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1977 NBA draft
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| 1977 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 10, 1977 |
| Location | Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) |
| Overview | |
| 170 total selections in 8 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Kent Benson, Milwaukee Bucks |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1977 NBA draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 10, 1977, before the 1977–78 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 Milwaukee Bucks won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Kansas City Kings, who obtained the New York Nets first-round pick in a trade, 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, six 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] Four former American Basketball Association (ABA) franchises who joined the NBA when both leagues merged, the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the New York Nets and the San Antonio Spurs, took part in the NBA Draft for the first time. Prior to the start of the season, the Nets relocated to New Jersey and became the New Jersey Nets, meaning this was the only NBA draft where the Nets would participate in said draft under the New York Nets name.[4] The draft consisted of 8 rounds comprising the selection of 170 players.
Draft selections and draftee career notes
[edit]Kent Benson from Indiana University was selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. Walter Davis from the University of North Carolina, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was selected fifth by the Phoenix Suns.[5] Davis was also selected to both the All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game in his first season. He collected a total of six All-NBA Team selections and two All-Star Game selections.[6] Three other players from this draft, second pick Otis Birdsong, third pick Marques Johnson and seventh pick Bernard King, were also selected to both the All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game. Birdsong was selected to four All-NBA Teams and one All-Star Game;[7] Johnson was selected to five All-NBA Teams and three All-Star Games;[8] and King was selected to four All-NBA Teams and four All-Star Games.[9] Jack Sikma, the eighth pick, won the NBA championship with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 and was selected to seven consecutive All-Star Games.[10] Rickey Green, the 16th pick, Norm Nixon, the 22nd pick, and Eddie Johnson, the 49th pick, are the only other players from this draft who were selected to an All-Star Game.[11][12][13] Two players drafted went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: 33rd pick Eddie Jordan and 53rd pick John Kuester.[14] Jordan has coached three teams in nine seasons, including five seasons with the Washington Wizards.[15]
In the seventh round, the New Orleans Jazz selected Lusia Harris, a female college basketball star from Delta State University, with the 137th pick. She became the second woman ever drafted by an NBA team, after Denise Long, who was selected by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1969 draft.[16] However, the league voided the Warriors' selection, thus Harris became the first and only woman to ever be officially drafted.[17] Harris did not express an interest to play in the NBA and declined to try out for the Jazz.[18] It was later revealed that she was pregnant at the time, which made her unable to attend the Jazz's training camp, even if she had wanted to.[19] She never played in the NBA but she later played briefly in the Women's Professional Basketball League. In 1992, she was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame and became the first woman ever inducted to the Hall of Fame. She was also part of the inaugural class of inductees of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.[20]
Also in the seventh round, the Kansas City Kings selected track and field athlete Caitlyn Jenner(then Bruce) [3] with the 139th pick (needling the cross-town Kansas City Chiefs, who would often claim to select the "best athlete available" in the NFL draft). Jenner had just won the gold medal for decathlon at the 1976 Olympic Games,[16] but had not actually played basketball since high school. Jenner was presented with a Kings jersey bearing the number 8618 (her Olympics decathlon score), but she never appeared in a game.[21] (The closest Jenner would come to a basketball career was a few years later in the film Can't Stop The Music, in a sequence where she shot hoops with her co-stars The Village People.) Jenner would later make headlines in 2015 for coming out as a trans woman,[22] which retroactively made her the first transgender person to be drafted (though not play) in one of the Big Four leagues in the United States of America.[23][24][25]
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]
Trades
[edit]- a On September 10, 1976, the Kansas City Kings acquired Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor, 1977 and 1978 first-round picks from the New York Nets in exchange for Nate Archibald.[26] The Kings used the pick to draft Otis Birdsong.
- b 1 2 3 On the draft-day, the Chicago Bulls re-acquired their first-round pick from the Buffalo Braves, while the Braves re-acquired their second-round pick from the Bulls.[27] Previously, the Braves acquired Swen Nater and the Bulls' pick on June 7, 1977, from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the Braves' first-round pick.[28] Previously, the Bucks acquired the Bulls' pick on November 2, 1976, from the Braves in exchange for Jim Price.[29] Previously, the Braves acquired the Bulls' pick on November 27, 1975, from the Bulls in exchange for Jack Marin.[30] Previously, the Bulls acquired Matt Guokas, the Braves' pick and a second-round pick on September 4, 1974, from the Braves in exchange for Bob Weiss.[31] The Bucks used the Braves' first-round pick to draft Marques Johnson.
