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1965 NBA draft
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| 1965 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | May 6, 1965 |
| Location | Plaza Hotel (New York City, New York)[1] |
| Overview | |
| 112 total selections in 17 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| Territorial picks | Bill Bradley, New York Knicks Bill Buntin, Detroit Pistons Gail Goodrich, Los Angeles Lakers |
| First selection | Fred Hetzel, San Francisco Warriors |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1965 NBA draft was the 19th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 6, 1965, before the 1965–66 season.
In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. 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. Teams that finished last in each division, the San Francisco Warriors and the New York Knicks, were awarded the first four picks in the draft. 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.
Before the draft, a team could forfeit its first-round draft pick and then select any player from within a 50-mile radius of its home arena as their territorial pick.[2][3] The draft consisted of 17 rounds comprising 112 players selected. This draft was the last in which the territorial pick rule remained in effect before it was eliminated prior to the 1966 draft.[4]
Draft selections and draftee career notes
[edit]Bill Bradley, Bill Buntin and Gail Goodrich were selected before the draft as New York Knicks', Detroit Pistons' and Los Angeles Lakers' territorial picks respectively. Fred Hetzel from Davidson College was selected first overall by the San Francisco Warriors. Rick Barry from the University of Miami, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was drafted second by the Warriors.[5] Four players from this draft, Barry, Bradley, Goodrich and fifth pick Billy Cunningham, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[6] Barry and Cunningham were also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[7]
The Los Angeles Lakers had intended on selecting Wayne Estes, a Montana native who played for the Utah State Aggies, in the first round. However, Estes died on February 8, 1965, aged 21, when he was electrocuted by a downed wire at the scene of an auto accident he and teammates were visiting. Less than two hours before dying, Estes completed a game where he scored 48 points; his 47th point of the game was also the 2,000th of his college career.[8]
Barry's achievements include one NBA championship with the Warriors in 1975, one Finals MVP, five All-NBA Team selections and four All-Star Game selections.[9] Cunningham's achievements include an NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967, four All-NBA Team selections and four All-Star Game selections.[10] He also played two seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Carolina Cougars. In his first season there, he won the ABA Most Valuable Player Award and was selected to the ABA All-Star Game and All-ABA Team.[11] He later coached the 76ers for eight seasons and won the NBA championship in 1983.[12] Goodrich's achievements include an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, one All-NBA Team selection and five All-Star Game selections.[13] Bradley, who spent all of his 10-year playing career with the Knicks, won the NBA championships twice in 1970 and 1973 and was also selected to one All-Star Game.[14] Bradley became a successful politician after retiring from basketball. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate for 18 years. He was also a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000, losing to incumbent Vice President Al Gore in the presidential primaries.[15]
Bob Love, the 33rd pick, was selected to two All-NBA Teams and three All-Star Games.[16] Jerry Sloan, the 4th pick, was selected to two All-Star Games during his playing career before becoming a head coach. He coached the Chicago Bulls for three seasons before being fired during the 1981–82 season. He then became the head coach of the Utah Jazz in 1988, the position he held until resigning in early 2011.[17] He has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach.[6] Twin brothers Dick and Tom Van Arsdale, who were drafted with the 10th and 11th picks, became the first set of twins to play in the NBA.[18][19] Each of them had three All-Star Game selections. They played for different NBA teams until their last season, which they spent together as a member of the Phoenix Suns.[20][21] Dick Van Arsdale also had a coaching career. He was the interim head coach of the Suns in 1987.[22] Two other players from this draft, 15th pick Flynn Robinson and 24th pick Jon McGlocklin, have also been selected to an All-Star Game.[23][24] Bob Weiss, the 22nd pick, also became a head coach after ending his playing career. He coached four NBA teams, most recently with the Seattle SuperSonics.[25] Tal Brody, the 12th pick, never played in the NBA. He joined Israel I club Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1966 and played there until his retirement in 1980, winning several Israeli league titles and a European Cup Championship in 1977. He also became an Israeli citizen and played for Israeli national team.[26][27] Aside from playing in the NBA, 20th pick Ron Reed also played professional baseball in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He ended his dual-sport career in 1967 to focus on baseball.[28] He played 19 seasons in the MLB with three teams, winning the World Series once. He was also an MLB All-Star.[29] He is one of only 12 athletes who have played in both NBA and MLB.[30][31][32]
