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1983 NBA draft
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| 1983 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 28, 1983 |
| Location | Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)[1] |
| Networks | |
| Overview | |
| 226 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Ralph Sampson (Houston Rockets) |
| Hall of Famers | 2 |
The 1983 NBA draft took place on June 28, 1983, in New York City. A total of 226 players were selected over 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams.
The first overall pick of this draft was 7’4” center Ralph Sampson, predicted as an NBA superstar since high school. The three-time College Player of the Year had spent all four years of his college career at the University of Virginia, and was taken first by the Houston Rockets. Displaying his graceful above-the-rim game and ability to run the court like a guard, he got off to a certain Hall of Fame bound start as an NBA All-Star and NBA Rookie of the Year before injuries several seasons in derailed his career.
Sampson was joined in the Hall by University of Houston Cougars standout Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, taken number 14 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite there being only 23 teams at the time of the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded the 24th pick out of courtesy. Then-owner Ted Stepien was infamous for repeatedly trading first-round picks in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which, considering Cleveland's morose records in that time period, eventually culminated in the NBA creating a rule banning teams from dealing all of their first-round picks in consecutive years.
Four players from the 1983 draft later served or now serve as coaches—Doc Rivers for the Philadelphia 76ers, Randy Wittman for the Washington Wizards, Byron Scott for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2014 to 2016, and point guard of the 1983 NCAA championship North Carolina State Wolfpack Sidney Lowe. While Scott won the Coach of the Year award in 2008, Rivers won an NBA Championship with the Celtics in that same year.
7’7” Manute Bol was selected in the 5th round by the Clippers, but the NBA rejected the pick on technicalities. Manute had never filed draft paperwork, and his passport listed him at 19 (at the time, 19 years was too young to be drafted).[2]
Florida State star Mitchell Wiggins, father of future No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, was drafted 23rd by the Indiana Pacers.
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 |
| Rnd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ralph Sampson^ | C |  United States
|
Houston Rockets | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Steve Stipanovich | C | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Rodney McCray | SF | United States
|
Houston Rockets (from Cleveland via Philadelphia) | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Byron Scott | SG | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Arizona State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Sidney Green | PF | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Russell Cross | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Purdue (Jr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Thurl Bailey | PF | United States
|
Utah Jazz | NC State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Antoine Carr | PF | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Dale Ellis* | SG | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Jeff Malone+ | SG | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Derek Harper | PG/SG | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks (from Atlanta via Cleveland) | Illinois (Jr.) |
| 1 | 12 | Darrell Walker | SG | United States
|
New York Knicks | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Ennis Whatley | PG | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Alabama (So.) |
| 1 | 14 | Clyde Drexler^ | SG | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Houston (Jr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Howard Carter | SG | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | LSU (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Jon Sundvold | PG | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Leo Rautins | SF |  Canada
|
Philadelphia 76ers (from New Jersey) | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Randy Breuer | C | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | John Paxson | PG | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Roy Hinson | C | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers (from Phoenix) | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Greg Kite | C | United States
|
Boston Celtics | BYU (Sr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Randy Wittman | SG | United States
|
Washington Bullets (from Los Angeles) | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 1 | 23 | Mitchell Wiggins | SG | United States
|
Indiana Pacers (from Philadelphia) | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 24 | Stewart Granger | PG | Canada
|
Cleveland Cavaliers * | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Sidney Lowe | PG | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | NC State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Leroy Combs | SF | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | John Garris | PF | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Boston College (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Rod Foster | PG | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Larry Micheaux | PF | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Houston (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Mark West | C | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Old Dominion (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Doc Rivers+ | PG | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Marquette (Jr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Michael Britt# | SF | United States
|
Washington Bullets | UDC (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Dirk Minniefield | PG | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Guy Williams | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Darrell Lockhart | C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Scooter McCray | PF | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | David Russell# | SF | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Chris McNealy | PF | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | San Jose State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | Granville Waiters | C | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Ohio State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Jim Thomas | SG | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Ted Kitchel# | SF | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Mike Davis# | SG | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Pace Mannion | SF | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Utah (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Horace Owens# | SG | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Rhode Island (Sr.) |
