With Beijing only a few weeks away, here are some U.S. Olympics teams based on their pro careers.  Players are placed in the last Olympic year they would have been amateurs if they had stayed in school for four years (not more, not less) and had started college directly after finishing high school.  (No early entrants, no redshirts, no prep schools.)   

 

The players did not need to achieve any specific standards to make their respective Olympic teams.  I just picked what I considered the best 12-man team.  (For 1936 and 1940 I just picked 5 starters.)  I picked Bob Kurland for the 1944 team based on his AAU and Olympic careers following college.  I picked Hank Luisetti for the 1936 team because he deserved it.  Otherwise I chose players based on my perception of their achievements in professional basketball.

 

Any player not born in the U.S. was considered international.  In a couple of cases the player actually grew up in the U.S., but nobody who was born outside the U.S. that grew up in the U.S. would have made any of my teams anyway.

 

Every player listed under “others” or “international” achieved one of more of the following:

 

Hall of Fame

MVP (NBA, ABA)

Defensive Player of the Year (NBA)

Rookie of the Year (NBA, ABA)

Sixth Man of the Year (NBA)

All Star (NBA, ABA)

All League (NBA, ABA, BAA) 1^st tean, 2^nd team, 3^rd team

All Defensive Team (NBA) 1^st team, 2^nd team

15,000 Points (NBA, ABA, and/or BAA)

10,000 Rebounds (NBA, ABA, and/or BAA)

5,000 Assists (NBA, ABA, and/or BAA)

2,000 Steals (NBA and/or ABA)

2,000 Blocks (NBA and/or ABA)

30 Points Per Game Season (NBA, ABA, BAA)

20 Points Per Game Career (NBA, ABA, BAA)

20 Rebounds Per Game Season (NBA, ABA)

10 Assists Per Game Season (NBA, ABA, BAA)

Single Game Scoring Record (NBA, ABA, BAA)

Single Game Assists Record (NBA)

League Leader Points or Points Per Game (NBA, ABA, BAA)

League Leader Rebounds or Rebounds Per Game (NBA, ABA)

League Leader Assists or Assists Per Game (NBA, ABA)

League Leader Steals or Steals Per Game (NBA, ABA)

League Leader Blocks or Blocks Per Game (NBA, ABA)

League Leader Field Goal Percentage (NBA, ABA, BAA)

League Leader Free Throw Percentage (NBA, ABA, BAA)

NBA First Overall Draft Pick (starting 1966, when the territorial option was eliminated)

NCAA National Player of the Year (Wooden, Naismith, Rupp, UPI, NABC)

 

Obviously a number of active players will eventually achieve one or more of these standards and qualify as one of the “other” or “international” players.

 

Here are the teams.  Amazing how dramatic the differences in quality are from one Olympic to another, both overall (i.e. lousy teams in 1988 and 1992 between great teams in 1984 and 1996) and at particular positions (the 2000 team basically has no centers, while the 1968 team has SEVEN Hall of Famers who were NBA centers at some point, plus Artis Gilmore, who should be in the Hall of Fame.)

 

2008

 

Obviously some speculation on my part was necessary for this team.   

 

GUARDS

(starters) O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose

(reserves) Monta Ellis

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant

(reserves) Rudy Gay, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Josh Smith

(others) Tyler Hansbrough

 

CENTERS

(starter) Dwight Howard

(reserves) Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden

 

INTERNATIONAL

Andrea Bargnani, Andrew Bogut

 

2004

 

Apologies to Chris Kaman and David Lee.  They are actually two of the five best U.S.-born white players to debut in the NBA this century.

 

GUARDS

(starters) Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade

(reserves) Kevin Martin, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams

(others) T.J. Ford, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Gerald Wallace

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Chris Bosh, LeBron James

(forwards) Carmelo Anthony, Danny Granger, Emeka Okafor

(others) Adam Morrison

 

CENTERS

(starter) Amare Stoudemire

(reserve) Tyson Chandler

(others) Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry

 

INTERNATIONAL

Andris Biedrins, Ben Gordon

 

2000

 

GUARDS

(starters) Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant

(reserves) Baron Davis, Rip Hamilton, Michael Redd

(others) Steve Francis, Kirk Hinrich, Joe Johnson, Larry Hughes, Kyle Korver,

Mike Miller, Jay Williams

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Elton Brand, Tracy McGrady

(reserves) Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Tayshaun Prince

(others) Shane Battier, Caron Butler, Drew Gooden, Josh Howard, Rashard Lewis, Kenyon Martin, David West

 

CENTERS

(starter) Jermaine O’Neal

(reserve) Carlos Boozer

(other) Nick Collison

 

INTERNATIONAL

Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Andrei Kirilenko,

Jamaal Magloire, Yao Ming, Mehmet Okur, Tony Parker

 

Jamal Crawford, Stephen Jackson, Richard Jefferson, Corey Maggette, Lamar Odom, Zach Randolph and Jason Richardson all seem candidates to qualify as one of the “other” players eventually.

