USA loses to France in FIBA Quarterfinals

[hailtoyourvictor]

But were they really on the decline? Sure, 1996 may not have been the best or second best season for many. But, these guys were still stars. 12 of the 12 guys on the roster made an All-NBA Team (the 2012 team only had 7 guys make the All-NBA Teams). There were no ho-hum players on the 96 team. Penny Hardaway was the only non-Hall of Famer and he was a 1st Team All-NBA selection in 1996.

So let's look at the old guy on the team in 2012, Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant
Career Player Efficiency Rating Average: 22.9
2012 PER: 21.9 (-1.0)

He had a slight decline in 2012 from his career average, just as I mentioned. Yes, he was still very, very good. But, the 2012 Kobe wasn't quite in the same class as LeBron or KD, IMO. And like I said before, 2012 had more star-power with LBJ and KD, but I think 96 had better balance and better overall players. Now, here are the 4 older guys that you pointed out:

Charles Barkley
Career Player Efficiency Rating Average: 24.6
1996 PER: 24.8 (+0.2)
3rd Team All-NBA

Karl Malone
Career Player Efficiency Rating Average: 23.9
1996 PER: 26.0 (+2.1)
1st Team All-NBA

Hakeem Olajuwon
Career Player Efficiency Rating Average: 23.6
1996 PER: 25.5 (+1.9)
2nd Team All-NBA

John Stockton
Career Player Efficiency Rating Average: 21.8
1996 PER: 21.9 (+0.1)
3rd Team All-NBA

On top of that, remember who made it to the 1997 Western Conference Finals. That's right, Houston and Utah, led by Barkley/Olajuwon and Malone/Stockton, respectively... Olajuwon was one year removed from winning two ships, he won the MVP in 94. Barkley was the most productive player on the 96 team. Malone and Stockton went to the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons (and gave the Bulls a run for their money) following the 96 Olympics. And Malone went on to win 2 MVPs in 97 and 99. Yes, these guys were all still very, very talented. If we're talking about the same players four years later then certainly this is a different story. But in 1996, there was little to no drop-off in terms of production.

“Were they really on the decline?”

Um, yes.

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

@dukedevilz

I think it makes sense to look at the year after each of the Olympics too considering the Olympics were sandwiched between two seasons. The first half of the following season was closer to the Olympics that the first half of the preceding season.

Charles Barkley average PER over peak 5 seasons: 27.3
PER by year
1994/95: 25.2
1995/96: 24.8
1996 Summer Olympics
1996/97: 23.0

Certainly on the decline for those Olympics.


Hakeem Olajuwon average PER over peak 5 seasons: 25.86
PER by year
1994/95: 26.0
1995/96: 25.5
1996 Summer Olympics
1996/97: 22.7

Certainly on the decline for those Olympics.


Kobe Bryant average PER over peak 5 seasons: 25.84
PER by year
2010/11: 23.9
2011/12: 21.9
2012 Summer Olympics
2012/13: 23.0

Certainly on the decline for those Olympics.



I will give you Stockton and Malone, but you've got to agree that Barkley and Olajuwon were on the decline. (Kobe obviously was too). It's pretty clear cut to me so please don't try to argue with that take like we both know you could and let's move on.

 

[dukedevilz]

@dukedevilz
It's pretty clear cut to me so please don't try to argue with that take like we both know you could and let's move on.

Let's move on? Why did you even bring this up to begin with? Sounds like you're arguing just for the sake of arguing. Do you think 2012 was a better team? Like I said, sure 1996 may not have been the best year, or even the second best year for many of those older guys. But the '96 team was absolutely full of superstars. All 12 of them. Even if we say Olajuwon and Barkley were on the decline a bit, I would note that they both ranked in the top 20 all-time by both SLAM and ESPN. Are you ready to suggest the 1996 version of Barkley and Olajuwon would drop out of the top 50? The 96 team had 8 guys in the top 50. They have a more complete roster. That's my point.

And FWIW, the 96 Olympics weren't a true sandwich like the 2018 FIBA World Cup. The first game in 96 began in July; training camp began in June. Malone, Stockton, Barkley and Olajuwon were ending their seasons in May. Essentially a continuation of the 96 season.