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1978 NBA draft
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| 1978 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 9, 1978 |
| Location | Plaza Hotel (New York City, New York) |
| Overview | |
| 202 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Mychal Thompson (Portland Trail Blazers) |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1978 NBA draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York,[1] before the 1978–79 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.[2] The Indiana Pacers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Kansas City Kings, who obtained the New Jersey Nets' first-round pick in a trade, were awarded the second pick.[3] The Pacers then traded the first pick to the Portland Trail Blazers before 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.
A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. Before the draft, five college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule.[4] 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.[5] Prior to the start of the season, the Buffalo Braves relocated to San Diego and became the San Diego Clippers.[6] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 202 players.
Draft selections and draftee career notes
[edit]Mychal Thompson from the University of Minnesota was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson, who was born in the Bahamas, became the first foreign-born player to be drafted first overall.[7] Phil Ford from the University of North Carolina was selected second by the Kansas City Kings. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team in his rookie season.[8][9] A college underclassman from Indiana State University, Larry Bird, was selected sixth by the Boston Celtics. However, he opted to return to Indiana State for his senior season before entering the league in 1979. He won the Rookie of the Year Award and was also selected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All Star Game in his rookie season. Bird spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics and won three NBA championships. He also won three consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards and two Finals Most Valuable Player Awards. He was also selected to ten All-NBA Teams and thirteen consecutive All-Star Games.[10] For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[11] Bird was also named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[12] After retiring as a player, Bird went on to have a coaching career. He coached the Indiana Pacers for three seasons, leading them to an NBA Finals appearance.[10][13] He also won the Coach of the Year Award in 1998.[14]
Before the draft, Larry Bird had just finished his junior year at Indiana State. However, he was eligible to be drafted without applying for "hardship" because his original college class at Indiana University had graduated.[10][15] He initially enrolled at Indiana University in 1974 but dropped out before the season began. After sitting out a year, he enrolled at Indiana State.[16] Despite being eligible for the draft, he stated that he would return to college for his senior season. His hometown team, the Indiana Pacers, initially held the first overall pick. However, when they failed to persuade him to leave college early, they traded the first pick to the Blazers, who also failed to convince him into signing.[17][18] Five teams, including the Pacers who held the third pick, passed on Bird until the Celtics used the sixth pick to draft him. They drafted him even though they knew that they might lose the exclusive rights to him if he didn't sign before the next draft. He could reenter the draft in 1979 and sign with the other team that drafted him, and in negotiations with Red Auerbach Bird's agent Bob Woolf bluntly dismissed Red's lowball salary offers (he said that he would not offer Bird a contract that paid him more than the $400,000 annual salary of the team's highest-paid player at the time, Dave Cowens) and made it clear that Bird would enter the 1979 Draft without any regrets if Boston didn't change its plans. Nevertheless, in April 1979, he signed a five-year, US$3.25-million contract with the Celtics, which made him the highest-paid rookie in the history of team sport at that time.[19]
Maurice Cheeks, the 36th pick, was selected to four All-Star Games and five consecutive All-Defensive Teams.[20] After retiring as a player, he coached the Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers for four and a half seasons each. He then coached the Detroit Pistons for the first portion of the 2013/14 NBA season but was fired before finishing his first season with the team.[21] Micheal Ray Richardson, the fourth pick, Larry Bird, the sixth pick, Reggie Theus, the ninth pick, and Mike Mitchell, the fifteenth pick, are the only other players from this draft who were selected to an All-Star Game.[22][23][24] Michael Cooper, the 60th pick, won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987 and was selected to eight consecutive All-Defensive Teams. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships.[25] After retiring, he coached the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons, leading them to two consecutive WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002.[26] He also served as an interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets in the 2004–2005 season.[27] Four other players drafted also went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: Reggie Theus, 21st pick Mike Evans, 53rd pick Randy Ayers and 55th pick Marc Iavaroni.[28][29][30][31]
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 |
| x | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team |
| # | 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 1978 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Beshore | G |  United States
|
California (Pennsylvania) (Sr.) |
| Mike Davis | C | United States
|
Maryland (Sr.) |
| Rock Lee | C | United States
|
San Diego State (Sr.) |
| Myles Patrick | F | United States
|
Auburn (Sr.) |
| Sam Pellom | C | United States
|
Buffalo (Sr.) |
| Jim Zoet | C |  Canada
|
Lakehead (Sr.) |
Trades
[edit]- a 1 2 On June 8, 1978, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired the first pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Johnny Davis and the third overall pick.[32] Previously, the Blazers acquired a first-round pick on October 18, 1976, from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Moses Malone.[33] The Blazers used the pick to draft Mychal Thompson. The Pacers used the pick to draft Rick Robey.