| 2 | 45 | Paul Williams# | SF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 46 | Kevin Williams | PG | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 2 | 47 | Kenneth Lyons# | PF | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | North Texas State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Craig Ehlo | SG | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Greg Jones# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | West Virginia (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Paul Thompson | SF | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Tulane (Sr.) |
| 3 | 51 | Dereck Whittenburg# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | NC State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 52 | Winfred King# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | East Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 53 | Mike Holton | SG | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 3 | 54 | Bob Hansen | SG | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 3 | 55 | Erich Santifer# | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 3 | 56 | Larry Anderson# | SG | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 3 | 57 | Darren Daye | SF | United States
|
Washington Bullets | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 3 | 58 | John Pinone | SF | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 3 | 59 | Bruce Kuczenski | PF | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 3 | 60 | Steve Harriel# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 61 | David Little# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 3 | 62 | Tom Piotrowski | C | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | La Salle (Sr.) |
| 3 | 63 | Frank Burnell# | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Stetson (Sr.) |
| 3 | 64 | Claude Riley# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Texas A&M (Sr.) |
| 3 | 65 | Billy Goodwin# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 3 | 66 | Les Craft# | C | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 67 | Derrick Hord# | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 3 | 68 | Craig Robinson# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 3 | 69 | Orlando Phillips# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 3 | 70 | Dan Ruland# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | James Madison (Sr.) |
| 4 | 71 | Darrell Browder# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | TCU (Sr.) |
| 4 | 72 | Terry Fair# | C | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 4 | 73 | Dwight Jones# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Cincinnati (Sr.) |
| 4 | 74 | Kalpatrick Wells# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 75 | Ron Crevier | C | Canada
|
Chicago Bulls | Boston College (Sr.) |
| 4 | 76 | Doug Arnold# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | TCU (Sr.) |
| 4 | 77 | Peter Thibeaux | SF | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Saint Mary's (Sr.) |
| 4 | 78 | Steve Bouchie# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 4 | 79 | Johnny Martin# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Northwestern State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 80 | Dan Gay# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Southwestern Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 4 | 81 | Harry Kelly# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Texas Southern (Sr.) |
| 4 | 82 | Mark Jones | PG | United States
|
New York Knicks | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 4 | 83 | York Gross# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | UC Santa Barbara (Sr.) |
| 4 | 84 | Mike Jackson# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 4 | 85 | Tim Dunham# | G | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Chaminade (Sr.) |
| 4 | 86 | Pete DeBisschop# | C | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 4 | 87 | Barney Mines# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 4 | 88 | Mark Nickens# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | American (Sr.) |
| 4 | 89 | Sam Mosley# | F | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 4 | 90 | Brant Weidner | PF | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | William & Mary (Sr.) |
| 4 | 91 | Carlos Clark | SG | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Ole Miss (Sr.) |
| 4 | 92 | Terry Lewis# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 93 | Craig Robinson# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Princeton (Sr.) |
| 5 | 94 | Chuck Barnett# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 5 | 95 | Roger Stieg# | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Ole Miss (Sr.) |
| 5 | 96 | Chris Logan# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Holy Cross (Sr.) |
| 5 | 97 | Manute Bol | C |  Sudan
|
San Diego Clippers (Pick voided on technicalities)[2] | (Sudan) |
| 5 | 98 | Tim Andree# | C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 5 | 99 | Greg Hines# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Hampton (Sr.) |
| 5 | 100 | Matt Clark# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 101 | Ken Austin | PF | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Rice (Sr.) |
| 5 | 102 | Jim Lampley | C | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Arkansas–Little Rock (Sr.) |
| 5 | 103 | Robin Dixon# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | New Hampshire (Sr.) |
| 5 | 104 | Charles Jones# | F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 5 | 105 | Troy Lee Mikell# | G | United States
|
New York Knicks | East Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 106 | Lorenza Andrews# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 107 | James Braddock# | G | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 5 | 108 | Gary Monroe# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Wright State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 109 | Brad Watson# | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Washington (Sr.) |
| 5 | 110 | Tyren Naulls# | G | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Texas A&M (Sr.) |
| 5 | 111 | Mark Petteway# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 5 | 112 | Jeff Pehl# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Richmond (Sr.) |
| 5 | 113 | Rick Lamb# | C | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Illinois State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 114 | Bob Reitz# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Stonehill (Sr.) |
| 5 | 115 | Danny Dixon# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Alabama A&M (Sr.) |
