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1982 NBA draft
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| 1982 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 29, 1982 |
| Location | Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)[1] |
| Network | USA Network |
| Overview | |
| 225 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | James Worthy (Los Angeles Lakers) |
| Hall of Famers | 2 |
The 1982 NBA draft took place on June 29, 1982, at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
The #1 selection from this year's draft, James Worthy, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers despite them being one of the best teams in the NBA the previous season. Their selection at #1 this year related to a previous trade that the Lakers made with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which had them trading their first round pick for Don Ford back in 1979. Worthy would help the Lakers turn the Showtime Lakers into a dynasty for the 1980s decade. Meanwhile, continued first round trade considerations that the Cavaliers' owner at the time, Ted Stepien, led to the NBA stopping any further trades with him and the team's draft picks before he traded selections throughout the entire decade, as well as led to the creation of the Ted Stepien Rule forbidding teams of trading first round draft picks in back-to-back years unless a team had a different first round pick that they kept during that time.
Draft
[edit]| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | 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 |
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | James Worthy^ | SF |  United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland) | North Carolina (Jr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Terry Cummings* | PF | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | DePaul (Jr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Dominique Wilkins^ | SF | United States
|
Utah Jazz (traded to Atlanta) | Georgia (Jr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Bill Garnett | SF | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | LaSalle Thompson | C/PF | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Texas (Jr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Trent Tucker | SG | United States
|
New York Knicks | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Quintin Dailey | SG | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | San Francisco (Jr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Clark Kellogg | PF | United States |
Indiana Pacers | Ohio State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Cliff Levingston | PF | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Wichita State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Keith Edmonson | SG | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Fat Lever* | PG | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 12 | John Bagley | PG | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers (from Washington via Detroit) | Boston College (Jr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Sleepy Floyd+ | SG | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Lester Conner | PG | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | David Thirdkill | SF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns (from Denver) | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Terry Teagle | SG | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Baylor (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Brook Steppe | SG | United States
|
Kansas City Kings (from Phoenix via New Jersey) | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Ricky Pierce+ | SF | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from San Antonio via Portland) | Rice (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Rob Williams | PG | United States
|
Denver Nuggets (from Seattle) | Houston (Jr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Paul Pressey | SF | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Eddie Phillips | SF | United States
|
New Jersey Nets (from Los Angeles) | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Mark McNamara | C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | California (Sr.) |
| 1 | 23 | Darren Tillis | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Cleveland State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Oliver Robinson | SG | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | UAB (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Bryan Warrick | SG | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Saint Joseph's (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Ricky Frazier# | SF | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Fred Roberts | PF | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | BYU (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Dave Magley | PF | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Scott Hastings | F/C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Wallace Bryant | C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Rod Higgins | F | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Fresno State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Richard Anderson | PF | United States |
San Diego Clippers | UC Santa Barbara (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Linton Townes | SF | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | James Madison (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Vince Taylor | SF | United States
|
New York Knicks | Duke (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Derek Smith | SG | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | J. J. Anderson | SF | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Audie Norris | C | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Wayne Sappleton | F |  Jamaica
|
Golden State Warriors (traded to New Jersey) | Loyola (IL) (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | Kevin Magee# | PF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | UC Irvine (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Guy Morgan | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Dwight Anderson | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | USC (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Jeff Taylor | SG | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Jose Slaughter | SG | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Portland (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Mike Gibson | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | USC Upstate (Sr.) |
