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1975 NBA draft
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| 1975 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | May 29, 1975 |
| Location | New York City, New York |
| Overview | |
| 174 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | David Thompson, Atlanta Hawks |
| Hall of Famers | 1 |
The 1975 NBA draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 29, 1975, before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 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 Atlanta Hawks, who obtained the New Orleans Jazz first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Los Angeles Lakers were awarded the second pick. Prior to the draft, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings were renamed to just the Kansas City Kings due to the completion of the Kemper Arena.[2] Before the draft, 18 college underclassmen and 2 high school players were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule, marking the first time since the days of the Basketball Association of America and National Basketball League operating as separate leagues when high schoolers were allowed to play professionally there.[3] 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.[4]
This was the most recent NBA draft to be held in a month other than June until 2020, but the off-season was earlier at the time. The league also hosted a supplementary draft for American Basketball Association (ABA) players who never were never drafted by the NBA teams on December 30, 1975. 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.
Draft selections and draftee career notes
[edit]David Thompson from North Carolina State University was selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks. He was also drafted first overall in the 1975 ABA Draft by the Virginia Squires, before the Squires traded his draft rights to the Denver Nuggets. He opted to join the ABA with the Nuggets before moving to the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged.[5] During his first and only season in the ABA, he won the ABA All-Star Game MVP and ABA Rookie of the Year, as well as selected to the ABA All-Star Game and All-ABA Team. His NBA achievements include two All-NBA Team selections and four NBA All-Star Game selections.[6] For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[7] Marvin Webster, the 3rd pick, also opted to join the ABA with the Nuggets before moving to the NBA in 1976.[8] Thompson and Webster were the only first-round picks from the draft who declined to play in the NBA and opted to play in the ABA. Coincidentally, Webster was also drafted by the Hawks, which means that both the Hawks' first-round picks did not play with them. Instead, both signed to play for the Nuggets in the ABA.[9]
Gus Williams, the 20th pick, joined the Seattle SuperSonics after two seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He then won the NBA championship with the Sonics in 1979. He was also selected to two All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.[10] World B. Free (then known as Lloyd Free), the 23rd pick, played for five teams in his 13-year career and was selected to one All-NBA Team and one All-Star Game.[11] Dan Roundfield, the 28th pick, was also drafted in the 1975 ABA Draft. He opted to join the ABA with the Indiana Pacers before moving to the NBA in 1976. His achievements include one All-NBA Team selection, three NBA All-Star Game selections, three NBA All-Star Game selections and four NBA All-Defensive Team selections.[12] Alvan Adams from the University of Oklahoma, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was selected 4th by the Phoenix Suns.[13] Adams and 6th pick Lionel Hollins are the only other players from this draft who was selected to an All-Star Game.[14][15] After retiring as a player, Hollins went on to have a coaching career. He was twice named as the interim head coach for the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies in 1999 and 2004 before becoming a permanent head coach in 2009.[16]
Darryl Dawkins, the 5th pick, and Bill Willoughby, the 19th pick, became the first two high school players to directly enter the NBA after their high school graduation.[17] They also became the second and third players to go directly from high school basketball to professional league, after Moses Malone in the 1974 ABA Draft.[18] They also became the second and third high school players ever drafted in the NBA, after Reggie Harding in the 1962 draft. However, because the rules prevented Harding from playing in the league until one year after his high school class graduated, he had to wait a year before entering the league in 1963.[19][20] Dawkins played 14 seasons in the NBA with four different NBA teams, while Willoughby played 8 seasons with six teams.[21][22]
In the tenth round, the New Orleans Jazz selected a Soviet basketball player Alexander Belov with the 161st pick. Belov, who was playing with Spartak Leningrad before the draft, stayed with the club until the end of his career. He had a successful career, winning two European Cup Winners' Cup and one Soviet Union championship, as well as four gold medals with the Soviet Union national team. For his achievements, he has been inducted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to the FIBA Hall of Fame.[23]
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 |
Draft
[edit]
Notable undrafted players
[edit]These players were not selected in the 1975 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Jones | F |  United States
|
Saint Louis (Sr.) |
| Irv Kiffin | F | United States
|
Oklahoma Baptist (Sr.) |
Trades
[edit]- a 1 2 On May 20, 1974, the Atlanta Hawks acquired Bob Kauffman, Dean Meminger, 1974 and 1975 first-round picks, 1975 and 1976 second-round picks, and a 1980 third-round pick from the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Pete Maravich.[27] The Hawks used the picks to draft David Thompson and Bill Willoughby.
