Michael Jordan as Messianic Force

Because I like the tagline, I’m going to use this series to explore the coming-out parties of players or teams, early explosive efforts of young individuals that just had you convinced you were seeing The Next Big Thing. 

I’ll start out with this gem I came across on FreeDarko:

This grainy footage of his ninth game, the first time he really exploded as a pro, is quite possibly the most raw example of Michael Jordan, threat to the known universe.

I especially love the elation of the announcers towards the end of the clip in a Boobie Miles-esque avuncular, “He’s a guard, he’s a forward, he blocks shots. He does it all!”. Feel Chicago Stadium going nuts, knowing this was just the beginning.