| 2 | 45 | Russ Schoene | F/C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Chattanooga (Sr.) |
| 2 | 46 | Tony Guy# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Mike Wilson | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Craig Hodges | SG | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Steve Trumbo# | F | United States Spain
|
Utah Jazz | BYU (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Corny Thompson | PF | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 3 | 51 | Jim Johnstone | PF/C | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 3 | 52 | Dan Caldwell# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Washington (Sr.) |
| 3 | 53 | Tyrone Adams# | F | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 54 | Hutch Jones | PG | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Vanderbilt (Sr.) |
| 3 | 55 | Jerry Eaves | PG | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 3 | 56 | Joe Kopicki | PF | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 57 | Craig Tucker# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 3 | 58 | Mike Largey# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Upsala (Sr.) |
| 3 | 59 | Jimmy Black# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 3 | 60 | Chris Engler | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 3 | 61 | Charles Pittman | PF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Maryland (Sr.) |
| 3 | 62 | Roylin Bond# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 3 | 63 | Chuck Nevitt | C | United States
|
Houston Rockets | NC State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 64 | Willie Redden# | C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | South Florida (Sr.) |
| 3 | 65 | John Greig | SF | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 3 | 66 | Phillip Lockett# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 3 | 67 | Mike Hackett# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 3 | 68 | Dale Solomon# | C | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 69 | Perry Moss | PG | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Northeastern (Sr.) |
| 4 | 70 | Reggie Hannah# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | South Alabama (Sr.) |
| 4 | 71 | Darius Clemons# | G | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Loyola Chicago (Sr.) |
| 4 | 72 | Mark Eaton+ | C | United States
|
Utah Jazz | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 4 | 73 | Rudy Woods# | C | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Texas A&M (Sr.) |
| 4 | 74 | Mike Sanders | SG | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 4 | 75 | Norm Anchrum# | C | United States
|
New York Knicks | UAB (Sr.) |
| 4 | 76 | Chuck Aleksinas | C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 4 | 77 | Jeff Jones# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 4 | 78 | Walker Russell | SG | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Western Michigan (Sr.) |
| 4 | 79 | Eric Smith# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 4 | 80 | James Griffin# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 4 | 81 | Dino Gregory# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 82 | Tony Brown | SF/SG | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 4 | 83 | Ken Stancell# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | VCU (Sr.) |
| 4 | 84 | Alford Turner# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Southwestern Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 4 | 85 | Andre Gaddy# | C | United States
|
Houston Rockets | George Mason (Sr.) |
| 4 | 86 | Rory White | PF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | South Alabama (Sr.) |
| 4 | 87 | Tony Grier# | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | South Florida (Sr.) |
| 4 | 88 | Ken Owens# | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Idaho (Sr.) |
| 4 | 89 | Jerry Beck# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Middle Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 4 | 90 | Craig McCormick# | C | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 4 | 91 | Bruce Atkins# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 4 | 92 | Greg Stewart# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 5 | 93 | Terry White# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | UTEP (Sr.) |
| 5 | 94 | Gary Carter# | G | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 5 | 95 | Mike McKay# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 5 | 96 | Kenny Arnold# | G | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 5 | 97 | Kenny Simpson# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Grambling State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 98 | Aaron Howard# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 5 | 99 | Rubin Jackson# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Oklahoma City (Sr.) |
| 5 | 100 | Rich DiBenedetto# | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Wisconsin–Eau Claire (Sr.) |
| 5 | 101 | John Ebeling# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Florida Southern (Sr.) |
| 5 | 102 | Mark Hall# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 5 | 103 | Cherokee Rhone# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Centenary (Sr.) |
| 5 | 104 | Clarence Dickerson# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Hawaii (Sr.) |
| 5 | 105 | Chris Giles# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | UAB (Sr.) |
| 5 | 106 | Albert Irving# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Alcorn State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 107 | Jeff Schneider# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 5 | 108 | Marvin McCrary# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 5 | 109 | Bill Duffy# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Santa Clara (Sr.) |
| 5 | 110 | Clarence Swannegan# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 5 | 111 | Rod Camp# | C | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Southern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 5 | 112 | Jerry Davis# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Detroit Mercy (Sr.) |
| 5 | 113 | Howard McNeill# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 5 | 114 | Donald Mason# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Fresno State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 115 | William Brown# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Saint Peter's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 116 | Vince Reynolds# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | South Florida (Sr.) |