| 5 | 116 | Mike Milligan# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 117 | Jim Stack# | F | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Northwestern (Sr.) |
| 6 | 118 | Cliff Pruitt# | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | UAB (Sr.) |
| 6 | 119 | Mel McLaughlin# | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 6 | 120 | Russell Todd# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | West Virginia (Sr.) |
| 6 | 121 | Ernest Patterson# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | New Mexico State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 122 | Fred Gilliam# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Clemson (Sr.) |
| 6 | 123 | Tom Heywood# | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Weber State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 124 | Derek Perry# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 125 | Billy Allen# | G | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 6 | 126 | Donald Carroll# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | St. Augustine's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 127 | Tom Bethea# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Richmond (Sr.) |
| 6 | 128 | Tony Simms# | G | Canada
|
New York Knicks | Boston University (Sr.) |
| 6 | 129 | Glenn Green# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Murray State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 130 | Alvis Rogers# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 6 | 131 | Derrick Pope# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Montana (Sr.) |
| 6 | 132 | Tony Wilson# | F | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 6 | 133 | Oscar Taylor# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 6 | 134 | Charles Hurt# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 6 | 135 | Edward Bona# | F | Sudan
|
Phoenix Suns | Fordham (Sr.) |
| 6 | 136 | Ricky Hooker# | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | St. Mary's (Texas) (Sr.) |
| 6 | 137 | Paul Atkins# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Dallas Baptist (Sr.) |
| 6 | 138 | Mark Steele# | F | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 139 | Sedale Threatt | SG | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | West Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 7 | 140 | Brian Kellerman# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Idaho (Sr.) |
| 7 | 141 | Tony Brown# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 7 | 142 | John Colombo# | G | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | John Carroll (Sr.) |
| 7 | 143 | Dan Evans# | F | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 144 | Jacque Hill# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | USC (Sr.) |
| 7 | 145 | Peter Williams# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Utah (Sr.) |
| 7 | 146 | Gerald Kazanowski# | F | Canada
|
Utah Jazz | Victoria (Sr.) |
| 7 | 147 | Rob Gonzalez# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 7 | 148 | Terrell Schlundt# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 7 | 149 | Danny Womack# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Winston-Salem State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 150 | Lex Drum# | C | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | UAB (Sr.) |
| 7 | 151 | Desi Barmore# | F |  Israel
|
New York Knicks | Fresno State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 152 | Dane Suttle | SG | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 7 | 153 | Maurice McDaniel# | C | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Catawba (Sr.) |
| 7 | 154 | Paul Little# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Penn (Sr.) |
| 7 | 155 | Tony Gattis# | F | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Mercer (Sr.) |
| 7 | 156 | Keith Bennett# | F | United States Israel
|
New Jersey Nets | Sacred Heart (Sr.) |
| 7 | 157 | Anthony Hicks# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Xavier (Sr.) |
| 7 | 158 | Keith Williams# | C | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Oklahoma Panhandle State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 159 | Fred Brown# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | VCU (Sr.) |
| 7 | 160 | Ron Jackson# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Providence (Sr.) |
| 7 | 161 | Ricky Mixon# | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 7 | 162 | Tony Bruin# | F | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 8 | 163 | Jeff Bolding# | F | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Arkansas State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 164 | Ray McCallum# | G | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Ball State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 165 | Larry Tucker# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Lewis (Sr.) |
| 8 | 166 | Mark Gannon# | F | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 8 | 167 | Terry Bradley# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Chicago State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 168 | Michael McCombs# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Santa Fe (New Mexico) (Sr.) |
| 8 | 169 | Doug Harris# | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Central Washington (Sr.) |
| 8 | 170 | George Wenzel# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Augustana College (Illinois) (Sr.) |
| 8 | 171 | Bill Sadler# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 8 | 172 | Bernard Perry# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Howard (Sr.) |
| 8 | 173 | George Thomas# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 8 | 174 | Mike Lang# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | Penn Staet (Sr.) |
| 8 | 175 | Cliff Tribus# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Davidson (Sr.) |
| 8 | 176 | Preston Neumayr# | G | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | UC Davis (Sr.) |
| 8 | 177 | Frank Smith# | C | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 8 | 178 | Ray Smith# | F | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Armstrong Atlantic State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 179 | Joey Myers# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 8 | 180 | Brett Burkholder# | C | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 8 | 181 | Mike Mulquin# | F | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 8 | 182 | Norvell Brown# | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Oklahoma Christian (Sr.) |
| 8 | 183 | Trent Johnson# | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Pittsburgh (Sr.) |
| 8 | 184 | Gordon Austin# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | American (Sr.) |
| 9 | 185 | James Campbell# | G | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Oklahoma Christian (Sr.) |
| 9 | 186 | Lynn Mitchem# | F | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Butler (Sr.) |
