Larry Bird Game Worn and Signed 1992 Olympics ‘Dream Team’ Jersey | Gold Medal Run

“My family were huge Olympic fans. As a kid it was all we watched every night. We’d heard about the plans to admit professional basketball players, but I never knew if it was going to happen. I was very happy it did, and I got the opportunity to play. It was something you always dreamt about.” – Larry Bird on being selected for the 1992 Dream Team

Sotheby’s is proud to present Larry Bird’s game-worn jersey from the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. As co-captain of the Dream Team, Bird was both a symbol of American basketball and a guiding presence for a roster that permanently reshaped the global game. This jersey was worn on August 2, 1992, during the final group stage game against Spain. Team USA won 122–81, with Bird contributing 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Beyond the statistics, his presence steadied the team, reinforced its culture, and demonstrated the veteran leadership that defined the Dream Team. Reflecting on the achievement, Bird later said, “Winning the gold medal has to be one of the greatest things you can ever do as an athlete.”

By the summer of 1992, Bird was nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career. Battling chronic back issues, he arrived in Barcelona far from full health. Early reports suggested he might withdraw from the tournament, but he instead delivered on the court. In the team’s third game, he scored 19 points against Germany in 21 minutes, a reminder that his basketball instincts and shooting touch remained sharp even under physical strain.

Bird’s Olympic experience was deeply personal. Growing up in a household that revered the Olympics, representing the United States fulfilled a lifelong dream. “It was something you always dreamt about,” he said. This jersey, worn in his only Olympic appearance and during the final chapter of his playing career, captures that moment. Game-worn Dream Team jerseys are rare, and examples worn by Bird are virtually nonexistent in the marketplace.

The 1992 United States Men’s Olympic Basketball Team is widely regarded as the most influential assembly of talent in the history of sport. It marked the first time NBA players competed in the Olympics, changing how the world saw the game. Led by Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, the roster combined multiple generations of talent. Pippen anchored the team with his defense and playmaking, Jordan set the competitive tone, and Magic’s return carried cultural significance. Bird provided veteran leadership and shooting. Other teammates include Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, and Patrick Ewing, all established stars in the NBA.

Coach Chuck Daly recalled, “It was like Elvis and the Beatles put together. Traveling with the Dream Team was like traveling with 12 rock stars. That's all I can compare it to.”

The team dominated the Barcelona Games, winning all eight contests by an average of over 40 points and capturing the gold medal without serious challenge. This jersey comes directly from the Collection of Scottie Pippen.

This jersey has been photomatched by PSA. The jersey is also accompanied by a letter from James Spence Authentication in regards to the signatures.