Kobe Bryant Thinks 2012 Team Would Beat ’92 Dream Team; Charles Barkley Disagrees (VIDEO)

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