| 9 | 187 | Joe Brown# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Georgia State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 188 | David Maxwell# | G | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | Fordham (Sr.) |
| 9 | 189 | Kenneth Orange# | C | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Oklahoma Christian (Sr.) |
| 9 | 190 | Greg Goorjian# | G | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 9 | 191 | Ron Webb# | F | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Oklahoma Christian (Sr.) |
| 9 | 192 | Marlow McLain# | G | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Eastern Michigan (Sr.) |
| 9 | 193 | Sherrod Arnold# | G | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Chicago State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 194 | Ricky Moreland# | F | United States
|
Washington Bullets | UMBC (Sr.) |
| 9 | 195 | Will Cotchery# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | West Alabama (Sr.) |
| 9 | 196 | Charles Jones# | C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Marshall (Sr.) |
| 9 | 197 | Bernard Hill# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Oklahoma Panhandle State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 198 | Bobby Van Noy# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Catawba (Sr.) |
| 9 | 199 | Phil Hopson# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Idaho (Sr.) |
| 9 | 200 | Tony Washington# | G | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | Hampton (Sr.) |
| 9 | 201 | Kevin Black# | F | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 9 | 202 | Bill Varner# | F | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 9 | 203 | Gary Gaspard# | G | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | St. Mary's (Texas) (Sr.) |
| 9 | 204 | Joe Dykstra# | F | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Western Illinois (Sr.) |
| 9 | 205 | John Rice# | G | United States
|
Boston Celtics | UMass Boston (Sr.) |
| 9 | 206 | Charles Fisher# | G | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | James Madison (Sr.) |
| 10 | Houston Rockets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player)[n 2] | |||||
| 10 | 207 | Mark Smed# | F |  Germany United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Augustana College (South Dakota) (Sr.) |
| 10 | 208 | Joe Hanley# | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Xavier (Sr.) |
| 10 | 209 | Keith Smith# | G | United States
|
San Diego Clippers | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 210 | Tom Emma# | G | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Duke (Sr.) |
| 10 | 211 | Odell Mosteller# | G | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 10 | 212 | Michael Zeno# | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 213 | Ike Person# | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 10 | 214 | Clyde Corley# | F | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | FIU (Sr.) |
| 10 | 215 | Isaiah Singletary# | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Saint Louis (Sr.) |
| 10 | 216 | Ronnie Carr# | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Western Carolina (Sr.) |
| 10 | 217 | Bernard Randolph# | F | United States
|
New York Knicks | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 10 | 218 | Cleveland McCrae# | F | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Catawba (Sr.) |
| 10 | 219 | Aaron Haskins# | F | United States
|
Kansas City Kings | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 220 | Russ Christianson# | F | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers | Eastern Oregon (Sr.) |
| 10 | 221 | David Binion# | F | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | North Carolina Central (Sr.) |
| 10 | 222 | Rich Simkus# | C | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | Princeton (Sr.) |
| 10 | 223 | Bob Kelly# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 10 | 224 | Bo Overton# | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 10 | 225 | Lamar Heard# | F | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 10 | 226 | Andy Kupec# | G | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Bentley (Sr.) |
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player)[n 3] | |||||
*Compensation for draft choices previously traded away by Ted Stepien.
- ^ Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
- ^ The Rockets selected Darrell Johnson of the San Jose State Spartans who was a junior and ineligible for the draft because he had not declared hardship status.[3]
- ^ The 76ers selected Norman Horvitz, the medical director of Nutrisystem and a friend of 76ers owner Harold Katz. Horvitz had graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1956 and was declared ineligible by the NBA because he had been out of college for more than 27 years. Excluding later draft selections of players from the Soviet Union, Horvitz would be the last person the NBA considered to be an ineligible draft selection.[4]
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]For the fifth time in six years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. This time, only six college underclassmen would declare their entry into the draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[5]
Russell Cross – F, Purdue (junior)- Clyde Drexler – G/F, Houston (junior)
- Derek Harper – G, Illinois (junior)
- Doc Rivers – G, Marquette (junior)
- Byron Scott – G, Arizona State (junior)
- Ennis Whatley – G, Alabama (sophomore)
Invited attendees
[edit]The 1983 NBA draft is considered to be the sixth 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 second year in a row[6]), 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 at the time.[7] 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 13 prospects at the time.[8] However, two of the invitations to the draft in Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg would end up staying in the green room by not just the second round, but by as late as the third round at the 51st round, with Whittenburg being the latest selection for a natural, day one draftee invite as of 2025. Not only that, but Whittenburg would be the first invite to never play a single NBA game after being drafted following his invitation, as well as be the only invite drafted into the third round back when the NBA draft would go beyond just two rounds starting in 1989. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.[6]
- Thurl Bailey – PF, North Carolina State
- Antoine Carr – PF, Wichita State
- Clyde Drexler – SG, Houston
Stewart Granger – PG, Villanova- Sidney Green – PG, UNLV
- Roy Hinson – C, Rutgers
- Sidney Lowe – PG, North Carolina State
- Rodney McCray – SF, Louisville
- Ralph Sampson – C, Virginia
- Steve Stipanovich – C, Missouri
- Darrell Walker – SG, Arkansas
- Dereck Whittenburg – PG, North Carolina State
- Randy Wittman – SG, Indiana
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.
- "1983 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 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.
