Credit: 1988: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls rests on the court during a game. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright...

NBA legend was lined up for Chicago Bulls years before linking up with Michael Jordan in 1996

Originally posted on HITC | By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 7:16 AM ET

It took more than 10 years for this future Hall of Famer to make it to the Chicago Bulls.

Before the 1986-87 season began, Michael Jordan was already becoming one of the NBA’s most popular stars. Even though Jordan was emerging as a talent, the Bulls were still far from title contention. That’s part of why they found themselves holding the ninth pick in that year’s draft.

Even though the draft class wasn’t highly regarded at the time, a few players like Dennis Rodman, Mark Price and John Salley went on to have successful careers.

John Salley claims Jerry Krause promised him a spot on the Bulls

Jerry Krause, who would later build Chicago’s championship teams of the 1990s, was tasked with making a pick at number nine.

But according to Pistons legend John Salley, Krause had already assured him that he’d be taken by Chicago.

“I was supposed to be a Chicago Bull first, at least, that’s what Jerry Krause told me during my three meetings as a [college player]. He said, ‘I’m gonna draft you.’ Doug Collins’ like, ‘Yeah.’

“… Then they said, ‘The ninth pick, the Chicago Bulls,’ and I started buttoning my suit, and they said, ‘Brad Sellers,’ and then I stretched,” Salley recalled on The Rich Eisen Show.

The Pistons ended up taking him with the 11th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. In hindsight, it worked out well for Salley. He won two NBA titles during his six years in Detroit and eventually joined the Bulls for their historic 1995-96 season.

Salley took a personal interest in every matchup with Brad Sellers

Sellers, the player the Bulls chose instead, never found much success in the NBA and was out of the league after just six seasons.

Salley, meanwhile, made a habit of stepping up whenever he faced Sellers on the court. “Jerry goes, ‘Hey, long tall, he [Sellers] shoots the ball better than you do. I said, ‘No, he doesn’t. Well, I’m going to take it out on him every time I play,’” Salley continued.

1988: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls rests on the court during a game. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice:…

He added: “Brad Sellers is a good guy to me, but he didn’t know what my idea was. My idea was I’m going to play against you.

Looking at their careers side by side, Salley shot 50.6% from the field while Sellers hit 45.2%. And when they went head-to-head, Salley’s teams came out on top 14 times to Sellers’ six wins.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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