NBA BEAT - NBA's Right Choice For Big Money? - September 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Wednesday September 26, 2007

NBA BIG MONEY

The injury to NBA rookie Greg Oden that is expected to keep him from playing this year raises the question why pay an untried, unproven rookie big money that may never pay off. Yes the marketplace demands huge contracts for the NBA drafts unproven best.

The 1984 NBA draft is the perfect example of what that means. Of the players drafted in the first round that year four turned out to be NBA super stars, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton.

The Houston Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon after he had a successful career at Houston University. He was a dominant player that played in the NCAA tournament Final Four twice and was the tournaments Most Outstanding Player in 1983.

Olajuwon went on to have a major 19-year NBA career. He was the go to guy on two NBA title teams (1994 - 1995) with the Rockets. He was the league Most Valuable Player in 1994, was selected to the NBA's All-star first team six times and a member of the championship US Olympic team in 1996.

He finished his career as the Rockets all-time leading scorer and had an NBA career average of 21.8 points per game spanning his 19-year career.

The Portland Trailblazers with the second pick selected Sam Bowie. He was a 7-footer with a good touch on the ball had good mobility but was a soft type of player and not the banger that Olajuwon was. His 5-year NBA career was plagued by injuries that resulted in a 10 point per game average.

The third pick was undoubtedly the best third round NBA pick of all-time. That honor belongs to Michael Jordan selected by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan's list of credits are vast and pretty much public knowledge that is complimented by leading his Bulls teams to six NBA titles over an 8-year period. Then came the big dollar NBA spending boom.

Believe it or not when Tony Kukoc signed with the Bulls in 1993 he was given a bigger contract than Michael Jordan's and Jordan had three NBA titles under his belt. That season Jordan retired from the NBA to pursue a career in baseball. Kukoc has had a solid NBA career with an 11 point per game average but has not been a big time player.

When the Milwaukee Bucks signed Glen Robinson for what was reported to be a $100 million contract in 1994 the league started to go through the roof with huge contracts for unproven rookies. Robinson went on to have a solid but not spectacular 11-year NBA career. He was a member of the San Antonio Spurs 2005 NBA title team. He finished with a 20 point per game average in an 11-year NBA career.

With Oden's injury the jury it will be at least two years befor the Trailblazers see what they got for their money. It's a long wait but Blazers coach Nate McMillan has stated that Oden has the talent will prove to be worth the wait.

The Philadelphia 76ers chose Charles Barkley as the 4th pick in the draft. Like Jordan he is an all-time NBA super star but failed to be a member of an NBA championship team.

John Stockton was selected in the 16th round by the Utah Jazz. This is probably the best ever 16th round pick in NBA history. Stockton had a major 19-year NBA career and is considered one of the best guards of all-time. Like Barkley he was never a member of an NBA championship team.

Will the Oden choice be an NBA or Bust? Stay tuned.

The First Round of the 1984 NBA Draft

Pick..... Team.............. Player............... College

1. Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon - University of Houston

2. Portland Trail Blazers - Sam Bowie - University of Kentucky

3. Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan - University of North Carolina

4. Dallas Mavericks - Sam Perkins - University of North Carolina

5. Philadelphia 76ers - Charles Barkley - Auburn University

6. Washington Bullets - Melvin Turpin - University of Kentucky

7. San Antonio Spurs - Alvin Robertson - University of Arkansas

8. Los Angeles Clippers - Lancaster Gordon - University of Louisville

9. Kansas City Kings - Otis Thorpe - Providence College

10. Philadelphia 76ers - Leon Wood - California State University, Fullerton

11. Atlanta Hawks - Kevin Willis - Michigan State University

12. Cleveland Cavaliers - Tim McCormick - University of Michigan

13. Phoenix Suns - Jay Humphries - University of Colorado

14. Los Angeles Clippers - Michael Cage - San Diego State University

15. Dallas Mavericks - Terence Stansbury - Temple University

16. Utah Jazz - John Stockton - Gonzaga University

17. New Jersey Nets - Jeff Turner - Vanderbilt University

18. Indiana Pacers - Vern Fleming - University of Georgia

19. Portland Trail Blazers - Bernard Thompson - California State University, Fresno

20. Detroit Pistons - Tony Campbell - Ohio State University

21. Milwaukee Bucks - Kenny Fields - University of California, Los Angeles

22. Philadelphia 76ers - Tom Sewell - Lamar University

23. Los Angeles Lakers - Earl Jones - University of the District of Columbia

24. Boston Celtics - Michael Young - University of Houston

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