- b 1 2 On October 8, 1974, the New Orleans Jazz acquired Russ Lee and a first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Steve Kuberski and a second-round pick.[28] Previously, the Jazz acquired Neal Walk and the pick on September 16, 1974, from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Dennis Awtrey, Nate Hawthorne, Curtis Perry and a 1976 first-round pick.[29] The Jazz used the pick to draft Rich Kelley. The Bucks used the pick to draft Clyde Mayes.
- c On May 17, 1974, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a first-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Jim Chones.[30] The Lakers used the pick to draft Junior Bridgeman.
- d On May 28, 1975, the Kansas City Kings acquired the tenth pick from the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Ron Behagen and a 1976 second-round pick.[31] Previously the Jazz acquired Henry Bibby and a first-round pick on February 1, 1975, from the New York Knicks in exchange for Jim Barnett and Neal Walk.[29] Previously the Knicks acquired the pick on December 26, 1974, from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Howard Porter.[32] The Kings used the pick to draft Bill Robinzine.
- e On September 3, 1974, the Golden State Warriors acquired Clifford Ray and a first-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nate Thurmond.[33] The Warriors used the pick to draft Joe Bryant.
- f 1 2 On the draft-day, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Butch Beard, a first-round pick and a second-round pick from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Dwight Davis.[34] The Cavaliers used the picks to draft John Lambert and Mel Utley.
- g On the draft-day, the Phoenix Suns acquired a first-round pick from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for a 1976 first-round pick.[35] The Suns used the pick to draft Ricky Sobers.
- h On September 24, 1974, the Golden State Warriors acquired a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Zelmo Beaty.[36] The Warriors used the pick to draft Gus Williams.
- i On January 7, 1974, the Chicago Bulls acquired a second-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for John Hummer.[37] The Bulls used the pick to draft Steve Green.
- j On May 28, 1974, the New York Knicks acquired Howard Porter and a second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for a 1974 first-round pick.[32] Previously the Bulls acquired John Hummer, the pick and a 1974 second-round pick on September 10, 1973, from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Gar Heard and Kevin Kunnert.[37] The Knicks used the pick to draft Larry Fogle.
- k On September 6, 1974, the Phoenix Suns acquired Dave Stallworth and a second-round pick from the Washington Bullets in exchange for Clem Haskins.[38] The Suns used the pick to draft Allen Murphy.
- l On May 23, 1975, the Phoenix Suns acquired Paul Westphal, 1975 and 1976 second-round picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Charlie Scott.[39] The Suns used the pick to draft Jimmy Dan Conner.
- m On December 6, 1974, the New Orleans Jazz acquired a third-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Stu Lantz.[40] The Jazz used the pick to draft Jim McElroy.
- n On August 20, 1974, the Washington Bullets acquired Dick Gibbs and a third-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Archie Clark.[41] The Bullets used the pick to draft Tom Kropp.
- o On September 18, 1974, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a third-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Mickey Johnson.[42] The Blazers used the pick to draft Gus Gerard.
- p On October 9, 1973, the Phoenix Suns acquired 1974 and 1975 third-round picks from the Washington Bullets (as the Capital Bullets) in exchange for Walt Wesley.[43] The Suns used the pick to draft Bayard Forrest.