- c 1 2 On January 20, 1977, the Washington Bullets acquired Tom Henderson and a first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Truck Robinson and a first-round pick.[32] Previously, the Bullets acquired Dave Bing and the pick on August 28, 1975, from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Kevin Porter.[33] The Bullets used the pick to draft Greg Ballard. The Hawks used the pick to draft Tree Rollins.
- d 1 2 On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick from the New Orleans 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.[34] The Lakers used the pick to draft Kenny Carr. The Jazz used the pick to draft Essie Hollis.
- e On February 1, 1977, the New York Nets acquired Darnell Hillman and a first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for John Williamson.[35] The Nets used the pick to draft Bernard King.
- f 1 2 On May 25, 1977, the Denver Nuggets acquired Brian Taylor and the ninth pick from the Kansas City Kings in exchange for Tommy Burleson and a second-round pick. Previously, the Nuggets acquired Tommy Burleson, Bob Wilkerson and the second-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics on May 24, 1977, in exchange for Paul Silas, Marvin Webster and Willie Wise.[36] Previously, the Chicago Bulls acquired the second-round pick and a 1976 third-round pick from the Kings on December 8, 1975, in exchange for Matt Guokas.[31] The Nuggets used the pick to draft Tom LaGarde. The Bulls used the pick to draft Steve Sheppard.
- g On January 13, 1977, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Rowland Garrett, 1977 and 1978 first-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Elmore Smith and Gary Brokaw.[37] The Bucks used the pick to draft Ernie Grunfeld.
- h On November 16, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a first-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Mack Calvin.[38] The Lakers used the pick to draft Brad Davis.
- i On January 18, 1977, the Golden State Warriors acquired a first-round pick from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for George Johnson.[39] Previously, the Braves acquired the pick and a 1978 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets on October 24, 1976, in exchange for Moses Malone.[40] The Warriors used the pick to draft Wesley Cox.
- j On November 30, 1976, the Chicago Bulls acquired a second-round pick from the New York Nets in exchange for Bob Love.[41] The Bulls used the pick to draft Mike Glenn.
- k On December 8, 1976, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired 1977 and 1978 second-round picks from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Fred Carter.[42] The 76ers used the pick to draft Wilson Washington.
- l On October 1, 1976, the New York Knicks acquired a second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Randy Denton.[43] The Knicks used the pick to draft Glen Gondrezick.
- m On August 5, 1976, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired a second-round pick from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for the seventh pick in the ABA dispersal draft.[44] Previously, the Braves acquired the pick the Phoenix Suns on August 25, 1976, in exchange for Tom Van Arsdale.[45] The Bucks used the pick to draft Glenn Williams.
- n On June 3, 1976, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a 1977 second-round pick from the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for a 1976 second-round pick.[46] The Blazers used the pick to draft Kim Anderson.
- o On June 9, 1977, the Houston Rockets acquired 1977 and 1978 second-round picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for John Johnson.[47] The Rockets used the pick to draft Larry Moffett.
- p On August 5, 1976, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired a second-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Roland Taylor.[48] The 76ers used the pick to draft Herm Harris.
- q On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a third-round pick from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Johnny Neumann.[49] The Lakers used the pick to draft James Edwards.
- r On October 8, 1973, the Atlanta Hawks acquired a 1976 second-round pick and a 1977 third-round pick from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Bob Christian.[50] The Hawks used the pick to draft Eddie Johnson.
- s On November 27, 1974, the Phoenix Suns acquired a 1976 second-round pick and a 1977 third-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Corky Calhoun.[51] The Suns used the pick to draft Mike Bratz.