- b On September 10, 1976, the Kansas City Kings acquired Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor, 1977 and 1978 first-round picks from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Nate Archibald.[34] The Kings used the pick to draft Phil Ford.
- c 1 2 On June 8, 1978, the New York Knicks acquired the fourth pick and a 1979 first-round pick from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Phil Jackson, the thirteenth pick and US$3.2-million settlement of their indemnification debt to the Knicks.[35][36] Previously, the Nets acquired George E. Johnson, the pick and a 1979 first-round pick on September 1, 1977, from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Nate Archibald.[34] Previously, the Braves acquired the pick and a 1977 first-round pick on October 24, 1976, from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Moses Malone.[33] The Knicks used the pick to draft Micheal Ray Richardson. The Nets used the pick to draft Winford Boynes.
- d 1 2 On September 14, 1977, the Golden State Warriors acquired a first-round pick and cash considerations from the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Lakers signed Jamaal Wilkes on July 11, 1977.[37][38] Previously, the Lakers acquired Ollie Johnson, the pick and a second-round pick on June 1, 1977, from the Kansas City Kings in exchange for Lucius Allen.[39] The Warriors used the pick to draft Purvis Short. The Lakers used the pick to draft Ron Carter.
- e On November 11, 1977, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a 1978 first-round pick and a 1979 second-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Wally Walker.[40] Previously, the Sonics acquired the pick on September 25, 1975, from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Archie Clark.[41] The Blazers used the pick to draft Ron Brewer.
- f 1 2 On December 27, 1977, the Boston Celtics acquired Don Chaney, Kermit Washington and a first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Charlie Scott.[42] On October 13, 1977, the Atlanta Hawks acquired a first-round pick from the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Joe Meriweather.[43] Previously, the Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick on August 5, 1976, from the 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.[44] The Celtics used the pick to draft Freeman Williams. The Hawks used the pick to draft Jack Givens.
- g On October 3, 1977, the New Orleans Jazz acquired a first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors as compensation for the signing of E. C. Coleman as a free agent.[45] The Jazz used the pick to draft James Hardy.
- h 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.[46] The Bucks used the pick to draft George Johnson.
- i On June 1, 1978, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the 15th pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 1979 first-round pick.[47] The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Mike Mitchell.
- j On the draft-day, the Denver Nuggets acquired the 17th pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Tom LaGarde.[48] The Nuggets used the pick to draft Rod Griffin.
- k On October 11, 1977, the Washington Bullets acquired a first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Bo Ellis.[49] The Bullets used the pick to draft Dave Corzine.
- l On the draft-day, the Denver Nuggets acquired the 21st pick from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 1984 first-round pick.[50][51] The Nuggets used the pick to draft Mike Evans.
- m On June 7, 1978, the Golden State Warriors acquired the 22nd pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a 1981 first-round pick.[52] The Warriors used the pick to draft Raymond Townsend.