- ^ a b "A Gift From On High". CNN. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ "Darrell Johnson -Ineligible Draftee". The Draft Review. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "Norman Horvitz - Ineligible Draftee". The Draft Review. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "1983 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ a b https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1983-green-room-invites
- ^ https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts
- ^ https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room
External links
[edit]1983 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 1983 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 1983, in New York, New York, where a total of 226 players were selected across 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams.[1] The Houston Rockets chose center Ralph Sampson from the University of Virginia with the first overall pick, a selection that highlighted the draft's focus on elite big men to bolster struggling franchises.[1] Of the draftees, 58 ultimately appeared in at least one NBA game, contributing to a class known for its depth in skilled guards and forwards rather than overwhelming star power at the top.[1]
This draft produced two Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers: Ralph Sampson, inducted in 2012 after a standout college career and four NBA All-Star appearances, and Clyde Drexler, selected 14th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers from the University of Houston's "Phi Slama Jama" squad, and inducted in 2004 following a 15-year career that included 10 All-Star nods and one NBA championship.[2][3][4] Sampson, despite injury challenges, earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1984 and formed the famed "Twin Towers" duo with Hakeem Olajuwon on the Rockets, leading them to the 1986 Finals. Drexler emerged as the draft's most productive player, amassing 180.3 win shares over his career and anchoring Portland's 1990 and 1992 Finals runs before winning a title with the Houston Rockets in 1995.[1]
Beyond the Hall of Famers, the class featured several long-term contributors who achieved significant milestones. Byron Scott, picked fourth overall by the San Diego Clippers (later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers), won three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988) as a key role player on those title teams.[5] Jeff Malone, selected 10th by the Washington Bullets, became a two-time All-Star (1986, 1987) and averaged 19.0 points per game over 13 seasons.[6] Dale Ellis, the ninth overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks, finished third in the NBA in scoring during the 1988-89 season with 27.5 points per game behind Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, and made 162 three-pointers, the second-most in the league that season behind Michael Adams who led with 166.[7][8] Other impactful selections included Thurl Bailey (seventh pick, Utah Jazz), a reliable scorer and defender for 12 seasons, and Antoine Carr (eighth pick by the Detroit Pistons, rights traded to the Atlanta Hawks on June 18, 1984), who had a 16-season NBA career as a veteran big man.[1][9] Overall, the 1983 draft exemplified the era's emphasis on athleticism and versatility, providing multiple franchises with foundational pieces during the competitive 1980s NBA landscape.
All invitees except Lowe and Whittenburg were selected in the first round, demonstrating the high predictive accuracy of the green room selections for that year's top talent, with 11 of the 24 first-round picks hailing from this group.[29][1]
Background
Eligibility Rules
The eligibility rules for the 1983 NBA draft were primarily governed by the league's "four-year rule," established to ensure players had sufficient maturity and development time, requiring prospective draftees to be at least four years removed from their high school class graduation before becoming eligible for selection.[10] This rule applied broadly to amateur players, particularly those from U.S. colleges, and was designed to align with the completion of a typical four-year undergraduate degree. Exceptions were permitted under the hardship provision, which allowed underclassmen facing financial difficulties or other severe personal circumstances to petition for early eligibility, though such cases required approval from the NBA commissioner and were uncommon by the early 1980s.[10] College players who had exhausted their four years of eligibility—typically graduating seniors—gained automatic eligibility for the draft without further declaration.[11] In contrast, underclassmen (juniors, sophomores, or freshmen) had the option for early entry by formally declaring their intent to forgo remaining collegiate eligibility, a mechanism introduced in 1976 that eliminated the prior strict hardship requirement for such declarations.[11] This early entry process was notably rare in 1983, with only six underclassmen opting to declare, reflecting the era's emphasis on completing college amid limited financial incentives for leaving early.[12] Underclassmen considering early entry were advised to consult the NBA's Undergraduate Advisory Committee, an independent panel of scouts and executives that provided confidential evaluations of a player's projected draft position to inform their decision.[13] Declarations had to be submitted by a strict deadline, such as the April 1983 cutoff for advisory feedback requests, after which players could not withdraw without forfeiting NCAA eligibility if undrafted or drafted outside their expectations.[13] Eligibility also extended to non-college paths, including international players from professional leagues abroad or, in limited cases, high school graduates who met the four-year removal threshold, though such selections were minimal in 1983 and typically required demonstration of professional experience equivalent to U.S. college play.[1] Overall, the draft pool consisted of 226 selections across 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams, underscoring the focus on established college talent under these criteria.[1]Pre-Draft Context and Team Needs
