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Christian Laettner has been catching strays since Caitlin Clark was left out of the Team USA roster announced on Friday. Host of 'The Herd,' Colin Cowherd, referenced the inclusion of Christian Laettner to the 1992 USA Basketball Team that won a Gold Medal in Barcelona to voice his opinion against Clark's exclusion by the selection committee.
"Christian Laettner made the Dream Team. Caitlin Clark can’t make the women’s Olympic basketball team?" asks Cowherd on X. "What mostly pays for the Olympics — oh wait — revenue generated from broadcasting partners. As in TV. As in Caitlin is TV GOLD. Opportunity wasted."
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After the Team USA roster was revealed, many noticed Clark's exclusion and were left surprised.
The Team USA roster included four players from the Las Vegas Aces: A'Ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. They will be joined by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, among others.
Christian Laettner got the respect of his Dream Team teammates
With Christian Laettner being known as the 12th man on the 1992 Dream Team, the former NBA player had some interesting backstage stories as a college player surrounded by NBA legends during their Olympic run.
Having teamed up with the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Magic Johnson, Laettner revealed how he earned the respect of established NBA players by standing up to the beating he was given on the basketball court.
"There is a preconceived notion where they're like, 'Ah, here comes this Dukie, he just won two championships, and he better not act like a prima donna'," Laettner said in The Rich Eisen Show.
"Once they saw that I wasn't acting like that and I knew my place- and I was willing to get their donuts and their cigars and pick up their dirty laundry after practice, they treated me just fine."
Christian Laettner was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1992 NBA draft, behind Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning. He became an NBA All-Star in 1997 and played alongside Michael Jordan later in his career with the Washington Wizards.
