This year’s Team USA, packed with 12 NBA stars, went unbeaten to secure their fifth straight gold. After the final victory, LeBron James dubbed the team the “The Avengers,” drawing a parallel to the 2008 “Redeem Team.”
Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently ignited a debate among fans of both squads. During his appearance on the “Gil’s Arena Live” podcast with Gilbert Arenas, Howard argued that the 2008 “Redeem Team” could beat “The Avengers” in a 7-game series.
“That’s a good one; I’m going with our team. We got a prime Kobe, young LeBron, the bald head D-Wade. I got ’08,” Howard said.
“We were young, talking about Bron at 23, I’m 22, Melo at 24, Chris Bosh at 24! Oh my. This prime, this is their year; Wade was 26 and Boozer was going crazy,” Howard added.
Fans React to Dwight Howard’s Claim on “Redeem Team”
The “Redeem Team” made history in 2008 by securing a gold medal with a 118-107 victory over Spain. This legendary team featured NBA icons like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade. Dwight Howard, who was a crucial member of that squad, earned his only career Olympic gold medal with the team before recently joining the Taiwan League.
In contrast, “The Avengers” team achieved their gold medal by defeating Team France 98-87 in the final game of the Paris Olympics. Despite the success of both teams, Dwight Howard has recently stirred debate by claiming that the “Redeem Team” is superior to the current “The Avengers” squad.
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However, the former Los Angeles Lakers player‘s opinion has not been universally accepted. Many fans believe that “The Avengers” team showed even greater potential on the international stage.
Some even argue that the current team could potentially sweep the “Redeem Team” in a head-to-head matchup.
Many fans argued that Kobe’s 2008 Olympic team was far superior to “The Avengers” team. Some even point to the Paris Olympics team’s narrow victory over South Sudan as evidence that the 2008 team had superior coaching, players, and overall performance.
The discussion continues as fans weigh the merits of both extraordinary teams. It will remain to be seen how the debate evolves and if any other Redeem Team’s stars come forward to support Howard.
Also Read: VIDEO: Dwight Howard Breaks Silence On NBA Retirement And Playing In Taiwan League.
