Whitlock - players picked for '92 Dream Team just because they were white

[StartOrien]

I recognize some of you guys are too young to remember Chris Mullin, but he was a DEADLY shooter.  The "Run TMC" (with Tim Hardaway & Mitch Richmond) was lethal.  Remember: international basketball allowed ZONE defenses.  The NBA had not (at that time) so the team also needed some great shooters, of which Mullin was one of the best.  

For reference, Mullin shot 14-26 from 3 point range, and astounding .538 from outside the arc.  He shot just shy of 62% from the field, averaging a shade under 13 ppg.  Anyone who disputes Mullin's presence on that team is an abject fool...

I'm well aware of Mullin's accomplishments and skills, and I didn't mention the above to diminish them in any means. But there's a reason he sticks out in that lineup. The other guys on that team were unquestionably either the best or the second best at their position for an entire generation, without anyone else in the argument. Mullin didn't have that same pedigree.

But see - that's the point - I don't think the 92 Dream Team NEEDED Chris Mullin to be either the 2nd or third best at his position during that time, but I tell you what that team DID need:

A great SHOOTER. Someone besides Larry, Stock (and maybe Michael) that could open things up from deep. Who else on that team was as great a shooter as Larry, Chris, Michael and perhaps Stockton?

I'd even argue that Michael wasn't as great a shooter as Larry, Chris and Stock. Chris' height (6'6") helped as well. He was a big guard that could get his shot off without much trouble because of it.

That team absolutely needed Chris, and his spot there was well-deserved.

  I could have taken Mullin's spot on the roster and the team still would have won every game. You can argue that he deserved his spot, not that he was absolutely needed.

Well, could someone name me another late 80's big guard, around 6'6", that could shoot LIGHTS OUT and was a team player willing to play just his role?

Someone other than Chris Mullin?

I'm sorry - Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Isiah Thomas - all better all-around players than Chris Mullins - sure.

But none of them could shoot nearly as well as Chris.

Chris Mullins filled a role for that team.

Ray Allen and Reggie Miller didn't play until a few years later.

Who else could we have filled into Chris' spot (I know - besides you BBall ) that could've filled that role for The Dream Team?

I guess it's a fundamental disagreement about the construction of the Dream Team. I'm looking past roles played, and seeing that the other guys on the team were easily the 1st and 2nd best players in the position for entire generation. Ewing, Robinson were light years ahead of every other center they played. Malone and Barkley the same. Role on the team - in my mind - isn't as important as the acclaim of being selected. And that's magnified by the fact that they were clearly going to steam roll the competition regardless.

So, you're right, Mullin was a better 'fit,' but Drexler was a much better player. And therefore, more deserving in my mind.

[pearljammer10]

Whitlock is an absolute idiot and race baiter.

That's been apparent for years.

Ive never liked him. Tries to stir up gossip with "shock factor" to get his name out there, and his articles read. hes an assclown.

[BballTim]

I recognize some of you guys are too young to remember Chris Mullin, but he was a DEADLY shooter.  The "Run TMC" (with Tim Hardaway & Mitch Richmond) was lethal.  Remember: international basketball allowed ZONE defenses.  The NBA had not (at that time) so the team also needed some great shooters, of which Mullin was one of the best. 

For reference, Mullin shot 14-26 from 3 point range, and astounding .538 from outside the arc.  He shot just shy of 62% from the field, averaging a shade under 13 ppg.  Anyone who disputes Mullin's presence on that team is an abject fool...

I'm well aware of Mullin's accomplishments and skills, and I didn't mention the above to diminish them in any means. But there's a reason he sticks out in that lineup. The other guys on that team were unquestionably either the best or the second best at their position for an entire generation, without anyone else in the argument. Mullin didn't have that same pedigree.