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]After seeing a major influx of underclassmen enter the draft the previous year, only thirteen total underclassmen would decide to enter this year's draft, with six of these players later revoking their entries to this draft altogether. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[52]
Kenny Carr – F, NC State (junior)- Brad Davis – G, Maryland (junior)
- Ray Epps – F, Norfolk State (junior)
- Bernard King – F, Tennessee (junior)
- Larry Moffett – F, UNLV (junior)
- James Redwine – G, Eastern Washington (freshman)
- Ray Tatum – F, Malone (junior)
Notes
[edit]^ 1: Ernie Grunfeld was born in Romania, but grew up in the United States and has represented the United States national team.[53]
^ 2: Lars Hansen was born in Denmark, but grew up in Canada and has represented the Canadian national team.[54]
^ 3: Jenner changed her name to Caitlyn Jenner due to gender transition in 2015.[55]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "Complete First Round Results 1970–79". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- "1977 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- "1977–1981 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Early Entry Candidate History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Spencer Haywood Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "New Jersey Nets History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Walt Davis Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Otis Birdsong Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Marques Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Bernard King Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Jack Sikma Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Rickey Green Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Norm Nixon Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Eddie Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "John Kuester Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Eddie Jordan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ a b Kim, Randy (June 19, 2003). "Draft Oddities". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Simpson, Kevin (February 10, 1985). "Denise Long, the Patron Saint of Girls Basketball, Is Now 33". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ Porter, Kara (2006). Mad seasons: the story of the first Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978–1981. University of Nebraska Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-8032-8789-1. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ Luhm, Steve (June 20, 2009). "NBA draft: Jazz draft woman in '77". El Paso Times. MediaNews Group. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Wheelock, Helen. "Lucy's Legacy: A Profile of Lusia Harris-Stewart". Women's Sport Foundation. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Bruce Jenner Bio". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ "Bruce Jenner: 'I'm a Woman'". ABC News. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ https://heavy.com/sports/2015/07/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-jenner-athletic-career-1976-olympics-athletic-accomplishments-world-record-track-and-field-highlights-athletic-highlights-athlete-espys-award-reason-for-espy-is-caitlyn-jenner-an/
- ^ https://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/SacramentoKings/articles/BruceJenner.html
- ^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jennebr01.html
- ^ "Tiny Archibald Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Tate Armstrong Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Swen Nater Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Jim Price Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Jack Marin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ a b "Matt Guokas Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Truck Robinson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Dave Bing Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Kenny Carr Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Darnell Hillman Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Tom Burleson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Elmore Smith Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Mack Calvin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "George Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Moses Malone Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Bob Love Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Fred Carter Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Randy Denton Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Bird Averitt Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Tom Van Arsdale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Jacky Dorsey Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "John Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Fatty Taylor Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Johnny Neumann Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Bob Christian Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Corky Calhoun Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "1977 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ "Wizards Hire Ernie Grunfeld". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 30, 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ "Canada Basketball Announces 2006 Hall Of Fame Inductees". Canada Basketball. January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
External links
