Reggie Miller, a former NBA player, made a surprising choice in a 2011 episode of Open Court when he selected Michael Jordan as the first overall pick in the NBA all-time Draft.

Despite being raised in LA and looking up to Magic Johnson, Miller opted for Jordan due to the intense competition he faced from the 6-time NBA champion. He praised Jordan’s superior skills, emphasizing his unstoppable presence in the post, agility, and ability to embarrass opponents.

Miller acknowledged that Jordan’s star power would attract audiences, benefiting the financial aspect of his hypothetical franchise. During Miller’s career, he had a record of 17-32 against Jordan, with a 3-4 record in the postseason. Jordan averaged impressive statistics of 29.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in these matchups against Miller’s Pacers.

In contrast, Miller averaged 18.9 points per game. Miller’s decision of selecting Jordan as the first pick for his franchise was undoubtedly astute, leaving Charles Barkley and Kevin McHale scrambling to find suitable picks to compete against him.

In this 2011 segment of Open Court, where NBA legends assembled their greatest teams through a draft, Miller’s pick of Jordan immediately perplexed Barkley and McHale.