 

1996

 

GUARDS

(starters) Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd

(reserves) Ray Allen, Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse

(others) Bobby Jackson, Brevin Knight, Stephon Marbury, Andre Miller

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce

(reserves) Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace

(others) Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antonio McDyess, Glenn Robinson, Joe Smith,

Antoine Walker, Corliss Williamson

 

CENTER

(starter) Ben Wallace

(reserve) Marcus Camby or Brad Miller (Do you want offense or defense?)

(other) Mikki Moore

 

INTERNATIONAL

Tim Duncan, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Olowokandi,

Peja Stojakovic, Wally Szczerbiak

 

1992

 

GUARDS

(starters) Penny Hardaway, Latrell Sprewell

(reserves) Sam Cassell, Michael Finley, Eddie Jones

(others) Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Kenny Anderson, Terrell Brandon, Doug Christie,

Allan Houston, Jimmy Jackson, Aaron McKie, Shawn Respert, Eric Snow,

Damon Stoudamire, Nick Van Exel

 

I am sure Bobby Hurley would have made this team if he had not had the car crash.

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Grant Hill, Chris Webber

(reserves) Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Shawn Kemp

(others) Vin Baker, P.J. Brown, Cedric Ceballos, Calbert Cheaney, Tom Gugliotta, Juwan Howard, Christian Laettner, Jamal Mashburn, Ed O’Bannon, Rodney Rogers

 

CENTERS

(starter) Shaquille O’Neal

(reserve) Alonzo Mourning

(other) Theo Ratliff

 

INTERNATIONAL

Shawn Bradley, Toni Kukoc, Georghe Muresan

 

1988

 

GUARDS

(starters) Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond

(reserves) Mookie Blaylock, Tim Hardaway, Dan Majerle

(others) B.J. Armstrong, Darrell Armstrong, Dana Barros, Kendall Gill, Gary Grant, Hersey Hawkins, Avery Johnson, Bobby Phills, Steve Smith, John Starks, Rod Strickland, Michael Williams

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Sean Elliott, Danny Manning

(reserves) Larry Johnson, Glen Rice

(others) Stacey Augmon, Dale Davis, Danny Ferry, Chris Gatling, Tyrone Hill,

Grant Long, Anthony Mason, Derrick McKey, Lionel Simmons, Jayson Williams

 

CENTERS

(starter) Clifford Robinson

(reserve) Derrick Coleman, Antonio Davis

(other) Elden Campbell

 

INTERNATIONAL

Vlade Divac, Dikembe Mutombo, Drazen Petrovic, Rik Smits

 

1984

 

Mark Price and Dennis Rodman do not make the team.

 

Neither does Len Bias.

 

GUARDS

(starters) Michael Jordan, John Stockton

(reserves) Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars, Kevin Johnson, Reggie Miller

(others) Michael Adams, Muggsy Bogues, Dell Curry, Derek Harper, Ron Harper,

Jeff Hornacek, Mark Jackson, Reggie Lewis, Nate McMillan, Terry Porter, Mark Price, Doc Rivers, Alvin Robertson, Byron Scott, Spud Webb

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen

(reserves) Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin

(others) Walter Berry, Michael Cage, Tyrone Corbin, Horace Grant, A.C. Green,

Jerome Kersey, Xavier McDaniel, Johnny Newman, Charles Oakley, Chuck Person, Dennis Rodman, Otis Thorpe

 

CENTERS

(starter) David Robinson

(reserves) Patrick Ewing

(others) Brad Daugherty, Kevin Duckworth, Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, Kevin Willis

 

INTERNATIONAL

Manute Bol, Hakeem Olajuwon, Olden Polynice, Detlef Schrempf

 

1980

 

GUARDS

(starters) Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas

(reserves) Danny Ainge, Andrew Toney

(others) Dale Ellis, Sleepy Floyd, Darrell Griffith, Bill Hanzlik, Fat Lever, Jeff Malone, Ricky Pierce

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Kevin McHale, Dominique Wilkins