[edit]1977 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 1977 NBA draft was the National Basketball Association's annual selection of amateur and collegiate basketball players, held on June 10, 1977, at the Hotel Pierre in New York City.[1] The Milwaukee Bucks secured the first overall pick via a coin-flip tiebreaker with the Indiana Pacers and selected center Kent Benson from Indiana University, who went on to play 11 NBA seasons and accumulate 33.6 win shares.[1][2] The draft consisted of 170 selections across multiple rounds, with 65 players ultimately appearing in NBA games, reflecting the league's expansion and absorption of ABA remnants from the prior year's merger.[1]
Notable early picks included guard Otis Birdsong (second overall, Kansas City Kings), who earned three All-Star nods over a 12-year career, and forward Marques Johnson (third overall, Bucks), a five-time All-Star who averaged 16.0 points per game lifetime and helped anchor Milwaukee's frontcourt alongside Benson.[1] Further down, the Phoenix Suns took forward Walter Davis fifth overall, known as 'The Man with the Velvet Touch,' who won Rookie of the Year honors in 1977-78 with 24.2 points per game, became the Suns' all-time leading scorer, and played 15 seasons.[3][4][5] Forward Adrian Dantley, selected sixth by the Seattle SuperSonics (and immediately traded to the New Orleans Jazz), emerged as the class's premier scorer, leading the league in scoring twice and totaling over 23,000 career points across 15 seasons.[1][6]
The draft class contributed reliably to NBA rosters without producing transcendent superstars, as evidenced by career longevity metrics: top picks like Benson, Birdsong, Johnson, Greg Ballard (fourth overall), and Davis each logged at least 11 seasons.[7] Later rounds yielded role players and future coaches, such as Eddie Jordan (33rd overall) and John Kuester (53rd overall), but the event drew attention for anomalous selections, including the New Orleans Jazz's 137th overall pick (seventh round) of pregnant Delta State standout Lusia Harris—the second woman ever officially drafted by an NBA team after ABA precedent—and the Kansas City Kings' 139th pick of Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner), though neither played; Harris declined due to impending motherhood.[1] Such picks underscored the era's looser eligibility norms amid the league's post-merger transition, yet empirical outcomes prioritized conventional collegiate talents in shaping team rosters.[7]
Milwaukee prioritized interior size with the top pick, selecting 6-foot-10 center Kent Benson from Indiana to reinforce rebounding and post presence on a rebuilding roster lacking dominant big men. The Kings, holding the second pick acquired via a 1976 trade involving Nate Archibald, targeted backcourt dynamism by drafting guard Otis Birdsong from Houston, noted for his long-range shooting accuracy and playmaking instincts to elevate transition play. Later in the round, the SuperSonics addressed forward depth at eighth overall with Jack Sikma from NAIA program Illinois Wesleyan, intending to add a multi-skilled big capable of perimeter shooting and defensive flexibility amid their competitive core.[1][34][1]
Historical Context
ABA-NBA Merger Effects
The 1976 ABA-NBA merger incorporated four ABA franchises—the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs—into the NBA, expanding the league from 18 to 22 teams ahead of the 1976-77 season.[8][9] These teams retained their rosters but forfeited participation in the 1976 NBA draft, instead selecting players via a dispersal draft from the folded Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis.[8] By the 1977 draft, held on June 10, all 22 franchises exercised regular draft rights, marking the first such event post-merger.[10] The influx of established ABA talent, including high-caliber players already under contract, reduced the availability of elite prospects for the 1977 draft pool, as the merger had preemptively absorbed much of the rival league's star power.[9] Combined with the sudden increase to 22 teams, this expansion spread scouting resources thinner across a larger number of franchises, contributing to a perceived dilution in the quality of entry-level college and amateur talent entering the NBA that year.[11] Historical analyses note that while overall league play remained competitive due to the ABA infusion, the draft itself yielded fewer immediate impact players compared to prior years, reflecting the one-time absorption of ABA veterans.[11] Financial terms of the merger imposed significant constraints on the new entrants, requiring each to pay $3.2 million in indemnification to existing NBA teams and barring them from national television revenue shares for the first three years.[9][12] These limitations exacerbated cash flow issues for the Spurs, Nuggets, Pacers, and Nets, who also faced additional debts from ABA-era obligations and player association settlements totaling at least $1.7 million.[13] In response, the franchises prioritized draft selections capable of rapid contributions to bolster rosters and generate local revenue, heightening the stakes for picks amid league-wide economic pressures.[13]Pre-Draft Talent Pool and Scouting
