An old prediction the late Bobby Knight made about former NBA superstar Michael Jordan is going viral again following his passing this week.
The legendary Indiana Hoosiers and Texas Tech coach passed away on Wednesday at the age of 83. Knight won three national titles as a coach and will go down as an icon.
It appears that one of his best coaching attributes was his ability to spot talent as he rated Jordan as the best athlete who was also among the players with the best ability and one of the best competitors to ever play the game.
We all know that now, but Knight said this before MJ was drafted.
“Just an absolutely great kid. If I were going to pick the three or four best athletes I’ve ever seen play basketball, he’d be one of them,” he said back in 1984. “I think he’s the best athlete I’ve ever seen play basketball, bar none. If I were going to pick people with the best ability I’d ever seen play the game, he’d be one of them. If I wanted to pick the best competitors I’d ever seen play, he’d be one of them.
“In the categories of competitiveness, ability, skill, and then athletic ability, he’s the best athlete, he’s one of the best competitors, he’s one of the most skilled players. That, to me, makes him the best basketball player I’ve ever seen play.”
“Bobby Knight calling MJ Goat before he ever played one second in the NBA is the greatest sports prediction of all time. And he had the knowledge and guts to say it,” one fan wrote in the comments.
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The Portland Trail Blazers had the No.1 overall pick that year and Knight begged them to pick Jordan. They opted for Sam Bowie instead, with MJ getting selected by the Chicago Bulls at third overall.
The rest is history.
Rest In Peace, Bobby Knight – 1940-2023