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]This year's draft only saw five total players that qualified as underclassmen entering the draft, with none of them opting to withdraw from this draft year. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[53]
Winford Boynes – G, San Francisco (junior)- James Hardy – F, San Francisco (junior)
- James Holley – G, Schenectady County CC (sophomore)
- Frankie Sanders – F, Southern (junior)
- Reggie Theus – G, UNLV (junior)
Invited attendees
[edit]The 1978 NBA draft is considered to be the first official NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned in the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom[54]), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, during the late 1970s specifically, these select players were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded. The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top five prospects at the time.[55] As such, the following five players were the first ever invited attendees for the NBA draft's history.[54]
- George L. Johnson – PF/C, San Francisco
Butch Lee – PG, Marquette- Rick Robey – PF/C, Kentucky
- Purvis Short – SG/SF, Jackson State
Mychal Thompson – PF/C, Minnesota
Notes
[edit]^ 1: Even though Larry Bird was a junior, he was eligible to be drafted because he was already four years out of high school and therefore he did not need to apply for early entry.[10]
^ 2: Nelson became known as David Stergakos during his career in Greece.[56]
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 September 1, 2010.
- "1978 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- "1977–1981 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ Robert D. Bradley (May 2, 2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Pacers Beat Kings in NBA Draft Flip, Hope Bird Is Up For Early Flight". Washington Post. February 27, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ "Early Entry Candidate History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Spencer Haywood Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "This Date in History–July". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Yao Ready For This?". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 25, 2002. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Phil Ford Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Larry Bird Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Larry Bird Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "If Blazers draft Bird, they won't wait year to sign him". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. June 6, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Deford, Frank (March 21, 1988). "A Player for the Ages". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ Sachare, Alex (June 11, 1978). "Thompson picked first". Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ "Blazers Get No. 1 Pick". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota, Florida: Lindsay Newspapers Inc. June 9, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ Schwartz, Larry. "Plain and simple, Bird one of the best". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ "Maurice Cheeks Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Maurice Cheeks Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Micheal Ray Richardson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Reggie Theus Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Mike Mitchell Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Cooper Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Cooper Bio". WNBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 2, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Cooper Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Reggie Theus Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Mike Evans Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Randy Ayers Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Marc Iavaroni Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Johnny Davis Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ a b "Moses Malone Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ a b "Tiny Archibald Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Phil Jackson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 9, 1978). "Nets Get Phil Jackson as Part Of a Settlement With Knicks; Nets' Other Concessions Another Indemnity Nets Sign Jackson as Part Of a Settlement With Knicks Top Choices". The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Jamaal Wilkes Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Golden State Warriors 2009–10 Media Guite: Draft & Transactions" (PDF). NBA.com/Warriors. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Lucius Allen Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Wally Walker Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Archie Clark Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Charlie Scott Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Joe Meriweather Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "Kenny Carr Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ "E. C. Coleman Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Elmore Smith Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Greg Kelser Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Tom LaGarde Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Bo Ellis Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "Thompson Blazers' Top Pick". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: E.W. Scripps Company. June 8, 1978. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ "Knicks Select Montana Star". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington: Cowles Publishing Company. June 9, 1978. Retrieved October 29, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Albert King Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ "1978 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Maurer, Matthew (September 16, 2023). "1978 Green Room Invites - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "Green Room - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "They Call Him 'Stergakos' In Greek Pro Basketball". The Montclair Times. January 4, 1979. p. 22. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
External links
[edit]1978 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 1978 NBA draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 9, 1978, in New York City, in which the league's 22 teams selected eligible players, primarily from U.S. colleges, over 10 rounds comprising 202 total picks.[1]
The Portland Trail Blazers chose power forward Mychal Thompson from the University of Minnesota with the first overall pick; Thompson went on to earn two NBA championships (1987, 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers) and one All-Star selection during a 14-season career.[1][2] Subsequent first-round selections included point guard Phil Ford (second overall, Kansas City Kings, University of North Carolina), who won NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1979, and forward Micheal Ray Richardson (fourth overall, New York Knicks, Francis Marion College; died November 11, 2025), a four-time All-Star known for his defensive prowess.[1][2][3] The draft's most transformative pick came at sixth overall, when the Boston Celtics selected forward Larry Bird from Indiana State; Bird, who delayed his professional debut by finishing his senior year, became a three-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, and Hall of Famer, anchoring the Celtics' revival in the 1980s.[1][4]
Beyond the first round, the draft yielded several impactful players, including Hall of Famer Maurice Cheeks, selected 36th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers out of West Texas A&M, who earned four All-Star nods and contributed to the 1983 championship as a defensive cornerstone. Other standouts included guard Reggie Theus (ninth overall, Chicago Bulls, UNLV), a two-time All-Star with over 19,000 career points; forward Michael Cooper (60th overall, Los Angeles Lakers, University of New Mexico), an eight-time All-Defensive Team member, 2024 Hall of Famer, and key to five Lakers titles; and guard Ron Brewer (seventh overall, Portland Trail Blazers, University of Arkansas), who averaged 11.9 points per game across eight seasons.[1][2][5] Of the 202 picks, 68 ultimately played in the NBA, with the class producing three Hall of Famers and multiple All-Stars who influenced contending teams through the 1980s and 1990s.[1]
The selections above reflect the drafting teams' immediate priorities, with stats drawn from players' final eligible college seasons leading into the draft.[1]
Background and Context
Event Details
The 1978 NBA draft was held on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.[1] This event marked the 32nd annual draft in league history and served as the primary mechanism for teams to acquire new talent following the 1977–78 season. The draft consisted of 10 rounds, resulting in a total of 202 picks distributed among the league's 22 teams.[1][6] Territorial picks, which had allowed teams to select local players prior to the regular draft since the league's early years, were not used, having been eliminated after the 1966 draft.[7] Selections followed the standard format of the era, with non-playoff teams awarded picks in reverse order of their previous season's win–loss records, followed by playoff teams in reverse order of their postseason finish.[1] This structure aimed to provide struggling franchises with priority access to incoming players while maintaining competitive balance.Historical Significance
The 1978 NBA draft took place in the post-merger era, two seasons after the 1976 NBA-ABA merger that integrated four ABA franchises and expanded the league to 22 teams, creating a more competitive but financially strained environment focused on rebuilding efforts across the association.[8][9] At this time, the NBA grappled with declining popularity, marked by sagging attendance—averaging around 8,000 fans per game early in the decade—and low television ratings, such as the 1979 NBA Finals drawing only a 7.2 share, amid broader issues like player drug scandals and limited national exposure that threatened the league's viability before the transformative Bird-Magic rivalry emerged in the early 1980s.