| 6 | 117 | Eric Marbury# | G | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 6 | 118 | Alvin Jackson# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Southern (Sr.) |
| 6 | 119 | Wayne Waggoner# | G | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Northwestern State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 120 | Poncho Wright# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 6 | 121 | Mike Kanieski# | C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 6 | 122 | B. B. Fontenet# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 6 | 123 | Jeff Clark# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Saint Joseph's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 124 | Gary Holmes# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 6 | 125 | Leo Cunningham# | C | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Utah State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 126 | Jay Bruchack# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Mount St. Mary's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 127 | Byron Williams# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 128 | Mel Daniel# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Furman (Sr.) |
| 6 | 129 | David Vann# | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Saint Mary's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 130 | Jake Bethany# | C | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Hardin–Simmons (Sr.) |
| 6 | 131 | Chris Brust# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 6 | 132 | Don Wilson# | F | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Louisiana–Monroe (Sr.) |
| 6 | 133 | Jaime Pena# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | New Mexico State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 134 | Bobby Potts# | F | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Charlotte (Sr.) |
| 6 | 135 | Tony Carr# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Wisconsin–Eau Claire (Sr.) |
| 6 | 136 | Lynden Rose# | G |  Bahamas
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Houston (Sr.) |
| 6 | 137 | Kevin Boyle# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 6 | 138 | John Schweitz | SG | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Richmond (Sr.) |
| 7 | 139 | Randy Reed# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 140 | Eddie Hughes | PG | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 141 | Thad Garner# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 7 | 142 | Bob Grady# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Northwestern (Sr.) |
| 7 | 143 | Perry Range# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 7 | 144 | Phil Seymore# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Canisius (Sr.) |
| 7 | 145 | Chuck Verderber# | F | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 7 | 146 | Brad Leaf# | F | United States Israel
|
Indiana Pacers | Evansville (Sr.) |
| 7 | 147 | Deon Marquardt# | C | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 7 | 148 | Horace Wyatt# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Clemson (Sr.) |
| 7 | 149 | Terry Long# | G | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Lamar (Sr.) |
| 7 | 150 | Wendell Gibson# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | USC Upstate (Sr.) |
| 7 | 151 | Tony Anderson# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 7 | 152 | Matt Waldron# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Pacific (Sr.) |
| 7 | 153 | Jeb Barlow# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 7 | 154 | Mike Helms# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 7 | 155 | Phil Ward# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Charlotte (Sr.) |
| 7 | 156 | Delonte Taylor# | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | North Texas (Sr.) |
| 7 | 157 | Allen Rayhorn# | C | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Northern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 7 | 158 | Bobby Austin# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Cincinnati (Sr.) |
| 7 | 159 | Maurice Williams# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | USC (Sr.) |
| 7 | 160 | Keith Hilliard# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Missouri State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 161 | Phil Collins# | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | West Virginia (Sr.) |
| 8 | 162 | Monty Knight# | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | VCU (Sr.) |
| 8 | 163 | Jacques Tuz# | F | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 8 | 164 | Rick Campbell# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Middle Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 8 | 165 | Keith Peterson# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 8 | 166 | Ed Nealy | PF | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 167 | Dan Terwilliger# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Siena (Sr.) |
| 8 | 168 | Mike Burns# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 8 | 169 | Donald Reese# | C | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 8 | 170 | Brian Nyenhuis# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 8 | 171 | Dave Porter# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Western Oregon (Sr.) |
| 8 | 172 | James Ratiff# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Howard (Sr.) |
| 8 | 173 | Ken Luck# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Delaware (Sr.) |
| 8 | 174 | Otis Jackson# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Memphis (Sr.) |
| 8 | 175 | Mark King# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Florida Southern (Sr.) |
| 8 | 176 | Dan Callandrillo# | G | United States Italy
|
Houston Rockets | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 8 | 177 | Rick Elrod# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Georgetown (Kentucky) (Sr.) |
| 8 | 178 | Donnie Speer# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | UAB (Sr.) |
| 8 | 179 | Chis Faggi# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | McNeese State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 180 | Steve Burks# | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Washington (Sr.) |
| 8 | 181 | Bryan Leonard# | C | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 8 | 182 | Micah Blunt# | C | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Tulane (Sr.) |
