NBA Draft: Every team’s best pick ever

Jun 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) speaks to the media during a press conference after game four of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors won 108-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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CHICAGO – January 30: A statue of former Chicago Bulls basketball player Michael Jordan sits outside the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls basketball team and Chicago Blackhawks hockey team on January 30, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan, No. 3, 1984 NBA Draft

The greatest of all time. His Airness. The legend.

The Chicago Bulls legend was selected third overall in 1984, after Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon who was selected first and the infamous Sam Bowie, who was selected second by the Portland Trail Blazers. Jordan won his first MVP award in 1988, but it took a few more years for him to get past the Detroit Pistons and win a NBA championship. Jordan helped the Bulls win five more championships after that first one in 1991, going back-to-back-to-back each time. Jordan was also a gold medalist, as the leader of the legendary 1992 Dream Team.

Nearly two decades since his last title, Jordan is still the template by which all great wing players are measured. His tenacity and force of will are legendary and, in addition to revolutionizing how the game was played on the court, Jordan’s work with Nike has helped shape the broader world of athletes as off-court icons. The shadow he cast over the NBA was, and still is, enormous.

When he retired for the final time in 2003, Jordan left the game as the best player in NBA history. There will never be anyone like Michael Jordan again.

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