[10][11] The draft operated under the pre-lottery system, where first-round picks were awarded in inverse order of the previous season's regular-season records, with ties between the worst teams from each conference resolved by coin flip, a mechanism that encouraged tanking as franchises deliberately underperformed to improve draft position and acquire foundational talent.[12] This incentive structure heightened the strategic stakes, as struggling teams like the Boston Celtics pursued "franchise saviors" to jumpstart rebuilds and restore championship contention in an era of roster turnover and competitive imbalance.[13] Positioned as a bridge to renewal, the 1978 draft preceded the landmark 1979 class, where players including Larry Bird (drafted in 1978 but delaying entry until 1979) and Magic Johnson fully joined the league, injecting star power that would elevate the NBA's profile and attendance in the subsequent decade.[14] Of the draft's 202 selections across 10 rounds, 68 players went on to appear in at least one NBA game, underscoring the era's variable talent yield amid the league's expansion and integration challenges.[1]Player Eligibility
College Underclassmen
The hardship rule, established in 1971 following legal challenges by Spencer Haywood, permitted college underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft early if they could demonstrate financial hardship or other compelling circumstances, such as family financial needs or readiness for professional play.[15] This provision reflected a growing trend in the 1970s, as talented players increasingly viewed the NBA as a quicker path to financial stability and career advancement, bypassing their final college year. In the 1978 draft, five college underclassmen applied and were approved under this rule, highlighting the rule's role in bridging college and professional basketball for emerging stars.[16] Among these declarants, Winford Boynes and James Hardy from the University of San Francisco stood out as key examples, both juniors on a Dons team that posted a 23-6 record and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Boynes, a 6-6 guard, averaged 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 1977-78, earning All-WCC honors and showcasing his scoring prowess and versatility, which convinced him and scouts of his NBA readiness despite one year of eligibility remaining.[17] Hardy, a 6-8 forward, contributed 15.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game that season, leveraging his athleticism and rebounding to declare early, driven by financial considerations and the opportunity to join the pros immediately after a standout junior campaign.[17] The other three declarants included lesser-known juniors from various programs, whose decisions were similarly influenced by personal financial pressures and strong individual performances, though they went undrafted or withdrew prior to the event.[16] These early entries underscored the evolving dynamics between college basketball and the NBA, often resulting in shortened college careers for high-impact players and contributing to a talent drain from campuses. By accelerating their professional transitions, underclassmen like Boynes and Hardy exemplified how the hardship rule empowered athletes to prioritize economic security and development in the league over completing their degrees.[15] This trend, though limited to five cases in 1978, laid groundwork for the increased underclassmen participation seen in later drafts.Other Entrants
In the 1978 NBA draft, eligibility primarily required players to be four years removed from their high school graduation, though the hardship rule allowed exceptions for those demonstrating financial need or other compelling reasons, enabling earlier declarations from college underclassmen. Direct entries from high school were theoretically possible under hardship but did not occur, reflecting the league's preference for college experience and practical barriers for younger prospects. The 1976 ABA-NBA merger had already integrated remaining ABA talent through a dispersal draft, leaving no holdover ABA players eligible to declare independently for the 1978 draft. International players could also enter if they met the four-year threshold or qualified for hardship and formally declared their intent, but participation was minimal; the draft featured no major overseas prospects bypassing U.S. colleges, with the few international-born selections—such as those from the Bahamas and Panama—having completed their careers at American institutions.[1] This scarcity underscored the 1978 draft's heavy reliance on college seniors, as non-traditional paths remained uncommon, though the emerging trend of college underclassmen declarations hinted at future shifts in eligibility dynamics. Unique cases, such as deferrals for military service, did not arise in this draft class.[18]Draft Preparations
Invited Attendees
