1984 NBA Draft Recap: Houston Rockets Decide To Select Hakeem Olajuwon, Chicago Bulls Draft The Greatest Player Of All Time

Looking back, the 1984 NBA Draft should be considered one of the greatest in NBA history. The top five picks feature three Hall of Famers with one player sticking out as the best of all time. As you go down the list, there are Defensive Player of the Years, solid starters, and role players that played long significant careers.

In the end, this draft was special. Even today, it remains one of the best. While some players didn’t live up to expectations, that happens every year. Overall, you can’t complain too much about the talent here.

Here are players from the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft and other notable picks.

First Round

1. Hakeem Olajuwon – Houston Rockets

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG

Olajuwon finished his career living up to expectations. There are No. 1 overall picks that don’t always live up to the hype. Olajuwon was a league MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year. He was a guaranteed double-double and the face of the Houston Rockets for many years.

Olajuwon was key in the Rockets winning the NBA championship in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 season remains the one time a No. 6 seed won the NBA championship. Without Olajuwon, the team would not have even been in the conversation.

2. Sam Bowie – Portland Trail Blazers

Career Stats: 10.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.8 BPG

Bowie looked like an NBA prospect with his 7’3 frame and earned a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. After that, the conversation was left wondering what Portland’s life would be like had they drafted Michael Jordan. Bowie enjoyed 10 long seasons in the league.

3. Michael Jordan – Chicago Bulls

Career Stats: 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Jordan goes down as the greatest player of all time. After being selected by the Bulls, Jordan helped the franchise transition from mediocre contender to league powerhouse. In the 80s, Jordan was an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and a top-5 player annually. In the 90s, he turned into a champion, leading the Bulls to a 6-0 record in the NBA Finals with six Finals MVP awards.

His resume as the greatest stems from his 10 scoring titles and nine appearances on the All-Defensive First Team. Jordan was also undefeated in the Finals which is frequently used in the GOAT debate. Had Portland drafted him, we might be talking about a completely different future.

4. Sam Perkins – Dallas Mavericks

Career Stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Perkins was a power forward and center in the NBA from 1984 to 2001. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team, but that was his lone major NBA award. He played for the Mavericks, Lakers, SuperSonics, and Pacers throughout his career. His greatest call to fame was scoring 45 points in a game in 1990 and hitting a game-winning three-pointer against the Bulls in the 1991 Finals. He also appeared in the NBA Finals three times but never won a ring.

5. Charles Barkley

Career Stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Barkley was a Hall of Fame player that spent his prime years with the 76ers, Suns, and Rockets. With the 76ers, he was the new face of the franchise after years of Julius Erving and Moses Malone. With the Suns, he was the 1993 MVP and led the franchise to the NBA Finals. With the Rockets, he paired with Hakeem Olajuwon to form a dangerous duo.

Barkley finished his career with a reputation as one of the league’s greatest offensive rebounders. Barkley was also an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA selection. He remains relevant in the league as an analyst for TNT.

6. Melvin Turpin – Washington Bullets

Career Stats: 8.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG

After being drafted, Turbin was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the pros, he struggled with his weight and lasted just six seasons in the league. When it comes to draft busts, Turpin was considered the biggest. Turpin also spent time playing in Spain.

7. Alvin Robertson – San Antonio Spurs

Career Stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Robertson turned out to be a very dependable player for the Spurs. Robertson made the All-Defensive Team six times and led the league in steals three times. His 3.7 steals per game in a season remains the NBA record, while his 2.7 steals per game in his career is also a record.

Robertson never won a title with the Spurs but played in an era where it was difficult to get past Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Had these players not been in the same conference, he might have made the NBA Finals. When he joined the Bucks, he was unable to get past Michael Jordan’s Bulls.

8. Lancaster Gordon – Los Angeles Clippers

Career Stats: 5.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG

In college, Gordon was the MVP in the 1983 Mideast Regional at Louisville. However, his college success did not translate to the pros. He played four seasons for the Clippers and played a total of 201 games. He finished his career with 1,125 total points. He spent some time in the Continental Basketball Association as well.

