AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first ever timeline. Please be nice 
THE 1984 NBA DRAFT
The 1984 NBA Draft is still considered the greatest Draft in the history of the league. Not only because of the future Hall of Fame players that were drafted, but because of how the Draft itself altered the destiny of several NBA franchises, and shaped the NBA that we enjoy today. This is the story of how that famous draft affected the basketball world.
It all began with a coin flip. This was the last time the NBA would use this method to determine which team won the first overall draft selection. The two teams involved were the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers. The Rockets had already tasted recent success here. The previous year, Houston won the coin flip and had selected 7 foot 4 Centre Ralph Sampson. Despite Sampson’s stellar rookie season (he won Rookie of the Year in 1984), the Rockets remained an awful team (many suspected this was by design), and had wound up in the coin flip for a second successive year. The Portland Trailblazers were not a bad team. They had acquired this selection via a trade, and were looking to add to their already decent team which included the likes of Mychal Thompson, Kiki Vandewedghe and a young Clyde Drexler. They were looking to fill a team need with this pick, and draft a big man.
The 1984 Draft class was superb. The consensus top prospect was Nigerian born Akeem Olajuwon, a seven footer from the University of Houston. Both the Rockets and the Trailblazers were sure to select Olajuwon with the first pick. But there was an embarrassment of choices. Michael Jordan, an explosive guard and Sam Perkins from North Carolina were both sure to be early picks. There was Sam Bowie, a gifted seven footer from Kentucky. Bowie was considered by many to have a better all round game than Olajuwon, but was also considered something of a risk due to injury problems. Mercurial Auburn forward Charles Barkley and Bowie’s teammate Mel Turpin were also very highly touted prospects.
The coin flip didn’t just have ramifications for Houston and Portland. The teams picking after them were also affected because no one was quite sure who would be the number two pick. The Chicago Bulls own the third selection, and had their hearts set on Michael Jordan.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers had picks 4 and 5. Chicago wanted Jordan, but if Portland won the coin flip he might be chosen by the Rockets at number two. It was widely understood that if Houston won the flip, the Trailblazers would draft according to need and select either Bowie or Turpin, each of whom would fill the team’s need for a big man. Neither was considered as good a prospect as Jordan, but Portland had Drexler and Jim Paxson and had no need for another shooting guard. The Rockets on the other hand already had Sampson, so they had the luxury of selecting the best player available. If they won the flip it would be Olajuwon and they would have a twin towers pairing that would be truly intimidating. If they lost, they would probably take Jordan, who was certain to be a star as well.
So the fates of several franchises were riding on the all-important coin flip.
In the end, it was Portland’s owner who called correctly. The Trailblazers were ecstatic. The Rockets were disappointed, but Michael Jordan would be a great consolation prize. For the Chicago Bulls it was a disaster.
On Draft day, the early picks went as expected;
1. Portland Akeem Olajuwon (Houston) C
2. Houston Michael Jordan (North Carolina) G
Now Rod Thorn and the Bulls faced a difficult decision. Would they choose the petulant but precociously talented Charles Barkley, or the less gifted, but very solid Sam Perkins? In the end, Thorn decided to roll the dice. Barkley was a franchise player talent, Perkins was not. They opted for the player with the biggest upside and backside, Charles Barkley.
3. Chicago Charles Barkley (Auburn) F
Then Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington had their picks;
4. Dallas Sam Perkins (North Carolina) F
5. Philadelphia Mel Turpin (Kentucky) F-C
6. Washington Sam Bowie (Kentucky) C
The Dallas Mavericks were happy. They’d targeted Perkins to be their pick, and had been concerned that Chicago might select him. They felt that Barkley would not have meshed well with their star player Mark Aguirre, whereas Perkins would slot in perfectly. The Philadelphia 76ers were disappointed. They had coveted both Jordan and Barkley and had gotten neither. Washington was delighted that Bowie had slipped to sixth, and had pounced on him. They were more than willing to take the risk on his injured leg. Both Houston and Chicago would that day receive trade offers from the Sixers. Even the great Julius Erving was offered as trade bait. Neither team was willing to give up their new players.
One other notable selection that day was John Stockton. Stockton had never been considered a top prospect, but the Utah Jazz had scouted him heavily and believed that he was special. They got their man late in the First Round.
So there it was. Olajuwon to Portland, Jordan to Houston and Barkley to Chicago. Each of these young men was destined to lead their franchise to a championship before they left the game. The NBA would never be the same again.