Key
[edit]| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial 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 |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
Draft
[edit].jpg)
| Rnd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality[n 1] | Team | School / club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | – | Bill Bradley^ | G/F |  United States
|
New York Knicks | Princeton (Sr.) |
| T | – | Bill Buntin | F/C | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Michigan (Sr.) |
| T | – | Gail Goodrich^ | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 1 | Fred Hetzel | F/C | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Davidson (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Rick Barry^~ | F | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Miami (FL) (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Dave Stallworth | F/C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Jerry Sloan^ | G/F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Evansville (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Billy Cunningham^ | F/C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Jim Washington | F/C | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Nate Bowman | C | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Ollie Johnson# | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 2 | 9 | Wilbert Frazier | F/C | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Grambling (Sr.) |
| 2 | 10 | Dick Van Arsdale+ | G/F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 11 | Tom Van Arsdale+ | G/F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 12 | Tal Brody# | G | United States[1]
|
Baltimore Bullets | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 2 | 13 | Jesse Branson | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Elon (Sr.) |
| 2 | 14 | Hal Blevins# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks (from St. Louis) | Arkansas AM&N (Sr.) |
| 2 | 15 | Flynn Robinson+ | G | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 2 | 16 | John Fairchild | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Brigham Young (Sr.) |
| 2 | 17 | Ron Watts | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 3 | 18 | Keith Erickson | G/F | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 3 | 19 | Barry Clemens | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Ohio Wesleyan (Sr.) |
| 3 | 20 | Ron Reed | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 3 | 21 | Joe Newton# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 3 | 22 | Bob Weiss | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Pennsylvania State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 23 | Ken McIntyre# | G | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 3 | 24 | Jon McGlocklin+ | G/F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 3 | 25 | Jim Caldwell | C | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 26 | Toby Kimball | F/C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 4 | 27 | Warren Rustand# | G | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 4 | 28 | Larry Lembo# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 4 | 29 | Jim King# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 30 | Skip Thoren# | C | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 4 | 31 | Hank Finkel | C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Dayton (Jr.) |
| 4 | 32 | Lynn Nance# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Washington (Sr.) |
| 4 | 33 | Bob Love* | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Southern (Sr.) |
| 4 | 34 | Brooks Henderson# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Florida (Sr.) |
| 4 | 35 | Richie Tarrant# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Saint Michael's (Sr.) |
| 5 | 36 | Eddie Jackson# | C | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Oklahoma City (Sr.) |
| 5 | 37 | Steve Nisenson# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Hofstra (Sr.) |
| 5 | 38 | Ted Manning# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | North Carolina College (Sr.) |
| 5 | 39 | Charles Dinkins# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Miami (Ohio) (Sr.) |
| 5 | 40 | Richie Moore# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 5 | 41 | Ted Werner# | C | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 42 | Warren Isaac# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Iona (Sr.) |
| 5 | 43 | A.W. Davis# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 5 | 44 | Don Davidson# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Davidson (Sr.) |
| 6 | 45 | Jim Jarvis# | G | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 46 | Warren Davis# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Allentown Jets (EPBL) |
| 6 | 47 | Barry Smith# | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | High Point (Sr.) |
| 6 | 48 | Lyvonne LeFlore# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 49 | Mitch Edwards# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Pan American (Sr.) |
| 6 | 50 | John Rambo# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 51 | Leon Clements# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Ouachita Baptist (Sr.) |
| 6 | 52 | Teófilo Cruz# | F |  Puerto Rico
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Seattle (Sr.) |
| 6 | 53 | Haskell Tison# | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Duke (Sr.) |
| 7 | 54 | Don Wolthers# | F | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | California (Sr.) |
