Charles Barkley was prophetic before the Dream Team’s first game at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
“I don’t know anything about Angola,” he said in a press conference, “but Angola’s in trouble.”
Two Angolans in particular. In a 116-48 showcase, Barkley shoved one player and elbowed another, drawing a technical foul for the latter that ended a 31-point U.S. run.
The elbow drew particular criticism and headlines referring to Barkley, and to some extent drawing in the rest of the Dream Team, as an Ugly American. It was the first Olympic game with NBA superstars.