1975 NBA draft

1975 NBA draft
General information
Date(s) May 29, 1975
First selection David Thompson, Atlanta Hawks
NBA draft
< 1974 1976 >

The 1975 NBA draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 29, 1975 before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The first two picks in the draft belonged to the teams that finished last in each conference, with the order determined by a coin flip.[1] The Atlanta Hawks, who obtained the New Orleans Jazz first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Los Angeles Lakers were awarded the second pick. The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. Prior to the draft, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings were renamed the Kansas City Kings.[2] A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. Before the draft, 18 college underclassmen and 2 high school players were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule.[3] These players had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning their living by starting their professional careers earlier.[4] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 174 players. The league also hosted a supplementary draft for American Basketball Association (ABA) players who never were never drafted by the NBA teams on December 30, 1975.

This was the last NBA draft to be held in a month earlier than June (but still in the off-season at the time).

Draft selections and draftee career notes

David Thompson from North Carolina State University was selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks. He was also drafted first overall in the 1975 ABA Draft by the Virginia Squires, before the Squires traded his draft rights to the Denver Nuggets. He opted to join the ABA with the Nuggets before moving to the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged.[5] During his first and only season in the ABA, he won the ABA All-Star Game MVP and ABA Rookie of the Year, as well as selected to the ABA All-Star Game and All-ABA Team. His NBA achievements include two All-NBA Team selections and four NBA All-Star Game selections.[6] For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[7] Marvin Webster, the 3rd pick, also opted to join the ABA with the Nuggets before moving to the NBA in 1976.[8] Thompson and Webster were the only first-round picks from the draft who declined to play in the NBA and opted to play in the ABA. Coincidentally, Webster was also drafted by the Hawks, which means that both the Hawks' first-round picks did not play with them. Instead, both signed to play for the Nuggets in the ABA.[9]

Gus Williams, the 20th pick, joined the Seattle SuperSonics after two seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He then won the NBA championship with the Sonics in 1979. He was also selected to two All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.[10] World B. Free (then known as Lloyd Free), the 23rd pick, played for five teams in his 13-year career and was selected to one All-NBA Team and one All-Star Game.[11] Dan Roundfield, the 28th pick, was also drafted in the 1975 ABA Draft. He opted to join the ABA with the Indiana Pacers before moving to the NBA in 1976. His achievements include one All-NBA Team selection, three NBA All-Star Game selections, three NBA All-Star Game selections and four NBA All-Defensive Team selections.[12] Alvan Adams from the University of Oklahoma, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was selected 4th by the Phoenix Suns.[13] Adams and 6th pick Lionel Hollins are the only other players from this draft who was selected to an All-Star Game.[14][15] After retiring as a player, Hollins went on to have a coaching career. He was twice named as the interim head coach for the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies in 1999 and 2004 before becoming a permanent head coach in 2009.[16]

Darryl Dawkins, the 5th pick, and Bill Willoughby, the 19th pick, became the first two high school players to directly enter the NBA after their high school graduation.[17] They also became the second and third players to go directly from high school basketball to professional league, after Moses Malone in the 1974 ABA Draft.[18] They also became the second and third high school players ever drafted in the NBA, after Reggie Harding in the 1962 Draft. However, because the rules prevented Harding from playing in the league until one year after his high school class graduated, he had to wait a year before entering the league in 1963.[19][20] Dawkins played 14 seasons in the NBA with four different NBA teams, while Willoughby played 8 seasons with six teams.[21][22]

In the tenth round, the New Orleans Jazz selected a Soviet basketball player Alexander Belov with the 161st pick. Belov, who was playing with Spartak Leningrad before the draft, stayed with the club until the end of his career. He had a successful career, winning two European Cup Winners' Cup and one Soviet Union championship, as well as four gold medals with the Soviet Union national team. For his achievements, he has been inducted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to the FIBA Hall of Fame.[23]

Key

Pos.GFC
PositionGuardForwardCenter
^ 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 never played in the NBA regular season or playoffs