| 8 | 183 | Donald Seals# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 184 | Ed Spriggs# | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 9 | 185 | Tony Hafley# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | South Alabama (Sr.) |
| 9 | 186 | John Hegwood# | F | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 9 | 187 | Riley Clarida# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | LIU (Sr.) |
| 9 | 188 | Ralph McPherson# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | UT Arlington (Sr.) |
| 9 | 189 | Jack Moore# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 9 | 190 | Merle Scott# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | South Carolina State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 191 | Skip Dillard# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 9 | 192 | Mike Scearce# | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 9 | 193 | Kevin Smith# | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 194 | Pierre Bland# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Elizabeth City State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 195 | Mark Dearborn# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Saint Joseph's (Sr.) |
| 9 | 196 | James Terry# | F | United States Israel
|
Washington Bullets | Howard (Sr.) |
| 9 | 197 | Gary Johnson# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Oral Roberts (Sr.) |
| 9 | 198 | Nick Morken# | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Chattanooga (Sr.) |
| 9 | 199 | Ken Lyles# | F | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Washington (Sr.) |
| 9 | 200 | Dean Sears# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 9 | 201 | Harry O'Brien# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | St. Mary's (Texas) (Sr.) |
| 9 | 202 | Robert Tate# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 203 | Tim Byrne# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 9 | 204 | George Melton# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Cheyney (Sr.) |
| 9 | 205 | Panagiotis Giannakis# | G |  Greece
|
Boston Celtics | Ionikos Nikaias (Greece) |
| 10 | 206 | Durand Walker# | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Marion (Sr.) |
| 10 | 207 | Daryl Stovall# | F | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Creighton (Sr.) |
| 10 | 208 | Michael Edwards# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 10 | 209 | Albert Culton# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | UT Arlington (Sr.) |
| 10 | 210 | Robert Estes# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Iowa State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 211 | John Leonard# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 10 | 212 | Tony Britto# | C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Campbell (Sr.) |
| 10 | 213 | Craig Summers# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Wisconsin–Stout (Sr.) |
| 10 | 214 | David Coulthard# | G |  Canada
|
Detroit Pistons | York (Sr.) |
| 10 | 215 | Grant Taylor# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | UC Irvine (Sr.) |
| 10 | 216 | Ronnie McAdoo# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Old Dominion (Sr.) |
| 10 | 217 | Donald Sinclair# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | North Carolina Central (Sr.) |
| 10 | 218 | Sean Tuohy# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Ole Miss (Sr.) |
| 10 | 219 | Randy Whieldon# | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | UC Irvine (Sr.) |
| 10 | 220 | Mike Phillips# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Niagara (Sr.) |
| 10 | 221 | Dale Wilkinson | F | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 222 | Keith White# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | McMurry (Sr.) |
| 10 | 223 | Bob Coenen# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Wisconsin–Eau Claire (Sr.) |
| 10 | 224 | Randy Burkert# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Drexel (Sr.) |
| 10 | 225 | Landon Turner# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Indiana (Sr.) |
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]For the first time since 1978, a player that had previously qualified for entry in the NBA draft as a college underclassman (in this case, a Nigerian born player from Sam Houston State University named Yommy Sangodeyi) would later withdraw his entry into the draft pool. He would become the only underclassman player to officially withdraw his name from an NBA draft during the 1980s decade, though he would return in another draft a couple of years later. The following twelve college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance otherwise.[2]
John Bagley – G, Boston College (junior)- Terry Cummings – F, DePaul (junior)
- Quintin Dailey – G, San Francisco (junior)
- Ollie Johnson – F, Washington State (junior)
- Clark Kellogg – F, Ohio State (junior)
- Cliff Levingston – F, Wichita State (junior)
- Michael McDuffen – G, Murray State (junior)
- LaSalle Thompson – F/C, Texas (junior)
- Dominique Wilkins – F, Georgia (junior)
- Rob Williams – G, Houston (junior)
- James Worthy – F, North Carolina (junior)
- Victor Mitchell – C, Kansas (junior)
Invited attendees
[edit]The 1982 NBA draft is considered to be the fifth 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 Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum for the first time the NBA draft used a green room there[3]), 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, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with Larry O'Brien, the NBA's commissioner.[4] 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 14 prospects at the time.[5] However, they weirdly did not give an invite to the actual #1 pick of the draft there, James Worthy. Not only that, but Scott Hastings would be the first invited green room player to stay there beyond the first round of the draft. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.[3]
- Terry Cummings – PF, DePaul
- Quintin Dailey – SG, San Francisco
- Keith Edmonson – SG, Purdue
- Sleepy Floyd – PG/SG, Georgetown
- Bill Garnett – PF, Wyoming
- Scott Hastings – PF/C, Arkansas
- Clark Kellogg – PF, Ohio State
- Fat Lever – PG, Arizona State
- Cliff Levingston – PF, Wichita State
- Brook Steppe – SG/SF, Georgia Tech
- LaSalle Thompson – PF/C, Texas
- Trent Tucker – SG, Minnesota
- /
Dominique Wilkins – SF, Georgia - Rob Williams – PG, Houston
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "Complete First Round Results 1980–89". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- "1982 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- "1982–1986 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695.
