Known as one of the greatest "what-ifs" in NBA history, the Houston Rockets nearly ended up with a Big Three of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Michael Jordan.
Dating back to the 1980s, there was a longstanding rumor that the Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers discussed trading Drexler and the No. 2 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft for Ralph Sampson.
During the 1983-84 season, the then-rookie Sampson averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. With Drexler experiencing a shaky start to his rookie season, it could have compelled Portland to shift the franchise's focus toward Sampson.
The idea would have cleared the way for Houston to select Olajuwon at No. 1, Jordan at No. 2, and add incoming sophomore Drexler to the roster.
In a conversation with Olajuwon, Rockets star Kevin Durant suggested the hypothetical trade would have created a dynasty.
"The draft, it would have been you, Jordan, and Clyde. Oh my goodness. That would have been 10 to 12 championships. The greatest team of all time."
While never teaming up together, Jordan, Olajuwon, and Drexler would go on to dominate the NBA's landscape in the 1990s. The three Hall of Famers combined to win nine NBA championships.
Drexler led the Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals appearances. The 10-time All-Star fell to Isiah Thomas' Detroit Pistons and Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the final round, though he would eventually find championship success after being traded to the Rockets.
Jordan was coming off three consecutive championship victories when he announced his first retirement from basketball. This opened the door for Olajuwon's successful 1994 title run with the Rockets. Drexler joined Houston the following year, resulting in another championship for the franchise.
Jordan returned to basketball in 1995, leading to another three-peat for the five-time MVP. With head coach Phil Jackson's contract expiring and stars Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman likely on their way out of Chicago, Jordan retired for the second time in 1999.
Fans continue to speculate whether Jordan would have achieved even greater career success with Olajuwon and Drexler as teammates.
Newsweek