Draft

A man, wearing a blue shirt and black cap, is posing for a photo.
Darryl Dawkins was selected fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
A man, wearing a black suit, white shirt and white tie, is standing in front of a crowd.
Joe Bryant was selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors.
Round Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team School/club team
1 1 Thompson, DavidDavid Thompson^ G/F  United States Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)[a] NC State (Sr.)
1 2 Meyers, DavidDavid Meyers F/C  United States Los Angeles Lakers UCLA (Sr.)
1 3 Webster, MarvinMarvin Webster C  United States Atlanta Hawks Morgan State (Sr.)
1 4 Adams, AlvanAlvan Adams+ F/C  United States Phoenix Suns Oklahoma (Jr.)
1 5 Dawkins, DarrylDarryl Dawkins C  United States Philadelphia 76ers Maynard Evans HS (Florida) (HS Sr.)
1 6 Hollins, LionelLionel Hollins+ G  United States Portland Trail Blazers Arizona State (Sr.)
1 7 Kelley, RichRich Kelley F/C  United States New Orleans Jazz (from Milwaukee)[b] Stanford (Sr.)
1 8 Bridgeman, JuniorJunior Bridgeman G/F  United States Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland)[c] Louisville (Sr.)
1 9 Short, GeneGene Short F  United States New York Knicks Jackson State (Jr.)
1 10 Robinzine, BillBill Robinzine F  United States Kansas City Kings (from Detroit via New York and New Orleans)[d] DePaul (Sr.)
1 11 Meriweather, JoeJoe Meriweather F/C  United States Houston Rockets Southern Illinois (Sr.)
1 12 Oleynick, FrankFrank Oleynick G  United States Seattle SuperSonics Seattle (Jr.)
1 13 Bigelow, BobBob Bigelow G/F  United States Kansas City Kings Pennsylvania (Sr.)
1 14 Bryant, JoeJoe Bryant F/C  United States Golden State Warriors (from Chicago)[e] La Salle (Jr.)
1 15 Lambert, JohnJohn Lambert F/C  United States Cleveland Cavaliers (from Golden State)[f] USC (Sr.)
1 16 Sobers, RickyRicky Sobers G  United States Phoenix Suns (from Buffalo)[g] UNLV (Sr.)
1 17 Boswell, TomTom Boswell F/C  United States Boston Celtics South Carolina (Sr.)
1 18 Grevey, KevinKevin Grevey G/F  United States Washington Bullets Kentucky (Sr.)
2 19 Willoughby, BillBill Willoughby F/C  United States Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)[a] Dwight Morrow HS (New Jersey) (HS Sr.)
2 20 Williams, GusGus Williams* G  United States Golden State Warriors (from Los Angeles)[h] USC (Sr.)
2 21 Seals, BruceBruce Seals F  United States Seattle SuperSonics (from Atlanta) Utah Stars (ABA)[24]
2 22 Mayes, ClydeClyde Mayes F  United States Milwaukee Bucks (from Phoenix via New Orleans)[b] Furman (Sr.)
2 23 Free, LloydLloyd Free*
(now World B. Free)1[]
G  United States Philadelphia 76ers Guilford (Jr.)
2 24 Cash, CorneliusCornelius Cash F  United States Milwaukee Bucks Bowling Green (Sr.)
2 25 Gross, BobBob Gross G/F  United States Portland Trail Blazers Long Beach State (Sr.)
2 26 Burden, LutherLuther Burden G  United States New York Knicks Utah (Jr.)
2 27 Luckett, WalterWalter Luckett# G  United States Detroit Pistons Ohio (Jr.)
2 28 Roundfield, DanDan Roundfield* F/C  United States Cleveland Cavaliers Central Michigan (Sr.)
2 29 Blanks, JimJim Blanks# G/F  United States Houston Rockets Gardner–Webb (Sr.)
2 30 Green, SteveSteve Green F  United States Chicago Bulls (from Seattle)[i] Indiana (Sr.)
2 31 Hansen, GlennGlenn Hansen G  United States Kansas City Kings LSU (Sr.)
2 32 Laskowski, JohnJohn Laskowski G  United States Chicago Bulls Indiana (Sr.)
2 33 Utley, MelMel Utley# G  United States Cleveland Cavaliers (from Golden State)[f] St. John's (Sr.)
2 34 Fogle, LarryLarry Fogle G  United States New York Knicks (from Buffalo via Chicago)[j] Canisius (Jr.)
2 35 Murphy, AllenAllen Murphy G  United States Phoenix Suns (from Washington)[k] Louisville (Sr.)
2 36 Conner, Jimmy DanJimmy Dan Conner# G  United States Phoenix Suns (from Boston)[l] Kentucky (Sr.)

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.

