Back in 1984 the Chicago Bulls drafted the reigning men’s college basketball Player-of-the-Year Michael Jordan 3rd overall behind Hakeen Olajuwan and Sam Bowie. The team knew they had a real good player on their hands but who could have foreseen that they had just drafted the man who would become the greatest to ever play the game. Jordan went on to win 6 World Championships with the Bulls while solidifying himself as a global icon unseen before in the sports universe.
A rare video has surfaced of Air 23’s draft day video interview in which the 6’6″ guard from The University of North Carolina is asked the usual soft-ball questions that reporters still throw out today. It is one heck of a gem for fans of Air Jordan or anyone passionate about the history of basketball. Here is the interview followed by a full transcript:
How about the lip broom that NBA commissioner David Stern was sporting! Anyways, here is the full transcript of the brief Q & A following the drafting of Michael Jordan by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was not on hand at the draft in N.Y.C. because he was training with the U.S.A. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team that went on to win gold in ’84:
Eddie Doucette: Alright Michael Jordan this is Eddie Doucette in New York. How are you feeling?
Michael Jordan: Just fine. How are you doing?
ED: Real good. College player of the year amongst so many other honors, picked 3rd in the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. You’ll be getting a chance to see close up Enos Whatley and Wiggins and the rest of those fellas. How do you think you will fit there?
MJ: Well hopefully I fit pretty well. I’m looking forward to it. I played with Enos when I came out of high school so I’m looking forward to playing with him again.
ED: Alright, at 6’6″ 195lbs actually you could play two positions. Which would you prefer?
MJ: It doesn’t matter really. Whatever can contribute to the team. If I have to play small forward, if I have to play guard whatever the team needs.
ED: Some of the people who know this game best say that perhaps you’re going to be a beautiful big guard. How do you feel about that?
MJ: Well hopefully that becomes true. I’m not looking forward to going in and trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations. I just want to go in and contribute the best way I could and I just look forward to whatever the coaches want.
ED: Do you know anything about Kevin Loughery’s style of coaching and what he wants from his players?
MJ: Not really. I’m looking forward to meeting coach Loughery and looking forward to his coaching ability
ED: Well Michael, you’ve got a great opportunity to step in there and win a city that is crying for a winner. That is a fabulous sports town in Chicago and with a little help from a fellow named Michael Jordan perhaps you can turn that Bulls thing around. What do you think?
MJ: Hopefully I can go in and contribute and maybe turn it around. I’m looking forward to that.
ED: Well Michael, we want to wish you the best. I know that Olympic team is shaping up and I can’t wait to see you next year in the NBA
MJ: Thank you very much
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“Perhaps you’re going to be a beautiful big guard.” That is one of the greatest foreshadowing quotes I have ever heard. I think we can say, at least during his reign, that Jordan unquestionably won over Chicago and turned that whole Bulls thing around.
