2023-07-22 17:40:00
Eternal associated with Chicago given his success with the Bulls, Michael Jordan might nevertheless have written his story far from Illinois. However, a franchise to which he once seemed promised did not appeal to him in the least!
The greatest legend of the franchise, he can a priori see coming before being dislodged from his throne. Michael Jordan has indeed left an indelible mark on the Bulls during his 13 seasons played there. His successors have experienced, are experiencing and will therefore experience great difficulty in stealing this status from him. And yet, it took little for the illustrious rear to join a land other than Chicago in the NBA.
The destination that Michael Jordan wanted to avoid at all costs
Selected with the 3rd choice of the 1984 Draft by the Bulls, Jordan immediately established himself there as a superstar in the making. This, before delivering a career that makes him the GOAT for many. What to wonder how the teams holders of the two previous picks were able to let it slip away, and especially the Blazers. Their coach at the time, Jack Ramsay, had nevertheless justified this move before the ceremony:
We haven’t made a decision yet, but there’s a good chance we’re settling on someone else. That doesn’t mean we don’t like Michael Jordan. Besides, you won’t find anyone who will tell you that. The fact is, we desperately need a pivot.
Words that eventually came true.
Read also
Jordan’s lunar analysis of white players: “They don’t have the…”
Indeed, Portland voluntarily let slip the opportunity to draft MJ and fell back on the big man Sam Bowie. A choice that might make sense from a sporting point of view, but which did not really bear fruit in the years that followed. Anyway, Mike might hardly see himself joining a team in which a certain Clyde Drexler already held his position. He thus indicated to Playboy in 1992 :
Things went exactly as I wanted. Portland already had Clyde Drexler in their ranks, so it would have been stupid for me to go there.
Jordan might therefore thank Ramsay and the front office of the Blazers, those who indirectly allowed him to achieve the illustrious career that everyone knows him. Not sure indeed that he would have met with such success alongside Drexler, which might have slowed down or even prevented his development. Similarly, His Airness congratulated itself on having landed in Chicago on the entrepreneurial level:
I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities from a business and financial point of view, that’s for sure.
Today considered a legend of the Bulls, Michael Jordan might however have taken a very different path by joining Portland during the 1984 Draft. Fortunately for him, the Blazers preferred to miss this golden opportunity!
1690056664
#Michael #Jordan #stupid #team
