President Barack Obama is the latest to disagree with Kobe Bryant, about which team is better - the 2012 US Olympic team or the legendary Dream Team of 1992.
Speaking to ESPN2 during an interview at halftime of the US match against Brazil at the Verizon Center in Washington, Obama said he thought the Dream Team would win the contest. "This is a generational thing," Obama said. "I was around in '92, I was a Bulls fan, so I've got to go with the original Dream Team."
Bryant said last week, the current team which included players like himself, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, would beat the Dream Team, which had Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton and Charles Barkley.
"I suspect that Michael and 'Sir Charles' and others would point out they were probably never down at any point in any of their games," Obama said. "But this is a great team, unbelievable talent."
"You know, Kobe's a competitor, so you expect him to do a little trash talking whenever the opportunity arises."
The US team got their second-straight exhibition game victory with an 80-69 win over Brazil. They had thrashed the Dominican Republic in their first exhibition game.
"Obviously the talent that we've got at this point is unbelievable," Obama said. "So there's no reason that we shouldn't bring home the gold. We just have to stay focused."
Obama also visited the women's team on a practice court nearby, and was presented with a red No 1 US Jersey and a signed basketball.
