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 United States Men's Basketball team was special. Dubbed the "Dream Team," they represented the first American Olympic squad to feature active professional NBA players and proved to be unstoppable. Described by 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 annihilated each opponent by an average of almost 44 points per game in capturing the gold medal. They defeated Croatia in the championship game by the score of 117-85, close by their standards. The Dream Team blew out earlier opponents by the following margins: Angola (68 points); Croatia (the first time, 33); Germany (43); Brazil (44); Spain (41); Puerto Rico (38); and Lithuania (51).
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 Mike Krzyzewski. Every player on the squad brought impeccable credentials to the table, including 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. During the seven games of Olympic competition, the Dream Team was led in scoring by Barkley, who averaged 18 points per game, Jordan (14.9), Malone (13) and Mullin (12.9). At this time, 11 of the 12 players (except Laettner) and three of the four coaches (except Carlesimo) have been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
This lot features a monumental game-used, team-signed and painted official ("National Federation Approved") Molten basketball from the actual gold medal-winning game held on August 9, 1992. It comes from the personal collection of the late Chuck Daly. Two of the panels on the basketball are painted white and beautifully decorated with the five Olympic rings, "Games of the XXVth Olympiad" and a pair of logos: USA Basketball and Barcelona ’92. In addition, the basketball spells out the score of the game in red ("USA – 117, CROATIA – 85) followed by the dates and location of the competition ("July 25 – August 9, 1992 BARCELONA, SPAIN"). Another highlight of this prized lot is the collection of 12 signatures (11 players plus Head Coach Chuck Daly) found on five of the six panels. Every player except David Robinson has signed the basketball with seemingly the same black marker, and five added their Olympic uniform numbers: Laettner (#4); Drexler (#10); Malone (#11); Stockton (#12); and Mullin (#13). Truly an incredible collection of roundball talent – and outstanding signatures – on one basketball. It is arguably the most important game-used basketball ever to hit the market. And it is only fitting that it ended up in the hands of the Dream Team’s legendary head coach who orchestrated their storied run.
Includes copy of LOA from Terry Daly, Chuck's widow. Also comes with Letter of Provenance from Rich Behar, owner of SportsCard Central, who acquired many items directly from the Daly estate in 2010.
Full LOA (Y04833) from PSA/DNA for autographs.