Kobe Bryant believed the 2012 Team USA had a real shot at the 1992 Dream Team: "To sit there and say we can't, it's ludicrous"

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Kobe Bryant believed the 2012 Team USA had a real shot at the 1992 Dream Team: "To sit there and say we can't, it's ludicrous" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
In 2012, Kobe Bryant joined a squad loaded with future Hall of Famers on Team USA's Olympic roster heading to London. With that kind of star power, the inevitable question came up: could this team go head-to-head with the legendary 1992 Dream Team?
As the squad's leader and most seasoned player, Kobe's take on the matter was highly anticipated. His verdict? A clear, confident yes — no doubt he and teammates like LeBron James and Kevin Durant could hold their own.
No team is untouchable
Bryant spent over two decades in the NBA, learning one clear truth: on the right night, sometimes everything has to align perfectly, and anyone can beat anyone.
Of course, the gap between the 2012 and 1992 Team USA squads wasn't massive — not quite David vs. Goliath. Still, the point remains that there are instances when underdogs rise and favorites fall — whether over a full season or a single game.
With that in mind, the Black Mamba was confident that in a one-and-done game, nothing was guaranteed. In fact, he was so sure that he fired sharp words at doubters.
"People who think we can't beat that team for one game, they're crazy," remarked Bryant, per ESPN. "To sit there and say we can't, it's ludicrous."
To back it up, the Los Angeles Lakers icon pointed to a forgotten footnote in basketball history.
"They got beat by a college select team once. Doesn't mean we're a better team than them, but s—, we can beat them one time," he said, referencing Team USA's loss to a group of NCAA players on June 24, 1992.
It was a reminder: even a roster with 11 future Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone wasn't invincible after all.The Dream Team debate
Kobe's take carried weight — unlike most of his younger teammates, he said he had actually witnessed the Dream Team dominate the Olympics in Barcelona. But nostalgia didn't dull his edge. Had he faced them, Bryant noted he would've gone hunting. His Team USA teammate Chris Paul shared the same mindset.
"I was 7 at the time," said the Point God. "Even though I don't remember all the games, I used to collect all the [basketball] cards. But let me tell you something: As long as you know me, as long as I'm playing this game, you'll never hear me say that I think any man can beat me."
Hypotheticals like this ignite debate — CP knew Kobe's comment would stir one. However, he also understood that if his fellow player had said the opposite, it'd have made headlines too.
"What's he (Bryant) supposed to say if you guys ask him?" Paul asked. "Tell me what everybody would have said if Kobe said, 'We can't beat 'em.'"
Not everyone viewed it as level-headed, sparking back-and-forth debates in the media. However, one 1992 Dream Team member took a measured tone, avoiding a cross-generational dispute.
"This is starting to look a lot like our 1992 Dream Team. I look forward to watching them continue to drive for that gold medal and bring it home for the USA," Magic Johnson remarked early in the 2012 Olympics.
That's exactly what they did — Kobe, CP3 and a stacked Team USA outlasted Spain 107–100 in the final.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.