The Houston Rockets drafted one of the greats in Hakeem Olajuwon, while the Chicago Bulls selected arguably their greatest player ever.
The “number 1 draft picks nba 2021” is a recap of the 1984 NBA Draft. The Houston Rockets decided to select Hakeem Olajuwon, while the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan.
Looking back, the NBA Draft of 1984 should be regarded as one of the best in NBA history. Three Hall of Famers are among the top five choices, with one player standing out as the greatest of all time. There are Defensive Player of the Years, good starters, and role players who have had lengthy and notable careers as you progress down the list.
Finally, this draft was exceptional. It is still one of the greatest nowadays. While some athletes fell short of expectations, this is something that occurs every year. Overall, there isn’t much to complain about in terms of skill.
Players from the The preliminary round of the 1984 NBA Draft, as well as other important selections, are shown below.
The preliminary round
1. Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon
21.8 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, 3.1 blocks per game
Olajuwon completed his career on a high note, exceeding expectations. There are times when No. 1 overall choices don’t live up to the expectations. Olajuwon was named MVP of the league, MVP of the Finals, and Defensive Player of the Year. For many years, he was a double-double guarantee and the face of the Houston Rockets.
Olajuwon was instrumental in the Rockets’ NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. The only time a No. 6 seed has won the NBA championship is in 1995. The squad would not have been been in the running if it hadn’t been for Olajuwon.
2. Portland Trail Blazers’ Sam Bowie
10.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 0.5 steals per game, 1.8 blocks per game
With his 7’3 stature, Bowie looked like an NBA potential and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. After that, the topic turned to what life would be like for Portland if Michael Jordan had been picked. Bowie played in the league for ten years.
3. Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan
28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG throughout his career
Jordan will go down in history as the greatest athlete of all time. Jordan’s selection by the Bulls aided the team’s transformation from average competitor to league superpower. Jordan was an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and a top-5 player every year in the 1980s. He became a champion in the 1990s, guiding the Bulls to a 6-0 record in NBA Finals and six Finals MVP honors.
His ten scoring crowns and nine All-Defensive First Team honors cement his status as the best. Jordan also went unbeaten in the Finals, which is a common point of contention in the GOAT discussion. We may be talking about a very different future if Portland had picked him.
4. Dallas Mavericks’ Sam Perkins
11.9 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 0.9 steals per game, 0.7 blocks per game
From 1984 through 2001, Perkins played in the NBA as a power forward and center. His only significant NBA honor was being chosen to the All-Rookie First Team. Throughout his career, he played for the Mavericks, Lakers, SuperSonics, and Pacers. His biggest claim to fame came in 1990, when he scored 45 points in a game and nailed a game-winning three-pointer against the Bulls in the NBA Finals. He also made three appearances in the NBA Finals but never won a ring.
Charles Barkley, No. 5
22.1 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, 0.8 blocks per game
Barkley was a Hall of Famer who played for the 76ers, Suns, and Rockets during his best years. After years of Julius Erving and Moses Malone, he was the new face of the Philadelphia 76ers. He was the NBA’s MVP in 1993 and led the Suns to the NBA Finals. With the Rockets, he formed a formidable combo with Hakeem Olajuwon.
Barkley was known as one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA near the end of his career. Barkley was also a 10-time All-NBA pick and an 11-time All-Star. As an analyst for TNT, he stays relevant in the league.
Melvin Turpin of the Washington Bullets is number six.
8.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG throughout his career
Turbin was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after being chosen. He battled with his weight in the professionals and only lasted six seasons in the league. Turpin was regarded as the worst draft flop of all time. Turpin also spent time in Spain as a player.
7. San Antonio Spurs’ Alvin Robertson
14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG throughout his career
For the Spurs, Robertson has shown to be a trustworthy performer. Six times, Robertson was named to the All-Defensive Team, and three times he led the league in thefts. His 3.7 thefts per game in a season is still an NBA record, and his career average of 2.7 steals per game is also a record.
Robertson never won a championship with the Spurs, but he did play in an era when getting past Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was impossible. He may have reached the NBA Finals if these guys weren’t in the same conference. He couldn’t get past Michael Jordan’s Bulls when he joined the Bucks.