9. Otis Thorpe – Kansas City Kings

Career Stats: 14.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Thorpe enjoyed a successful career, but his best years came with future teammate Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets. He made an ALl-Star appearance in 1992 and played 542 consecutive games from 1986 to 1992. That was one of the longest streaks in the NBA. In 1994, he was on the NBA championship team. He remains the Rockets’ all-time leader in the highest field goal percentage at 55.9%.

10. Leon Wood – Philadelphia 76ers

Career Stats: 6.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG

Wood is best recognized as an NBA official, a role he has owned since 1991. It was just a year ago he became a referee in the NBA. Before that, he played for six NBA teams in six seasons. He spent time in Germany and the CBA as well. He owns two gold medals internally from the 1993 Pan American Games and the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.

11. Kevin Willis – Atlanta Hawks

Career Stats: 12.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Willis made an All-Star appearance in 1992, which was his best season overall with the Hawks. He averaged a career-high 15.5 rebounds per game. He remains one of 15 players with over 16,000 career points and 11,000 rebounds. He had double-digit rebounds averages six times.

Willis eventually won a championship with the Spurs in 2003. Willis played until he was 44 years old. In the 2004-05 season, he was the oldest in the league at 42. Willis also shared the second-most seasons played in the NBA with Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki.

12. Tim McCormick – Cleveland Cavaliers

Career Stats: 8.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Fans still see McCormick as the pregame and post-game analyst for Detroit Pistons games. In the day, he was a solid player that enjoyed success from 1984 to 1992. McCormick was traded to the SuperSonics after being drafted by Cleveland. In 1992, his final season was the first time he made it out of the first round of the playoffs with the Knicks before losing to Chicago.

13. Jay Humphries – Phoenix Suns

Career Stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG

After being drafted, Humphries was traded to the Bucks. His best season came in 1989 when he averaged 15.3 points and 1.9 steals per game. His career-high was 36 points. Humphries was a part of the 1994 Jazz team that made a run to the Western Conference Finals before the team lost to the Rockets.

14. Michael Cage – Los Angeles Clippers

Career Stats: 7.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Cage was a solid starter at power forward and center for the Clippers. He left San Diego State as the all-time leading rebounder. In 1988, he led the league in rebounding with 13.0 per game. On the final day of the season, he needed 28 rebounds to pass Charles Oakley, and he finished the day with 30.

In his career, he earned the nickname “Windexman.” Cage was known for his hard work in the paint and defense. Cage also held an unusual record. Cage once started a season 0-25 from three-point range. Since then, Zaza Pachulia broke the record starting the year 0-26 in 2017-18.

15. Terence Stansbury – Dallas Mavericks

Career Stats: 6.2 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.0 APG< 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Stansbury did most of his best work in the French League, where he led the league in scoring in 1993. In the NBA, Stansbury lasted three seasons. He never played for the Mavericks, having spent his time with the Pacers and SuperSonics. He was a powerful dunker, participating in the Slam Dunk Contest three straight years from 1985 to 1987, where he was third each season.

16. John Stockton – Utah Jazz

Career Stats: 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG

The Jazz struck gold when they drafted Stockton out of Gonzaga. Little did they know they would have the greatest facilitator in the history of the sport. Paired with Karl Malone, Stockton finished his career as the all-time leader in assists. The Jazz made two appearances in the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 before falling to the Bulls in both seasons.

Stockton was a 10-time All-Star and led the league in assists five times. He also led the league in steals two times. He made the All-NBA team 11 times. Today, his record for career assists appears like a record that may never be broken.

17. Jeff Turner – New Jersey Nets

Career Stats: 6.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Turner spent 10 seasons in the league and ended his career with 3,697 career points. He played for the Nets and Magic during this time. After his playing career was over in 1996, he spent time coaching boys basketball, winning a state title in 2013 at Lake Highland Prep School in Orlando, Florida. He has since served as a color commentator for the Magic games.

