Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever

I saw this book first mentioned on some website while I was on vacation. So I did what most people usually do when they see a book on vacation... they write the name down and wait until AFTER vacation to read it. Yeah, I've never been good with reading books on vacation and I'm not sure why. This was, however, the first book I read after my visit to the land of milk and honey (Florida) and I had an absolutely enjoyable time reading it. We always hear people say "I would love to be a fly on the wall when...". Well the fly is Jack McCallum (sorry Jack) and the wall is a canvas drawn with the 1992 Olympic Games as the base and the Dream Team as the primer. I'm a basketball fan but not to the point of absurdity, as some are. But because of the impact that Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, Pippen had on (pretty much) everything, this was a book that I needed to read. Completely enjoyable, this book can be enjoyed by an "asylum fan" or a casual fan. It was nice to read about the little things that we mortals miss because we didn't travel with the NBA superstars. Jack does a great job of telling this fairy tale with wit, real anecdotes, and a history that we heard about but never really HEARD about. We knew the team was picked, but HOW was it picked? We knew that it was chock FULL of stars, but how would they get along? What is the REAL story behind Jordan vs. the Reebok jacket? Was Isiah Thomas screwed out of a position by Jordan? (Let me help you with that one... YES!) The author has a good bead on interviewing and it was interesting to see some of the places he (and the interviewee) choose to talk. It's almost impossible to narrate the entire experience of the 1992 Dream Team into a single book, but I like how it is done here. Almost everyone has a chapter or three (Jordan. Forever the competitor) and we get a fun yet informative history on the beginnings of a (pro) US Basketball team. Also, to anyone reading this book you'll notice one other thing: this author enjoys books. Not only writing them, reading them as well. Now I'm some of you just went "duh, he's an author", but trust me on this. Not every author likes to read and you can clearly differentiate the ones that do. Jack do's. Aside from his "nonfiction doesn't have to be dull" way of writing, I enjoyed the literary reference sprinkled throughout this book. But getting back to basketball... you'll like this book. A lot. Jack's BIO says that he was with `Sports Illustrated' for thirty years. It's a shame I missed all those articles. (Shut up I know there's Google). It takes a lot for this fiction ONLY lover to heap praises on a non-fiction book, but that's because it is well deserved. Jack is a well respected reporter and it wouldn't be a stretch to say, a friend, to more than a few of the NBA legends. That also comes across in this book and that only adds to the authenticity of his work. Alongside the crude jokes, practice barbs, and gambling stories, are personal stories that must be read to be felt. There's a lot going on on the cover of this book. The only thing missing are the letters "Volume 1". One reader's wish if I may; while I hope this author lives a long time I can only hope that he's writing a tell all book to be published posthumously. Jack spent a lot of time around the NBA's greatest and this man has some stories to tell. Seriously. I want to know who the NBA Dream Teamer was that ran into the family room demanding "who's got a rubber, I need one quick". Just one of the many quips like that in this book. Just one of the many quips like that that are unwritten. But aside from that... please live a long time Jack. And keep writing books like this. **One other thing: the eBook/Kindle edition DOES NOT have the pictures that the print book does. Why? Not sure, but I hope the publisher reconsiders.

McCallum does a very nice job of chronicling the creation and success of the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.” He puts the team into the context of the time, offers well-done profiles of the players, provides a comprehensive review of their games, and examines the impact the team and its success had on the overall world of basketball. For anyone who lived through the Jordan/Magic/Bird years, this book will bring back memories and offer fresh insights. For those to whom that era is only history, this book offers an excellent explanation of what makes those players, and the others on the Dream Team, such a foundational part of the NBA that exists today.

I was finally able to pick up Jack McCallum's Dream Team book which was published in 2013. I've looked forward to this for quite a while and snagged a used book through Amazon. The book chronicles the 1992 Dream Team which allowed NBA players to participate in the Olympics for the first time as a reaction to college players not winning gold in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. McCallum doesn't disappoint as he chronicles the forming of the team, the behind the scenes that made that possible, the marketing, international impacts and most importantly the players themselves. From who wanted to be on the team, to who was selected and why, their relationships and stardom in Barcelona that transcended the lives these players already lived. I love the back stories the behind the scenes goodies and this book delivered. About the only thing this book won't provide is detailed analysis of the games themselves but they don't deserver to be front and center. They weren't as important as the players and the stories. The one game that stands out the most when the Dream Team is brought up is a scrimmage the team had which pitted Michael Jordan dueling Magic Johnson. That was more important than the drubbing the team laid upon opponent after opponent. Bottom line is I loved this book. If you are an NBA fan of any sort this is an easy read. The world's greatest players were on this team. All, sans college player Christian Laettner, were future hall of famers and had either led the revival of the NBA (Magic Johnson and Larry Bird) or helped build on the momentum through 1992. But not only were they great players, many were great personalities. Some were exactly as I've known (John Stockton, Chris Mullin) but some surprised me some (Patrick Ewing). It was great getting to know these players on a different level. McCallum spoke to every player, coach, executive, competitor, or other writers who could bring the story more to life. And it came together wonderfully. Every NBA fan needs to read this book.