8. Los Angeles Clippers’ Lancaster Gordon
5.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG throughout his career
Gordon was the MVP of the Mideast Regional in Louisville in 1983. His collegiate prowess, however, did not convert to the professional. He appeared in 201 games with the Clippers over the course of four seasons. He has a total of 1,125 points in his career. He also played in the Continental Basketball Association for a while.
9. Kansas City Kings’ Otis Thorpe
14.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG throughout his career
Thorpe had a good career, but his finest years were spent with future Rockets colleague Hakeem Olajuwon. From 1986 through 1992, he appeared in 542 straight games and was named to the All-Star team in 1992. That was one of the NBA’s longest streaks. He was a member of the NBA championship squad in 1994. With a field goal percentage of 55.9%, he is still the Rockets’ all-time leading scorer.
Leon Wood (Philadelphia 76ers) is ranked No. 10 in the NBA.
6.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 6.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 6.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 3.2 A
Wood is most known for his work as an NBA official, which he has done since 1991. He just started working as an NBA referee a year ago. He had previously spent six seasons in the NBA with six different clubs. He also spent time in Germany and with the CBA. Internally, he has two gold medals from the 1993 Pan American Games and the 1984 United States Olympic squad.
Kevin Willis (Atlanta Hawks) is ranked No. 11 in the NBA.
12.1 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, 0.9 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, 0.5 blocks per game
Willis appeared in an All-Star game in 1992, his finest season with the Hawks overall. He grabbed 15.5 rebounds per game, which was a career best. He is one of just 15 players in NBA history with over 16,000 points and 11,000 rebounds. He averaged double-digit rebounds six times.
With the Spurs, Willis ultimately won a title in 2003. Willis continued to perform until he was 44 years old. He was the league’s oldest player in 2004-05, at 42 years old. Willis also tied with Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki for the second-most NBA seasons.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tim McCormick (12)
8.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG throughout his career
Fans still see McCormick as the pregame and post-game analyst for Detroit Pistons games. In the day, he was a solid player that enjoyed success from 1984 to 1992. McCormick was traded to the SuperSonics after being drafted by Cleveland. In 1992, his final season was the first time he made it out of the The preliminary round of the playoffs with the Knicks before losing to Chicago.
Jay Humphries of the Phoenix Suns is number thirteen.
11.1 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 5.5 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, 0.1 blocks per game
Humphries was traded to the Bucks after being selected. In 1989, he had his greatest season, averaging 15.3 points and 1.9 steals per game. He had a career best of 36 points. Humphries was a member of the 1994 Utah Jazz, who advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Houston Rockets.
Los Angeles Clippers’ Michael Cage (14).
7.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG throughout his career
For the Clippers, Cage was a reliable starter at power forward and center. He finished his career as the all-time top rebounder at San Diego State. With 13.0 per game in 1988, he topped the league in rebounding. He needed 28 rebounds on the last day of the season to overtake Charles Oakley, and he ended up with 30.
Throughout his career, he was known as “Windexman.” Cage was noted for his toughness in the paint and on the defensive end of the court. Cage had an interesting track record as well. Cage was once 0-25 from three-point shooting to begin a season. Since then, Zaza Pachulia has set a new record by opening the 2017-18 season 0-26.
Terence Stansbury, Dallas Mavericks, No. 15
Career Stats: 6.2 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.0 APG< 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Stansbury’s greatest years were spent in the French League, where he was the league’s leading scorer in 1993. Stansbury played three seasons in the NBA. He never played for the Mavericks, instead preferring to play for the Pacers and SuperSonics. He was a strong dunker who competed in the Slam Dunk Contest three years in a row from 1985 to 1987, finishing third each time.
16. Utah Jazz’s John Stockton
13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG throughout his career
When the Jazz picked Stockton out of Gonzaga, they struck gold. They had no idea they’d be working with the greatest facilitator in the sport’s history. Stockton concluded his career as the all-time leader in assists when he was paired with Karl Malone. In 1997 and 1998, the Jazz made two visits in the NBA Finals before losing both times to the Bulls.
Stockton was a 10-time All-Star and five times led the league in assists. He also twice led the league in steals. He was named to the NBA All-NBA team 11 times. His record for career assists now looks to be unbreakable.
