‘Shrewd Businessman’: Kwame Brown Reveals How Michael Jordan Drafting Him in 2001 Went Wrong

Michael Jordan is the owner of the best resume that an NBA player, or an athlete-turned-businessman can have. A six-time champion, a proud executive of a budding franchise, a successful investor, and the owner of the world’s best sneaker brand, MJ has it all covered.

But in 2001, Air Jordan’s legacy took a major hit when he was serving as the President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. He was at the focal point of the decision to draft Kwame Brown, which proved to be a disaster for the team. But how did a visionary and skilled leader fail at his assessment?

Kwame Brown opened up on his draft selection by Michael Jordan

In a recent interview, the retired NBA player, Kwame Brown himself cleared the air around his faulty selection (over Pau Gasol). The former center-forward for the Wizards detailed, “They never drafted Kwame Brown with the intentions of being #1 draft pick. I was supposed to be traded. MJ was a 39-YO man. That’s why I’m not bashing him but MJ is from an era when young guys did not play. John Salley just said this… the era that they’re from is when young guys had to prove their right to play. I was drafted to be traded for Elton Brand to come to the Wizards so MJ could come to the playoffs and compete for the championship.” 

Elton Brand, as Kwame mentioned, had joined the league in 1999 and played two extremely successful seasons with the Bulls. A member of the 1999-00 All-Rookie team, Elton was a 20-point double-double guy with an unmatched defensive ability and MJ wanted to have him. 

As Kwame, referring to himself as a product, further questioned, “MJ’s a very shrewd businessman. What company ever bought a product that they had turned to, look at, examined, they check in mind, they check your heart, blood, they check your family, they know everything about you. What company that know everything about you, they turned and bashed the product that they put out? That’s because MJ did not get what he want.” 

Read also – Former NBA Champion Explains Difference Between Wizards’ Michael Jordan and Lakers’ LeBron James

MJ’s relations with the Wizards owner led to all the chaos

Back then, Mr. Abe Pollin, a veteran businessman, owned the Washington Wizards, among many other sports teams. Turns out, he was the man that did not support Michael Jordan’s intentions to trade their #1 draft pick for the talent in Elton. 

Kwame, who never averaged in double-figures until his third season, agreed that if not for Abe Pollin, they’d have traded him. The 39-YO revealed, “Abe Pollin did not allow me to get traded because they made so many trades. And this part is legit but allegedly there was an argument between MJ and Abe Pollin… Elton Brand was killing at this moment… made business sense… I never took it personally.”

Kwame Brown on Michael Jordan/Wizards situation pic.twitter.com/NhiM1EaACU

— SheauxLove (@SheauxLove) May 17, 2021

Abe’s poor relationship dynamics with MJ further came out in public when he retired after spending two years, playing alongside Kwame Brown. Reportedly, His Highness wanted to continue with the Wizards’ front office but Mr. Abe Pollin did not allow that. 

One would not wonder, what if that trade had happened? Maybe the Wizards would’ve reached the playoffs in both the seasons and MJ might’ve enjoyed a farewell he deserved.

Also recommended – Comedian Has a Hilarious Take on Michael Jordan’s Washington Wizards NBA Stint

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