The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The first two picks in the draft belonged to the teams that finished last in each conference, with the order determined by a coin flip.[1] The Los Angeles Lakers, who obtained the New Jersey Nets' first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Chicago Bulls were awarded the second pick. The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. Before the draft, five college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule.[2] These players had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning their living by starting their professional careers earlier.[3] Prior to the draft, the New Orleans Jazz relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah and became the Utah Jazz.[4] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 202 players.
Magic Johnson from Michigan State University, one of the "hardship" players, was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson, who had just finished his sophomore season in college, became the first underclassman to be drafted first overall.[5] He went on to win the NBA championship with the Lakers in his rookie season. He also won the Finals Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first rookie ever to win the award. He played 13 seasons with the Lakers, winning a total of five NBA championships, three Most Valuable Player Awards and three Finals Most Valuable Player Awards. He was also selected to ten consecutive All-NBA Teams and twelve All-Star Games.[6] For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[7] He was also named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[8] After retiring as a player, Johnson went on to have a brief coaching career as an interim head coach of the Lakers in 1994.[9]
Sidney Moncrief, the fifth pick, won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was selected to five consecutive All-NBA Teams, five consecutive All-Defensive Teams and five consecutive All-Star Games.[10] Jim Paxson, the twelfth pick, was selected to one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.[11] Bill Cartwright, the second pick, won three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls from 1991 through 1993. He also had one All-Star Game selection, which occurred in his rookie season.[12] He then became the Bulls' head coach for three seasons.[13] Bill Laimbeer, the 65th pick, won two NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990 and was selected to four All-Star Games.[14] After retiring, he coached the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons, leading them to three consecutive WNBA championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008.[15] Mark Eaton, who had only completed one year of college basketball, was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 107th pick.[16] He opted to return to college basketball and later joined the NBA in 1982, after he was drafted again by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 Draft. During his eleven year career with the Jazz, he won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was selected to five consecutive All-Defensive Team and one All-Star Game.[17] Two other players from this draft, eighth pick Calvin Natt and 73rd pick James Donaldson, were also selected to one All-Star Game each.[18][19]
Key[]
| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| x | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team |
| # | Denotes player who has never played in the NBA |
Draft[]
Kyle Macy was selected 22nd overall by the Phoenix Suns.
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Magic Johnson^ | G/F |  United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers (from Utah)[a] | Michigan State (So.) |
| 1 | 2 | David Greenwood | F/C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Bill Cartwright+ | C | United States
|
New York Knicks (from Boston)[b] | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Greg Kelser | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from Cleveland via Milwaukee)[c] | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Sidney Moncrief* | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks (from Detroit)[c] | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | James Bailey | F/C | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics (from New York)[d] | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Vinnie Johnson | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics (from New Jersey via New York)[e] | Baylor (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Calvin Natt+ | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets (from Indiana via Milwaukee)[f] | Northeast Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Larry Demic | F/C | United States
|
New York Knicks (from Golden State via Boston)[b] | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Roy Hamilton | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from Milwaukee via San Diego)[g] | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Cliff Robinson | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets (from San Diego)[h] | USC (So.) |
| 1 | 12 | Jim Paxson* | G/F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Dudley Bradley | G/F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers (from Atlanta)[i] | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Brad Holland | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Phil Hubbard | F/C | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from Denver)[j] | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Jim Spanarkel | G/F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Duke (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Lee Johnson | F | United States
|
Houston Rockets | East Texas State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Reggie King | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Wiley Peck | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Larry Knight# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz (from Phoenix)[k] | Loyola (Illinois) (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Sly Williams | G/F | United States
|
New York Knicks (from Seattle via Boston)[b] | Rhode Island (Jr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Kyle Macy | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns (from Washington)[l] | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 23 | Tico Brown# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Johnny High | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns (from Boston)[m] | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Oliver Mack | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers (from Detroit via Denver) | East Carolina (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Bruce Flowers | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Reggie Carter | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Danny Salisbury# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors (from Chicago) | Pan American (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Tony Price | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from New Jersey) | Pennsylvania (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Gary Garland | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets (from Golden State via San Diego) | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Edgar Jones | F/C | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Tony Zeno | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Lawrence Butler# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls (from San Diego via Denver) | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Kim Goetz# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks (from Portland) | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | James Bradley# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Memphis State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Clint Richardson | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers (from Denver via New Jersey) | Seattle (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Bernard Toone | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Larry Wilson# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks (from Houston) | Nicholls State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | Victor King# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Louisiana Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Andrew Fields# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers (from San Antonio via Seattle) | Cheyney State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Mark Young# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers (from Kansas City via Denver) | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Paul Mokeski | F/C | United States
|
Houston Rockets (from Phoenix via Seattle) | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Johnny Moore | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Texas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Joe DeSantis# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Fairfield (Sr.) |
Other picks[]
The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.
