I have to go with MJ because he has a lot of talent, he led the bulls to 6 championships, won a couple of All-Star MVPs and plenty more but, what surprises me the most is that he was drafted third 84-85 (not sure about the year). What are your thoughts?
No because a certain player could have been selected lower than he should have and turned out to be one of the best players off all-time. That can be the sort of thing that determines how great a draft pick can be. The obvious choices aren't always the best choices.
I say John Stockton with the 16th pick in the 1984 draft. He's only one of the 50 greatest players of all time, and the leader in career assists and steals. Not bad for a guy that wasn't the most talented and athletic PG.
I say Magic Johnson (the original MJ) who did in 8 months what it took Michael Jordan years to achieve.
i say, in a few years, you guys will all be saying arenas.. when he is playing at a superstar level and was a second round pick at 31!
I gotta agree with Azball17. Utah figured they were getting a backup point guard, maybe, if he made the team. Stockton lived in a hotel room in Utah for his first season because he thought he'd be cut, and the Jazz didn't do anything to dissuade him. Every other star through history of his caliber was thought to have the potential of a star. MJ is my favorite player, but even with him folks predicted all-star appearances, etc. Not so with Stock. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting sartre2025:</div><div class="quote_post">I say Magic Johnson (the original MJ) who did in 8 months what it took Michael Jordan years to achieve.</div> Ha, its not like Magic had the best player in the game at that time on his team as well as a couple of all stars to boot. Oh wait, he did...(Kareem won MVP that year, and Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon were among the best in the game at their positions)
Magic and Larry Bird, Russell and Wilt, two pairs of the greatest rivalries to grace the court, not to mention friendship. These duels displayed courage, strength and skill.