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He was drafted to the Chicago Bulls in 1993, and Michael Jordan stunned him by retiring weeks later

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 8:55 PM ET

The Chicago Bulls were the most dominant team in the NBA during the 1990s.

Of course, the major credit goes to none other than Michael Jordan. After all, Jordan spearheaded the Chicago Bulls‘ six NBA Championships.

As a result, playing alongside Jordan and representing the Bulls was a dream come true for most young prospects during that era.

Well, one player’s dream was fulfilled when the Bulls drafted him using the 25th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. However, the player’s happiness was short-lived.

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Michael Jordan’s retirement in 1993 ‘took the sails out’ of Corie Blount

The aforementioned player was Corie Blount, who was a 6’9″ forward and spent two seasons in the NCAA.

At the time, the Bulls had completed their first three-peat by winning the 1993 NBA Championship. But right after that, Jordan shocked the world by announcing his retirement from the league.

On an episode of ‘Gimme The Hot Sauce’ podcast, Blount discussed his feelings of getting drafted by the Bulls and MJ’s sudden retirement announcement.

“That whole thing of getting here and then knowing that I was going to be on a championship team, I was excited, ready. Coming to the Bulls with that caliber team, I knew I was going to get me a championship ring,” Blount said.

He added: “That’s all I was telling everybody, like, ‘Man, I signed with the Bulls. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Stacey King, Horace Grant. Man, we’re getting ready to win the championship.

“And then Michael announced that retirement. It kind of took the sails out of everything, like, ‘Oh man.’ Well, how are we gonna do this here?”

Blount’s dream was shattered even before playing a single game for the Bulls in 1993.

Corie Blount says Chicago Bulls were still title contenders with Scottie Pippen

Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images

After Jordan’s retirement, Scottie Pippen became the primary superstar for head coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls still managed to finish with a 55-27 record, and Blount considered the team a title contender.

“Then it was Scottie’s team, and we were still pretty good. So just being a Bull in itself, at that time, that mindset, with everything, you still thought you were going to win a championship,” he continued.

“I don’t think any of these guys ever thought that since Mike left, that we weren’t still gonna win a championship.”

Unfortunately, the Bulls were eliminated in the second round during the 1994 NBA Playoffs. Jordan did return to the team late next season, but the results were still the same.

As for Blount, the Bulls parted ways with him in 1995, and his dream of winning an NBA Championship remained unfulfilled.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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