2. How could your team become more effective by adopting additional characteristics described on pages 239–240? In the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, the U.S.

men’s basketball team earned a place in sports history.

This group proved to be one of the most illustrious collections of athletes in the history of the game, soundly defeating every opponent on the way to a gold medal and earning the label of the “Dream Team.”

By the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the fortunes of Team USA had declined. The group suffered a string of humiliating losses. These defeats were due in part to the refusal of several American top-tier athletes to join the team, and to a lack of enthusiasm and teamwork.

Determined to recapture their lost honor, Team USA took a different approach in preparing for the 2008 games in Beijing. Rather than simply recruiting superstars, the focus was on building cohesion. Said managing director Jerry Colangelo, “Basketball is the ultimate team game, and we wanted to put together a roster that would play with a team concept.”

Toward this end, Colangelo emphasized the importance of teamwork over ego when recruiting players. “This was not about them,” he said. “This was about representing their country with the pride that other Olympians have represented their country.”

Along with attitude, the team invested time in working together. Breaking with the past, Coach Mike Krzyzewski was hired three years in advance.

Most of the players were involved with the team for two years before the Olympic competition. Members grew as a unit by practicing intensively together—over 42 days in 2006, and even more in 2007 and 2008.

These practices paid dividends in the 2008 Beijing games. The team dominated even its strongest opponents, playing undefeated and earning a gold medal.

For this performance the Americans earned the title

“The Redeem Team.”

Superstar Kobe Bryant captured the shared sense of purpose after the team’s championship victory:

“Everybody wants to talk about NBA players being selfish, being arrogant, being individuals. Well, what you saw today was a team bonding together, facing adversity and coming out of here with a big win.”