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]For the fifth straight year in a row, the NBA would utilize the hardship exception for young underclassmen to enter the NBA draft. For the second straight year in a row, twenty underclassmen initially declared entry for this year's draft, but three of these players in the University of Notre Dame's Adrian Dantley, Morris Brown College's Harry Davis, and Tunxis Community College's Glenn Matthews would later decline entry into this year's draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for an NBA hardship.[44]
Alvan Adams – C/F, Oklahoma (junior)- Joe Bryant – F, La Salle (junior)
- Luther Burden – G, Utah (junior)
- Henry Fields – G, Ohio State (freshman)
- Larry Fogle – G, Canisius (junior)
- Bayard Forrest – C, Grand Canyon (junior)
- Lloyd Free – G, Guilford (junior)
- Robert Hawkins – G, Illinois State (junior)
- Walter Luckett – G, Ohio (junior)
- Cyrus Mann – C, Illinois State (freshman)
- Glen Matthews – F, Tunxis CC (junior)
- Frank Oleynick – G, Seattle (junior)
- Joe Pace – C, Coppin State (junior)
- Eugene Short – F, Jackson State (junior)
- Larry Smith – F, North Carolina A&T (junior)
High school players
[edit]This year's draft was also the first one in NBA history to officially allow for high school seniors to enter the NBA draft via hardship exceptions. This year saw two high school players qualify for these hardships. It was also the only NBA draft to see high school declare their entry into the NBA directly from high school until 1995. The following high schoolers successfully applied for an NBA hardship.[44]
Supplementary draft
[edit]
On December 9, 1975, the NBA planned to host a supplementary draft to settle negotiating rights to five ABA players who had never been eligible for the NBA draft because their college classes had not graduated and they had not apply for hardship. The teams selected in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. The team that made a selection must withdraw their equivalent selection in the 1976 draft.[45] The teams were allowed to not exercise their rights on this hardship draft and thus retained their full selection in the 1976 draft. The draft itself attracted strong opposition from the rivaling ABA, who accused the NBA of trying to reduce confidence in the stability of their own league since they had gone from ten teams to seven in a three month period, with the Virginia Squires also facing significant struggles that saw them be likely to fold next during the season. Despite the initial postponement of the draft, the draft was finally held on December 30, 1975.[46]
The New Orleans Jazz used the first pick to select Moses Malone, a former high school player who went directly to professional basketball after he was drafted in the 1974 ABA draft. The Los Angeles Lakers used the second pick to select Mark Olberding, a college freshman who was drafted in the 1974 ABA draft. Because the Jazz and the Lakers had traded their first-round picks in the 1976 draft, they had to forfeit their first-round pick in the 1977 draft.[47] The other players selected were Mel Bennett, Skip Wise and Charles Jordan in the second, third and fourth-round respectively. All players, except Wise, were under contract with their ABA team at the time of the draft.[48] Those same four players also remained with their ABA teams in question until the end of the season as well. After the Virginia Squires folded before the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976, Bennett joined the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia 76ers.[49] Under the merger agreement, the Jazz and the Lakers had to yield their rights to Malone and Olberding, but they regained their 1977 first-round picks.[50] Malone was later drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the ABA Dispersal Draft, while Olberding remained with the Spurs who joined the NBA.[51][52] Mel Bennett would later end up signing a new free agency deal with the Indiana Pacers following the ABA-NBA merger and subsequent ABA dispersal draft due to the Squires folding operations a month before the official merger occurred and Bennett being a proper free agent at the time.[53] Two other draftees, Wise and Jordan, never played in the NBA, with Wise being waived by the Spurs during the season and never playing professionally again in either league afterward due to drug troubles (primarily with heroin) and Jordan being cut by the Pacers following the eventual ABA-NBA merger and later playing overseas instead.[54][55]
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | ABA team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Moses Malone^ | F/C | United States
|
New Orleans Jazz | Spirits of St. Louis |
| 1 | 2 | Mark Olberding | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2 | 3 | Mel Bennett | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Virginia Squires |
| 3 | 4 | Skip Wise# | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | San Antonio Spurs |
| 4 | 5 | Charles Jordan# | F | United States
|
Buffalo Braves | Indiana Pacers |
Notes
[edit]^ 1: Lloyd Free changed his first name into World, his nickname, in 1981 and is commonly known as World B. Free.[56]
