2008 vs 2012 — which basketball team from the USA wins if pitted against each other? Indeed, a tough choice to make. There is no denying that the 1992 Dream Team and 2008 Redeem have been the most adored and hyped-up teams in Team USA men’s basketball history. However, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, Carmelo Anthony has a different take on the ’08 vs ’12 debate.

The former Denver Nuggets star believes the 2012 team is very underrated and doesn’t get enough credit. “I don’t know why not. If you really look at that team in 2012, that team arguably is better than 2008,” Melo said, appearing on Ball Magnets. And this is not the first instance when Melo has stated the 2012 team to be better than 2008.

Ahead of the 2012 Olympics media interactions itself, he stated, “With the players that was on that team… I mean 4 years later that’s got a lot better.” Considering that Carmelo Anthony averaged 11.5 points per game through the ’08 run and 16.3 PPG through the ’12 run, his statement is understandable.

However, both teams had a perfect 8-0 run in their respective tournaments. Yet another similarity is that both the teams faced the same teams in the final three games of their tourney: Australia, Argentina, and Spain. The 2008 team won their matchups against these three teams by a 31, 20, and 11-point margin, respectively.

Meanwhile, the 2012 team won their matchups by a margin of 33, 26, and 7 points, respectively. In fact, a closer look into the overall stat comparison will give it a slight edge to the 2012 roster. The ’12 team averaged 115.5 points, 44.6 rebounds, and 25 assists per game through their run. The 2008 team, meanwhile, averaged 106.2 PPG, 41.5 RPG, and 18.8 APG.

Yet another advantage that the ’12 team had was its pool of small forwards. Though ’08 had Bron and Melo in common, Kevin Durant’s 19.5 PPG average through his debut run stands out. So is there something that gives the ’08 team an edge over their successors of 2012? Well, the fans of the “Redeem Team” can feel better because there are multiple aspects where the ’08 shines better.

What makes the 2008 USA Basketball team better than the one in 2012?

Starting with the point guard position, both teams had Chris Paul and Deron Williams. But the comparison isn’t as simple as that. In the season leading up to the 2008 Olympics, Paul was arguably at the peak of his career. He averaged more points, steals, rebounds, and a significant 2.5 more assists per game compared to his 2012 self. So even though it’s the same name on the roster, you’re getting a much more dynamic version of Paul in 2008. Now, Deron Williams? His stats were pretty similar between the two years.

But in 2008, he was younger and fresher, which makes a difference in a fast-paced, high-stakes tournament like the Olympics. And when you look at the third point guard, the 2012 team had Russell Westbrook, an explosive scorer. However, 2008 had Jason Kidd, a true floor general. Westbrook is a force, no doubt, but Kidd’s near triple-double averages in 2007-08 speak volumes about his ability to impact the game beyond just scoring.

Do you prefer the high-energy, score-first style of Westbrook or the calm, balanced leadership of Kidd? Most would lean toward Kidd in this Olympic setting, giving the 2008 team a slight edge at point guard. Next up is the shooting guard position, where it’s hard to argue against the 2008 team’s dominance. Kobe Bryant in 2012 was still incredible, but the 2008 version of Kobe? That’s when he was at his absolute best. Younger, quicker, and more capable of handling big minutes.

And then you throw in Dwyane Wade, who, during the 2008 Olympics, was at the pinnacle of his career. Wade was coming off a championship and was right in the middle of his most dominant stretch, averaging around 27 points a game. His performance alongside Kobe in the 2008 gold medal game was legendary. Finally, at center, the 2008 team had Dwight Howard—a player many consider one of the best defensive anchors of his generation.

Chandler, on the 2012 team, was solid, but Howard was a physical force, both outscoring and out-rebounding Chandler by a decent margin. It’s clear the two teams had their own advantage and it may as completely be upon the perspective of who you consider better. Carmelo Anthony leaning toward 2012 is just his call, but even he picked the 2008 win as his favorite. The ’08 represented an emotion — the Redeem Team!

Stay tuned for more updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.