Portland, Oregon, USA - June 26-July 5, 1992

An unspectacular event in terms of competition, the 1992 Tournament of the Americas' claim to fame was the unveiling of the most popular and agueably the most talented and highly anticipated basketball team in history, the 1992 USA Men's Senior National Team.

1992 USA Men's Tournament of the Americas Team 1992 USA RESULTS (6-0) USA 136 Cuba 57 USA 105 Canada 61 USA 112 Panama 52 USA 128 Argentina 87 USA 119 Puerto Rico 81 USA 127 Venezuela 80 1992 TOUR. OF THE AMERICAS FINAL STANDINGS 1. *USA (6-0) 5. Canada (2-3) 2. *Venezuela (4-3) Argentina (2-3) 3. *Brazil (5-1) Cuba (1-3) 4. *Puerto Rico (4-3) Mexico (1-3) Panama (1-3) Uruguay (0-4) * Qualified for the 1992 Olympic basketball competition.

Dubbed the 'Dream Team' by the media before ever setting foot on court together, the 12-member squad was selected to earn an Olympic qualifying berth and then represent the USA at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Perhaps the greatest perceived challenge for the USA was the adjustment of NBA players to international rules or reduced roles, however, neither issues emerged as a problem as the Dream Team manhandled the compeition compiling a spotless 6-0 record en route to the tournament title. Posting a 51.5 ppg. average margin of victory, the superstar laden U.S. squad scored 121.1 points a game, while shooting an impressive 63.0 percent from the field and a blistering 43.8 percent from three point, all while outrebounding opponents by 18.0 rpg.

Seven of the 12 USA players averaged in double figure scoring, led by Charles Barkley with 16.3 ppg. who was followed by Karl Malone with 14.8, Chris Mullin with 14.3 and Clyde Drexler with 13.8. Michael Jordan scored 12.7 ppg. and both Patrick Ewing and David Robinson notched 11.8 ppg.

The USA opened the Tournament of the Americas with a 136-57 win over Cuba. No USA player logged more than 22 minutes, yet seven players scored in double figures as the USA raced to a 40-point, 67-27 lead by halftime and increased that lead to 66, 100-34 with 12 minutes to play before coasting to the 79-point victory.

The USA continued to roll defeating Canada 105-61 and Panama 112-52. In its fourth game the USA downed Argentina 128-87, but more importantly qualified for the Olympics by securing, via its 4-0 record, the top spot in Pool A and the guarantee of at least a top-four finish in the tournament.

The semifinals marked the first time that the USA and Puerto Rico had met on the National Team level since 1991 when the Puerto Ricans upset the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. However, this time the high powered Dream Team turned the tables by routing the nearly identical Puerto Rico team 119-81.

Anxious to be on their way to Barcelona, the USA entered the tournament finals looking for its sixth consecutive victory with Venezuela the intended victim. The USA stormed out to a 15-0 lead as Venezuela missed its first 10 field goal attempts over the first five minutes. By halftime, the lead was 41 points, 67-26, and the margin would grow to over 50 points during the second half before the USA settled for the 47-point gold medal victory and a perfect 6-0 record.

Also qualifying for the Olympic Games were Venezuela with the silver, Brazil with the bronze and Puerto Rico, who finished in fourth place.

1992 USA Men's Tournament of the Americas Team
Cumulative Statistics