In 1989, the FIBA allowed professional NBA players to participate in the Olympics for the first time. Prior to the 1992 Summer Olympics, only European and South American professionals were allowed to play in the Olympics.
The United States team, nicknamed the Dream Team, reached the Gold Medal beating Croatia in the final.
With the USA winning the gold medal, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen became the first players to win both NBA championship and Olympic Gold medal in the same year, having been with the Chicago Bulls.