- ^ The Bulls attempted to draft Moses Malone, who at the time was playing for the Utah Stars of the rivaling American Basketball Association via the 1974 ABA draft directly from Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia. However, Deputy NBA Commissioner Simon Gourdine informed the Bulls that Malone had not made himself eligible for the hardship draft and thus was not eligible for the draft this year. In an effort to protect the integrity of the draft, Gourdine marked the selection as a pass instead.[26] He would later be selected in the supplementary draft near the end of the year by the New Orleans Jazz.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "Complete First Round Results 1970–79". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- "1975 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- "1972–1976 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Kings Drop Omaha From Name". The Milwaukee Journal. Newspaper, Inc. March 18, 1975. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Burden, Dantley top list". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas: The World Company. May 9, 1975. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Spencer Haywood Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "David Thompson Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "David Thompson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Marvin Webster Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Thompson Is Highest Paid Rookie Star". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. July 12, 1975. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Gus Williams Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "World B. Free Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Dan Roundfield Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Alvan Adams Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Lionel Hollins Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Lionel Hollins Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Broussard, Chris (November 16, 2003). "Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers". The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Deford, Frank (February 19, 1979). "Bounding Into Prominence". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Pistons Can't Use 7-Foot Prep". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas: The World Company. July 3, 1962. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ Hilton, Dan (July 14, 2008). "Doesn't the Extra Year Help Teams?". NBA.com/Suns. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Darryl Dawkins Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "Bill Willoughby Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "Aleksander Belov Bio". FIBA. February 24, 2007. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Bruce Seals Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Gus Gerard Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Moses Malone - Ineligible Draftees". The Draft Review.
- ^ "Pete Maravich Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Steve Kuberski Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "Neal Walk Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Jim Chones Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Ron Behagen Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "Howard Porter Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Nate Thurmond Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Butch Beard Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Adrian Dantley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ "Zelmo Beaty Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "John Hummer Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Clem Haskins Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Charlie Scott Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Stu Lantz Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Archie Clark Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Mickey Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "Walt Wesley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "1975 Underclassmen Hardship List". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
- ^ "DeBusschere blasts ABA rival". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Public Welfare Foundation. December 7, 1975. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Orleans must wait for Moses". Beaver County Times. Beaver, Pennsylvania. December 9, 1975. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Malone Drafted By Jazz". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. December 31, 1975. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Jazz Claims Moses Malone In Supplementary Draft". Florence Times Tri-Cities Daily. Florence, Alabama. December 31, 1975. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Mel Bennett Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "...ABA Gets Wish". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina: Evening Post Publishing Company. June 18, 1976. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Moses Malone Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Mark Olberding Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (May 11, 1976). "A.B.A. Drops Squires For a Lack of Funds". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ "Skip Wise Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Charles Jordan Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ Gutierrez, Paul (March 8, 1999). "World B. Free, NBA Gunner". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
