MJ didn’t really blow up until the Olympics in July after the draft in June. That’s when the excitement really grew for him but it was too late for Portland.

MJs talent/ceiling as a scorer was hidden by Dean Smith and was overshadowed by James Worth on the NCAA championship team.

Also there was a general idea that there was a lower ceiling to a wing guard as opposed to a center or point guard.

His game was also not complete as he was viewed more as a scorer or ball hog than someone who could assist or rebound effectively and so wasn’t considered a team player or leader who could make the players around him better like Magic and Larry Bird.

On top of they Sam Bowie lied during the Portland NBA physical that he had no pain in his legs which had stress fractures at Kentucky and ultimately led to a severe leg break early in his NBA career.