| 7 | 55 | Dale Neel# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | High Point (Sr.) |
| 7 | 56 | Willie Somerset | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 7 | 57 | John Young# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Midwestern (Sr.) |
| 7 | 58 | Terry Kunze# | G | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 7 | 59 | Jeff Gehring# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Miami (Ohio) (Sr.) |
| 7 | 60 | DeWayne Cruse# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 61 | George Deehan# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Lenoir–Rhyne (Sr.) |
| 8 | 62 | Willie Cotton# | F | United States
|
San Francisco Warriors | Central Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 8 | 63 | Frank Granat# | C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Missionary Training Institute (Sr.) |
| 8 | 64 | Jim Murphy# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 8 | 65 | Bob Barnek# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 8 | 66 | Cincy Powell# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Portland (Sr.) |
| 8 | 67 | Jim Fox | F/C | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 8 | 68 | George Unseld# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 9 | 69 | Jay Neary# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | UNC Wilmington (Sr.) |
| 9 | 70 | John Wendelken# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Holy Cross (Sr.) |
| 9 | 71 | Gene West# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Drake (Sr.) |
| 9 | 72 | LeRoy Walker# | G | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Utah State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 73 | Ron Krick# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Cincinnati (Sr.) |
| 9 | 74 | Mal Pradd# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Dillard (Sr.) |
| 10 | 75 | Wayne Molis | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Lewis (Sr.) |
| 10 | 76 | Bogie Redmon# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 10 | 77 | Dean Church# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Southwestern Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 10 | 78 | Spencer Carlson# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Baylor (Sr.) |
| 10 | 79 | Richie Dec# | G | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 10 | 80 | Don Rae# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Montana State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 81 | Bill Meyer# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Hiram (Sr.) |
| 11 | 82 | Thales McReynolds | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Miles (Sr.) |
| 11 | 83 | Curt Fromal# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | La Salle (Sr.) |
| 11 | 84 | Weldon Kytle# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Fenn (Sr.) |
| 11 | 85 | Dick Maile# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | LSU (Sr.) |
| 11 | 86 | Bob Andrews# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Laker | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 12 | 87 | Bob Trupin# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Yale (Sr.) |
| 12 | 88 | Walt Sahm# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 12 | 89 | Dan Anderson# | C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Augsburg (Sr.) |
| 12 | 90 | Elton McGriff# | C | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Creighton (Sr.) |
| 12 | 91 | Robert McCollough# | G | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Benedict (Sr.) |
| 13 | 92 | Dennis McGovern# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Rhode Island (Sr.) |
| 13 | 93 | Joe Ramsey# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Southern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 13 | 94 | Rick Park# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 13 | 95 | Mel Northway# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 13 | 96 | Oliver Jones# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Albany State (Sr.) |
| 14 | 97 | Jerry Rook# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Arkansas State (Sr.) |
| 14 | 98 | Jack Margenthaler# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Houston (Sr.) |
| 14 | 99 | Terry Page# | G | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Detroit Mercy (Sr.) |
| 14 | 100 | Larry Franks# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Texas (Sr.) |
| 15 | 101 | Dave Hicks# | F | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Middletown Oilers (NEBA) |
| 15 | 102 | James Pitts# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 15 | 103 | George Pomey# | G | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 15 | 104 | Ronald Scharf# | G | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 16 | 105 | Bunk Adams# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | U.S. Armed Forces (AAU) |
| 16 | 106 | Larry Rafferty# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | New York Athletic Club |
| 16 | 107 | Bob Tolan# | F | United States
|
St. Louis Hawks | Eastern Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 16 | 108 | Willie Porter# | F | United States
|
Cincinnati Royals | Stoop's All-Stars (AAU) |
| 17 | 109 | Roger Taylor# | G | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Philadelphia (EBL) |
Notable undrafted players
[edit]These players were not selected in the 1965 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Miller | F | United States
|
Notre Dame (Sr.) |
Notes
