The Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden witnessed future glory in 1984 when the NBA Draft took place on June 19. The draft typically generates excitement and speculation, but that particular event saw legends emerge everywhere. The 1984 draft class featured names that would later redefine the NBA.
The draft pool included massive talents ranging from Michael Jordan to Hakeem Olajuwon, from Charles Barkley to John Stockton, and the list goes on. This was not just a draft loaded with greatness, it also witnessed serious controversy after Sam Bowie was selected ahead of MJ.
The Historic 1984 NBA Draft Selections
The first overall draft pick was Hakeem Olajuwon. Coming from the University of Houston, Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets. The Dream took the entire NBA by storm, delivering sheer brilliance for 18 seasons. He played 1,238 games while logging 44,222 minutes. Olajuwon scored 26,946 points while recording 3,058 assists throughout his career.
Despite the presence of Michael Jordan, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Sam Bowie. This decision would later be scrutinized and dissected ruthlessly. Jordan was the third overall pick. The Chicago Bulls knew they were building toward glory, and the decision to acquire Jordan proved historic. His Airness reinvented the game and delivered magnificence for 15 seasons.
40 YEARS AGO… Dream. MJ. Chuck.
All top 5 picks in the 1984 NBA Draft 🌟 pic.twitter.com/znJHA3kGEH
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 26, 2024
Jordan appeared in 1,072 games while amassing 32,292 points. With 6,672 rebounds and 5,633 assists, his numbers stood as a testament to greatness. Beyond his statistical achievements, his towering presence made the entire world fall in love with basketball. Jordan shot 49.7 percent from the field while converting 32.7 percent of his three-point attempts.
Charles Barkley was another marquee name from that historic draft. The Round Mound of Rebound was the fifth overall pick. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Barkley, beginning something special. Sir Charles played for 16 seasons while appearing in 1,073 games. With 23,757 points, Barkley joined the pantheon of elites.
His 12,546 rebounds combined with 4,215 assists underlined his on-court excellence. Beyond these three icons, Otis Thorpe and Kevin Willis were also part of this draft and enjoyed substantial NBA careers.
Lasting Impact of the Greatest Draft Class
NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan became an All-Star 14 times. He was a three-time steals champion, the 1984-85 Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, five-time regular season MVP, 10-time scoring champion, six-time NBA champion, 1984-85 All-Rookie selection, 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year, and six-time Finals MVP.
Hakeem Olajuwon proved to be another magician from that iconic draft class. He was selected to the All-Star team 12 times, named to the 1984-85 All-Rookie team, won Finals MVP twice, and captured two NBA championships. He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors twice while winning the 1993-94 regular season MVP award.
Hakeem Olajuwon Sharing His SECRETS! 🤫🔥
“The Dream” just put in work with 7’2″ 4⭐️ Ethan Taylor at NBPA Top 100 Camp 😤😤😤@Top100Camp @TheNBPA @3thantaylor24 pic.twitter.com/MKpFEKAgAQ
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) June 13, 2025
Charles Barkley loaded up with iconic greatness throughout his career. An 11-time All-Star member while capturing the 1990-91 All-Star MVP, Barkley dominated at the highest level. The man who values Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan immensely won the 1992-93 MVP award, cementing himself in NBA folklore.