Round Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team School/club team
3 37 Hackett, RudyRudy Hackett F  United States New Orleans Jazz Syracuse (Sr.)
3 38 McElroy, JimJim McElroy G  United States New Orleans Jazz (from Los Angeles)[m] Central Michigan (Sr.)
3 47 White, RudyRudy White G  United States Houston Rockets Arizona State (Sr.)
3 48 Kropp, TomTom Kropp G  United States Washington Bullets (from Seattle)[n] Kearney State (Sr.)
3 50 Gerard, GusGus Gerard G/F  United States Portland Trail Blazers (from Chicago)[o] Spirits of St. Louis (ABA)[25]
3 51 Hawkins, RobertRobert Hawkins G  United States Golden State Warriors Illinois State (Jr.)
3 53 Anderson, JeromeJerome Anderson G  United States Boston Celtics West Virginia (Sr.)
3 54 Forrest, BayardBayard Forrest C  United States Phoenix Suns (from Washington)[p] Grand Canyon (Jr.)
4 56 Kupec, C. J.C. J. Kupec F/C  United States Los Angeles Lakers Michigan (Sr.)
4 57 Towe, MonteMonte Towe G  United States Atlanta Hawks NC State (Sr.)
4 61 Hicks, PhilPhil Hicks F  United States Portland Trail Blazers Tulane (Sr.)
4 62 Fernsten, EricEric Fernsten F/C  United States Cleveland Cavaliers San Francisco (Sr.)
4 64 Hairston, LindsayLindsay Hairston F/C  United States Detroit Pistons Michigan State (Sr.)
5 75 Holland, WilburWilbur Holland G  United States Atlanta Hawks New Orleans (Sr.)
5 76 Pace, JoeJoe Pace C  United States Phoenix Suns Coppin State (Jr.)
6 92 Ford, DonDon Ford F  United States Los Angeles Lakers UC Santa Barbara (Sr.)
6 99 Ward, HenryHenry Ward G/F  United States Cleveland Cavaliers Jackson State (Sr.)
7 113 Flynn, MikeMike Flynn G  United States Philadelphia 76ers Kentucky (Sr.)
8 136 McCarter, AndreAndre McCarter G  United States Cleveland Cavaliers UCLA (Sr.)
8 139 Bostic, JimJim Bostic F  United States Kansas City Kings New Mexico State (Sr.)
9 151 Thomas, TerryTerry Thomas F  United States Detroit Pistons Detroit (Sr.)

Trades

Supplementary draft

A man, wearing a black shirt and blue-red jacket with the logo NBA on it, is sitting on a chair while posing for a photo. He is surrounded by four other men, while a gold trophy is placed on his right.
Moses Malone was selected by the New Orleans Jazz with the first pick.

On December 9, 1975, the NBA planned to host a supplementary draft to settle negotiating rights to five ABA players who had never been eligible for the NBA draft because their college classes had not graduated and they had not apply for hardship. The teams selected in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. The team that made a selection must withdraw their equivalent selection in the 1976 Draft.[43] The teams were allowed to not exercise their rights on this hardship draft and thus retained their full selection in the 1976 Draft. The draft itself attracted strong opposition from the ABA who accuse the NBA trying to reduce confidence in the stability of their league. Despite the initial postponement of the draft, the draft was finally held on December 30, 1975.[44]

The New Orleans Jazz used the first pick to select Moses Malone, a former high school player who went directly to professional basketball after he was drafted in the 1974 ABA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers used the second pick to select Mark Olberding, a college freshman who was drafted in the 1974 ABA Draft. Because the Jazz and the Lakers had traded their first round picks in the 1976 Draft, they had to forfeit their first-round pick in the 1977 Draft.[45] The other players selected were Mel Bennett, Skip Wise and Charles Jordan in the second, third and fourth-round respectively. All players, except Wise, were under contract with their ABA team at the time of the draft.[46] They remained with their team until the end of the season. After the Virginia Squires folding before the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976, Bennett joined the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia 76ers.[47] Under the merger agreement, the Jazz and the Lakers had to yield their rights to Malone and Olberding and they regained their 1977 first-round picks.[48] Malone was later drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the ABA Dispersal Draft, while Olberding remained with the Spurs who joined the NBA.[49][50] Two other draftees, Wise and Jordan never played in the NBA.[51][52]

Round Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team ABA team
1 1 Malone, MosesMoses Malone^ F/C  United States New Orleans Jazz Spirits of St. Louis
1 2 Olberding, MarkMark Olberding F  United States Los Angeles Lakers San Antonio Spurs
2 3 Bennett, MelMel Bennett F  United States Philadelphia 76ers Virginia Squires
3 4 Wise, SkipSkip Wise# G  United States Golden State Warriors San Antonio Spurs
4 5 Jordan, CharlesCharles Jordan# F  United States Buffalo Braves Indiana Pacers

Notes

^ 1: Lloyd Free changed his first name into World, his nickname, in 1981 and is commonly known as World B. Free.[53]

References

General
Specific
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  2. "Kings Drop Omaha From Name". The Milwaukee Journal. Newspaper, Inc. March 18, 1975. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  3. "Burden, Dantley top list". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas: The World Company. May 9, 1975. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
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External links

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