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Ewing says 2012 Olympic team 'light in middle'

The latest volley in the war of words between the 1992 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team and the 2012 edition comes from Patrick Ewing.

Ewing, one of the 1992 team's centers, said this year's Olympic team would not lose to this year's group.

"They're a lot smaller than we were," Ewing said Saturday night on NBA TV network. "(The current team is) kind of light in the middle. Myself and David Robinson, we would have had a field day. ... I'm not saying we would have creamed them. Best out of 10, I'd say we'd have beaten them 10 out of 10."

Ewing, the former New York Knicks center, was one of 11 eventual members of Basketball Hall of Fame to play on the 2012 team.

The friendly rivalry began last month when 2012 member Kobe Bryant said his team would beat the 1992 team. After negative reaction from 1992 members, 2012 teammate LeBron James backed up Kobe's boast last week.

The 1992 team regularly points to the average victory margin of more than 43 points during their Olympic run.

The 2012 team opened Olympics first-round play Sunday with a 98-71 victory over France.