New Jersey Nets’ Jeff Turner (#17)
6.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG throughout his career
Turner played in the league for ten years and scored 3,697 points in his career. During this period, he was a member of the Nets and the Magic. He spent time teaching boys basketball after his playing career ended in 1996, earning a state championship in 2013 at Lake Highland Prep School in Orlando, Florida. Since then, he has worked as a color commentator for Magic games.
Indiana Pacers’ Vern Fleming (#18)
11.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG throughout his career
Fleming was a member of the gold-medal-winning 1984 Olympic squad. After a good career at Georgia, he moved on to the professionals. He was the point guard for the Pacers for 11 seasons in the NBA. In 1990, he had his greatest season, averaging 14.3 points and 7.4 assists. Despite splitting playing time with Haywoode Workman and Mark Jackson, Fleming saw substantial action.
Bernard Thompson (Portland Trail Blazers) is number 19 in the NBA.
5.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG throughout his career
Thompson had his greatest success in Germany, where he was the league’s leading scorer in 1995. He was a member of the Trail Blazers, Suns, and Rockets in the NBA. In 1985-86, he had his greatest season, averaging 8.5 points per game. He averaged 18.4 points per game in four seasons in the CBA.
Tony Campbell (Detroit Pistons) is number 20.
11.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG throughout his career
Campbell was a 6-foot-7 small forward for Ohio State University in college. He was transferred to the Lakers in 1987 after playing with the Pistons. He was the first player to win both an NBA and a CBA championship in the same season. In the NBA, he earned a ring with the Lakers in 1988, and in the CBA, he won a ring with the Albany Patroons. Before retiring in 1995, Campbell played for the Timberwolves, Knicks, Mavericks, and Cavaliers.
Kenny Fields (Milwaukee Bucks) is number 21.
6.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG throughout his career
The Bucks selected Fields, a 6-foot-5 guard out of UCLA. From 1984 to 1988, he was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. In 1986-87, he had his greatest season, appearing in 48 games and averaging 8.2 points per game. He also served in the CBA for a short period.
Tom Sewell of the Philadelphia 76ers is number 22.
4.1 PPG, 0.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.0 BPG throughout his career
Sewell emerged as an intriguing possibility during his junior year at Lamar University, as he almost averaged 23.0 points per game. Sewell was dealt to the Washington Bullets for a future choice after never playing for the 76ers. Sewell only lasted one season with the Bullets before retiring from the league.
Earl Jones of the Los Angeles Lakers is number 23.
0.9 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG throughout his career
It was possible that Jones would be taken. With a career average of 21.7 points per game, he was a three-time Division II All-American and two-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year. Despite his expertise at a lesser school, the Lakers took a risk, and it backfired. Jones’ first season was cut short due to a foot injury, and he only appeared in two games. In 1985, he was dealt to the Spurs and ultimately released. He retired from the NBA after the 1986 season.
Michael Young (Boston Celtics) is number 24.
4.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG throughout his career
Young has had a tremendous international career. Young played in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, and Israel after three seasons in the NBA. In 1993, he was a member of the EuroLeague champion Limoges. In 1988, he was named to the Spanish League All-Star team. In 1991, he was the leading scorer in the Italian League. He also won the French League Foreign MVP award two years in a row in 1993 and 1994, as well as the CBA MVP award in 1986.
Players to Watch From Previous Rounds
Cleveland Cavaliers (Round 2, Pick 27): Ron Anderson
10.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, 0.1 blocks per game
Anderson was a late bloomer when it came to his career. He went to college for four years and then went straight to the league after that. When he entered the NBA, he was just 26 years old. He played for the Cavaliers, Pacers, 76ers, Nets, and Bullets over the course of ten seasons. When he was playing with Charle Barkley, he was at his best. In four of the five seasons, he averaged double digits. Anderson played until he was 41 years old in the league.
Portland Trail Blazers – Jerome Kersey (Round 2, Pick 46)
10.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game, 0.7 blocks per game
Kersey’s name didn’t get much attention once he moved up to Division II. By his third year, he had established himself as a starter for the Trail Blazers. One year, he even finished second to Michael Jordan in the Slam Dunk Contest. From 1987 through 1988, he had his greatest season, averaging 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. He would later join the Spurs. His season totals were his lowest of his career, although he did win the title in 1999.
