During the summer of 1992, a group of 12 American basketball players set off to win an Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, Spain. Only this particular group, competing as the 1992 U.S. Men's Basketball team, was dubbed the "Dream Team." They represented the first American Olympic squad to feature active NBA players and proved to be an unstoppable juggernaut. Described by many American journalists as the greatest sports team ever assembled and called "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet" by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the unbeatable bunch obliterated every opponent by an average of 44 points per game in capturing the gold medal.
Led by co-captains Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the team was coached by longtime Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly who was assisted by fellow NBA coaches Lenny Wilkens and P.J. Carlesimo along with Duke's legendary "Coach K," Mike Krzyzewski. Every player on the squad brought impeccable credentials to the table including Magic, Bird, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen and David Robinson. The 12th and final player was the reigning NCAA Player of the Year out of Duke, Christian Laettner.
Presented here is Laettners’ Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction ring awarded to him in 2010 as a member of the famous USA Basketball that ran away with the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Only 16 "Dream Team" Hall of Fame rings (12 players and 4 coaches) were ever issued by Naismith, and this is just the second example offered publicly (we previously listed assistant coach Wilkens' ring). The likelihood that any of the other 11 player rings ever come up for auction is extremely slim.
The yellow Lustrium ring, made by Jostens, boasts a CZ at the center atop a small gold wreath and red stone backdrop, encircled by the words "Basketball Hall of Fame." On the left shank is "OLYMPIC TEAM" in bold relief atop a figural relief of two players contesting for the ball. On the right shank is "1992" in bold relief over the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame shield logo. The inside of the band is hallmarked "YLTM" with the Jostens logo. The massive size 16 ring (weighing 24 grams) shows a light amount of wear and displays wonderfully. It comes directly from Laettner's personal collection with a letter of provenance.