The 1978 NBA Draft was the first in league history to feature officially invited attendees, with the NBA selecting top prospects through collective voting by its team presidents and general managers based on comprehensive scouting reports evaluating college performance, athletic potential, and fit for professional play. Unlike later drafts that typically invited 20-30 players, the inaugural group was limited to five elite prospects expected to be selected early, signaling the league's intent to highlight its most promising talents at the event held on June 9 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. This process underscored the NBA's growing emphasis on marketing its draft class, drawing from a pool that included standout college seniors and a few early entrants.[19] Among the invitees was Mychal Thompson, the center from the University of Minnesota, who entered the draft as a dominant big man after averaging 22.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in his senior season while leading the Golden Gophers to an 18-9 record. Purvis Short, a forward from Jackson State University, was another key invitee, renowned for his scoring ability as a three-time All-SWAC selection and SWAC MVP, posting 29.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in 1977-78 to guide the Tigers to a strong season. Rick Robey, a forward/center from the University of Kentucky, brought championship pedigree to the group, having contributed to the Wildcats' undefeated 1978 NCAA title run with 14.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, positioning him as a rugged interior prospect with strong post presence.[20][21][22] Butch Lee, the Puerto Rican point guard from Marquette University, generated significant international buzz as an invitee after leading the Warriors to the 1977 NCAA championship and earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors with 17.7 points and 4.9 assists per game in his senior year, marking him as a trailblazing guard with elite playmaking skills. Rounding out the group was George Johnson, a power forward/center from St. John's University (NY), noted for his athleticism and rebounding prowess after posting 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds in 1977-78, which fueled expectations for his transition to the pros as a versatile big man. Notably, while Larry Bird of Indiana State was not among the formal green room invitees despite his rising profile as a senior-eligible prospect, the event's atmosphere highlighted the scouting focus on such under-the-radar talents; most invitees attended, though some top prospects like Phil Ford and Micheal Ray Richardson were present in the room without formal invitations. The invites effectively spotlighted lottery-positioned prospects in an era before the formal lottery system, emphasizing the NBA's shift toward a more televised and prospect-centric draft experience.[23][24][1]Pick Order Determination
The pick order for the 1978 NBA draft followed the NBA's pre-lottery format, which governed selections from 1947 until the introduction of the lottery system in 1985. Non-playoff teams picked first in inverse order of their regular-season winning percentages, ensuring that the poorest-performing squads had priority access to top prospects. The playoff teams then selected afterward, ordered by reverse finishing position in their respective conference playoffs. This structure directly rewarded subpar records with advantageous draft slots, fostering an era where teams sometimes intentionally underperformed—a phenomenon referred to as "tanking"—to secure high picks without the probabilistic safeguards later implemented to mitigate such strategies. A key feature of the system was the treatment of the top two picks, assigned to the teams holding the rights to the worst records in the Eastern and Western Conferences. To determine which conference's pick came first, a coin flip was conducted between those two teams (or their assignees), with the winner receiving the No. 1 overall selection and the loser the No. 2. This coin-flip mechanism added an element of chance to the otherwise deterministic reverse-order rule, but it still guaranteed elite talent access to the league's bottom feeders. In contrast, the post-1985 lottery weighted odds by record but capped the highest probability at 14% for the worst team, aiming to reduce tanking incentives while maintaining competitive balance.[25] For the 1978 draft, the coin flip occurred on April 13, 1978, at the Olympic Tower in New York, officiated by NBA Deputy Commissioner Simon Gourdine. It pitted the Indiana Pacers against the Kansas City Kings, with the Pacers calling tails and winning the toss to claim the first pick; the Kings, holding the second pick, called heads. The Kings had compiled the Western Conference's worst record at 31 wins and 51 losses, underscoring how the system funneled prime selections to struggling franchises.[26] Ties in winning percentage among teams were resolved through additional coin flips to establish precise order, though no such ties impacted the top two selections in 1978. This straightforward yet controversial approach exemplified the pre-lottery era's emphasis on performance-based inversion over randomization.Draft Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1978 NBA Draft featured 22 selections made by NBA teams on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, as franchises aimed to inject talent amid varying roster deficiencies after the 1977-78 season.