The pre-draft talent pool for the 1977 NBA draft overwhelmingly drew from NCAA Division I programs, with the vast majority of prospects being American college seniors eligible after four years of varsity play.[1] Leading institutions included Indiana University, which produced consensus All-American center Kent Benson, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound pivot who averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in his final season while anchoring the Hoosiers' frontcourt.[14] Similarly, the University of North Carolina supplied guard Phil Ford, a quicksilver playmaker renowned for his darting drives and ball-handling in Dean Smith's four-corners offense, where he posted 20.2 points per game as a senior.[15] Other notable contributors came from UCLA (forward Marques Johnson), the University of Tennessee (forward Bernard King), and the University of South Carolina (guard Otis Birdsong), highlighting a concentration of talent from established powerhouses rather than widespread depth across lesser programs.[1] NBA scouting in this era centered on firsthand observations of college games, basic performance metrics like scoring and rebounding averages, and qualitative judgments of physical tools and basketball IQ, without the benefit of modern video analysis or predictive modeling.[16] Teams prioritized size and post fundamentals for interior players—Benson's rebounding dominance and shot-blocking ability made him a prototypical safe selection—while valuing perimeter quickness and scoring versatility in guards like Ford, whom scouts praised for his "tremendous quickness" despite his 6-foot-2 stature.[15] The league's centralized scouting operation, overseen by Marty Blake, generated detailed reports on approximately 250 top college candidates, focusing on defensive reliability and fit within pro schemes derived from eye tests at tournaments and regular-season matchups.[16] This approach emphasized verifiable college production over speculative athletic traits, contributing to selections like Benson, viewed as a low-risk anchor for rebuilding franchises.[14] International representation remained negligible, with scouting largely confined to domestic circuits and no systematic overseas pipelines; the sole notable non-U.S. college draftee was Canadian forward Lars Hansen from the University of Washington, picked in the fifth round after a senior year of 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.[1] This reflected the NBA's pre-global scouting infrastructure, where foreign talent was an afterthought absent college exposure or high-profile amateur circuits.[1] The pool's depth supported multiple first-round talents who translated to NBA roles—evidenced by later successes of picks like Johnson and King—but lacked the transcendent upside of prior drafts, prompting teams to favor proven college performers over riskier profiles amid post-merger roster needs.[17] Benson's selection as the consensus top choice exemplified this conservatism, as his efficient scoring (53.6% field goal rate at Indiana) and physicality outweighed concerns about explosive athleticism.[14]Draft Mechanics and Rules
Eligibility and Early Entry
Prior to the 1977 NBA draft, eligibility rules required prospective players to be graduating college seniors or have equivalent experience, typically meaning at least four years removed from high school graduation. Underclassmen could seek early entry by submitting a formal application to the league, which, starting with the 1977 draft, necessitated written notice renouncing any remaining collegiate eligibility—a change from prior years where withdrawals were possible if draft outcomes were unsatisfactory.[18][19] This process replaced the earlier financial hardship provision, which had been in place since 1971 following legal challenges but was phased out by 1976, allowing broader access for underclassmen without proving economic need. The NBA reviewed submissions to verify compliance, ensuring declarations were irrevocable and preventing casual or reversible entries. Only six college underclassmen successfully declared for the 1977 draft, including juniors Kenny Carr of NC State, Bernard King of Tennessee, and Brad Davis of Maryland, alongside others such as Ray Epps of Norfolk State.[20][21][22] The limited number of applicants reflected the era's cultural and structural norms, where most top talents pursued full four-year college careers for skill development, academic completion, and preserved amateur status, with professional agent influence and one-and-done strategies not yet prevalent. Early declarations were motivated primarily by opportunities for immediate professional contracts amid rising NBA salaries post-ABA merger, though few qualified or chose to forgo remaining eligibility due to risks of lower draft positions or underdeveloped games.[23][24]Pick Order and Selection Process
The first overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft was determined by a coin flip between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, the teams with the worst records in their respective conferences from the prior season.[25][14] The coin toss, conducted on April 15, 1977, by NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien via conference call, resulted in the Bucks winning the right to select first, with the Pacers receiving the second pick.[25] This method resolved ties between the league's two lowest finishers, a practice used in the pre-lottery era to establish the top of the order. The remainder of the draft order followed the inverse of each team's win-loss record from the 1976–77 season, with playoff teams picking after non-playoff squads in reverse finishing position.[14] Playoff participants selected last-to-first among themselves based on postseason outcomes, ensuring that underperforming teams held priority access to incoming talent. By this point, territorial picks—previously allowing franchises to claim prominent local college players regardless of order—had been fully phased out, with the final such selection occurring over a decade earlier in 1966, shifting the process to a merit-based system tied strictly to on-court results.[26] This deterministic reverse-order format, lacking a randomized lottery, directly rewarded the league's weakest performers with premium choices, fostering incentives for intentional underperformance or "tanking" to secure advantageous positions—a dynamic that prompted ongoing fairness critiques regarding competitive balance and long-term league health.[27] Such concerns contributed to the eventual adoption of the NBA draft lottery in 1985, which introduced weighted randomization to discourage overt tanking while still favoring poor records.[27]Draft Execution
