Michael Jordan is considered the greatest basketball player in history. His era of dominance with the Chicago Bulls caused great legends such as Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley to end their careers without a single NBA championship.
However, in the early days of his career, Jordan was not highly regarded. In the 1984 NBA Draft, Jordan was only the third pick, behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie.
While Olajuwon took advantage of Jordan’s two-year hiatus to win two NBA championships, Bowie was the complete opposite. He was a huge disappointment and had to retire early. Today, the one-time basketball genius is living a life that has nothing to do with the orange ball.
From Overrated Michael Jordan to Infamous Horse Trainer
To this day, the Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to pass on Jordan and select Bowie in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft is still remembered as a historic mistake. While Jordan exploded and built one of the most glorious empires in history, Bowie was a disappointment. The 7-foot-1 center never reached his full potential.
Bowie broke his left leg in college. The injury caused him to miss two-thirds of his college season before entering the draft. Still, the Blazers passed on Jordan and put their faith in Bowie. The 7-foot-1 center had a successful NBA debut and was named to the All-Rookie team.
However, in his third season, Bowie again broke his leg, this time his right leg. The two serious injuries to both legs ruined Bowie’s career. After forgettable stints with the New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Bowie retired in 1995.
But since retiring, Bowie has found success in another sporting field. He now lives in Kentucky, home to one of the world’s most famous horse racing tracks. Bowie is both an owner and trainer of racehorses, competing in events at the Red Mile racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky.
Bowie’s horse racing endeavors are unlikely to match Jordan’s vast fortune , but one horse he bought – dubbed “Before He Cheats” – is said to have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in racing winnings.
Although he did not have a successful basketball career as expected and his name is always associated with ridicule when standing in front of Jordan, Bowie is having a stable and happy life.