- ^ "1982 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ a b https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1982-green-room-invites
- ^ https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts
- ^ https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room
External links
[edit]1982 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 1982 NBA Draft was an annual player selection meeting held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on June 29, 1982, at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden, New York City.[1] The event consisted of ten rounds comprising 225 total picks, with the Los Angeles Lakers securing the first overall selection—acquired via a prior trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers—by winning a coin flip against the San Diego Clippers for the top choice among the league's worst records that season.[2][3] The Lakers chose power forward James Worthy from the University of North Carolina, who immediately bolstered their roster as a dynamic forward.[1] The Clippers followed by selecting forward Terry Cummings from DePaul University second overall, while the Utah Jazz picked small forward Dominique Wilkins from the University of Georgia third overall, though Wilkins was traded to the Atlanta Hawks just weeks later in exchange for forwards John Drew and Freeman Williams plus a 1983 first-round pick.[1][4]
This draft class proved influential despite not being among the deepest in NBA history, yielding two Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers in Worthy and Wilkins, along with several long-term contributors who shaped franchises through the 1980s and 1990s.[5][6] Worthy, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, anchored the Lakers' "Showtime" era under coach Pat Riley, averaging 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds over 12 seasons while helping secure NBA championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988—including earning Finals MVP honors in 1988 with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in the series-clinching Game 7.[7][8] Wilkins, enshrined in 2006, transformed the Hawks into perennial playoff contenders as the "Human Highlight Film," renowned for his acrobatic dunks and scoring prowess; he captured two Slam Dunk Contest titles (1985, 1990), led the league in scoring in 1986 at 30.3 points per game, and earned nine All-Star selections across 15 NBA seasons.[6][9] Cummings, selected second overall, made an immediate splash by winning the 1982-83 NBA Rookie of the Year award after posting 23.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Clippers, later adding two All-Star nods and two All-NBA honors during an 18-year career.[10][11]
Beyond the top three, the draft featured other key talents who provided All-Star caliber play and depth for contenders, including point guard Eric "Sleepy" Floyd (13th overall, New Jersey Nets, later Golden State Warriors), who averaged 17.4 points and 9.0 assists in the 1980s; guard Fat Lever (11th overall, Portland Trail Blazers), a three-time All-Star and steals leader known for his versatility; and forward Ricky Pierce (18th overall, Detroit Pistons), a sharpshooting sixth man who won the 1987 Sixth Man of the Year award.[1] Overall, 65 of the draftees appeared in at least one NBA game, with the class's total career win shares led by Worthy at 81.2, underscoring its role in sustaining the league's competitive balance during a transitional era from the 1970s merger expansion to the Michael Jordan-dominated 1990s.[1]
The draft order was determined by reverse records from the 1981-82 season, with the Lakers securing the top spot via a pre-draft coin flip resolution of a prior trade with the Cavaliers.[1]
Clark Kellogg, the fourth overall selection by the Indiana Pacers, also impressed with 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 81 starts, though the Pacers missed the playoffs.[55] John Bagley, drafted eighth by the Cleveland Cavaliers, contributed modestly with 5.7 points and 2.5 assists per game in 68 games off the bench, averaging 14.6 minutes while adjusting to a point guard role.[56]
Not all first-rounders thrived immediately, as exemplified by LaSalle Thompson, the fifth pick by the Kansas City Kings, who averaged just 5.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 13.9 minutes across 71 games, reflecting limited opportunities behind established big men.[57] Overall, the class added depth to several playoff teams like the Lakers and Hawks, with top rookies collectively producing over 25 Win Shares, though many others saw rotational minutes amid the league's competitive landscape.[58]
Background
League Context
