The 1981 NBA Draft almost gave the Chicago Bulls a player that was franchise-changing for the Detroit Pistons, point guard Isiah Thomas.
In the history of the Chicago Bulls organization, most of the success that was found came in the late 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s. The Bulls won their only six NBA Championships in franchise history in the 1990’s, behind the likes of legendary shooting guard Michael Jordan and forward Scottie Pippen. Other pieces like Toni Kukoc and Dennis Rodman also contributed in a big way to the six Bulls titles of the 1990’s.
Where it all changed for the Bulls to make those title runs in the 1990’s was when they selected MJ out of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Selecting the former Arkansas Razorback Pippen with the fifth pick in the 1987 NBA Draft also helped the Bulls get to where they wanted to go in the 1990’s. Although, the Seattle SuperSonics were the original team to pick Pippen before he was sent to the Bulls.
Apparently the Bulls almost had a chance to land yet another franchise altering talent in the 1981 NBA Draft, with eventual Hall-of-Fame point guard Isiah Thomas wishing he landed in the Windy City. In the latest “Knuckleheads” podcast, hosted by former NBA players Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Zeke joined the show to talk about how he tried to sabotage his 1981 draft interviews to try and land with the Bulls. The Bulls were picking No. 6 overall in the 1981 NBA Draft.
Obviously the idea that Thomas had to sabotage his interviews leading up to the 1981 NBA Draft didn’t work out so well. He didn’t end up slipping to the Bulls at No. 6. The Detroit Pistons would wind up selecting Thomas at No. 2. The Bulls division rivals seemed like a weird fit since Thomas was trying to sabotage his draft interviews to play in the Windy City, but it worked out well for one team.
While Thomas would end up winning two NBA Championships, getting 12 All-Star selections, five All-NBA honors, and one NBA Finals MVP award, the Bulls did take the mantle as the Eastern Conference’s best team following the end of his run. Jordan would still win six titles and just exceed Zeke’s number of All-Star selections, with 14 for his career.
Moreover, in the 1981 NBA Draft the Bulls would wind up selecting former Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6-foot-9 small forward Orlando Woolridge. Before it was all said and done, Woolridge would play five seasons in a Bulls uniform. He would then spend time with six other teams around the NBA. Woolridge would never get a single All-Star selection or win a title with the Bulls.
Other significant players that would fall in the 1981 NBA Draft included Phoenix Suns defensive standout Larry Nance, Boston Celtics NBA Champion Danny Ainge, and the first overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks Mark Aguirre.
Woolridge wasn’t necessarily the worst pick in this draft. Quite the opposite, he was one of the more efficient and he at least gave the Bulls five decent years.
It would be weird to think about Thomas playing in a Bulls uniform, especially if it had come alongside MJ. Those two had a noted rivalry that lasted into the 1990’s. And while Thomas was a great player for the Pistons that helped them win two titles, Bulls fans definitely wouldn’t trade drafting Jordan for him.