The 1983 NBA draft occurred amid a period of expansion and financial strain for the league, which had grown to 23 teams following the addition of the Dallas Mavericks in 1980. The 1982-83 season highlighted ongoing challenges, with average attendance at 10,202 fans per game and many franchises operating at a loss due to high player salaries consuming 59% of revenues, leaving limited funds for promotion and marketing.[14][15] This economic pressure underscored the need for marquee talent to boost fan interest and television appeal, as the league sought to capitalize on emerging stars like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird while addressing perceptions of mediocrity in smaller markets.[15] Draft order was determined by reverse standings from the previous season's regular-season records, awarding the earliest picks to the poorest-performing teams to promote competitive balance. Ties in win-loss records were resolved through coin flips, a mechanism particularly relevant for the top selections where the worst team in each conference competed for the first overall choice.[1] This system ensured that struggling franchises had priority access to elite college prospects, though it occasionally led to high-stakes negotiations and trades among bottom-dwellers. Among the league's weakest teams, the Houston Rockets finished with a 14-68 record, the worst overall, while the Indiana Pacers posted a 20-62 mark as the worst team in the Eastern Conference, setting up a coin-flip showdown with Houston, the worst in the Western Conference.[16] The Cleveland Cavaliers, with a 23-59 record, also ranked near the bottom but had traded away their high lottery position earlier, complicating their rebuilding efforts.[16] These records positioned the teams for pivotal draft opportunities, reflecting broader league efforts to revitalize underperforming rosters. Team needs were acute for these bottom feeders, with the Rockets prioritizing a franchise center after trading away MVP Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers in September 1982, leaving a void in the frontcourt and contributing to their dismal season.[17] The Pacers, in the midst of a prolonged rebuild, sought to bolster their frontcourt depth to anchor a young core and improve interior defense. The San Diego Clippers, finishing 25-57, focused on backcourt reinforcements through aggressive trades for guards during training camp, aiming to stabilize point guard play and perimeter scoring amid ongoing organizational instability.[18]Pre-Draft Events
Coin Flip for Top Picks
In the pre-lottery era of the NBA draft, the selection order for the top picks was determined by a coin flip between the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the team with the worst record in the Western Conference, a system implemented from 1966 through 1984 to decide the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks.[19] This method replaced earlier territorial picks and aimed to balance competition by giving struggling franchises a chance at the top talent, though it often led to high-stakes drama as teams vied for the advantage.[19] For the 1983 draft, the coin flip pitted the Houston Rockets, who finished the 1982-83 season with the Western Conference's worst record of 14-68, against the Indiana Pacers, who held the Eastern Conference's poorest mark at 20-62.[20] The event took place on May 19, 1983, at the NBA's headquarters in New York City's Olympic Tower, prior to the draft scheduled for June 28.[21] NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien oversaw the proceedings, beginning by tossing a 100-year-old silver dollar to determine which team would call heads or tails; Houston was assigned heads.[21] Houston Rockets owner Charlie Thomas enlisted his 21-year-old daughter to make the call, and when the coin landed heads, the Rockets secured the No. 1 pick, while the Pacers were relegated to No. 2.[21][22] The coin flip garnered significant media attention, underscoring the tension of the pre-lottery system, where a single toss could dramatically alter franchise trajectories amid prior negotiations—Houston had offered multiple draft picks to the Pacers to concede the flip, but Indiana declined.[22] This event exemplified the drama that prompted the NBA to introduce the weighted lottery in 1985, replacing coin flips to reduce incentives for intentional poor performance.[19]Key Pre-Draft Trades
The key pre-draft trades leading into the 1983 NBA draft reshaped the first-round selection order for several franchises, enabling strategic acquisitions of high-value picks amid efforts to rebuild rosters following key departures or underperformance. A pivotal transaction occurred on September 15, 1982, when the Houston Rockets traded All-Star center Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers for center Caldwell Jones and Philadelphia's 1983 first-round draft pick, which originated from the Cleveland Cavaliers and became the No. 3 overall selection.[23] This deal stemmed from Malone signing a lucrative offer sheet with Philadelphia during the 1982 offseason; Houston matched it but opted to facilitate the trade to acquire assets rather than retain Malone's contract amid financial pressures.[24] The Rockets used the pick to select forward Rodney McCray out of Louisville, pairing him with No. 1 overall pick Ralph Sampson to anchor a youth-focused rebuild in the post-Malone era and establish a formidable frontcourt tandem.[23] Another important pre-draft maneuver involved the Dallas Mavericks, who on October 30, 1980, acquired the Cleveland Cavaliers' 1983 first-round draft pick (later the No. 11 selection) in exchange for forward Richard Washington and center Jerome Whitehead.[25] This acquisition, part of Dallas's aggressive pursuit of draft capital during the franchise's formative years, complemented their own No. 9 pick and allowed them to draft guards Dale Ellis and Derek Harper, strengthening their backcourt and supporting a competitive young core.[25] These trades highlighted teams' maneuvers to navigate salary limitations and roster gaps, with the Cavaliers under owner Ted Stepien often exchanging future picks like the 1983 selections for veteran help to address immediate needs, while the Rockets and Mavericks prioritized accumulating top talent to accelerate development around emerging stars.[26] The enhanced pick values enabled Houston and Dallas to target complementary players, laying groundwork for sustained contention through strategic frontcourt and backcourt builds.Draft Event
