Kicks On Court Classic // The 1996 USA Olympic Team

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

words // Nick DePaula:

To this day, I still think the ’96 US Olympic team could beat the ’92 Dream Team. They simply had more players in their prime, and a dominant duo with Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal inside.

While that debate might be never-ending, another hot take we’re pretty confident about is the ’96 team winning the Kicks On Court battle. With classics like the Air More and Air Much Uptempo, Zoom Flight 96, signature Barkleys and Grant Hills all hitting the ATL hardwood, it’d be quite a head-to-head matchup against the Air Jordan VII, Air Force 180 and Air Ballistic Force worn by the ’92 Dream Team in Barcelona.

Check out all of the best Kicks On Court worn by the ’96 Team USA roster below, and enjoy a bonus image at the end of a prime Shaq taking on a young Tim Duncan during a Select Team scrimmage.

Barkley 2 Barkley 3
Charles Barkley — Nike Air More Uptempo
_____

Barkley 5
Charles Barkley — Nike Air Max CB34
_____

Barkley CB4
Charles Barkley — Nike Air CB4
_____

Dream 96Hakeem Olajuwon — Spalding Dream ’96
_____

ATLANTA - 1996: (L) David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal of the USA Men's National Basketball Team pose for a portrait during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

DRob Modify Force
David Robinson — Nike Air Modify Force
_____

GP 96 2 GP 96 Air Much Uptempo1 Aug 1996: Gary Payton of the Dream Team reacts during the USA v Australia men's basketball game at the Georgia Dome at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

Gary Payton — Nike Air Much Uptempo
____

1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, USA, Men's Basketball, USA 104 v Lithuania 82, USA's Grant Hill (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Grant GH2 2 Grant GH2 3
Grant Hill — Fila GH2
_____

Grant GH3
Grant Hill — Fila GH3
_____

Karl 96
Karl Malone — LA Gear
_____

Mitch 96
Mitch Richmond — Nike Air Flight 96
_____

Penny 96 2 Penny 96

17 Jul 1996: Guard Anfernee Hardaway of the Men''s U.S. Olympic Basketball Team takes a moment to relax during a practice session for the Dream Team at the Disney Institute in Walt Disney World in Orlando,Florida. Mandatory Credit: ANDY LYONS/Allsport

penny-hardaway-olympic-flight-zoom
Penny Hardaway — Nike Zoom Flight 96
_____

Pip 96 2 Pip 96 3 Pip 96 5 Pip 96 Pip Air More Uptempo Olympic Pippen OG 1 B

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 1: Scottie Pippen of the US (L) keeps the ball away from Australia's Andrew Vlahov during their Olympic semi-final basketball match 01 August. AFP/Bob DAEMMRICH (Photo credit should read BOB DAEMMRICH/AFP/Getty Images)

Pip GP 96Scottie Pippen — Nike Air More Uptempo
_____

FILE -- These are members of the USA's Dream Team III. Top row from left are: David Robinson, Mitch Richmond, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill and Shaquille O'Neal. Bottom from left are Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, John Stockton, Anfernee Hardaway and Charles Barkley. (AP Photo/Andrew D. Bernstein/USAB Photos)

John Stockton — Nike Air Adjust Force
_____Reggie Air Much Uptempo

Reggie Miller — Nike Air Much Uptempo
_____

22 Jul 1996: Center Shaquille O''Neal of the Dream Team backs into the post while being guarded by David Dias of Angola during the USA v Angola basketball game at Georgia Dome at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

16 Jul 1996: Nikki McCray of the U.S. Women''s Baketball Team and Shaquille O''Neal of the Men''s U.S. Team share a laugh during team practices at the Disney Institute in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Shaq RbkShaquille O’Neal — Reebok Preacher
_____

96 Bench Practice 96 Gold 2 96 Gold

ATLANTA, GA - 1996: Shaquille O'Neal #13 The U.S. Mens Basketball Team battles for position against Tim Duncan #13 as they play during a scrimage circa 1996 during the 1996 Summer Olympics at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)

Related Posts:

Trending:

Leave a Reply