The Rockets defeat the legendary dynasty, bringing Jordan his first championship.
The Celtics’ core consists of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. The Rockets defeat Magic Johnson’s Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Once again, Houston secures the number two seed in the West. Jordan and Sampson continue to perform at a high level. This leads to a fifth straight NBA Finals matchup between the Celtics and Lakers, the last championship showdown between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The Lakers and Rockets meet again in the Western Conference Finals, with Los Angeles prevailing. The dynamic duo carry Houston to a number two finish in the West. Ralph Sampson remains as Michael Jordan’s best supporting teammate. 1986-1987ĭuring the offseason, John Lucas agrees to a deal with the Golden State Warriors. Notable Occurrence: Hakeem Olajuwon signs with the Bulls during the offseason.
#Chicago bulls roster series#
This leads to a record-breaking fourth straight NBA Finals series between the Boston and Los Angeles.
#Chicago bulls roster full#
However, the Showtime Lakers are still in full throttle, eliminating Houston in the Western Conference Finals. The regular season ends with Houston edging out the Lakers for the best record in the West. The trio of Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, and John Lucas all earn NBA All-Star selections. The Rockets’ core continues to develop in Jordan’s sophomore year. The Bulls use their lottery pick to draft Karl Malone in the 1985 NBA Draft. Notable Occurrence: With Sam Bowie underperforming, Chicago finishes at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. For the third year in a row, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers meet in the NBA Finals. The Rockets are eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by Portland, led by Clyde Drexler and Olajuwon. Jordan and Sampson have a breakout season, and Houston claims the number three seed in the West. The North Carolina star joins a lineup that includes Ralph Sampson, John Lucas, Rodney McCray, and Lewis Lloyd. Michael Jordan is drafted by the Houston Rockets (Hakeem Olajuwon goes to the Portland Trail Blazers and Sam Bowie to the Chicago Bulls). With that being said, let’s dive into this alternative universe. For this reason, speculation becomes more apparent from season to season. This event causes a vast butterfly effect throughout the rest of the league, becoming more evident with each passing year. To propose a plausible answer, the tool Basketball GM was used to replicate this scenario. While both parties found success, it’s interesting to wonder what would have happened if Houston drafted Michael Jordan instead. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time, was selected right behind Olajuwon and Sam Bowie. History shows this decision would benefit the franchise for years to come. Nearly 40 years ago, the Houston Rockets selected Hakeem Olajuwon with the first pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.