1986 FLEER BASKETBALL MICHAEL JORDAN ROOKIE #57 PSA 10 GEM MINT

Documentaries have told the riveting story of the 1984 NBA Draft, although many fans remember it. The top three picks—Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Bowie, and Michael Jordan—shaped the hardcourt landscape for a generation. However, fans might not realize that despite Jordan’s success at UNC, scouts only pegged Hakeem “the Dream” as a secure pick among the three standouts. Bowie had injury concerns, and some scouts feared the 6’5”, 185-lb Jordan could not handle the grind of an 82-game season in the highly physical NBA. This uncertainty led the Bulls to shop the No. 3 pick in the leadup to the draft, so the Jordan era could have looked very different had Chicago followed through. The Philadelphia 76ers, for example, offered a package of All-Star guard Andrew Toney and center Clemon Johnson for the third pick. This deal would have paired Jordan with Julius Erving and Charles Barkley, the Sixers’ No. 5 pick that year. The Los Angeles Clippers, meanwhile, offered ‘83-’84 Rookie of the Year Terry Cummings for the pick, which would have surrounded MJ with a cast of quality All-Stars and veterans, including Marques Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, Bill Walton, and Norm Nixon. Even the Atlanta Hawks offered the Bulls veteran big man Tree Rollins, potentially pairing Jordan with “the Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins. But the trade offer that Olajuwon revealed in his memoir years later might be the most mind-blowing. According to “the Dream,” the Blazers offered the No. 2 pick and second-year guard Clyde Drexler to Houston for star center Ralph Sampson, giving the Rockets the top two selections in the draft. With those picks, Houston would have selected Olajuwon and Jordan paired with the up-and-coming Drexler. How many championships would that big three have won?