[edit]^ 1: Tal Brody was born in the United States and became an Israeli citizen in 1970. He has represented both United States and Israel in international basketball competitions.[26][27]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "Complete First Round Results 1960–69". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- "1965 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- "1962–1966 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- "1965 NBA Draft". The Draft Review. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695., pg. 96
- ^ "How the NBA draft became a lottery". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. May 21, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ "Lakers Select Baylor In NBA Draft Meeting". The Daily Collegian. Pennsylvania State University. April 23, 1958. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ^ a b "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ^ "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
- ^ Robinson, Doug (September 15, 2015). "The late, great Wayne Estes ... and what might have been". Deseret News. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "Rick Barry Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "Bill Cunningham Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "Billy Cunningham Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ^ "Billy Cunningham Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ^ "Gail Goodrich Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "All-Time Retired Knicks Player Bios". NBA.com/Knicks. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "William Warren (Bill) Bradley Bio". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Bob Love Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^ "Jerry Sloan Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 19, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Sam (November 9, 2008). "Hinrich injury could put move on hold". NBA.com/Bulls. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Baseline read: Sets of NBA twins". mysanantonio.com. San Antonio Express-News. November 15, 2009. Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Dick Van Arsdale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ "Tom Van Arsdale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ "Dick Van Arsdale Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- ^ "Flynn Robinson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ "Jon McGlocklin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ "Bob Weiss Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
- ^ a b "Tal Brody Bio". International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "Sporting Heroes for 60 Years: No. 4 Tal Brody". The Jerusalem Post. Palestine Post Ltd. May 4, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Ron Reed Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^ "Ron Reed Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^ "Sports Hot Line". The Beaver County Times. November 1, 1981. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^ "Hendrickson Becomes Latest to Play In Both NBA and Major League Baseball". WSU Cougars. CBS Interactive. August 9, 2002. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^ Crowe, Jerry (August 13, 2002). "The Inside Track; Morning Briefing; New Coach Pulls the Strings in Washington". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
External links
[edit]1965 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Historical Context
The National Basketball Association (NBA) traces its origins to the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which was established on June 6, 1946, by owners of ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, initially comprising 11 teams divided into Eastern and Western divisions.[6] The BAA's inaugural 1946-47 season featured competitive play, but financial challenges led to fluctuations, with the league contracting to eight teams by the 1947-48 season before expanding to 12 in 1948-49. In August 1949, the BAA merged with the rival National Basketball League (NBL), forming the NBA with 17 teams for the 1949-50 season, marking a pivotal consolidation that stabilized professional basketball amid post-World War II economic recovery.[6] Subsequent years saw further contractions due to ongoing financial instability and relocations; by the mid-1950s, the league had dwindled to eight teams, including stalwarts like the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. This period established the NBA's resilience, with the 1950s drafts introducing mechanisms like territorial picks—first utilized in the 1949 BAA draft and formalized in the NBA starting in 1950—to allow teams to select local college stars within a 50-mile radius of their home city, forgoing their first-round pick to boost fan interest and attendance.[7] Key drafts from the 1950s to early 1960s, such as the 1950 NBA draft in Chicago and the 1960 selection of Oscar Robertson, set precedents for talent acquisition strategies, emphasizing college pipelines while navigating the territorial rule to balance competitive equity.[8] Expansion efforts resumed in 1961 with the addition of the Chicago Packers, bringing the total to 10 teams, though Chicago folded after one season, leaving nine teams for the 1962-63 through 1964-65 campaigns.[6] The 1964-65 season, the league's 19th, underscored the NBA's competitive landscape with nine franchises split between Eastern and Western divisions, where poor performances directly influenced draft positioning. The San Francisco Warriors finished last in the Western Division with a 17-63 record, securing the worst overall mark, while the New York Knicks ended at 31-49 in the East, tying for the division's bottom spot and shaping the reverse-order selection process.[9] This context led to the 1965 NBA draft, held on May 6, 1965, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, where teams sought to rebuild amid the league's gradual growth toward broader national appeal.[1][10]League and Team Situation