Bill Laimbeer was selected 65th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James Donaldson was selected 73rd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 45 | Arvid Kramer | C | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Augustana (South Dakota) (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Calvin Garrett | F | United States
|
Chicago Bulls (from Cleveland) | Oral Roberts (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Terry Duerod | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Cedrick Hordges | F/C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Geoff Huston | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 53 | Wayne Kreklow | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics (from Indiana) | Drake (Sr.) |
| 3 | 54 | Lynbert Johnson | G/F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 58 | Earl Cureton | F/C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 62 | Terry Crosby | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 3 | 63 | Sylvester Norris | C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 65 | Bill Laimbeer+ | C | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers (from Seattle) | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 4 | 67 | Greg Deane | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Utah (Sr.) |
| 4 | 73 | James Donaldson+ | C | Template:GBR2 | Seattle SuperSonics (from New Jersey) | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 82 | Jerry Sichting | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors (from Denver) | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 4 | 83 | Mike Niles | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 4 | 85 | John McCullough | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 5 | 98 | Billy Reid | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 5 | 104 | Allen Leavell | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Oklahoma City (Sr.) |
| 5 | 107 | Mark Eaton+ | C | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Cypress JC (Fr.)1[›] |
| 8 | 165 | Charles Jones | F/C | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Albany State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 185 | Paul Dawkins | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Northern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 10 | 198 | Keith McCord | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Alabama-Birmingham (Sr.) |
^ 1: Even though Mark Eaton was a freshman, he was eligible to be drafted because he was already four years out of high school and therefore he did not need to apply for early entry.[16]
Trades[]
- a On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 1978 first-round pick and a 1977 second-round pick. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Jazz signed Gail Goodrich on July 19, 1976.[20] The Lakers used the pick to draft Magic Johnson.
- b 1 2 3 On February 12, 1979, the New York Knicks acquired three first-round picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Bob McAdoo.[21] Previously, the Celtics acquired a first-round pick on January 30, 1979 from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jo Jo White.[22] The Celtics also acquired a first-round pick on January 17, 1979 from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey.[23] The Knicks used the picks to draft Bill Cartwright, Larry Demic and Sly Williams.
- c 1 2 On the draft-day, the Detroit Pistons acquired the fifth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the sixth pick and cash considerations.[24] Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 1, 1978 in exchange for a 1978 first-round pick.[25] The Pistons used the pick to draft Greg Kelser. The Bucks used the pick to draft Sidney Moncrief
- d On October 24, 1975, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Gene Short and a first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for Spencer Haywood.[26] The Sonics used the pick to draft James Bailey.
- e On October 4, 1978, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Lonnie Shelton and a 1979 first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for a 1981 first-round pick. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Knicks signed Marvin Webster on September 29, 1978.[27] Previously, the Knicks acquired the 1978 and 1979 first-round picks on June 8, 1978 from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Phil Jackson, a 1978 first-round pick and US$3.2-million settlement of their indemnification debt to the Knicks.[28][29]. The Sonics used the pick to draft Vinnie Johnson.
