1979 NBA draft

These players were not selected in the 1979 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

Player	Pos.	Nationality	School/club team
Norman Black	G/F	United States	Saint Joseph's (Sr.)
Alan Hardy	G	United States	Michigan (Sr.)
Bill Mayfield	F	United States	Iowa (Sr.)

• ^a On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick from the 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.^[28] The Lakers used the pick to draft Magic Johnson.
• ^{b 1 2 3} On February 12, 1979, the New York Knicks acquired three first-round picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Bob McAdoo.^[29] Previously, the Celtics acquired a first-round pick on January 30, 1979, from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jo Jo White.^[30] The Celtics also acquired a first-round pick on January 17, 1979, from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey.^[31] The Knicks used the picks to draft Bill Cartwright, Larry Demic and Sly Williams.
• ^{c 1 2} On the draft-day, the Detroit Pistons acquired the fifth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the sixth pick and cash considerations.^[32] Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 1, 1978, in exchange for a 1978 first-round pick.^[33] The Pistons used the pick to draft Greg Kelser. The Bucks used the pick to draft Sidney Moncrief
• ^d On October 24, 1975, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Gene Short and a first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for Spencer Haywood.^[34] The Sonics used the pick to draft James Bailey.
• ^e On October 4, 1978, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Lonnie Shelton and a 1979 first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for a 1981 first-round pick. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Knicks signed Marvin Webster on September 29, 1978.^[35] Previously, the Knicks acquired the 1978 and 1979 first-round picks on June 8, 1978, from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Phil Jackson, a 1978 first-round pick and US$3.2-million settlement of their indemnification debt to the Knicks.^[36][37] The Sonics used the pick to draft Vinnie Johnson.
• ^f On May 31, 1979, the New Jersey Nets acquired John Gianelli and the eighth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Harvey Catchings.^[38] Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick on June 8, 1978, from the Indiana Pacers as compensation for the signing of Alex English as a free agent.^[39] The Nets used the pick to draft Calvin Natt.
• ^g On November 23, 1977, the Detroit Pistons acquired Gus Gerard, John Shumate and 1979 first-round pick from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Marvin Barnes, a 1978 second-round pick and a 1978 fourth-round pick.^[40] Previously, the Clippers acquired the pick on September 2, 1977, from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for John Gianelli.^[38] The Pistons used the pick to draft Roy Hamilton.
• ^h On September 1, 1977, the New Jersey Nets acquired George E. Johnson, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Nate Archibald.^[41] The Nets used the pick to draft Cliff Robinson.
• ⁱ On June 9, 1978, the Indiana Pacers acquired a first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks as compensation for the signing of Dan Roundfield as a free agent.^[42] The Pacers used the pick to draft Dudley Bradley.
• ^j On February 1, 1978, the Detroit Pistons acquired Jim Price and a first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ralph Simpson.^[43] The Pistons used the pick to draft Phil Hubbard.
• ^k On January 12, 1979, the Utah Jazz acquired Marty Byrnes, Ron Lee, 1979 and 1980 first-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Truck Robinson.^[44] The Jazz used the pick to draft Larry Knight.
• ^l On June 22, 1979, the Phoenix Suns acquired the 22nd pick and a 1980 third-round pick from the Washington Bullets in exchange for Steve Malovic.^[45] The Suns used the pick to draft Kyle Macy.
• ^m On October 11, 1978, the Phoenix Suns acquired a second-round pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey.^[31] The Suns used the pick to draft Johnny High.

For the second year in a row, no underclassmen decided to opt out of the NBA draft, with only four total players deciding to declare entry into this year's draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.^[46]

The 1979 NBA draft is considered to be the second ever 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^[47]), 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 six prospects at the time.^[48] As such, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.^[47]

• List of first overall NBA draft picks