CHAMPION, USA BASKETBALL 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES SHORTS, SIZE 40
MESH
1996
Sotheby’s presents Scottie Pippen’s game-worn shorts from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. These blue USA Men’s National Team shorts were worn during Pippen’s second Olympic gold medal run, marking another milestone in his international career.
Competing on home soil, the 1996 United States Men’s Basketball Team carried significant expectations. Often called “Dream Team III,” the roster reflected the next phase of USA Basketball, bringing together proven champions and emerging NBA stars. For Pippen, the Atlanta Games represented a rare accomplishment: he became the first player to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year on two separate occasions, having first done so in 1992 and again following the Chicago Bulls’ title earlier that summer.
The United States went undefeated in the tournament, winning all eight games to secure the gold medal. The team’s approach emphasized defense, ball movement, and depth, resulting in an average margin of victory of more than 30 points per game.
The roster was anchored by veterans such as Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley, both of whom had also competed in the 1992 Olympics. Pippen contributed across multiple roles, from defending top opponents to facilitating offense, while Barkley provided experience and continuity between generations.
They were joined by stars Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, David Robinson, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Guided by head coach Lenny Wilkens, the team played with consistency from start to finish.
Grant Hill later described the group’s makeup simply: “We had good balance. We had some younger players. You had legends like David Robinson, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen. Then guys in their prime like Reggie, Mitch Richmond, Gary Payton. And then the younger players like myself, Penny, and Shaq.”
These shorts come directly from the Collection of Scottie Pippen.