18. Vern Fleming – Indiana Pacers

Career Stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Fleming was a part of the 1984 Olympic team that won a gold medal. Then he joined the pros after a successful career at Georgia. In the NBA, he played 11 seasons for the Pacers as the team’s point guard. His best season came in 1990 when he averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 assists. Fleming played significant minutes despite sharing playing time with Haywoode Workman and Mark Jackson.

19. Bernard Thompson – Portland Trail Blazers

Career Stats: 5.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Thompson enjoyed his most success in Germany, where he led the league in scoring in 1995. In the NBA, he played for the Trail Blazers, Suns, and Rockets. His best season came in 1985-86 when he averaged 8.5 points per game. He spent four seasons in the CBA, averaging 18.4 points per game.

20. Tony Campbell – Detroit Pistons

Career Stats: 11.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Campbell played his college ball at Ohio State University as a 6-foot-7 small forward. After playing for the Pistons, he was traded to the Lakers in 1987. He became the first player to earn an NBA ring and a CBA ring in the same season. He won a ring in the NBA in 1988 with the Lakers and with the Albany Patroons in the CBA. Campbell spent time with the Timberwolves, Knicks, Mavericks, and Cavaliers before leaving the league in 1995.

21. Kenny Fields – Milwaukee Bucks

Career Stats: 6.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Fields was a 6-foot-5 guard out of UCLA and taken by the Bucks. He played in the NBA from 1984 to 1988 for both Milwaukee and the Clippers. His best season came in 1986-87 when he played 48 games and averaged 8.2 points. He briefly spent time in the CBA as well.

22. Tom Sewell – Philadelphia 76ers

Career Stats: 4.1 PPG, 0.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.0 BPG

Sewell became an interesting prospect out of Lamar University, where he nearly averaged 23.0 points per game his junior year. Sewell never played for the 76ers and was traded to the Washington Bullets for a future pick. Sewell played one season for the Bullets and was out of the NBA after that.

23. Earl Jones – Los Angeles Lakers

Career Stats: 0.9 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG

There was a risk of taking Jones. He was a three-time Division II All-American and a two-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year with a career average of 21.7 points per game. The Lakers took a gamble despite his experience at a smaller school and it busted. Jones injured his foot his rookie season and played just two games. He was then traded to the Spurs in 1985 and eventually waived. After 1986, he was done playing in the NBA.

24. Michael Young – Boston Celtics

Career Stats: 4.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Young’s international career is stellar. After playing in the NBA for three seasons, Young played in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, and Israel. He was a part of the EuroLeague champion Limoges in 1993. He was the Spanish League All-Star in 1988. He led the Italian League in scoring in 1991. He also won the French League Foreign MVP two straight years in 1993 and 1994, while also winning the CBA MVP in 1986.

Notable Players From Other Rounds

Ron Anderson (Round 2, Pick 27) – Cleveland Cavaliers

Career Stats: 10.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Anderson was a late bloomer. He played four years in college and transitioned to the league right after those four years. He was just 26 years old when joined the NBA. He played 10 seasons and spent time with the Cavaliers, Pacers, 76ers, Nets, and Bullets. His best years came when he played alongside Charle Barkley. He averaged double figures four of the five seasons. Anderson played in the league until he was 41 years old.

Jerome Kersey (Round 2, Pick 46) – Portland Trail Blazers

Career Stats: 10.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Kersey was not very well known after he played at the Division II level. However, by his third year, he became a starter for the Trail Blazers. He even finished runner-up behind Michael Jordan in the Slam Dunk Contest one year. His best season came from 1987-to 88 when he averaged 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. Later, he would join the Spurs. His season totals were career lows, but he won a championship in 1999. 

Next

Re-Drafting The Legendary 1984 NBA Draft Class

Michael Jordan’s Career-High Against Every NBA Team: The GOAT Destroyed The Cleveland Cavaliers

Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1994 Playoff Run Without An All-Star Teammate Was One Of The Best Individual Performances In NBA History

John Stockton’s Assists Per Game For Each Season: His All-Time Assists Record Is Impossible To Break

Charles Barkley’s Stats For Each Season: One Of The Best Players To Never Win A Ring