During the early 1980s, the NBA had multiple superstars, with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, and Julius “Dr. J” Erving leading the way. The latter was probably the flashiest player in the sport due to his athleticism and natural knack for scoring.
Since Dr. J turned 34 years old in 1984, the NBA world was looking for his successor. They got one with the third overall pick of that year’s draft, Michael Jordan. His exciting highlights made people see him as the heir to Erving, which MJ did not see as a problem.
“It really does not offend me; it was a compliment to be compared to Dr. J, who had an outstanding career and is still playing. Hopefully, once I play 12 or 13 years, I can look back and say I had an enjoyable career like Dr. J,” Jordan said in a 1984 interview with Bryan Gumbel.
Michael was comfortable as soon as he jumped into the NBA
Coming into the NBA, Jordan was considered the best college basketball player in the country. Hakeem Olajuwon getting selected by the Houston Rockets was an expected decision, while the Portland Trail Blazers choosing Sam Bowie continues to haunt the organization to this day, as they passed on the opportunity to pair Clyde Drexler with MJ.
What the Blazers passed on, the Chicago Bulls capitalized on because MJ was comfortably the organization’s star from day one. Jordan was ready for the moment, cementing himself as the best player on the Bulls roster. He embraced his status as the number one guy, proving people wrong.
“I’m really not concerned with it at this point. I’m going to take everything slowly, and I’ve been ingesting it pretty easily. Hopefully, it won’t be a problem,” Jordan continued. “It’s really fun to me. I’m enjoying playing basketball at this point, a lot of people consider it as a job, but I go out there and have fun. I’m not trying to be an entertainer, I’m just trying to play naturally and do the things I’m used to doing.”
Michael took to stardom easier than most
Jordan effortlessly stepped into the shoes of Dr. J as his successor, embodying the electrifying gameplay, charisma, and relatability that resonated with fans and cemented his legacy as one of the most beloved figures in sports history. Almost every kid in America wanted to be Like Mike, and they were right to believe in him because he had one of the most fantastic careers ever.
As Dr. J set the cultural standard, MJ rose to meet and surpass it. He became the NBA’s face for two decades, thanks to his on-court prowess, lucrative endorsements, and undeniable charisma, maintaining superstar status throughout his career.