NEXT: THE 1984-85 NBA SEASON
THE 1984 NBA DRAFT
The 1984 NBA Draft is still considered the greatest Draft in the history of the league. Not only because of the future Hall of Fame players that were drafted, but because of how the Draft itself altered the destiny of several NBA franchises, and shaped the NBA that we enjoy today. This is the story of how that famous draft affected the basketball world.
It all began with a coin flip. This was the last time the NBA would use this method to determine which team won the first overall draft selection. The two teams involved were the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers. The Rockets had already tasted recent success here. The previous year, Houston won the coin flip and had selected 7 foot 4 Centre Ralph Sampson. Despite Sampson’s stellar rookie season (he won Rookie of the Year in 1984), the Rockets remained an awful team (many suspected this was by design), and had wound up in the coin flip for a second successive year. The Portland Trailblazers were not a bad team. They had acquired this selection via a trade, and were looking to add to their already decent team which included the likes of Mychal Thompson, Kiki Vandewedghe and a young Clyde Drexler. They were looking to fill a team need with this pick, and draft a big man.
The 1984 Draft class was superb. The consensus top prospect was Nigerian born Akeem Olajuwon, a seven footer from the University of Houston. Both the Rockets and the Trailblazers were sure to select Olajuwon with the first pick. But there was an embarrassment of choices. Michael Jordan, an explosive guard and Sam Perkins from North Carolina were both sure to be early picks. There was Sam Bowie, a gifted seven footer from Kentucky. Bowie was considered by many to have a better all round game than Olajuwon, but was also considered something of a risk due to injury problems. Mercurial Auburn forward Charles Barkley and Bowie’s teammate Mel Turpin were also very highly touted prospects.
The coin flip didn’t just have ramifications for Houston and Portland. The teams picking after them were also affected because no one was quite sure who would be the number two pick. The Chicago Bulls own the third selection, and had their hearts set on Michael Jordan.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers had picks 4 and 5. Chicago wanted Jordan, but if Portland won the coin flip he might be chosen by the Rockets at number two. It was widely understood that if Houston won the flip, the Trailblazers would draft according to need and select either Bowie or Turpin, each of whom would fill the team’s need for a big man. Neither was considered as good a prospect as Jordan, but Portland had Drexler and Jim Paxson and had no need for another shooting guard. The Rockets on the other hand already had Sampson, so they had the luxury of selecting the best player available. If they won the flip it would be Olajuwon and they would have a twin towers pairing that would be truly intimidating. If they lost, they would probably take Jordan, who was certain to be a star as well.
So the fates of several franchises were riding on the all-important coin flip.
In the end, it was Portland’s owner who called correctly. The Trailblazers were ecstatic. The Rockets were disappointed, but Michael Jordan would be a great consolation prize. For the Chicago Bulls it was a disaster.
On Draft day, the early picks went as expected;
1. Portland Akeem Olajuwon (Houston) C
2. Houston Michael Jordan (North Carolina) G
Now Rod Thorn and the Bulls faced a difficult decision. Would they choose the petulant but precociously talented Charles Barkley, or the less gifted, but very solid Sam Perkins? In the end, Thorn decided to roll the dice. Barkley was a franchise player talent, Perkins was not. They opted for the player with the biggest upside and backside, Charles Barkley.
3. Chicago Charles Barkley (Auburn) F
Then Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington had their picks;
4. Dallas Sam Perkins (North Carolina) F
5. Philadelphia Mel Turpin (Kentucky) F-C
6. Washington Sam Bowie (Kentucky) C
The Dallas Mavericks were happy. They’d targeted Perkins to be their pick, and had been concerned that Chicago might select him. They felt that Barkley would not have meshed well with their star player Mark Aguirre, whereas Perkins would slot in perfectly. The Philadelphia 76ers were disappointed. They had coveted both Jordan and Barkley and had gotten neither. Washington was delighted that Bowie had slipped to sixth, and had pounced on him. They were more than willing to take the risk on his injured leg. Both Houston and Chicago would that day receive trade offers from the Sixers. Even the great Julius Erving was offered as trade bait. Neither team was willing to give up their new players.
One other notable selection that day was John Stockton. Stockton had never been considered a top prospect, but the Utah Jazz had scouted him heavily and believed that he was special. They got their man late in the First Round.
So there it was. Olajuwon to Portland, Jordan to Houston and Barkley to Chicago. Each of these young men was destined to lead their franchise to a championship before they left the game. The NBA would never be the same again.
NEXT: THE 1984-85 NBA SEASON
