Featured here is a pair of ticket stubs from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics U.S. Men's Basketball "Dream Team." Each ticket has been autographed by Dream Team member Christian Laettner and they come directly from his personal collection. He says they were each used by his mother who attended every game during the tournament.
The Dream Team was a groundbreaking squad. It was the first American Olympic team to include active professional players from the NBA, marking a new era in international basketball. Widely regarded as the greatest sports team ever assembled, the Dream Team showcased unparalleled talent and skill on the court. During the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, the Dream Team dominated their opponents, winning games by an average of 44 points. Their exceptional performance culminated in a gold medal victory against Croatia.
USA defeated Germany, 111-68, in their Group A stage matchup on July 29, 1992. Larry Bird led all scoreres with 19 points and Michael Jordan had 12 assists. Laettner had a nice game off the bench with six points, four rebounds and three steals. NBA All-Star forward Detlet Schrempf led Germany with 15 points and eight rebounds. This stub has a few dimples but no other noticeable surface issues. Still,. PSA gave it a PR 1 grade. Laettner's bold black marker signature with his Olympic number "4" inscribed get a perfect 10 grade from PSA/DNA. Only one other dual-grade example is found in the PSA pop, and it is also graded PR 1 (auto grade unknown).
The other stub is from USA's 127-83 drubbing of Brazil in another Group A stage game on July 31, 1992. Charles Barkley led all scorers with 30 points, Patrick Ewing grabbed nine rebounds, and Clyde Drexler dished out ten assists. PSA graded this stub GD 2 and Laettner's blue pen autograph received a 9 grade. No other dual-grade examples exist in the PSA pop.
Recognizing their exceptional contributions to the game, the Dream Team was collectively inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. The Naismith Hall of Fame has hailed them as "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet." Furthermore, 11 players and three coaches from the Dream Team have also been individually inducted into the prestigious Naismith Hall of Fame.
The selection process for the Dream Team was highly competitive. The committee considered numerous college players, including Harold Miner, Jimmy Jackson, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, and Christian Laettner. O'Neal, who went on to become the number-one pick in the 1992 NBA draft, was a strong contender. However, Laettner's exceptional performance at Duke University, where his team won back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992, set him apart. Coached by the renowned Mike Krzyzewski, Laettner was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and played a pivotal role in the 1992 NCAA Eastern Regional final, scoring the game-winning basket as time expired. Although O'Neal was also a two-time Consensus NCAA First Team All-American, Laettner's college success and the endorsement of his coach secured his position on the Dream Team.
Includes LOA from Laettner.