External links
[edit]1975 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Draft Details
The 1975 NBA draft took place on May 29, 1975, prior to the start of the 1975–76 NBA season.[1][4] The event was held at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in New York City, where representatives from the league's 18 teams gathered to make selections.[5] The draft consisted of 10 rounds, resulting in a total of 174 selections.[1][4] Unlike modern drafts, there was no lottery system in place; instead, the order of picks was determined strictly by the reverse order of the teams' records from the previous season, with the worst-performing team selecting first.[1] David Thompson, a forward from North Carolina State University, was chosen as the first overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, though he ultimately signed with the ABA's Denver Nuggets instead of joining Atlanta.[1][4] This draft served as the final one for the NBA in its pre-merger form, preceding the integration of four American Basketball Association teams into the league for the following season.[6]Historical Context
The 1975 NBA draft marked the final selection process in the league's pre-merger era, occurring just months before the 1976 ABA-NBA merger that integrated four American Basketball Association teams and redistributed players from the folding franchises via a special dispersal draft.[7] The rival ABA had intensified competition for top talent throughout the early 1970s, often luring high-profile college prospects with lucrative contracts and a more innovative, fast-paced style of play, which influenced player decisions and diluted the NBA's exclusive access to the best amateur athletes.[8] This dynamic was evident in the draft's outcome, as the ABA conducted its own selection shortly after on June 17, further complicating team strategies amid ongoing merger negotiations.[9] The draft order was determined by the reverse order of the 1974–75 NBA season standings, with a coin flip resolving ties between teams with comparable records to allocate the top picks.[1] Expansion franchise New Orleans Jazz, who finished with the league's worst record at 23–59, held the rights to the first overall selection but traded it to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the event; the Hawks then won a coin flip against the Los Angeles Lakers—last in the Pacific Division at 30–52—for the top spot, while also securing the third pick through their own poor 31–51 finish in the Central Division.[10] These struggling teams, including the Hawks, Lakers, and Jazz, positioned themselves to rebuild via the draft as the league expanded to 18 teams and grappled with competitive imbalances.[1] The talent pool drew exclusively from U.S. college basketball stars, reflecting the era's emphasis on domestic amateur development amid basketball's growing popularity on campuses and in national media coverage, with no international players selected despite eligibility rules allowing them.[1] This draft class stood out for its depth at forward and center positions, featuring athletic big men and versatile scorers who addressed needs across multiple franchises, such as the 6-foot-10 Alvan Adams and 7-foot-1 Marvin Webster.[11] Overall, the selections laid groundwork for the post-merger landscape, as incoming ABA talent would soon augment these rookies in reshaping the unified league.[7]Eligibility and Process
Selection Rules
The selection rules for the 1975 NBA draft established strict criteria for player eligibility, ensuring that only amateur prospects were available for selection. Eligible players included U.S. college seniors or graduates who had exhausted their four years of college eligibility, as well as individuals at least four years removed from their high school graduating class. Active professional athletes, including those in other leagues, were prohibited from entering the draft to preserve the amateur pipeline.[12] Draft order was assigned in reverse sequence of the teams' regular-season win-loss records from the 1974-75 season, promoting fairness by awarding priority to the worst-performing franchises. The two teams with the league's poorest records—one from each conference—competed in a coin flip to determine picks 1 and 2, while subsequent positions followed the reverse standings. Ties among teams with identical records were resolved first by playoff participation, granting higher priority to non-playoff qualifiers, with any remaining deadlocks settled via coin flip.[1] The draft featured 10 rounds, allotting each of the league's 18 teams a minimum of 10 picks—one per round—for a total of 174 selections after accounting for trades. Violations of league rules, such as tampering or contract breaches, could result in forfeited picks, though no significant penalties affected the 1975 draft allocations.[1][13] The presence of the competing American Basketball Association (ABA) influenced NBA procedures, as league rules barred active ABA-contracted players from NBA draft eligibility, necessitating a separate ABA draft process. This separation persisted until the leagues' merger in 1976, with the NBA later conducting a supplementary draft on December 30, 1975, for select undrafted ABA talent.Early Entrants