I picked up this book primairly because I remember the Dream Team and how great they were but after hearing Kobe Bryant's recent foolish statements about the current dream team being able to beat the real Dream Team, I wanted to remind myself how great they were and learn more about how they were put together. I found the book itself to be super easy and enjoyable to read and although I started reading it thinking that I may not learn too much that would shock me about the team, I was surprised and also pleased by the number of times I was "wowed"' while reading it. The author does a very good job both profiling each member of the team as well as telling the story in a chronological way about how the team was put together. You have to stop and remember that 11 of the 12 members went onto be voted into the Hall of Fame--th eonly reason it was not all 12 was that USA Basketball really wanted a college athlete-so they took Christian Laettner who was a great college player but never amounted to much in the NBA. The book has a ton of great stories about each player as well as about notable players who did not make the team-most notably Isaiah Thomas. I enjoyed the profiles and stories about Larry Bird and Michael Jordan the most. I never knew that Bird was so funny. I never realized that many people viewed Charles Barkley not only as the craziest player on the team but probably the best athlete. Overall this is a very good book well worth reading especially if you are a multi-generation basketball fan.

Even if you follow Basketball 24/7 and were lucky and old enough to witness the Dream Team in 1992, chances are you know not even half of the stories told in this book. Well researched or in many cases well remembered by Jack Mccallum. No doubt that this team was a unique once in a lifetime thing. But it's great to find out what happened before pros were allowed at the Olympics, how this team was formed, why some players were omitted/selected and most of all how the chemistry formed and developed from trainings camp to the qualifying tournament, the legendary Monaco games and the Olympic tournament. The part I enjoyed the most was finding out who were the alpha dogs (no real surprises here), who got respected the most, who got on others nerves the most and also who found himself at the bottom of the locker room hierarchy. Great read.

As an avid basketball fan and player, I loved this book. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has a love for the game. If you are not a basketball fan, this probably is not the book for you. Jack McCallum had the unique opportunity to ride along with the Dream Team through its wild ups and (very few) downs. His firsthand accord of what happened in practices, games, and locker rooms is fantastic. He obviously established personal relationships with most of the players on the team. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Christian Laettner and Scottie Pippen. His details about the coaching staff (especially Coach K) kept me itching for more. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for a reporter, and McCallum perspicaciously soaked it all in. The writing in the book is very strong. His use of prose and varying sentence structure was refreshing. As a reader, you could tell this isnt the writer's first rodeo. The only thing I would change would be the length of the book. Certain chapters ran a little long, but didnt necessarily take away from the enjoyment of the book.

This book was awesome!!!! I remember watching the '92 Olympics and the games the Dream Team played and it was just amazing to see a group of guys who never really played together make the game so beautiful and make it seem so effortless. It's no wonder why superstars today risk their legacies (i.e., LeBron James)to play with other superstars. I don't think it's just about winning a championship, I think it has a lot to do with playing the game alongside someone who sees what you (the player) see and can do what you do. Jack captured all the moments I remembered and really gave me an insiders view to the things viewers may have only gotten tidbits of (Charles Barkley's after hour romps through Barcelona and the famed "greatest game no on ever saw"). I suggest every fan of basketball, NBA or international, BUY AND READ THIS BOOK! And if you're not a fan of the game, buy it for the fan that you know!

More than enough has been written, spoken and shown about the Dream Team. But this book captures the essence of what the experience was like to the players, the fans, the journalists, the invested and peripheral people and entities involved. The writing comes across as genuine and while there is most definitely a reverential tone in the pages that talk about Magic, Michael and Larry and a bit of the lovable goof with Sir Charles, there is also a realness to it.... The fact that I refer to them all on a first name basis in the paragraph above is proof enough that the book engaged me and personalised many of the players involved and really make you as the reader feel that you are understanding these great athletes as people.

Un excelente libro acerca del mejor equipo de básquetbol, conformado por los mejores jugadores de la mejor liga del mundo en la época. El libro llegó a tiempo, aunque por ser exportado desde estados unidos, llego abierto y un poco lastimado de un borde. Por eso le quito una estrella a la calificación. Fuera de eso, en excelente estado.

A fascinating insight into the Dream Team which perfectly pieces contemporary material with the benefit of 19 years of hindsight. Highly recommended for any basketball fans.

Che libro, che storia! Tanti retroscena su come si è formato il Dream Team, sulla decisione di mandare i professionisti per la prima volta alle Olimpiadi e tutto il movimento mediatico che hanno scatenato! Da leggere in lingua originale!

Great Story, well written; if fan of the Olympic basketball and USA team, this is a must. Very Entertaining !!

Jack McCallum has wonderfully chronicled perhaps the most significant event to happen to international basketball. The ending made me feel the same way I'd felt after a my beloved basketball camps growing up.... wishing it had never ended, now it's 'back to reality'.