The History of the 1984 United States men's Olympic basketball team
After the disappointment of not participating in the 1980 Moscow games, basketball fans were excited to see the 1984 team compete - and this time they were going to be competing on home soil. The United States had last held the Summer Olympics in 1932 - in Los Angeles - but basketball was not an Olympic sport at the time.
Going into the 1984 games, no host nation had won a gold medal on their home soil and the US meant to change that. But once again politics were going to be a factor in the game.
The Soviet Union and 13 Eastern Bloc nations boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles in retaliation to the United States boycotte in 1980. However, there was not unity in all the communist world as Yugoslavia, Cuba, China and other countries defined the Soviets boycott and participated in the Olympics.
The 1984 class was one of the deepest team USA has ever had. Trials for the team were held in April 1984 at the University of Indiana. Indiana coach Bob Knight was selected as the teams head coach.
In total 70 players attended the trials, which is still a record. Many players liked to oppertunity to represent the stars and stripes in the US. However, some of the big names who were gunning for the NBA draft decided to pull out - they included 1980 USA member Sam Bowie, as well as his Kentucky teammate Mel Turpin. Keith Lee, Len Bias and Kenny Smith also dropped out as well. However, the big star for team USA stayed; North Carolina's Michael Jordan.
By the last week of trials Bobby Knight had whittled down the pool of players from 70 to just 20. One of the notable first 50 cuts was Louisiana Tech's Karl Malone. Auburn's Charles Barkley was amongst the best players in camp, but he and Knight's personalities did not mesh and Barkley along with Gonzaga's John Stockton were amongst the last players cut.
The USA's roster was extremely deep and included several future hall-of-famers including Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin, and Alvin Robertson - as well as very good players like Vern Fleming, Jon Koncak, Sam Perkins and Wayman Tisdale. Without the Soviet Union and with this much talent the US was clear favorites to win the gold medal.
The set up returned to the usual set up with the host nation having a bid, and the three medalist from the prior Olympics and this time the World Basketball Championships winner (or runner up) would also get a bid. The US was in as the host, but the WBC champion and bronze medalist from the Moscow games - The USSR - did not participate. The gold medalist Yugoslavia did and got a bid as did the silver medalist Italy. The champion of each continental also got bids, allowing Canada, France, China, Egypt and Australia to get bids. The field was rounded out with Brazil, Uruguay, Spain, and West Germany.
The US was in Group B with Spain, Canada, Uruguay, China and France, and began play on the 29th of July 1984.
The first game involving the US held at at the Forum was sold out and appeared to me more like a Lakers game than an Olympic event. The US did not disapoint the fans either as the US put on a show in the first half vs China and lead 50-29. The US would go on to win 97-49 in the first of many blowouts at the Los Angeles games.
A new feature in the 1984 games was the alternate days between pool play. Previously all 12 or 16 or 24 teams played the same day at different venues. In Los Angeles Group A played one day and Group B the next, giving players a day off to rest.
The US next took on Canada ad lead 43-28 at the half, but the Canadians played the US a lot harder in the second half but the US still won easily 89-68.
The US had little issue vs Uruguay and won 104-68. The game could have been a bigger blowout by Knight pulled some of the starters in the 2nd half.
The US nearly doubled up France in the penultimate game 120-62. The US set a than second half scoring record of 63 points in the game.
In the last game of pool play the US again coasted to an easy victory this time vs Spain 101-68.
A new feature in the Los Angeles games was a playoff style tournament. The top 8 teams advanced and the top team in Group A would play the 4th team in group B, and the 2nd team in Group A would play the 3rd team in Group B.
This new set up had the US play West Germany in a much harder matchup than the US had anticipated. The Germans stymied the Americans offense and the US won a hard fought game 78-67.
The US would face Canada in the semifinals after the Canadians had upset 1980 Silver medalist Italy in the quarterfinals. The US made light work of the Canadian team winning the game 78-59.
Spain had long loved basketball, but was never any good at it. They made the tournament and got an upset victory vs Australia and than a huge upset vs Yugoslavia to make the gold medal game. unfortunately, for the Spaniards they would have to face the Americans. The US was not taking any chances and quickly put the game out of reach in a 96-65 victory to clinch the gold medal and became the first Olympic basketball team to hear their national anthem played for their home fans while receiving the gold medals.
Yugoslavia would beat Canada for the bronze. In the women's bracket the USA women would cruise to 6 easy victory to win the first gold for the United States in womens basketball.
Every member of team USA would go on to make the NBA. Several of them like Leon Wood, Jeff Turner, and Steve Alford would have short careers. Others like Joe Kleine, Jon Koncak, Sam Perkins and Vern Fleming would go on to become valueable role players on very good teams.
Alvin Robertson would win the first defensive player of the year in NBA history and is considered one of the best defensive players in NBA history.
Wayman Tisdale would have a solid NBA career before turning to his passion of jazz music. Tisdale would go on to become an accomplished jazz musician before his untimely death in 2009. Tisdales good friend Toby Keith penned the some Cryin' for me as a tribute to him.
Leon Wood had a short NBA career but would eventually become an NBA referee.
Patrick Ewing would be a top 50 player of all-time and one of the greatest New York Knicks players of all-time. He was also the first ever lottery pick in NBA history.
Than there is Michael Jordan, the greatest player in NBA history. Jordan would win 6 NBA championships, 6 finals MVPs, 5 MVPS, be a 14 time all-star, 3 time NBA all-star game MVP, 10 time all NBA first defense, NBA defensive player of the year, 9 time all-defensive team member, the NBA rookie of the year, 10 time scoring champion, 2 time slam dunk champion, and an icon of the 1980s and 1990s. In the early 1990s he may have been the biggest celebrity in America. He also was general manager of the Washington Wizards, and for a time owned the Charlotte Hornets.
Jordan and Ewing would team up again in 1992 on the Dream Team.
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