http://www.bullz-eye.com/sports/features/2007/nba_draft-blunders.htm #2 is Portland picking Bowie over Jordan. How this wasn't #1 is beyond me. Yeah Detroit's blunder of picking Millicic over Bosh, Wade, and Anthony was bad, but Jordan is the best player to ever play this game. I would put Portland's 1984 blunder as #1 without a doubt. (side-note) Barkely was on that same draft class. Hell I think a few others were as well.
I still don't think it was that big of a deal. Sounds funny, but Paxson was an All-Star, Clyde was his backup and every team back then that was contending or winning had a dominate big man (Kareem, Parrish, Moses, etc.) I still think Chicago would have drafted Bowie ahead of Jordan also. Google the local Chicago paper's recap of the draft and they talk about how Jordan will be a quality pro, but NOBODY thought he would turn into the player he did.
Does this really need brought up again? It happened a quarter of a century ago, and it still gives me a sick feeling in my gut.
Sorry, but that is utter claptrap. Bowie's injury history in college was well documented. No other team would have taken him in the top 5. He had a tremendous basketball IQ, but if his body couldn't withstand college ball, there was little chance he would ever be a productive NBA player.
When this is all said and done this will be like the wound from the ring wraiths in the lord of the rings. It is the wound that will not heal, and we will always feel a "coldness" from it! Alright I just gave away way too much information about how much of a nerd I am.
I don't think that's true, about where other teams would have selected him. As I recall, Rod Thorn (then GM of Chicago) was hoping for Olajuwon or Bowie. He grudgingly took Jordan when both were off the board at his pick. There's his famous draft day quote about how the Bulls are happy to have Jordan, but you can't build a team around a wing.
In 4 seasons with the Blazers, he played fewer than 40 games in 3 of them. His "best" season statwise: 5 games, 16 PPG, 6 1/2 RPG. Bowie was a rather ordinary scorer/rebounder. What made him special as a rookie, was his passing and defense. None of which meant anything when he was in street clothes.
EGAD you are right! http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowiesa01.html I never thought much of Bowie, since I just became a fan in 84 (was only 11, btw), so I don't quite remember him that much. I was still a young buck.
Speaking of that '84 draft, has anyone ever heard this rumor that we almost traded Drexler and the #2 for Ralph Samson? I bet that move would have made #1 on this "blunders" list...
For anyone who is interested in the 1984 draft, I highly recommend the book Tip-Off: How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever by Flip Bondy. It's a great read and worth the effort for the Barkley stories alone. Prior to the coin toss with Portland for the No. 1 pick, Bill Fitch had decided Houston would take Olajuwon No. 1 if they won the coin toss and Jordan No. 2 if they lost (they already had Ralph Sampson, the previous year's No. 1 pick and ROY). Portland GM Stu Inman was determined to land a big man - Olajuwon if they won the coin toss, Bowie if they lost. Bulls GM Rod Thorn was a big Jordan fan, but he was willing to consider trading the 3rd pick to Houston for Sampson. Imagine the dynasty Houston would have had if they had gotten both Olajuwon and Jordan in the 1984 draft. On separate teams they won 8 straight titles in the 1990s. Just think what they could have done on the same team. In any case, it's a good book and a fun read. Highly recommended. BNM
I'm not sure I agree with that. Several of Inman's subordinates have publicly stated that Barkley was #2 on their wish list - but that it was the coaching staff (ie Dr Jack) that had a man crush on Bowie. IIRC, Bowie had already had 2 major surgeries and missed 2 full seasons while at Kentucky - so I find it credible that the front office wasn't enthusiastic about him. After the Walton experience, wouldn't you be leery?
One could make the counter-argument that Sabonis' body couldn't withstand the short Euro seasons, but he held up fairly well in the NBA once some of the injuries were behind him and he was receiving better medical care.
Our team was stacked at the guard and forward spots in 1983. We valued Bowie over Jordan because of his skills (when healthy) and being player of the year in 1980 or 1981. Bowie was a good - good player. Hindsight is easy now to say draft Jordan, but at the time it was all Bowie or Olojuwon. Add a center to an already good playoff team! Easy. Bowie over Jordan doesn't belong on that list because of Bowie having injuries (which can never be foretold). On draft day, it wasn't a horrendous gaff. The day Bowie broke leg (1st time) it became a bad move. Bowie had a very productive first year with us. He anchored the defense and helped us become a much better team on defense. Mychal Thompson went from being our Center in 1983 to playing his more natural PF position with Bowie. It was a gamble that didn't payoff. In hindsight, what if Jordan had been the one to freakishly break his leg every year?? Where would Chicago have been?
While passing on Jordan looks terrible in hindsight, managing to pick a complete stiff over 3 other players who could end up in the hall of fame is pretty bad. You can't miss on a player any worse than that.
I encourage everyone to drink heavily and then watch the 1984 draft when it's rebroadcast on NBATV... the announcers are GUSHING over Jordan and what a special player he is after being distinctly "meh" about Bowie. It seemed like the Blazers were settling while Chicago was getting the best player in college basketball. Of course, the announcers might not have been in touch with the thinking of the fans or GMs of the time, but it certainly supports the "Blazers should have taken the best player available" argument rather than the "no one knew about Jordan at the time" position... Ed O.
