Considering the Dream Team’s performance during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, none has ever come close to their performance of an average winning margin of forty-four points per game. The other teams were left in awe by their excessive talents and athleticism.
The star-studded lineup was a dream for many international opponents who were more interested in meeting than competing with them. Players often demanded autographs as well as photographs, and sometimes even jerseys, showing how much they idolized these American superstars.
Larry Bird, one of the forwards on the Dream Team, believed such acts were strange. Larry Bird, considering these interactions said “it’s strange going against a team that says “I want your picture; I want your jersey”.
Whatever man! We’re gonna bust you up anyhow”.
Bird vs Oscar Schmidt
Before departing for Spain, the Dream Team played various exhibition games in Portland against foreign teams. His back injury caused him to miss three warm-up matches.
Nonetheless, during one such contest versus Brazil there was a memorable incident involving Bird and Brazilian basketball icon Oscar Schmidt. During the game while it was being played Schmidt came over to where he was sitting on his bench to ask him if he would go into the game.“He came over and said ‘Larry please come in the game.’ Okay,” Bird remembered.
“I said ‘I’m gonna hit a jumper on you.’ And sure enough Magic heard me so he threw that ball to me and I hit a jumper. And Oscar Schmidt…Oscar loved it. He loved it. That was awesome”.
Oscar Schmidt’s Eulogy to Bird
Schmidt’s respect for Bird did not end there though; in an interview with The Olympic Channel Oscar declared that he was his GOAT (greatest of all time).
In fact, Schmidt went further stating “I put five players as the best. There’s Michael Jordan obviously Kobe Bryant Magic Johnson LeBron James then… The guy who doesn’t jump, and doesn’t run played better than anyone else.
Larry Bird”. This is why Oscar Schmidt sings praises of Bird’s incredible influence in the game. Many people do not mention him as one of the greatest players ever, but those who played with or against him know that he was among them.
