Michael Jordan's second NBA season - pre-draft / 1985 Draft, 1985-86 Bulls training camp and preseason games - NB86-1

NBA History Conversations: Basketball Record

Episode • Nov 6, 2015 • 49m

Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's second season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

- Off-season news, notes and quotes

- 1985 NBA Draft

- Chicago Bulls 1985-86 training camp and preseason games

- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

We're back with a new series. Starting mid-June, 1985, we discuss a wide array of interesting topics and happenings, from the NBA's off-season.

We chat about the Chicago Bulls' moves to sign a new head coach, in the wake of Kevin Loughery's firing. We cover the 1985 NBA Draft and the multitude of deals that Chicago made, to secure Charles Oakley's arrival and the team's future.

You'll learn about the 'Schlitz Malt Liquor Summer Basketball League', hosted at Chicago State University, in late June and early July, 1985. Professional players who took part, included Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Reggie Theus, Terry Cummings, Orlando Woolridge & Maurice Cheeks.

We also talk about the burgeoning career of (Washington Bullets draftee) Manute Bol. The Chicago Tribune ran a great feature on Bol, covering his then-stint with the United States Basketball League, where he was averaging an astonishing 12 blocks per game.

In late July, 1985, the University of Illinois at Chicago, hosted an NBA Rookie Summer League, featuring the Bulls, Hawks, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers & Bucks. The teams played a series of exhibitions, open to the public. Players involved - referred to as rookies, free agents and fringe pros - included Spud Webb, Joe Dumars, Kevin Willis, Tony Campbell, Ron Anderson, Antoine Carr, Terence Stansbury & Randy Breuer.

To encourage camaraderie and team unity, the Bulls held their (1985-86) preseason training camp at Beloit College, Wisconsin. Aside from basketball, Michael Jordan served as an honorary official (coin toss) at the Beloit-Cornell football game.

We detail the Bulls' interest in (free agent) Kyle Macy and the formerly-retired Billy McKinney. Plus, Spencer Haywood made a comeback attempt - attending training camp with the Pistons - two seasons removed from his last NBA game.

We recap Chicago's 1985-86 preseason games. They were the only team without a win.

To round out the episode, we talk about the Bulls' trade for George Gervin, on the eve of the regular season. That dea

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