The 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul - South Korea, in which the United States obtained a pitiful third place behind the extinct Soviet Union and Yugoslavia were the starting point for the almost immediate proposal and consolidation of the best basketball team that ever existed. They had to recover from that last big setback.

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FIBA, aware that the already experienced players from Eastern Europe would continue to dominate the category, approved in 1989 the inclusion of professional players from the NBA. So, without much delay, after a great work of lobbying and marketing, the first basketball team with elite players from the biggest league in the world was born on September 21, 1991, to compete in the 1992 Olympic Games, the original "Dream Team" coached by the legendary Chuck Daly. Below we will take a look at every member of the team, ranked.

12 Christian Laettner

The only amateur of the group and taken deliberately to give a young touch to the team, he was chosen over Shaquille O'Neal - also a college player at the time - perhaps because of the presence in the coaching staff of Mike Krzyzewski, his coach at the famous Duke University.

Of course, the 22-year-old had more than enough merits to be part of the team. In the national team his participation, as expected, was not so regular, obviously due to the presence of other superstars. In Barcelona, playing as a small forward he put up 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

11 John Stockton

The greatest passer in NBA history, who was coming off his fourth consecutive assist title, could not be missing from this squad. Despite his extraordinary previous numbers, his contribution was little more than unnoticed, participating in only four games out of a possible 8, leaving averages of 2.8 points and 2.0 assists per game.

Perhaps the presence of Magic Johnson and the versatility of his teammates reduced his minutes of action.

10 Larry Bird

A fantasy career was lived by the spectacular forward of the Boston Celtics, the Great White Hope Larry Joe Bird. NBA Hall of Famer, Rookie of the Year, three-time MVP and 12-time All-Star, after dealing heavily with back injuries, accepted in the year of his forced retirement to be present as one of the leaders of the dream team.

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His presence alone inspired admiration and respect from his teammates. In Barcelona, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

9 Magic Johnson

The leader of the dream team, the most media-friendly, always with a smile and an overwhelming personality was undoubtedly Magic Johnson. With a theoretically risky participation due to his recent announcement of the end of his career as an active player after testing positive for HIV, Magic was a very important base in the consolidation of the team.

The five-time champion with his beloved Los Angeles Lakers averaged 8.0 points, 5.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in the Olympics.

8 David Robinson

Three seasons of experience in the league, surprisingly averaging 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocks were the credentials that the Admiral David Robinson presented to belong to this All-Star plethora.

The San Antonio Spurs' center, who was awarded the 1989-1990 Rookie of the Year award, was an important factor in the team's dominance in the inside game, contributing 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

7 Patrick Ewing

New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was the perfect complement in the paint for David Robinson. Averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in Barcelona, he became a wall for opposing teams.

It was unthinkable, the absence of the Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star in this unforgettable dream team. Pat was also known as one of the most enthusiastic and joyful members of the squad.

6 Chris Mullin

Golden State Warriors small forward Chris Mullin was another one of those called to be part of the history making dream team. He outperformed his individual numbers each season and earned his inclusion with averages of 25.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals in the 1991-92 NBA season.

Mullin was also coming off his fourth straight All-Star Game selection, so his presence was fully justified. In the 1992 Olympics he recorded 12.9 points, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

5 Clyde Drexler

Barcelona was lucky to see the talent of this great player. Clyde Drexler was called to be the replacement of Michael Jordan on the team, but he came to be second to no one, and in the Olympics he averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

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This NBA Hall of Famer came on the heels of 5 All-Star Game appearances and fairly respectable averages in his first 8 years, 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

4 Karl Malone

Collectively a perennial loser (along with John Stockton) with his Utah Jazz, but a very successful individual player, Karl Malone could not miss the dream team. With averages of 25.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals how could he be left out?

In fact, this power forward who had 19 top-notch campaigns in the NBA, was one of the most consistent players in the Olympics, with 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

3 Scottie Pippen

His detractors may argue that he always played under the shadow and protection of Michael Jordan, but even in this dream team, Pippen, by talent and desire showed that his place in the team was not a gift.

He averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3.0 steals, in addition to playing virtually every position on the team and being a wall on defense.

2 Charles Barkley

He was another of the participants of this team that never won a championship ring but had multiple individual achievements, with previous numbers for this tournament of 23.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He arrived with six of his 11 consecutive selections to the All-Star Game.

Charles Barkley was the dream team's leading scorer with 18 points per game, complemented by 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals, despite his self-confessed nights of partying in Barcelona.

1 Michael Jordan

A team made up of the greatest stars of American basketball without its top representative Michael Jordan? It could never happen. That's why His Airness was the cornerstone for the formation of the original dream team. Much was negotiated and planned with Mike, in fact, there is even talk of a veto of a famous player of the time, Isiah Thomas.

As expected, Jordan did not disappoint in his task, being a great leader on and off the court. In the Olympics he averaged 14.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 4.1 steals to lead the dream team that won the gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games in a resounding and undefeated way.