Which team symbolized the globalization and commercialization of basketball, turning players into worldwide brands?

• A. Trash sports
• B. Dream Team
• C. Tony Hawk
• D. Instant replay

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how basketball evolved into a global, commercially driven sport, with players becoming worldwide brands. The Dream Team exemplifies this because its 1992 Olympic squad brought together the era’s biggest stars and unleashed massive international media attention. By performing on the world stage, they helped expand basketball’s global fan base, opened doors for international endorsements and sponsorships, and solidified the idea that individual players could be global icons as well as team stars. This moment marked a turning point where the NBA’s reach and the commercialization of players accelerated dramatically.

Other options don’t fit this theme: one refers to a non-basketball entity, another to a famous personality from a different sport, and another to a game rule or technology rather than a team.