But see - that's the point - I don't think the 92 Dream Team NEEDED Chris Mullin to be either the 2nd or third best at his position during that time, but I tell you what that team DID need:

A great SHOOTER. Someone besides Larry, Stock (and maybe Michael) that could open things up from deep. Who else on that team was as great a shooter as Larry, Chris, Michael and perhaps Stockton?

I'd even argue that Michael wasn't as great a shooter as Larry, Chris and Stock. Chris' height (6'6") helped as well. He was a big guard that could get his shot off without much trouble because of it.

That team absolutely needed Chris, and his spot there was well-deserved.

  I could have taken Mullin's spot on the roster and the team still would have won every game. You can argue that he deserved his spot, not that he was absolutely needed.

Well, could someone name me another late 80's big guard, around 6'6", that could shoot LIGHTS OUT and was a team player willing to play just his role?

Someone other than Chris Mullin?

I'm sorry - Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Isiah Thomas - all better all-around players than Chris Mullins - sure.

But none of them could shoot nearly as well as Chris.

Chris Mullins filled a role for that team.

Ray Allen and Reggie Miller didn't play until a few years later.

Who else could we have filled into Chris' spot (I know - besides you BBall ) that could've filled that role for The Dream Team?

  First of all, he wasn't the best shooter on that team. Secondly, if you're saying the team *absolutely needed* him, which means they would have been a lot less likely to win without him. That's ridiculous. You could have won most of those games if not all of them giving the bulk of the power forward minutes to Spudd Webb.

[StartOrien]

As far as who could play the role of a shooter as well, and who might've also been a better player - how about teammate Mitch Richmond?

[Celtics4ever]

I think you can make a case for Mullins and Laetner but Stockton and Bird belonged on that team.  Stockton was either the best or second best PG in the 90's argubably.   Thomas might have been better but not at assists.

[Roy H.]

As far as who could play the role of a shooter as well, and who might've also been a better player - how about teammate Mitch Richmond?

I don't think Richmond was a better player around '91 - '92.

[GreenFaith1819]

StartOrien - Mitch Richmond was not a better all-around player than Chris Mullin.

Compare Basketball-reference.com:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/richmmi01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mullich01.html

Chris Mullin has Mitch Richmond beat in nearly every category in 91-92 - EXCEPT - interestingly enough - 3pt %.

But my argument FOR Chris: He was a SF/G, while Mitch was just a G. He added versatility, while being an all-around better player.

For BBallTim - please tell me where in my posts in this thread have I called Chris Mullin "The Best Shooter" on that Dream Team?

He was "A" shooter, and a needed one at that. Take him off that team and you have Larry, Stock and perhaps Michael...even though Michael was not as good as Larry, Stock and Chris.

Also for BBall - let's frame your argument about "Whether Chris or any of the other Dream Teamers were needed"....at the time, then Soviet Russia and The United States were in their "Cold War." Arvydas Sabonis and his team had just finished nearly demolishing our college team featuring David Robinson.

Here's a clip of Prime Arvydas having his way with our college players:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06usV6451ik

He destroys College David Robinson, basically.

Fast-forward to The Dream Team. The U.S.A HAD to send a message, and boy did they.

Glad that Chris Mullin was a part of it.

[GreenFaith1819]

As far as who could play the role of a shooter as well, and who might've also been a better player - how about teammate Mitch Richmond?

I don't think Richmond was a better player around '91 - '92.

He wasn't, at least according to Basketball-reference.com.

[TripleOT]

@Kuberski33 Laettner was the best college player so he deserved that spot reserved for the college player

Christian Laetner was arguably the greatest college player of all time.

You might want to check out the college career of Pete Maravich. He averaged 44 point per game for his entire college career. 

If you're talking about individual accolades and team success, Laettner might be in the conversation. 

[Mr Green]

Chris Mullin in his prime was a great player and he deserved to play at the Olympics in 1992. Fantastic shooter and passer who had a natural feel for the game. His personal battle over alcoholism is also a credit to him. Run TMC were a lot of fun to watch back in the day, watching the NBA Finals a few weeks ago it looks like Don Nelson was way ahead of his time with his small ball philosophy.

