Larry Bird initially refused to join the 1992 Dream Team: "I never wanted to take a spot that I didn't earn"

Ever since Larry Bird was a kid, the image of him donning a Team USA jersey and playing in the Olympics had always been just a dream. In 1992, it seemed like the stars had aligned for Larry Legend when the Team USA Olympic committee recruited him to be a part of the Dream Team.

For an aging future Hall of Famer, representing his country before Father Time pulls him out of the game for good sounded ideal. However, Bird refused to join the Dream Team for a number of valid reasons.

For one, Bird knew he could never be at his best because of his persistent back injury. More importantly, he didn’t want to be there and steal the spot of someone more deserving just because of his status.

“I wanted to make sure they wanted me for the team because they felt I was still good enough, not because they wanted me in some kind of honorary role,” Bird wrote in his book, “Bird Watching.” “I never wanted to take a spot that I didn't earn.”

“For those of us who did make it, we all understood it was an honor,” Bird concluded. “Even Michael, who had played on a gold medal Olympic team before, said how great it was to be part of the Dream Team.”

Bird prayed while in Barcelona

After deciding to play in Barcelona, Bird’s doubts turned to excitement and patriotism. His back problems, however, remained unchanged.

It wasn’t like “The Hick from French Lick” was all washed up on the court. Bird could still hoop, but his back injury took a serious toll not only on his body but more so on his confidence.

Shortly after winning the gold medal, Bird officially retired. In his announcement, Larry Legend opened up about praying to God to just let him finish the job in Barcelona, after which, he would leave the game for good.

“I said, ‘God, if you let me get through this, I won’t play no more,'” Bird remembered. “I didn’t know for sure, but I think everybody sensed the way I went about the games over there that they would probably be my last games. I just wanted to be a part to a great team and I was.”

When Bird is done, he’s done

One thing about Bird, he doesn’t take it back when he says he’s done. The Boston Celtics did their best to convince their franchise player to give it some more thought and reconsider his decision. However, Bird had already made up his mind.

Looking back, there’s nothing to regret about how Bird’s career ended. By winning the gold medal with the Dream Team before he called it quits, Larry could always boast about making history in the final game of his legendary career.

It was quite a way to ride into the sunset, but come to think of it, that wouldn’t have been the case had Bird chosen not to play for the Dream Team.​

Related: Michael Cooper on the comparisons between Luka Doncic and Larry Bird: "Larry could do a lot more things"

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.