The 1975 NBA Draft featured exceptions to the standard eligibility requirements, allowing a handful of college underclassmen and high school seniors to declare early under the league's hardship rule. This rule, established following the 1971 Supreme Court ruling in Haywood v. NBA, permitted players to petition for entry before completing four years of college by demonstrating financial hardship or other compelling needs that made continued education impractical.[14] Applicants were required to formally renounce their remaining college eligibility with the NBA office, a process overseen by league officials to verify eligibility and prevent exploitation.[15] In 1975, the NBA relaxed the strict financial hardship criterion, broadening access for underclassmen and marking a shift toward greater professionalism in basketball amid the impending ABA-NBA merger.[14] College underclassmen, primarily juniors, entered the draft for financial security and to capitalize on lucrative professional contracts, reflecting the increasing commercialization of the sport and the limited academic support for athletes at many institutions. Representative examples include Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (father of Kobe Bryant), a junior forward from La Salle University, who was selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors after averaging 21.0 points and 11.3 rebounds in his final college season, driven by family financial pressures; he passed away on July 15, 2024.[16][17] Similarly, Luther Burden, a junior guard from the University of Utah known for his sharpshooting, applied for and received hardship approval after his junior year, citing economic needs, and was picked 26th overall by the New York Knicks.[18] These early declarations highlighted the tension between educational commitments and professional aspirations, with only select underclassmen gaining approval and draft selection. High school players represented an even rarer exception, underscoring the NBA's evolving but cautious approach to youth eligibility in an era when direct professional entry was unconventional outside the ABA. Darryl Dawkins, a 6'11" center from Maynard Evans High School in Florida, became one of the first to successfully navigate the hardship process as a senior, motivated by immediate financial opportunities and his standout athleticism; he was chosen fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.[15] Bill Willoughby, a 6'8" forward from James Monroe High School in Virginia, similarly declared under the rule for economic reasons and was selected 20th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, joining Dawkins as pioneers in bypassing college entirely.[15] Though few in number, these high school entrants injected top young talent into the league, influencing future debates on age limits and development pathways.Draft Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1975 NBA Draft, held on May 29, 1975, in New York City, consisted of 18 selections—one for each of the league's 18 teams—with the order primarily determined by the reverse standings from the 1974–75 season and ties resolved by coin flips.[1] Teams used their high picks to target college standouts expected to provide immediate on-court impact, focusing on athleticism, scoring, and positional needs to accelerate rebuilding efforts amid the competitive landscape of the mid-1970s NBA.[9] The Atlanta Hawks secured the top two picks via a coin flip victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and selected David Thompson from North Carolina State with the first overall choice, drawn to his explosive scoring ability and leaping prowess as the 1974 Naismith College Player of the Year.[11] Thompson, nicknamed "Skywalker," generated significant media excitement as a can't-miss prospect poised to elevate the Hawks' offense and become an instant superstar.[19] With their third pick, the Hawks added Marvin Webster from Morgan State to bolster frontcourt depth, aiming for complementary size and rebounding to support Thompson's perimeter game.[1] Other teams similarly pursued ready-made contributors; the Lakers, despite losing the coin flip, picked Dave Meyers from UCLA second overall to inject versatile forward play into their lineup alongside established stars.[1] The Phoenix Suns, selecting fourth, targeted Alvan Adams from Oklahoma to anchor their interior with his passing and efficiency as a big man, addressing a key need for post presence.[20] The full list of first-round selections is as follows:| Pick | Player | College/University | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Thompson | NC State | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2 | Dave Meyers | UCLA | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 3 | Marvin Webster | Morgan State | Atlanta Hawks |
