The 1984 Olympics Was Launching Pad For Some Of The NBA's Greatest Players

As the world gears up for the Paris Olympics, now is a good time to look back on one of the most memorable games ever. Forty years ago, the summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles. It is remembered largely as a games saturated with vitality and optimism. The exploits of Mary Lou Retton, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, and Edwin Moses captured the hearts of the world. The U.S. men's basketball team were not to be outdone as they did pretty well for themselves under coach Bobby Knight. They rolled to the gold medal with an 8-0 record, outscoring opponents by an average of 95.4 to 63.3. A few future NBA legends were the catalysts carrying Team USA to the top. Michael Jordan: The eventual GOAT was not surprisingly the leading scorer as he averaged 17.1 points. It was his debut on the international stage, a precursor for things to come. Patrick Ewing: Fresh off winning the NCAA championship with Georgetown, Ewing was all power in the paint in Los Angeles. He averaged 11.0 points. Chris Mullen: The breakout star at St