With the additions of Clyde Drexler and Christian Laettner, the U.S. Olympic team is complete. Maybe.
Drexler, the star guard of the Portland Trail Blazers, became the 11th NBA player selected. Laettner, the 6-foot-11 Player of the Year who led Duke to the last two national championships, is the only college player on the squad that will play in the Tournament of the Americas in Portland, Ore., where it must finish in the top four to qualify for Barcelona. Both were added Tuesday."I think this team has unlimited potential," said Drexler, who was miffed that he was not an original selection last year. "There is enormous talent and flexibility on this team.
"There were a lot of guys worthy to be chosen, and I think it is a real honor to be considered, and to be selected is an even greater honor."
To be the only collegian on the team is also special, Laettner said.
"This is a very exciting day for me," he said. "It is a tremendous honor to be included on the United States Olympic team and really a dream come true. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the learning experience of playing alongside the greatest players in the world. I think this will help tremendously in my preparations for a professional career."
Some of those great players, such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, Chris Mullin and even Michael Jordan, could be questionable for the Olympics.
Bird has played only one playoff game because of a sore back and Johnson says he will play despite having testing positive for the AIDS virus. Robinson currently is recovering from hand surgery, Jordan has been plagued by back pain and Mullin was hurt in the first round of the playoffs.
The selection committee said it also will consider all pro and college players as alternates in case current members drop out, and it will not have a specific list of alternates.
Drexler believes Johnson proved he will have no problems in Portland, Barcelona, anywhere.
"I think the way the All-Star game was played, it dismissed all thoughts of Magic not being able to compete," he said. "The dangers of him competing in any NBA game or any game is up to Magic. It will be a pleasure to see him playing again."
Other members of the team are Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Scottie Pippen.
"When they say dream team, this really is what it is," said Drexler, who averaged 25 points and 6.7 assists this season. "It will be a pleasure to play with such guys. I think everybody on court will make everybody around them so much better, and I think we will bring home the gold.
"I don't think anybody is going to make too many bones about playing time. Most of the guys have had full seasons. You want to play, but you have guys who really understand the game, and the common goal is to win the game. There'll be no gripes from any of the guys on the bench."
There were no gripes from the one other collegian seriously considered for the team, 7-1 center Shaquille O'Neal, who has left LSU as a junior to turn pro.
"Naturally, I am very disappointed about not playing in the Olympics," he said, "but I truly wish all the team members the very best of luck, especially Christian Laettner."