In the 1964–65 season, the NBA comprised nine teams divided into the Eastern and Western Divisions, with the Eastern having four teams and the Western five. These teams were the Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, Cincinnati Royals, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, St. Louis Hawks, and San Francisco Warriors.[9] The league's final standings from that season dictated the reverse-order draft positioning, highlighting the disparities among franchises. The San Francisco Warriors endured the league's worst campaign at 17–63, earning them priority access to top prospects, while the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons both finished 31–49, underscoring their urgent needs for roster upgrades. At the opposite end, the Boston Celtics dominated with a 62–18 record, reflecting their ongoing dynasty under Bill Russell. The full standings are summarized below:| Team | Division | Wins-Losses | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Eastern | 62–18 | 1st |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Western | 49–31 | 1st |
| Cincinnati Royals | Eastern | 48–32 | 2nd |
| St. Louis Hawks | Western | 45–35 | 2nd |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Eastern | 40–40 | 3rd |
| Baltimore Bullets | Western | 37–43 | 3rd |
| New York Knicks | Eastern | 31–49 | 4th |
| Detroit Pistons | Western | 31–49 | 4th |
| San Francisco Warriors | Western | 17–63 | 5th |
Draft Process
Territorial Pick Rules
The territorial pick rule, introduced in the 1950 NBA Draft, permitted teams to claim exclusive rights to a college player from a local institution prior to the commencement of the regular draft selections.[7] This mechanism allowed franchises to forgo their first-round pick in exchange for selecting a player who had attended a college within approximately 50 miles of the team's home arena, thereby prioritizing regional talent to foster community engagement.[13] The rule emerged during the NBA's formative years, when the league sought to bolster attendance and fan loyalty in an era of limited national visibility for professional basketball.[7] Eligibility under the territorial pick hinged on geographic proximity and the player's collegiate affiliation, with "local ties" broadly interpreted to include strong connections to the area beyond mere distance, such as attendance at nearby universities or high schools.[14] For instance, a team could target a standout from a state school or urban college serving its market, ensuring the selection aligned with efforts to draw crowds familiar with the prospect's college performances.[13] This criterion was not rigidly enforced through precise measurements but relied on league consensus to avoid disputes over boundaries, reflecting the NBA's small size at the time with fewer than 10 teams.[15] The process unfolded before the regular draft, typically held in a centralized location like New York City; teams intending to exercise the territorial option would announce their selection in advance, securing the player outright without competition from other franchises.[16] By surrendering their top draft slot, teams accepted a strategic trade-off, often justified by the potential for immediate fan appeal over a higher lottery position in the inverse-order selection.[7] This pre-draft phase streamlined operations but occasionally sparked debates on equity, as stronger teams in populous areas gained an edge in accessing elite local talent. The rule's rationale centered on stabilizing franchises in competitive urban markets, where drafting a homegrown star could translate college popularity into professional ticket sales and media coverage.[13] Over its lifespan, it produced notable successes, such as the Philadelphia Warriors' 1950 selection of Paul Arizin from Villanova University, which helped solidify their presence in the region.[13] Another example occurred in 1964, when the Cincinnati Royals used the territorial pick on George Wilson from the University of Cincinnati, capitalizing on his local All-American status to enhance team drawing power.[17] By 1965, the territorial pick represented the rule's final application, as growing concerns over competitive balance and the league's impending expansion to new markets prompted its abolition ahead of the 1966 draft.[18] Expansion diluted territorial advantages and highlighted inequities, leading the NBA to revamp the system toward a more uniform reverse-order format to promote parity across franchises.[19]Regular Draft Mechanics
