“Then Play Him at Center”: What Michael Jordan and Bobby Knight Can Teach Us About Event Hiring

In 1984, Bobby Knight coached Michael Jordan on the U.S. Olympic basketball team. Knight immediately recognized Jordan’s work ethic, instincts, and the way he elevated everyone around him. He believed Jordan was a once-in-a-generation talent.

So when the Portland Trail Blazers called for draft advice, Knight had a simple answer: “Take Jordan.”

The Trail Blazers pushed back. “But we need a center,” they said.
Knight, famously blunt, shot back: “Then play him at center.”

They passed. The Bulls didn’t. The rest is history.

Stop Hiring to Fill Gaps. Start Hiring for Greatness.

Too often, organizations hire like the Trail Blazers did. They focus on what’s missing in the org chart. They chase job titles instead of game-changers. But your next great event leader probably doesn’t fit into a tidy box. And that’s the point.

What I Have Seen (and Done) in Event Hiring

• Hiring for tactical execution, not strategic capacity

• Searching for titles, not traits

• Choosing familiarity over potential

• Writing job descriptions that sound like task lists instead of invitations to lead

Think Like Bobby Knight

Knight didn’t care about positional fit—he cared about what Jordan made possible. That’s how we should think about talent in events. Don’t just fill a role. Look for someone who will raise the bar, challenge the status quo, and lead when it counts.

Look for people who:

• Ask great questions

• Stay calm in complexity

• Think cross-functionally

• Make the people around them better

• Show up with both curiosity and clarity

The Real Role You're Hiring For

You’re not just hiring someone to run a spreadsheet, manage a budget, or coordinate logistics. You’re hiring someone to:

• Shape experiences

• Anticipate challenges

• Build trust with stakeholders

• Lead through change

• Advance the organization’s goals

Write the role for the team you want to become, not just the one you have now.

Draft for Impact

Don’t draft by position. Draft for impact.
Your next “Jordan” might not look like what you expected—but you’ll recognize them by how they carry themselves, how they think, and how they elevate everyone around them.

And if someone says, “But we need a coordinator,” maybe you’ll smile and say: “Then we’ll play them at coordinator.”

How Eventcraft Studios Can Help

If you're building your team, redesigning roles, or rethinking structure, Eventcraft Studios can help you align strategy with people. Let's make sure you're not just filling a job — you're drafting talent that moves your mission forward.

Learn more at eventcraftstudios.com or reach out directly: hello@eventcraftstudios.com