One comical cameo summed up the superiority of the American Dream Team. It happened at the Tournament of the Americas in Portland, Oregon, where the finest collection of basketball talent ever assembled - spearheaded by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird - qualified for the 1992 Olympics, overwhelming their opposition by an average of 51.5 points, including a 127-80 victory over Venezuela in the final. Karl Malone, one of the greatest forwards in NBA history, noted one of the Argentine players in an early round had signalled frantically to the sidelines for someone to take a picture of him alongside Johnson, even while Johnson was lining up a shot. “He was looking at a teammate on the bench who was taking the picture,” Malone said.

In Barcelona in 1992, the Dream Team’s dominance was absolute. Eight teams were despatched by an aggregate of 938 points to 588, the average winning margin 43.8 points. “When you hire 12 Clint Eastwoods to come over and do a job you don’t tell them which bullets to put in their guns,” Jordan said of the team.

Of the 12 players in the Dream Team, 10 were named among the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996 when the NBA compiled a list to celebrate its first 50 years. The only players not on the list were Christian Laettner, the best college player in the United States in 1991-92, and Chris Mullin, who won a gold medal in the basketball competition at the 1984 Olympic Games.

In their opening game the Dream Team romped past Angola 116-48 before Croatia were defeated by 33 points. Against Germany, Brazil and Spain they barely broke sweat, with Charles Barkley setting a scoring record in a single Team USA game of 30 points in the 127-83 drubbing of Brazil. Mullin top-scored in the quarter-finals with 21 points in a 115-77 win over Puerto Rico and, after Lithuania fell by a 51-point margin in the semi-finals, Jordan scored 22 points and ran the show in a 117-85 win in the final against Croatia.

1 Patrick Ewing Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Ewing moved to Massachusetts, with his family when he was 13. He learnt to play basketball at high school, won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title with Georgetown University in 1984 and was drafted by New York Knicks. His No33 jersey was retired in 2003. Now 45, he is an assistant coach for Orlando Magic.

2 Christian Laettner In 1992 his last-second jump shot secured a 104-103 victory for Duke University over Kentucky in a game acclaimed as the best in college history. Drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves, he had a journeyman career with seven teams before establishing a community development business. Bought operating rights for Major League Soccer’s DC United in 2006.

3 Magic Johnson Selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by LA Lakers, Johnson won the NBA championship and Most Valuable Player award in his first season. Won five championships in the 1980s before retiring in 1991 when he announced he had HIV. Returned to win the MVP award in the 1992 All-Star game but quit after protests from fellow players, who felt they were at risk if Johnson suffered an open wound on court. He campaigns for HIV and Aids awareness and runs a business empire.

4 David Robinson Majored in mathematics at the United States Naval Academy and served two years of naval duty before San Antonio Spurs made him the first overall pick in the NBA draft. Named NBA MVP in 1995. Won a championship in 1999 with the Spurs, and repeated it in 2003. Robinson and his wife, Valerie, founded the Carver Academy in 2001.

5 Karl Malone The second highest points scorer in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Spent 18 seasons at Utah Jazz before playing one season at Los Angeles Lakers and retiring in 2004. In 2007 he was named creator of basketball promotion and assistant strength and dieting coach at Louisiana Tech University.

6 Larry Bird Bird was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1980. In his second season he led Boston Celtics into the NBA Finals for the first of Bird’s three championships. His rivalry with Magic Johnson and the Celtics’ with the Lakers rejuvenated the NBA in the 1980s. In 1984, Bird’s Celtics beat the Lakers to win the championship but lost their title in 1985 to the Lakers, who beat them again in the 1987 Finals. Bird became coach of Indiana Pacers in 1997, resigned in 2000 but returned as Pacers president in 2003, responsible for coaching moves and draft selections.

7 Michael Jordan The greatest basketball player of all, Jordan was instrumental in the global popularity of the NBA in the 1980s and 1990s. Joined Chicago Bulls in 1984 and won NBA championships in 1991, ’92 and ’93 before retiring to pursue a career in baseball. Rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and won three more championships in 1996, ’97 and ’98. Retired before returning to play two more seasons at Washington Wizards. He is part-owner of Charlotte Bobcats.

8 Chuck Daly Coached Detroit Pistons to NBA finals triumphs in 1989 and 1990. Dennis Rodman referred to Daly as “God” in his autobiography because he made a better defensive player out of Rodman, who admired him for his dedication and knowledge.

9 Charles Barkley Undersized for a power forward, Barkley used strength and determination to become a versatile, but often volatile, player who could defend, score, rebound and assist. He confessed to having lost about $10m through gambling, but says he can afford it. He plans to run for Alabama governor in 2014.

10 Chris Mullin Mullin played with the Golden State Warriors from 1985 to 1997 before he joined Indiana Pacers. He retired at the end of the 2000-01 season. He averaged 25 points or more per game for five seasons between 1988 and 1993. He is executive vice-president of basketball operations for the Warriors.

11 Scottie Pippen Pippen won six NBA championships with Chicago Bulls as Jordan’s teammate. He is one of only four players to have had his number retired by the Bulls. After retiring in 2004 he tried to return to the NBA in 2007. He lives in Florida.

12 John Stockton Played his entire career between 1984 and 2003 as a point guard for Utah Jazz. Holds NBA records for the most career assists and steals and for seasons and consecutive games with one team. Made two NBA Finals appearances.

13 Clyde Drexler After 11 seasons with Portland Trailblazers, Drexler won an NBA championship in 1995 with Houston Rockets. After retiring in 1998 he became basketball coach at the University of Houston but after two seasons he resigned to spend time with his family. He manages Drexler Holdings in Houston.