The 1981-82 NBA season marked the 36th year of the league, concluding with the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals to claim the championship. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, embodying the high-octane "Showtime" era characterized by fast-break offense led by point guard Magic Johnson and center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[12][13] This dynasty-building phase highlighted the Lakers' dominance in the Pacific Division and set a benchmark for contending teams entering the offseason.[14] At the other end of the standings, several franchises struggled, creating urgent needs for talent infusion through the draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers posted the league's worst record at 15-67, while the San Diego Clippers fared slightly better at 17-65, both teams earning eligibility for the top picks via a coin flip tiebreaker to determine the first overall selection.[12][15] These dismal performances underscored the competitive disparities across the league, where rebuilding squads relied heavily on incoming rookies to accelerate recovery. With the NBA expanding to 23 teams by the 1981-82 season, the draft emerged as a critical mechanism for franchise renewal amid growing competition.[16] College basketball had produced a wave of standout prospects, amplifying the event's role in equipping contenders and strugglers alike with foundational pieces for sustained success.[1] This talent pipeline became increasingly vital as the league balanced expansion pressures with the pursuit of parity. To enhance the draft's spectacle and media appeal, the NBA introduced the green room concept in the early 1980s, inviting top prospects to await selections in a dedicated area, thereby building anticipation for fans and broadcasters.[17]Selection Mechanism
Prior to the introduction of the draft lottery in 1985, the NBA determined the first overall pick through a coin flip between the two teams with the worst records in each conference.[18] This system, in place from 1966 to 1984, aimed to fairly allocate the top selection while discouraging intentional poor performance by tying it to conference standings rather than an overall worst record.[18] In 1982, the coin flip pitted the San Diego Clippers, who had the worst record in the Western Conference at 17-65, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 15-67; however, the Los Angeles Lakers held the Cavaliers' first-round pick as part of a prior trade.[19] On May 21, 1982, at the NBA's headquarters in New York, Commissioner Larry O'Brien conducted the toss using an 1882 silver dollar, with the Lakers calling heads and winning the flip to secure the No. 1 pick.[19] This outcome marked the only instance in NBA history where a reigning champion received the top selection; the Lakers, fresh off their 1981-82 NBA title, secured the No. 1 pick via a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with the league's worst record that season.[20] The remainder of the draft order followed the league's standard procedure: non-playoff teams selected in reverse order of their regular-season winning percentages, followed by playoff teams in reverse order of their finish.[18] The 1982 draft comprised 10 rounds and 225 total picks distributed among the league's 23 teams.[1] Eligibility for the draft required players to have completed their senior year of college or to be at least four years removed from high school graduation; there was no automatic eligibility for international players, who needed league approval on a case-by-case basis.Participants
Eligible Players
The pool of eligible players for the 1982 NBA draft consisted predominantly of American college seniors and underclassmen who had declared early, reflecting the era's reliance on domestic talent pipelines with minimal international participation.[1] Among the top prospects were several standout forwards whose college performances positioned them as high-value selections for NBA teams seeking versatile scoring and rebounding options.[21] James Worthy, a 6-foot-9 junior forward from the University of North Carolina, emerged as a leading candidate after guiding the Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA championship, where he earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and consensus first-team All-American recognition.[22] His explosive athleticism, averaging 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in his final college season, made him a prototypical wing player in an offense-driven league.[23] Similarly, Terry Cummings, a 6-foot-9 junior forward at DePaul University, dominated as a consensus first-team All-American, leading the Blue Demons to a 26-2 record with averages of 22.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, showcasing his physicality and mid-range efficiency.[24] Dominique Wilkins, another 6-foot-7 junior forward from the University of Georgia, captivated scouts with his unparalleled athleticism and dunking prowess, finishing his college career as the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer at 21.6 points per game while earning two second-team All-American selections.[25] Other notable eligibles included guards and forwards who brought complementary skills to the draft class. John Bagley, a 6-foot-0 senior guard from Boston College, excelled as a playmaker and scorer, earning Big East Player of the Year honors in 1981 and first-team All-Big East status in 1982 after averaging 21.1 points per game.[26] Clark Kellogg, a 6-foot-7 junior forward at Ohio State, stood out for his leadership and versatility, capturing Big Ten Player of the Year in 1982 with 22.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per game as a consensus first-team All-American.[27] The draft pool's diversity was limited, drawing almost exclusively from U.S. colleges with no notable international entrants in the early rounds, underscoring the NBA's early-1980s focus on domestic development amid growing global interest.[1] Overlooked talents included Mark Eaton, a 7-foot-4 senior center from UCLA who saw limited minutes but possessed rare length, later proving his defensive value despite initial scouting doubts about his mobility.[28] Scouting trends emphasized forwards and guards capable of spacing the floor and creating matchup advantages, particularly to complement established stars like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, whose playmaking and shooting had elevated the league's pace and versatility.[21] This focus aligned with teams' needs for athletic complements in an era defined by high-scoring rivalries.[29]Early Entry Declarations