Event Details
The 1977 NBA draft took place on June 10, 1977, in New York City, preceding the start of the 1977–78 NBA season.[1] The event was organized by the league under the direction of Commissioner Larry O'Brien, who presided over the proceedings by announcing each selection as teams made their picks in predetermined order based on reverse standings from the prior season, adjusted for trades and the recent ABA-NBA merger.[1] The draft format encompassed ten rounds, allowing each of the league's 22 teams up to ten selections, though not all picks were exercised, resulting in 170 total players chosen.[1] Proceedings unfolded sequentially, with team representatives submitting choices via telephone or in person to league officials, followed by immediate public announcements to facilitate real-time reactions and negotiations among franchises. This structure emphasized efficiency, as the full event concluded in a single day without extended delays between rounds. Media coverage was constrained, lacking live television broadcast—a format not introduced for NBA drafts until the 1980s—and instead relying on wire services, newspapers, and radio updates for dissemination of selections, particularly those involving high-profile college prospects.[28] Reports centered on the procedural announcements rather than extended analysis, reflecting the era's limited technological infrastructure for sports events.Unusual and Voided Selections
In the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft, held on June 10, the New Orleans Jazz selected Lusia Harris, a 6-foot-3-inch center from Delta State University and Olympic gold medalist, with the 137th overall pick, marking the first time an NBA team officially drafted a woman.[29] Harris, who had scored the first basket in Olympic women's basketball history at the 1976 Montreal Games, declined to try out for the Jazz shortly after announcing her pregnancy, underscoring the era's barriers to women's participation in professional men's basketball despite her collegiate dominance, including three consecutive MVP awards in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women tournament.[29] Two picks later, the Kansas City Kings chose decathlete Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic gold medalist, with the 139th selection as a publicity stunt mocking the Kansas City Chiefs' tradition of drafting non-football athletes, though Jenner never pursued an NBA career and the pick carried no contractual obligation.[30] Such gimmick selections in the draft's later rounds highlighted the absence of strict eligibility verification, as teams exploited the format's length—eight rounds totaling 168 picks—to make novelty choices without immediate repercussions.[31] The Los Angeles Lakers attempted two voided selections in the draft's final stages, first nominating the fictional cartoon dog Scooby-Doo and then a wooden chair, both rejected by the NBA commissioner for failing basic player eligibility criteria, exposing enforcement gaps that allowed initial announcements before league intervention.[32] These incidents, amid broader protests by owners against the merger's dilution of talent pools, prompted no formal rule changes at the time but reflected the draft's unstructured nature prior to later reforms shortening rounds and tightening oversight.[33]Selections Overview
First-Round Picks
The first round of the 1977 NBA draft featured 22 selections made by the league's 22 teams on June 10, 1977, at the Hotel Pierre in New York City. Following the ABA-NBA merger, franchises emphasized drafting college players capable of immediate rotation contributions to address roster gaps in expanded lineups, with particular focus on frontcourt anchors for rebounding and backcourt creators for scoring efficiency. The Milwaukee Bucks secured multiple high picks due to their league-worst record from the prior season, enabling them to target size and versatility.[1]| Pick | Team | Player | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks | Kent Benson | Indiana |
| 2 | Kansas City Kings | Otis Birdsong | Houston |
| 3 | Milwaukee Bucks | Marques Johnson | UCLA |
| 4 | Washington Bullets | Greg Ballard | Oregon |
| 5 | Phoenix Suns | Walter Davis | North Carolina |
| 6 | Los Angeles Lakers | Kenny Carr | North Carolina State |
| 7 | New York Nets | Bernard King | Tennessee |
| 8 | Seattle SuperSonics | Jack Sikma | Illinois Wesleyan |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | Tom LaGarde | North Carolina |
| 10 | New York Knicks | Ray Williams | Minnesota |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | Ernie Grunfeld | Tennessee |
| 12 | Boston Celtics | Cedric Maxwell | UNC Charlotte |
| 13 | Chicago Bulls | Tate Armstrong | Duke |
| 14 | Atlanta Hawks | Tree Rollins | Clemson |
| 15 | Los Angeles Lakers | Brad Davis | Maryland |
| 16 | Golden State Warriors | Rickey Green | Michigan |
| 17 | Washington Bullets | Bo Ellis | Marquette |
| 18 | Golden State Warriors | Wesley Cox | Louisville |
| 19 | Portland Trail Blazers | Lloyd Neal | Tennessee State |
| 20 | Philadelphia 76ers | Glenn Mosley | Seton Hall |
| 21 | Denver Nuggets | Anthony Roberts | Oral Roberts |
| 22 | Los Angeles Lakers | Norm Nixon | Duquesne |