The History of the 1988 United States men's Olympic basketball team
The 1988 Olypic games in Seoul brought new hope for the international community. For the first time in decades there were no serious boycotts of the games, and cold war tensions were beigning to simmer down. The US had recaputred the gold medal four years prior and looked poised for a repeat.
The US had one of its better rosters as all the eligible college players decided to try out, including the #1 pick in the previous NBA draft David Robinson from Navy. Robinson was able to get a deferal from the Navy in order to join. The #1 pick from the 1988 draft, Danny Manning, also joined the team. John Thompson was named head coach of the squad.
For the first time the US played exhibition games which they recorded. The US played the US Goodwill ambassadors and the US Virgin Islands. The Olympians won both games easily. They also played a game against high level NBA talent that was not counted and were beaten.
Like previous years the host nation got a bid, the defending Olympic champion United States got a bid, and each continent was guaranteed at least team. Oceania and Asia were the only continental winners with one bid. The Americas and Erupe got 3 teams each and Africa in a rarity placed two teams.
The 12 teams were placed into two groups and the US got the easier of the two groups facing Spain, Brazil, Canada, China and Egypt.
The US was scheduled to star September 17, but due to delays in other events had to push their contest vs Spain to the 18th. The US won easily 97-53.
The Americans next game was against Canada, and the US struggled vs their neighbors to the north. The Canadians had a 42-40 lead at the half time, and lead most the second half until the final 7 minutes when a 12-0 run put the US on top for good.
The US struggled again vs Brazil, but eventually got enough separation to be comfortable and get a 102-87 win.
China put up no problems for the US at all. The US had 59 point at the half, the Chinese managed to score only 57 the entire game. The US won 108-57.
The game vs China looked close compared to the next game for the US. The Americans absolutely decimated the Egyptians in their final game of group play. The US lead 62-21 at half, and held Egypt to a low of 14 points in the second half in route to a 102-35 victory. The 14 points by Egypt is still a low in the shot clock era in international basketball.
The US faced Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals and got an easy 94-57 win.
It looked as if the Americans had found their groove after some early struggles, but they were about to face their archrival the Soviet Union. The two had not met at the Olympics since the controversial 1972 gold medal game and the Soviets had not looked good. The USSR had fallen to Yugoslavia in pool play and barely beat Brazil in the quarterfinals. Still, the Soviets had a team of experienced veterans lead by Arvydas Sabonis, Alexander Volkov, and Sarunas Marciulionis.
The Soviet players were all professional players too, and much older than the college team the Americans fielded. This showed because like the NBA players, the Soviets used their size and strength the bully the younger Americans and do the unthinkable - they beat the United States.
The US never could keep up and for the first time its Olympic basketball history trailed the majority of a game - eventually losing 82-76.
With the exception of 1980, the US had made every single gold medal game in Olympics history until 1988. In the bronze medal game the US crushed Australia, but did not celebrate the win.
In the gold medal game the Soviets got an easy victory over Yugoslavia for the gold medal.
This would be the last time the United States and Soviet Union would meet. On Christmas day of 1991, the archrival cold war geopolitical rival of the United States collapsed ending the cold war. The empire would be broke up into 15 different states.
Even before the US loss to the professional players of the USSR, many in the international basketball community were calling for an end on the official ban of professional basketball players in the Olympics. Many other sports allowed professional athletes, and it was well known that the Eastern Bloc countries were using professionals.
On April 7, 1989, at a special congress in Munich, FIBA voted 56-13 to allow professional players to play in international events such as the World Basketball Championships (Now the World Cup) and the Olympicks. Oddly enough, one of the nay votes for against allowing professional athletes to participate in the Olympics was from the United States. The Soviet Union voted in favor of it. One reason for the US' vote against allowing NBA players was because the Amateur Basketball Association of the United States of America (ABAUSA) - now USA basketball - was made up of colleges and high schools.
All 12 players from team USA went on to play in the NBA. Five of them made all-star teams.
The team had two players named Charles Smith. There was Charles D. Smith, a 6'9" forward from Pitt - who went on to have a long NBA career as a top role player in the NBA. And there was Chares E. Smith a 6'0" point guard from Georgetown - who played two season in the NBA before serving a prison sentence for vehicular homicide. In 2010 Smith survived multiple gun shot wounds, but police found cocaine and a gambling operation in his home.
Bimbo Coles was a solid player for the expansion Miami Heat before bouncing around the NBA.
Willie Smith was a solid journeyman for 10 years in the NBA before playing in Europe.
Jeff Grayer was another role playing journeyman playing 10 years in the NBA.
Stacey Augmon played 15 years in the NBA and became a coach. He scored the 6th millionth point in NBA history.
J.R. Reid had a solid 11 year NBA career mostly with Charlotte and San Antonio.
Dan Majerle was a 3 time all-star with the Phoenix Suns and has his number 9 retired with the Suns. He was a solid role player near the end of his career.
Hersey Hawkins had a short stint as a star making the all-star team with the Sixers in 1991, before finding a niche as a solid role player for the Hornets and Sonics.
Danny Manning was the #1 pick in 1988 by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played 6 seasons with them and made 2 NBA all-star teams before being traded to the Hawks. He found new success in Phoenix where he won 6th of the year, and would spend his last seasons with the Bucks, Jazz and Mavericks.
Mitch Richmond was a 6 time NBA all-star with the Warriors and Kings. He was the one bright spot for the Kings during the 1990s. He eventually won an NBA title as a bench player with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After his naval service David Robinson would join the San Antonio Spurs, who drafted him #1 overall, in 1989 and win rookie of the year. He would play his entire NBA career with the Spurs and help guide them to two NBA championships. He would be a 10 time NBA all-star, 4 time all NBA first team member, make 8 all-NBA teams in total, and be named the 1995 NBA most valuable player.
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