(reserves) Mark Aguirre, Tom Chambers, Terry Cummings, James Worthy

(others) Eddie Johnson, Rick Mahorn, Rodney McCray, Larry Nance, Paul Pressey, Danny Schayes, Kelly Tripucka, Kiki Vandeweghe, Danny Vranes, Buck Williams

 

CENTERS

(starter) Ralph Sampson

(reserve) Mark Eaton

(others) Joe Barry Carroll, Steve Johnson, Jeff Ruland, Mark West, Herb Williams

 

INTERNATIONAL

Rolando Blackman, James Donaldson

 

1976

 

GUARDS

(starters) Dennis Johnson, Sidney Moncrief

(reserves) Maurice Cheeks, Walter Davis

(others) Otis Birdsong, Dudley Bradley, Quinn Buckner, Michael Cooper, T.R. Dunn, Phil Ford, World Free, Rickey Green, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Jordan, Butch Lee,

Ron Lee, John Lucas, Kyle Macy, Johnny Moore, Norm Nixon, Jim Paxson,

Michael Ray Richardson, Reggie Theus

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Larry Bird, Bernard King

(reserves) Adrian Dantley, Alex English, Marques Johnson

(others) John Drew, Cedric Maxwell, Scott May, Mike Mitchell, Calvin Natt,

Lonnie Shelton, John Shumate

 

CENTERS

(starter) Moses Malone

(reserves) Robert Parish, Jack Sikma

(others) Alvan Adams, Kent Benson, Bill Cartwright, James Edwards, Bill Laimbeer, Tree Rollins

 

INTERNATIONAL

Mychal Thompson

 

1972

 

GUARDS

(starters) George Gervin, Paul Westphal

(reserves) Don Buse, David Thompson, Gus Williams

(others) Phil Chenier, Doug Collins, Ernie DiGregorio, Lionel Hollins, Kevin Porter,

Jim Price, James Silas, Phil Smith, Brian Taylor, Dave Twardzik, Slick Watts,

John Williamson, Brian Winters

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Julius Erving, George McGinnis

(reserves) Bobby Jones, Maurice Lucas, Jamaal Wilkes

(others) Marvin Barnes, Jim Brewer, M.L. Carr, E.C. Coleman, Bob Gross, Larry Kenon, Billy Knight, Truck Robinson, Dan Roundfield, Campy Russell, Kermit Washington, Scott Wedman

 

CENTERS

(starter) Bill Walton

(reserve) Bob McAdoo

(others) Mike Green, Caldwell Jones, LaRue Martin

 

INTERNATIONAL

Swen Nater

 

1968

 

Bob Lanier and Calvin Murphy do not make the team

 

GUARDS

(starters) Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich

(reserves) Charlie Scott, Jo Jo White

(others) Ron Boone, John Brisker, Fred Brown, Mike Butler, Mack Calvin,

Larry Cannon, Austin Carr, Don Chaney, Jim Cleamons, Glen Combs, Mike Gale, Warren Jabali, Merv Jackson, Ted McClain, Calvin Murphy, Geoff Petrie,

Ralph Simpson, Al Smith, Randy Smith, Larry Steele, Fatty Taylor, George Thompson, Norm Van Lier, Chuck Williams

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Elvin Hayes, Spencer Haywood

(reserves) Bob Dandridge, Dan Issel

(others) Lee Davis, John Johnson, Rich Jones, Wil Jones, Bob Kauffman,

Wendell Ladner, Mike Lewis, Larry Miller, Steve Mix, Curtis Rowe, Rudy Tomjanovich, Sidney Wicks, Willie Wise

 

CENTERS

(starter) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

(reserves) Dave Cowens, Artis Gilmore, Wes Unseld

(others) Jim Eakins, George Johnson, Julius Keye, Sam Lacey, Bob Lanier,

Jim McDaniels, Gene Moore, Billy Paultz, Elmore Smith

 

1964

 

Bill Bradley does not make the team

 

GUARDS

(starters) Dave Bing, Walt Frazier

(reserves) Louie Dampier, Gail Goodrich, Earl Monroe

(others) Charles Beasley, Darel Carrier, George Carter, Archie Clark, Donnie Freeman, Walt Hazzard, Jimmy Jones, Larry Jones, Steve Jones, George Lehmann,

