Bernie Bickerstaff had a plan. Now, he just had to block out the noise around him.
It was 1991. Bickerstaff was the president and general manager of a Nuggets team that had the fourth pick in the NBA draft. He rejected trade requests and attempts by other teams to find out what the Nuggets were up to, not wanting them to know the player he desperately hoped would be available.
Dikembe Mutombo.
"That was the guy we wanted," Bickerstaff said. "We were looking for someone to anchor the paint."
The Nuggets were coming off a 20-win season.