[1] The Portland Trail Blazers, fresh off their 1977 championship but hampered by injuries to stars like Bill Walton and finishing 38-44 the prior year, prioritized frontcourt depth by selecting Mychal Thompson first overall from the University of Minnesota, viewing his size and versatility as key to rebuilding.[27] Subsequent picks addressed similar needs, such as the Kansas City Kings taking point guard Phil Ford to stabilize their backcourt after a league-worst 31-51 record, while the Indiana Pacers added power forward Rick Robey for interior scoring.[1] The New York Knicks, seeking defensive versatility, chose Micheal Ray Richardson fourth overall from the University of Montana to complement their guard-heavy lineup. A highlight was the Boston Celtics' sixth overall selection of Larry Bird from Indiana State, a bold strategy by general manager Red Auerbach to draft the junior forward early and secure his rights despite Bird's commitment to complete his senior season, marking the first such delayed-entry pick in NBA history and sparking debate over eligibility rules.[28] The Portland Trail Blazers doubled down on their rebuild by trading up for the seventh pick to select Ron Brewer from the University of Arkansas, adding perimeter shooting to their young core.[29] Later selections included scoring specialists like Freeman Williams for the Celtics and Reggie Theus for the Chicago Bulls, focusing on offensive firepower for playoff-contending teams.[1]| Pick | Player | Team | College/University | Senior/Junior Year PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mychal Thompson | Portland Trail Blazers | Minnesota | 20.2 |
| 2 | Phil Ford | Kansas City Kings | North Carolina | 19.3 |
| 3 | Rick Robey | Indiana Pacers | Kentucky | 12.6 |
| 4 | Micheal Ray Richardson | New York Knicks | Montana | 21.8 |
| 5 | Purvis Short | Golden State Warriors | Jackson State | 28.4 |
| 6 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | Indiana State | 30.3 (junior year) |
| 7 | Ron Brewer | Portland Trail Blazers | Arkansas | 22.3 |
| 8 | Freeman Williams | Boston Celtics | Portland State | 38.7 |
| 9 | Reggie Theus | Chicago Bulls | UNLV | 19.4 |
| 10 | Butch Lee | Atlanta Hawks | Marquette | 17.8 |
| 11 | James Hardy | New Orleans Jazz | San Francisco | 20.5 |
| 12 | George Johnson | Milwaukee Bucks | Arkansas Tech | 25.9 |
| 13 | Wes Matthews | Washington Bullets | University of Wisconsin | 21.6 |
| 14 | Greg Ballinger | New York Knicks | University of Oregon | 21.3 |
| 15 | Dave Corzine | Washington Bullets | DePaul | 18.5 |
| 16 | Marty Byrnes | Phoenix Suns | Syracuse | 18.1 |
| 17 | Frankie Sanders | San Antonio Spurs | Southern | 21.1 |
| 18 | Jack Givens | Atlanta Hawks | Kentucky | 20.0 |
| 19 | DeWayne Scales | New York Knicks | University of Missouri | 16.3 |
| 20 | Mike Bratz | Phoenix Suns | University of California | 16.5 |
| 21 | Tom LaGarde | Denver Nuggets | University of Detroit | 20.4 |
| 22 | Glenn Hansen | Seattle SuperSonics | University of Washington | 12.9 |
Subsequent Rounds
The subsequent rounds of the 1978 NBA draft encompassed picks 23 through 202 across rounds 2 to 10, resulting in 180 selections by the league's 22 teams and bringing the total draft to 202 picks. Early subsequent rounds mirrored the structure of the first, with round 2 comprising 22 picks (overall picks 23–44), while later rounds saw a gradual decline in volume, averaging fewer than 20 selections per round as teams exercised fewer choices on lower-priority prospects.[1] Selections in these rounds were predominantly college seniors from U.S. institutions, reflecting the era's scouting emphasis on experienced domestic talent, with international players exceedingly rare beyond the occasional high-profile case in earlier rounds. This focus yielded several overlooked gems who contributed meaningfully to NBA rosters, often as role players, defenders, or long-term contributors, though few achieved first-round stardom levels. Of the 68 draftees from the entire class who appeared in NBA games, a significant portion came from these later rounds, highlighting the draft's depth despite its lower visibility.[1]| Player | Round/Pick | Team | College | Career Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maurice Cheeks | 2/36 | Philadelphia 76ers | West Texas A&M | 15 seasons, 938 games, NBA champion (1983), 4× All-Star (1983, 1986–1988), Hall of Famer (2018), averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 assists per game. |
| Wayne Cooper | 2/42 | Atlanta Hawks | New Orleans | 13 seasons, 932 games, averaged 7.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, key frontcourt reserve for multiple teams including Rockets and Nuggets. |
| Dave Batton | 3/62 | New Jersey Nets | Notre Dame | 7 seasons, 340 games, averaged 5.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, backup big man for Nets, Warriors, and Suns. |
| Michael Cooper | 3/60 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Mexico | 12 seasons, 873 games, 5× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987–1988), 1987 Defensive Player of the Year, 8× All-Defensive (5× First Team), averaged 6.1 points per game. |
| Marc Iavaroni | 3/55 | New York Knicks | Virginia | 10 seasons, 491 games, averaged 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, later NBA coach. |