In 1982, twelve college underclassmen declared early entry into the NBA draft under the league's hardship provisions, which allowed players with remaining eligibility to petition for professional status based on financial or personal need.[30] This group included several high-profile juniors expected to be top selections, marking a notable increase in early departures compared to prior years and reflecting growing opportunities for talented players to bypass their final college seasons.[21] The declarants were:- John Bagley, guard, Boston College (junior)
- Terry Cummings, forward, DePaul (junior)
- Quintin Dailey, guard, San Francisco (junior)
- Ollie Johnson, forward, Washington State (junior)
- Clark Kellogg, forward, Ohio State (junior)
- Cliff Levingston, forward, Wichita State (junior)
- Scooter McCray, forward, Louisville (junior)
- Eddie Murphy, forward, Marquette (junior)
- James Worthy, forward, North Carolina (junior)
- Dominique Wilkins, forward, Georgia (junior)
- LaSalle Thompson, center, Texas (junior)
- Yommy Sangodeyi, power forward, Sam Houston State (junior)
The Draft Day
Venue and Broadcast
The 1982 NBA draft took place on June 29, 1982, at the Felt Forum—now known as the Hulu Theater—located within the Madison Square Garden complex in New York City.[21][36] The event marked a continuation of the NBA's growing national television presence, with the draft receiving its third full live telecast on the USA Network starting at noon Eastern Time and covering the early rounds in approximately two hours.[37] Hosted by veteran sportscaster Al Albert, the broadcast highlighted the league's efforts to elevate the draft's visibility amid increasing mainstream interest in professional basketball.[38] Under the direction of NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien, the proceedings featured a formalized stage setup at the podium, where O'Brien personally announced selections, with pre-recorded videos of selected players shown to capture their reactions, which helped build excitement for the audience.[39] Approximately 5,000 spectators filled the venue's roughly 5,000-seat capacity, creating an energetic atmosphere for the public event.[39]Green Room Attendees
The 1982 NBA draft introduced the league's first official green room, a dedicated space at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden where top prospects gathered to await their selections, enhancing the event's television drama by capturing live reactions from the invitees dressed in suits.[40] The NBA extended invitations to 14 elite college players expected to be early picks, marking a new tradition aimed at building suspense and viewer engagement during the broadcast.[40] The list of green room invitees included:- Terry Cummings (DePaul University)
- Quintin Dailey (University of San Francisco)
- Keith Edmonson (Purdue University)
- Eric "Sleepy" Floyd (Georgetown University)
- Bill Garnett (University of Wyoming)
- Scott Hastings (University of Arkansas)
- Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University)
- Fat Lever (Arizona State University)
- Cliff Levingston (Wichita State University)
- Brook Steppe (Georgia Institute of Technology)
- LaSalle Thompson (University of Texas)
- Trent Tucker (University of Minnesota)
- Dominique Wilkins (University of Georgia)
- Rob Williams (University of Houston)
Picks and Trades
First Round Selections
The 1982 NBA draft's first round featured 23 selections, reflecting the league's 23 teams at the time, with picks emphasizing versatile forwards and guards to address roster needs across the board. The Los Angeles Lakers, the reigning champions, opened the round by selecting James Worthy from the University of North Carolina, a decision widely regarded as an ideal match for their fast-paced "Showtime" offense alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[42] The selections proceeded without significant on-site controversies, though the Utah Jazz's third overall choice of Dominique Wilkins from the University of Georgia drew attention due to his immediate post-draft reluctance to join the franchise in Salt Lake City, leading to a swift trade to the Atlanta Hawks on September 2, 1982, in exchange for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and cash considerations.[43]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Lakers | James Worthy | F | 6-9 | North Carolina |
| 2 | San Diego Clippers | Terry Cummings | F | 6-9 | DePaul |
| 3 | Utah Jazz (traded to Atlanta Hawks) | Dominique Wilkins | F | 6-8 | Georgia |
