Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time. MJ was an icon, one of the reasons that the NBA gained a global following and someone that belongs in the conversation for the greatest sports personality of all time. However, while many would think it’s a no-brainer to draft Michael Jordan with the No. 1 pick in a hypothetical NBA draft including the greatest players of all time, Charles Barkley went in an entirely different direction when given the opportunity by TNT in 2011.
As a precursor to the All-Star Game in 2011, TNT hosted a fantasy draft in which they had 6 greats of the game create their dream team from the greatest players that had ever played the game. The panel included Kevin McHale and Charles Barkley alongside Reggie Miller, Chris Webber, Kenny Smith and Steve Kerr. Barkley received the No. 1 pick and to everyone’s surprise, used it to select Allen Iverson.
Ernie Johnson: “Charles, who’s the first pick? Let me guess.”
Charles Barkley: “Allen Iverson.”
Kenny Smith: “Wow, are you serious?”
Ernie Johnson: “Is Michael Jordan not on your list?”
Charles Barkley: “He’s on my list, but I look at the All-Star Game, it’s a point-guard dominated game. Has the ball most of the time, I picked Allen Iverson.”
Reggie Miller: “This is not an All-Star Game we’re doing.”
Ernie Johnson: “This is the greatest team you can assemble.”
Charles Barkley: “Whoa, wait a minute.”
Funnily enough, just like he did in real life, Michael Jordan fell to the 3rd pick in the All-Time draft as well, going to Reggie Miller’s team. The rest of the panel would go on to make great fun of Barkley throughout the draft for somehow choosing AI over MJ with the No. 1 pick. It was certainly a wild decision and one that Barkley seemingly regretted immediately.
Now, AI is one of the greatest players of all time, and arguably there was no one better than him at his size. However, when you compare his resume to the one Michael Jordan has, with 6 championships, multiple MVPs and Finals MVPs, and several selections to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, there is no debate about how was greater individually. The incredulity showed by the rest of the panel makes total sense and while AI must surely have appreciated the love from another former 76er, even he would probably pick MJ first overall in this particular scenario!
