By 1992, Michael Jordan had established himself as the best player in the world. He had emerged quickly as a superb talent at UNC and was the third pick of the 1984 draft, but it’s safe to say that few people expected him to erupt the way he did as a rookie, not least of all Houston and Portland, who passed on Jordan in the draft.
Everyone wanted him to join the ‘92 Olympic team. It was the first time that professionals were allowed to play and that team was loaded. It had Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton, Karl Malone and, of course Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.