Date, Location, and Proceedings
The 1983 NBA draft took place on June 28, 1983, at the Felt Forum within Madison Square Garden in New York City, beginning at noon Eastern Time. The event served as the primary mechanism for NBA teams to acquire new talent from college and international pools, drawing a modest crowd of league executives, scouts, and select prospects to the venue. Commissioner Larry O'Brien oversaw the proceedings, stepping to the podium to announce each selection in the early rounds, a tradition that underscored the draft's formal yet understated atmosphere in an era before its transformation into a major media spectacle. The draft spanned 10 rounds, resulting in 226 total selections across the league's 23 teams, with the first two rounds conducted live at the site and broadcast nationally on television to capture the excitement of top picks. Subsequent rounds shifted to a more administrative format, with teams submitting choices via telephone or mail to the league office, allowing for quicker resolution without on-site deliberations. This hybrid approach highlighted the draft's transitional phase, balancing live drama for high-stakes selections with efficiency for later picks that often yielded lesser-known or undrafted players who never appeared in NBA games. Teams faced a five-minute limit per selection in the first round, enforcing a concise flow that kept the initial proceedings moving at a deliberate but unhurried pace—far removed from the extended analyses and commercial breaks of contemporary drafts. A handful of invited prospects attended in person, adding personal moments to the announcements, though the overall event emphasized procedural simplicity over prolonged pageantry. The entire process wrapped up after approximately six hours, encapsulating an era when the draft was a professional affair rather than a primetime entertainment event.Invited Attendees
The 1983 NBA draft featured 13 players invited to the green room, a special staging area at the draft venue designed to allow top prospects, their families, and agents to await their selections in a controlled environment while providing media access for interviews and building excitement among fans and broadcasters. This setup, held at Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum in New York City, highlighted the league's emphasis on showcasing elite college talent during the live proceedings on June 28, 1983.[27] This outcome reinforced the green room's role in spotlighting players who would immediately contribute to NBA rosters. The invitees were selected based on pre-draft evaluations and expectations of early selection, reflecting the hype around domestic college stars from prominent programs. Notably, several came from teams in the 1983 NCAA Final Four—NC State (champions), Houston, and Louisville—underscoring the draft's focus on recent tournament performers.[28] No international players were invited, reflecting the era's focus on U.S. college talent, though the draft pool included non-college prospects; earlier drafts had selected players without U.S. college experience.[1] The following table lists the 13 green room invitees, their colleges, draft positions, and selecting teams:| Player | College | Round/Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thurl Bailey | NC State | 1st/7th | Utah Jazz |
| Antoine Carr | Wichita State | 1st/8th | Detroit Pistons |
| Clyde Drexler | Houston | 1st/14th | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Stewart Granger | Villanova | 1st/24th | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Sidney Green | UNLV | 1st/5th | Chicago Bulls |
| Roy Hinson | Rutgers | 1st/20th | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Sidney Lowe | NC State | 2nd/25th | Chicago Bulls |
| Rodney McCray | Louisville | 1st/3rd | Houston Rockets |
| Ralph Sampson | Virginia | 1st/1st | Houston Rockets |
| Steve Stipanovich | Missouri | 1st/2nd | Indiana Pacers |
| Darrell Walker | Arkansas | 1st/12th | New York Knicks |
| Dereck Whittenburg | NC State | 3rd/51st | Phoenix Suns |
| Randy Wittman | Indiana | 1st/22nd | Washington Bullets |
Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1983 NBA draft, held on June 28, 1983, in New York City, featured 24 selections by the league's 23 teams, with the Houston Rockets holding the No. 1 pick after winning a coin flip against the Indiana Pacers and acquiring the No. 3 pick via a prior trade from Cleveland through Philadelphia as part of the 1982 Moses Malone deal.[1][23] The draft emphasized frontcourt talent, highlighted by Virginia center Ralph Sampson going first overall to Houston, followed by Missouri center Steve Stipanovich to Indiana and Louisville small forward Rodney McCray to Houston, forming an immediate vision of a towering frontcourt duo for the Rockets that general manager Ray Patterson praised as a major roster boost with few surprises in the proceedings.[17][30] Later in the round, Portland's selection of Houston shooting guard Clyde Drexler at No. 14 was viewed as a potential value pick, given his athleticism and perimeter skills that positioned him as an under-the-radar steal relative to earlier guard selections. The selections below include player positions, approximate heights from draft measurements, and colleges; future Hall of Famers are noted with an asterisk (*).| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Rockets | Ralph Sampson* | Center | 7-4 | Virginia |
| 2 | Indiana Pacers | Steve Stipanovich | Center | 6-11 | Missouri |
| 3 | Houston Rockets | Rodney McCray | Small Forward | 6-7 | Louisville |
| 4 | San Diego Clippers | Byron Scott | Shooting Guard | 6-3 | Arizona State |
| 5 | Chicago Bulls | Sidney Green | Power Forward | 6-9 | UNLV |
| 6 | Golden State Warriors | Russell Cross | Center | 6-10 | Purdue |
| 7 | Utah Jazz | Thurl Bailey | Small Forward | 6-11 | NC State |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Antoine Carr | Power Forward | 6-9 | Wichita State |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | Dale Ellis | Shooting Guard | 6-7 | Tennessee |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | Jeff Malone | Shooting Guard | 6-4 | Mississippi State |
