Drexler Says He Wanted Michael Jordan Over Bowie for Blazers

The saga of the 1984 NBA Draft, wherein the Portland Trail Blazers famously drafted Kentucky center Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, has been replayed from endless perspectives since that fateful decision was made. Jordan would go on to win six championship with the Bulls while the Blazers remained empty, despite trips to the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals. Now Clyde Drexler, the core of those early-90’s Finals teams, is claiming that he and teammate Mychal Thompson knew that Jordan was the correct pick in that draft and that they tried to influence the Blazers accordingly.

In an interview with Chris Broussard of Fox Sports (video below), Drexler offers this anecdote:

Mychal Thompson and I put an article in the paper. Mychal Thompson, who was way ahead of his time, said that, “If Portland drafts Michael Jordan, him and Clyde would dominate this league for the next 15 years.” And I think the team called him in and threatened to fine him if he continued with that rhetoric.

When Broussard asked Drexler if he felt the same way, Drexler repied,

Absolutely. How can you not pick him?

The interview features more of Drexler’s thoughts on the rivalry with Jordan and the success of those early 1990’s Blazers teams.