| 4 | Alvan Adams | Oklahoma | Phoenix Suns |
| 5 | Darryl Dawkins | High school (Orlando, FL) | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 6 | Lionel Hollins | Arizona State | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 7 | Rich Kelley | Stanford | New Orleans Jazz |
| 8 | Junior Bridgeman | Louisville | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 9 | Gene Short | Jackson State | New York Knicks |
| 10 | Bill Robinzine | DePaul | Kansas City Kings |
| 11 | Joe Meriweather | Southern Illinois | Houston Rockets |
| 12 | Frank Oleynick | Seattle | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 13 | Bob Bigelow | Penn | Kansas City Kings |
| 14 | Joe Bryant | La Salle | Golden State Warriors |
| 15 | John Lambert | USC | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 16 | Ricky Sobers | UNLV | Phoenix Suns |
| 17 | Tom Boswell | South Carolina | Boston Celtics |
| 18 | Kevin Grevey | Kentucky | Washington Bullets |
Subsequent Rounds
The subsequent rounds of the 1975 NBA draft, spanning rounds 2 through 10, consisted of 156 selections by the league's 18 teams, held on May 29, 1975, in New York City.[1] These picks emphasized developmental prospects, role players, and athletes from a mix of major universities and smaller programs, reflecting the era's broader scouting net amid the NBA's expansion and competition with the ABA.[1] While the first round garnered intense focus on high-profile talents, the later rounds uncovered hidden value through durable contributors who bolstered team benches, though the majority of selections—121 out of 156—never appeared in an NBA regular-season game, highlighting the draft's uneven depth and high risk for mid-to-late picks.[1] Round 2 produced several overlooked gems who developed into key NBA contributors. Gus Williams, selected 20th overall by the Golden State Warriors out of the University of Southern California, emerged as a two-time All-Star point guard with an 11-season career averaging 14.5 points and 5.6 assists per game.[21] World B. Free (born Lloyd Free), taken 23rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers from Guilford College, became a prolific scorer over 13 seasons, renowned for his shooting and flair while averaging 16.1 points per game.[22] Dan Roundfield, picked 28th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers from Central Michigan University, anchored frontcourts as a four-time All-Star forward-center hybrid across 11 seasons, contributing 12.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.[23] Other round 2 standouts included Bob Gross (31st overall, Kansas, Milwaukee Bucks), a versatile wing who played nine seasons primarily with the Portland Trail Blazers, and Phil Smith (29th overall, San Francisco, Golden State Warriors), a steady guard with eight NBA seasons.[1] Subsequent rounds yielded fewer long-term impacts but added depth with reliable role players from diverse backgrounds. Later selections occasionally contributed but underscored the diminishing returns, with most picks serving as practice squad fillers or opting for other professional leagues.[1]| Round | Notable Pick (Overall) | Team | Player (College) | Career Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 20th | Golden State Warriors | Gus Williams (USC) | 11 seasons, 2x All-Star, 45.1 Win Shares |
| 2 | 23rd | Philadelphia 76ers | World B. Free (Guilford) | 13 seasons, 26.9 Win Shares, scoring specialist |
| 2 | 28th | Cleveland Cavaliers | Dan Roundfield (Central Michigan) | 11 seasons, 4x All-Star, 50.6 Win Shares |
Supplementary Draft
The 1975 NBA supplementary draft was a special one-round procedure held on December 30, 1975, designed to allocate negotiating rights to a limited pool of American Basketball Association (ABA) players who had entered professional basketball via the ABA without prior eligibility for the standard NBA draft.[24] These players, typically those who signed ABA contracts before exhausting their college eligibility, were overlooked in the main May 1975 NBA draft due to league-specific rules at the time.[25] The draft followed the reverse order of the 1974-75 NBA standings and was conducted via telephone, lasting just nine minutes, with teams able to pass on selections.[24] Participating teams forfeited future draft compensation, such as first-round picks in subsequent years, to secure rights; for example, the New Orleans Jazz gave up their 1977 first-round selection for their choice.[24] Only five players were available, reflecting the targeted nature of the event amid ongoing ABA instability, including folded franchises like the Utah Stars.[25] The selections were as follows:| Pick | Player | Position | Team Selected By | Previous ABA Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moses Malone | C | New Orleans Jazz | Spirits of St. Louis |
| 2 | Mark Olberding | PF | Los Angeles Lakers | San Antonio Spurs |
| 3 | Mel Bennett | F | Philadelphia 76ers | Virginia Squires |
| 4 | Skip Wise | PG | Golden State Warriors | San Antonio Spurs |
| 5 | Charlie Jordan | SF | Buffalo Braves | Indiana Pacers |