- f On May 31, 1979, the New Jersey Nets acquired John Gianelli and the eighth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Harvey Catchings.[30] Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick on June 8, 1978 from the Indiana Pacers as compensation for the signing of Alex English as a free agent.[31] The Nets used the pick to draft Calvin Natt.
- g On November 23, 1977, the Detroit Pistons acquired Gus Gerard, John Shumate and 1979 first-round pick from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Marvin Barnes, a 1978 second-round pick and a 1978 fourth-round pick.[32] Previously, the Clippers acquired the pick on September 2, 1977 from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for John Gianelli.[30] The Pistons used the pick to draft Roy Hamilton.
- h On September 1, 1977, the New Jersey Nets acquired George E. Johnson, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Nate Archibald.[33] The Nets used the pick to draft Cliff Robinson.
- i On June 9, 1978, the Indiana Pacers acquired a first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks as compensation for the signing of Dan Roundfield as a free agent.[34] The Pacers used the pick to draft Dudley Bradley.
- j On February 1, 1978, the Detroit Pistons acquired Jim Price and a first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ralph Simpson.[35] The Pistons used the pick to draft Phil Hubbard.
- k On January 12, 1979, the Utah Jazz acquired Marty Byrnes, Ron Lee, 1979 and 1980 first-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Truck Robinson.[36] The Jazz used the pick to draft Larry Knight.
- l On June 22, 1979, the Phoenix Suns acquired the 22nd pick and a 1980 third-round pick from the Washington Bullets in exchange for Steve Malovic.[37] The Suns used the pick to draft Kyle Macy.
- m On October 11, 1978, the Phoenix Suns acquired a second-round pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey.[23] The Suns used the pick to draft Johnny High.
References[]
- General
- "Complete First Round Results 1970–79". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1970s.html. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- "1979 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1979.html. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- "1977–1981 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. http://www.apbr.org/7781drft.html. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- Specific
- ↑ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Early Entry Candidate History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/news/lottery02_earlyentry_history.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Spencer Haywood Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/players/haywood_bio.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "This Date in History–June". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/this_date_june.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Olajuwon should go first in today's draft". Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Florida: The New York Times Company). June 19, 1984. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8HoRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2515,1070550. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
- ↑ "Magic Johnson Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/players/johnsonm_bio.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Magic Johnson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/johnsma02c.html. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Sidney Moncrief Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/moncrsi01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Jim Paxson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paxsoji02.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Cartwright Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartwbi01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Cartwright Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/cartwbi01c.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Laimbeer Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/laimbbi01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Laimbeer Bio". WNBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/bill_laimbeer/index.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Hersch, Hank (May 1, 1989). "Big Man On The Block". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068337/1/index.htm. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Mark Eaton Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/eatonma01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Calvin Natt Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nattca01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "James Donaldson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/donalja01.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ "Kenny Carr Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/carrke01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Bob McAdoo Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcadobo01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Jo Jo White Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/whitejo01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Dennis Awtrey Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/awtrede01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Greg Kelser Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kelsegr01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Mike Mitchell Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchmi01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Spencer Haywood Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywosp01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Lonnie Shelton Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sheltlo01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Phil Jackson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jacksph01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ Goldaper, Sam (June 9, 1978). "Nets Get Phil Jackson as Part Of a Settlement With Knicks; Nets' Other Concessions Another Indemnity Nets Sign Jackson as Part Of a Settlement With Knicks Top Choices". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0615FE3B5513728DDDA00894DE405B888BF1D3. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "John Gianelli Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gianejo01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Alex English Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/englial01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Marvin Barnes Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barnema01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Tiny Archibald Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/architi01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Dan Roundfield Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/roundda01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Ralph Simpson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simpsra01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Truck Robinson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robintr01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Steve Malovic Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/malovst01.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.