| 11 | Dallas Mavericks | Derek Harper | Point Guard | 6-4 | Illinois |
| 12 | New York Knicks | Darrell Walker | Shooting Guard | 6-4 | Arkansas |
| 13 | Kansas City Kings | Ennis Whatley | Point Guard | 6-3 | Alabama |
| 14 | Portland Trail Blazers | Clyde Drexler* | Shooting Guard | 6-7 | Houston |
| 15 | Denver Nuggets | Howard Carter | Shooting Guard | 6-5 | LSU |
| 16 | Seattle SuperSonics | Jon Sundvold | Point Guard | 6-2 | Missouri |
| 17 | Philadelphia 76ers | Leo Rautins | Small Forward | 6-8 | Syracuse |
| 18 | Milwaukee Bucks | Randy Breuer | Center | 7-3 | Minnesota |
| 19 | San Antonio Spurs | John Paxson | Point Guard | 6-2 | Notre Dame |
| 20 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Roy Hinson | Power Forward | 6-9 | Rutgers |
| 21 | Boston Celtics | Greg Kite | Center | 6-11 | BYU |
| 22 | Washington Bullets | Randy Wittman | Shooting Guard | 6-6 | Indiana |
| 23 | Indiana Pacers | Mitchell Wiggins | Shooting Guard | 6-4 | Florida State |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Stewart Granger | Point Guard | 6-3 | Villanova |
Second Round and Notable Later Picks
The second round of the 1983 NBA draft, encompassing picks 25 through 46, produced several players who contributed meaningfully to NBA rosters despite being overlooked in the first round. Among the most notable selections was point guard Sidney Lowe, chosen 25th overall by the Chicago Bulls out of North Carolina State, who went on to play four NBA seasons and later became a respected coach. Another standout was Doc Rivers, selected 31st overall by the Atlanta Hawks from Marquette University; Rivers enjoyed a 13-year playing career, earning an All-Star nod in 1988 and transitioning into a Hall of Fame coaching tenure. Center Mark West, picked 30th by the Dallas Mavericks from Old Dominion, provided unexpected value with a 17-year NBA career, appearing in over 900 games primarily as a defensive specialist. Other second-round contributors included guard Pace Mannion (43rd, Golden State Warriors, Utah), who played six seasons, and forward Granville Waiters (39th, Portland Trail Blazers, Ohio State), who logged five years in the league. Of the 22 second-round picks, 15 ultimately appeared in at least one NBA game, highlighting the round's relative productivity compared to deeper selections.[1] Later rounds (3 through 10) yielded fewer immediate impacts but featured remarkable surprises that underscored the draft's depth. In the third round, forward Craig Ehlo was selected 48th overall by the Houston Rockets from Washington State University, embarking on a 14-year career as a reliable wing player, most notably with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he averaged 7.2 points per game over nine seasons. The fifth round produced one of the draft's most unique talents in center Manute Bol, chosen 97th overall by the San Diego Clippers from Cleveland State; at 7 feet 7 inches, Bol did not report immediately due to eligibility issues but joined the Washington Bullets in 1985, amassing 10 NBA seasons with elite shot-blocking (3.3 blocks per game career average) despite limited offense. Guard Sedale Threatt, a sixth-round steal at 139th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers from West Virginia Tech, carved out a 14-year career, peaking with the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 15.1 points and 6.3 assists per game in 1992-93 en route to an All-Star appearance. The draft totaled 226 selections across 10 rounds, yet only 58 players ever appeared in an NBA game, with many later picks—particularly internationals and lesser-known collegians—never advancing beyond training camps. These hidden gems, like Bol and Threatt, exemplified the era's scouting inefficiencies and the potential for late-round value in building competitive rosters.[1][31][32]Early Entrants
College Underclassmen Declarations
In 1983, a relatively small number of six college underclassmen declared early for the NBA draft, reflecting the era's restrictive eligibility rules that required applicants to demonstrate financial hardship to the league office at least 45 days prior to the draft date.[11] This low figure contrasted with the robust pool of eligible seniors, including several high-profile talents, and fewer qualifying hardship cases compared to subsequent drafts when rules were liberalized. The declaration process involved submitting formal notifications to the NBA commissioner, often reviewed for eligibility under the hardship provision established since 1971. Notably, all six declarants were selected within the first two rounds of the draft, underscoring their perceived professional readiness despite their underclassmen status.[12] The early entrants represented a mix of juniors and one sophomore, hailing from prominent programs. Their decisions were influenced by individual circumstances, including athletic performance and economic needs, amid a college landscape dominated by strong senior-led teams.| Player | Position | School | Class | Draft Position | Notable College Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Cross | C | Purdue | Junior | 6th overall | Averaged 17.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 1982-83, leading Purdue to the Sweet 16; Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1981.[33] |
| Clyde Drexler | G/F | Houston | Junior | 14th overall | Key member of "Phi Slama Jama," averaging 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 1982-83; helped Houston reach consecutive Final Fours (1982, 1983).[34] |
| Derek Harper | G | Illinois | Junior | 11th overall | Led the Big Ten in assists in 1981-82, averaging 15.4 points and 3.7 assists as a junior; strong perimeter shooter.[35] |
| Glenn Rivers | G | Marquette | Junior | 31st overall | Averaged 13.2 points and 4.3 assists in 1982-83, contributing to Marquette's 19-10 season; known for defensive tenacity and playmaking.[36] |
| Byron Scott | G | Arizona State | Junior | 4th overall | Averaged 21.6 points per game in 1982-83, helping Arizona State to a 19-14 season; sharp shooter with quickness on both ends.[37] |
| Ennis Whatley | G | Alabama | Sophomore | 13th overall | Averaged 15.2 points and 6.9 assists as a sophomore in 1982-83, leading Alabama in assists; SEC Freshman of the Year in 1982.[38] |