Michael Jordan was picked third by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA draft. The first pick that year was Hakeem Olajuwon, who had been a star player at the University of Houston. Olajuwon went on to win two NBA championships (1994 and 1995) with the Houston Rockets and was named NBA Most Valuable Player once (1994). The second pick was Sam Bowie, a 7-foot 1-inch (2.16-meter) center from the University of Kentucky, who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. He had a 10-year NBA career but dealt with significant leg injuries and did not become a star. Portland and its fans would come to regret selecting Bowie instead of Jordan. The team’s rationale against picking Jordan was that it already had Clyde Drexler, who played the same position, on its roster.
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