The fact that Isiah Thomas didn't make the squad when it was being coached by Chuck Daly is the biggest indication that the other players didn't think much of him. In the end they picked Drexler over Thomas, as Mullin had already been selected to play.

Also, at the time of the Olympics in 1992, Laettner was the keystone player on the Duke team that won the NCAA Championship in 1991 and 1992. Being the best collegiate player on the best collegiate team got his foot in the door, but Krzyzewski would have hd a say in letting him in.

I agree that Whitlock is an asshat, but this is a great thread, many thanks for the walk down memory lane everyone.

[ctrey]

What is sad about his article is that he provides no proof for his argument. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that demographics may have played a part in the selection of the team. However he provides not a shred of proof. Really pathetic. You simply can not write a piece like this in 2012 without evidence. His article really saddens me and the state of sports journalism and commentary today.

[GreenFaith1819]

What is sad about his article is that he provides no proof for his argument. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that demographics may have played a part in the selection of the team. However he provides not a shred of proof. Really pathetic. You simply can not write a piece like this in 2012 without evidence. His article really saddens me and the state of sports journalism and commentary today.

What's even sadder is that NBATV's "Dream Team" Documentary was supposed to be a celebratory presentation of that team and what it accomplished.

And now enters the alleged Clyde Drexler comments about Magic and that team, and now Jason Whitlock's commentary.

I tried to defend the man after his insensitve Lin comments, but after this piece I'm finding it harder and harder to put up a defense for him.

While I don't believe he's racist, I think he readily produces material like this in an effort to get "more hits" on his articles, and that's sad.

What I will congratulate him on is his honesty - even though he has flawed thinking with this piece.

Even I thought that Chris didn't belong then. But that was 20 or so years ago for me. I'm a bit wiser now, and have more experience on how a team is constructed.

If he did just a bit of research, I think he'd find it hard to believe himself rather than presenting what he "thought" was an issue way back in 92.

[2short]

@Kuberski33 Laettner was the best college player so he deserved that spot reserved for the college player

Christian Laetner was arguably the greatest college player of all time.

You might want to check out the college career of Pete Maravich. He averaged 44 point per game for his entire college career. 

If you're talking about individual accolades and team success, Laettner might be in the conversation. 

AND and the most important thing with Maravich....no three point line back  then and the man could shoot from anywhere.

[moiso]

Wow.

While I don't believe that Whitlock is racist, he can at times say hurtful things.

Just a few months ago it was the Lin comment, and now this?

The Dream TEAM was exactly what it was - a TEAM. Anyone who may not have been picked for it, I can't understand the sour grapes about it 20 years later.

Just Wow.

So if it wasn't Stockton, then who else? Who else would've backed up Magic as a distributor?

If not Mullin, who else would've been as great a shooter as Larry or Michael?

That team was as well-balanced as they come. Whoever picked them got it right.

That is why no other Dream Team out there will match them in terms of talent and chemistry.

Simply the best team that could've been assembled, IMO.

I think Whitlock's main purpose with these articles is to spur conversation, but IMO he fails here.

I don't think he fails here.  We are having a pretty long conversation right now.  It's been on my mind since I read the article.

I remember being upset that Laettner got selected instead of Shaq.  One of the reasons they used was that Laettner already had international experience.

[Finkelskyhook]

What is sad about his article is that he provides no proof for his argument. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that demographics may have played a part in the selection of the team. However he provides not a shred of proof. Really pathetic. You simply can not write a piece like this in 2012 without evidence. His article really saddens me and the state of sports journalism and commentary today.

whitlock has never needed proof...Or facts...He's made a career of putting excrement to paper.

What's sad is there is no real accountability when stupid racists whitlock and hill write incindiary articles in the first place.