A look back at Michael Jordan’s selections in the 1984 NBA Draft

Modified at 19:23 GMT on September 12, 2023

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, especially considering how fast he played during his rookie season.

In the 1984 NBA draft, Michael Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the third overall pick in the first round. He was drafted after Hakeem Olajuwon (the No. 1 pick by the Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (the No. 2 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers) were drafted ahead of him.

Michael Jordan was not the Chicago Bulls’ first choice in the 1984 NBA Draft

According to Aaditya Krishnamurthy of Fadeaway World, during Jordan’s draft day, the former Chicago Bulls general manager and the team’s organization did not select him very highly at the time.

“We wish Jordan was 7 feet tall, but he’s not,” Thorne said. “There’s just no center. What can you do? Jordan’s not going to turn this team around. I’m not going to ask him to. He’s a very good offensive player, but not an overwhelming offensive player.”

This is because the league at that time was still at the peak of elite centers. That’s not to say that NBA centers have declined since then, as there have been and still are many elite big men. It just so happened that with the arrival of Jordan, shooting guards also began to dominate.

According to Nithin Joseph of TheSportsRush, the 14-time All-Star doesn’t have a first-choice team to choose from, even though he was born in New York City, New York.

“Not really,” Jordan said. “At the time, I just wanted to get drafted. I didn’t think New York was in it. I don’t think they had the pick that year. But at that time, you just wanted to make it to the league. I didn’t watch much pro basketball before I got to college, so I I just want to play in the NBA.”

Looking back now, it’s safe to say Michael Jordan’s drafting by the Chicago Bulls was a pivotal moment in the organization’s history. This move made them a household name in the NBA.