The regular draft for the 1965 NBA season followed the territorial picks and consisted of 17 rounds, resulting in a total of 112 selections distributed among the league's nine teams. Unlike later drafts, the number of picks per round varied, as teams could pass on selections in later rounds if they chose not to exercise their option. This structure allowed for a broader pool of prospects to be considered, though only a fraction ultimately signed professional contracts. The order of selection was established in reverse of each team's win-loss record from the preceding 1964-65 season, giving priority to the worst-performing teams to promote competitive balance. For instance, the San Francisco Warriors, who finished with the league's poorest record at 17-63, held the first pick in the regular draft portion after territorial selections. In cases of tied records, the draft position was determined by the teams' performance in prior seasons, ensuring a methodical resolution without random elements like lotteries, which were not introduced until later decades. Player eligibility was strictly limited to United States college athletes who had completed their senior year or accumulated four years of higher education, reflecting the era's emphasis on post-secondary development before professional entry. This rule, outlined in the league's draft regulations, excluded underclassmen and high school graduates, contributing to a pool dominated by established college performers. International players were exceedingly rare, with virtually all selections drawn from American universities due to limited global scouting and logistical barriers at the time. No trades were executed during the draft proceedings themselves, as the event was conducted in a sequential, non-negotiated format at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on May 6, 1965. Subsequent transactions, including player rights swaps, were handled independently in the weeks and months following the draft.Selections
Territorial Picks
The territorial picks in the 1965 NBA draft allowed teams to select players from colleges within their geographic territory prior to the regular draft, a practice aimed at bolstering local fan interest by securing homegrown talent.[17] This mechanism, in its final year of use, resulted in three such selections on May 6, 1965. The New York Knicks chose forward Bill Bradley from Princeton University, leveraging their territorial rights to the New York metropolitan area, which encompassed Princeton's location in New Jersey. Bradley, a standout senior, led Princeton to the 1965 NCAA Final Four, where he set a tournament record with 58 points in a semifinal game against Wichita State. During his senior season, he averaged 30.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, earning consensus first-team All-American honors.[20] The Detroit Pistons selected center Bill Buntin from the University of Michigan, aligning with their territorial claim over the state. Buntin, a senior co-captain, helped Michigan reach the 1965 NCAA Final Four and was named to the All-Tournament team. In his final college year, he averaged 20.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7% from the field.[21] The Los Angeles Lakers picked guard Gail Goodrich from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), exercising their local rights to Southern California institutions. Goodrich, a senior leader under coach John Wooden, guided UCLA to the 1965 NCAA championship with a perfect 28-2 record. He averaged 24.6 points per game that season, establishing a school record for guards at the time.[22] These picks were formalized before the regular draft began, reflecting the NBA's strategy to protect market advantages for established franchises, and are included in the overall first-round selections (Bradley 2nd overall, Buntin 3rd overall, Goodrich 10th overall).[23]First Round
The first round of the 1965 NBA Draft comprised 11 selections in total, including the three territorial picks, held on May 6, 1965, in New York City, with the order determined primarily by reverse records from the previous season, giving the San Francisco Warriors the top two regular choices after finishing last in the Western Division.[1] The regular first round consisted of eight selections. The Warriors selected center Fred Hetzel with the first overall pick; however, he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets later that summer in exchange for point guard Guy Rodgers and a future draft pick, providing the Warriors with veteran leadership while acquiring a promising big man for the Bullets.[24] With their second regular pick (4th overall), the Warriors added forward Rick Barry from the University of Miami, a scoring sensation who had averaged 37.4 points per game during his senior season, leading the NCAA in scoring and earning consensus All-American honors.[25] The New York Knicks followed with their regular pick (5th overall), selecting forward Dave Stallworth from Wichita State University, bolstering their frontcourt depth. The Bullets then chose guard Jerry Sloan from the University of Evansville at No. 6 overall, known for his tenacious defense even in college.[26] The Philadelphia 76ers picked forward Billy Cunningham from the University of North Carolina 7th overall, adding athleticism to their roster. The St. Louis Hawks selected forward Jim Washington from Villanova University at No. 8 overall, while the Cincinnati Royals closed their first-round selection by drafting center Nate Bowman from Wichita State University 9th overall. The Boston Celtics selected forward Ollie Johnson from the University of San Francisco 11th overall.[27]| Overall | Player | Position | College | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fred Hetzel | C/F | Davidson College | San Francisco Warriors |
| 4 | Rick Barry | F | University of Miami | San Francisco Warriors |
| 5 | Dave Stallworth | F/C | Wichita State University | New York Knicks |
| 6 | Jerry Sloan | G | University of Evansville | Baltimore Bullets |
| 7 | Billy Cunningham | F | University of North Carolina | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 8 | Jim Washington | F | Villanova University | St. Louis Hawks |
| 9 | Nate Bowman | C | Wichita State University | Cincinnati Royals |
| 11 | Ollie Johnson | F | University of San Francisco | Boston Celtics |