| 4 | Dallas Mavericks | Bill Garnett | F | 6-9 | Wyoming |
| 5 | Kansas City Kings | LaSalle Thompson | C | 6-10 | Texas |
| 6 | New York Knicks | Trent Tucker | G | 6-5 | Minnesota |
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | Quintin Dailey | G | 6-3 | San Francisco |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | Clark Kellogg | F | 6-7 | Ohio State |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | Cliff Levingston | F | 6-8 | Wichita State |
| 10 | Atlanta Hawks | Keith Edmondson | G | 6-5 | Purdue |
| 11 | Portland Trail Blazers | Fat Lever | G | 6-3 | Arizona State |
| 12 | Cleveland Cavaliers | John Bagley | G | 6-0 | Boston College |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | Sleepy Floyd | G | 6-3 | Georgetown |
| 14 | Golden State Warriors | Lester Conner | G | 6-4 | Oregon State |
| 15 | Phoenix Suns | David Thirdkill | F | 6-7 | Bradley |
| 16 | Houston Rockets | Terry Teagle | G | 6-5 | Baylor |
| 17 | Kansas City Kings | Brook Steppe | G | 6-5 | Georgia Tech |
| 18 | Detroit Pistons | Ricky Pierce | G/F | 6-4 | Rice |
| 19 | Denver Nuggets | Rob Williams | G | 6-2 | Houston |
| 20 | Milwaukee Bucks | Paul Pressey | G/F | 6-5 | Tulsa |
| 21 | New Jersey Nets | Eddie Phillips | F | 6-6 | Alabama |
| 22 | Philadelphia 76ers | Mark McNamara | C | 6-11 | California |
| 23 | Boston Celtics | Darren Tillis | C | 6-10 | Cleveland State |
Notable Later Picks and Trades
While the first round garnered significant attention, the 1982 NBA draft yielded several valuable selections in later rounds that demonstrated the potential for overlooked talent. Mark Eaton, a 7-foot-4 center from UCLA, was chosen by the Utah Jazz with the 72nd overall pick in the fourth round, highlighting a scouting oversight given his eventual role as a defensive anchor for the franchise.[1][44] Similarly, Tony Brown, a guard-forward from the University of Arkansas, was selected 82nd overall in the fourth round by the New Jersey Nets, going on to carve out a seven-season NBA career across multiple teams.[1][45] These picks underscored the hidden value in the draft's deeper rounds, where physical attributes and untapped potential could translate to meaningful contributions despite low expectations. Draft-day and post-draft trades also shaped the landscape, with approximately five transactions involving pick rights occurring around the event, many centered on first-round selections. A pivotal prior deal set the stage: on February 15, 1980, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the Cleveland Cavaliers' 1982 first-round pick (along with guard Butch Lee) in exchange for forward Don Ford and their own 1980 first-round pick, enabling the Lakers to secure the No. 1 overall selection via a coin flip and draft James Worthy.[46] Another key transaction involved the Utah Jazz, who selected Dominique Wilkins third overall but traded his rights to the Atlanta Hawks on September 2, 1982, for forwards John Drew and Freeman Williams plus cash considerations; this move allowed Wilkins to anchor the Hawks' resurgence as a perennial playoff contender in the 1980s and 1990s.[4][47] Additional trades included the Denver Nuggets acquiring the No. 19 pick from the Seattle SuperSonics on June 16, 1982, in exchange for forward David Thompson and rights to Wally Walker (later replaced by Bill Hanzlik), using it to select Rob Williams.[48] These maneuvers exemplified how trades amplified the draft's strategic depth, often reallocating high-upside assets to better-suited teams.Player Outcomes
Rookie Season Performances
The 1982 NBA draft class produced several impactful rookies during the 1982-83 season, with Terry Cummings emerging as the standout performer and earning the Rookie of the Year award.[49] Selected second overall by the San Diego Clippers, Cummings averaged 23.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game over 70 appearances, playing a pivotal role as a forward despite the team's struggling 25-57 record.[10][50] His efficiency and double-double production highlighted his immediate transition to the league, contributing 8.7 Win Shares in limited games due to minor absences.[10] Other top performers included Dominique Wilkins and James Worthy, both of whom bolstered playoff-contending teams. Wilkins, selected third overall by the Utah Jazz and traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the season, averaged 17.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 82 outings, providing scoring punch to a squad that finished 43-39 and advanced to the playoffs.[51][52] Worthy, taken first by the Los Angeles Lakers, posted 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game across 77 games, aiding the Lakers' dominant 58-24 regular season while generating 5.1 Win Shares; he missed five games due to minor injuries but adapted quickly as a small forward off the bench.[53][54]| Player | Team | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Cummings | Clippers | 70 | 36.2 | 23.7 | 10.6 | 2.5 | 8.7 |
| Clark Kellogg | Pacers | 81 | 34.1 | 20.1 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 6.8 |
| Dominique Wilkins | Hawks | 82 | 32.9 | 17.5 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 5.8 |
| James Worthy | Lakers | 77 | 25.6 | 13.4 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 5.1 |