Freddie Lewis, Jon McGlocklin, Bill Melchionni, Jeff Mullins, Flynn Robinson,

Jerry Sloan, Willie Somerset, Levern Tart, Dick Van Arsdale, Tom Van Arsdale,

Bob Verga, Jimmy Walker, Charlie Williams

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Rick Barry, Connie Hawkins

(reserves) Billy Cunningham, Lou Hudson, Bob Love

(others) John Beasley, Art Becker, John Block, Bill Bradley, Roger Brown, Joe Caldwell, Warren Davis, Goose Ligon, Les Hunter, Luke Jackson, Stew Johnson,

Randy Mahaffey, Jack Marin, Bob Netolicky, Cincy Powell, Mike Riordan, Red Robbins, Cazzie Russell, Paul Silas, Trooper Washington

 

CENTERS

(starter) Willis Reed

(reserve) Mel Daniels

(others) Byron Beck, Gary Bradds, Larry Bunce, Gerald Govan, Clyde Lee,

Dewitt Menyard, Bob Rule, Skip Thoren

 

1960

 

GUARDS

(starters) Oscar Robertson, Jerry West

(reserves) Lenny Wilkens

(others) Larry Brown, Jim King, Eddie Miles, Larry Siegfried, Chico Vaughn

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Dave DeBusschere, John Havlicek

(reserves) Terry Dischinger, Gus Johnson, Jerry Lucas, Chet Walker

(others) Bill Bridges, Len Chappell, Art Heyman, Tony Jackson, Don Kojis,

Tom Meschery, Doug Moe, Don Nelson, Tom Sanders, Lee Shaffer, Walt Simon

 

CENTERS

(starter) Nate Thurmond

(reserves) Zelmo Beaty, Walt Bellamy

(others) Leroy Ellis, Wayne Hightower, Darrall Imhoff

 

1956

 

GUARDS

(starters) Hal Greer, Sam Jones

(reserves) Dick Barnett, K.C. Jones, Guy Rodgers

(others) Chet Forte, Hot Rod Hundley, Don Ohl, Adrian Smith

 

FORWARDS

(starter) Elgin Baylor

(reserves) Johnny Green, Tommy Heinsohn, Bailey Howell

(others) Bob Boozer, Rudy LaRusso, Willie Naulls, Woody Sauldsberry, Ben Warley

 

CENTERS

(starters) Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell

(reserve) Wayne Embry

(others) none

 

1952

 

Frank Ramsey does not make the team

 

GUARDS

(starters) Larry Costello, Richie Guerin

(reserves) Dick Garmaker, Gene Shue

(others) Chuck Noble, Frank Ramsey, Richie Regan, Frank Selvy

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Bob Pettit, Jack Twyman

(reserves) Bevo Francis, Tom Gola, Cliff Hagan, Maurice Stokes

(others) Monk Meineke, Kenny Sears

 

CENTERS

(starter) Clyde Lovellette

(reserves) Bill Spivey

(others) Walter Dukes, Ray Felix, Red Kerr

 

1948

 

Ralph Beard and Alex Groza do not make the team

 

GUARDS

(starters) Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman

(reserves) Slater Martin, Dick McGuire

(others) Ralph Beard, Carl Braun, Jack George, Bob Harrison, Paul Seymour,

Paul Walther

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Paul Arizin, Dolph Schayes

(reserves) Harry Gallatin, Vern Mikkelsen, George Yardley

(others) Vince Boryla, Mel Hutchins, Fred Schaus

 

CENTERS

(starter) Ed Macauley

(reserves) Larry Foust, Neil Johnston

(other) Alex Groza

 

1944

 

GUARDS

(starters) Andy Phillip, Max Zaslofsky

(reserves) Dike Eddleman, Marques Haynes, Kenny Sailors

(others) Leo Barnhorst, Frankie Brian, Ernie Calverley, Billy Gabor, Fred Scolari

 

FORWARDS

(starter) Jim Pollard

(reserves) Joe Fulks, Stan Miasek

(others) Don Barksdale, Jack Coleman, Howie Dallmar, Red Rocha

 

CENTERS

(starters) Bob Kurland, George Mikan

(reserve) Sweetwater Clifton, Arnie Risen

(others) none

 

1940

 

GUARDS

(starters) Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer

(others) Frankie Baumholtz, Johnny Logan, Stan Stutz

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Bob Feerick, Bones McKinney

 

CENTER

(starter) Chick Halbert

 

1936

 

GUARDS

(starters) Al Cervi, Bobby McDermott

(others) Buddy Jeannette

 

FORWARDS

(starters) Hank Luisetti, Ed Sadowski

 

CENTER

(starter) Cowboy Edwards

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