1968 NBA draft
The 1968 NBA draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on April 3, 1968, in New York City before the 1968–69 season, with 14 franchises selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible prospects over 21 rounds for a total of 214 picks.[1][2] The draft occurred during a period of league expansion, as the NBA added the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns as new franchises earlier that year, following a separate expansion draft on May 6, 1968; both newcomers participated in the regular draft to build their rosters.[3] The San Diego Rockets held the first overall pick and selected power forward Elvin Hayes (born November 17, 1945) from the University of Houston, who went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career spanning 16 NBA seasons, scoring 27,313 points and earning 12 All-Star selections.[4][5] Immediately following, the Baltimore Bullets chose center Wes Unseld from the University of Louisville with the second pick; Unseld also became a Hall of Famer, winning both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his debut 1968–69 season while leading the Bullets to the NBA Finals.[4][6] Among the top selections, the Seattle SuperSonics took forward Bob Kauffman from Guilford College third overall, the Chicago Bulls selected center Tom Boerwinkle from the University of Tennessee fourth, and the Cincinnati Royals picked forward Zaid Abdul-Aziz (then known as Don Smith) from Iowa State fifth; while none reached Hall of Fame status, several contributed solidly to their teams over multi-year careers.[4] Overall, the draft produced at least 50 players who appeared in NBA games, with Hayes and Unseld standing out as its most impactful talents, helping define an era of dominant big men in the league.[4]Background
League Expansion and Context
The National Basketball Association (NBA) experienced rapid growth in the late 1960s, expanding from 9 teams to 10 in 1966 with the addition of the Chicago Bulls, from 10 to 12 in 1967 with the Seattle SuperSonics and San Diego Rockets, and from 12 to 14 in 1968 with the inclusion of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. The Bucks and Suns, awarded franchises in January 1968, joined the league for the 1968–69 season and participated in the draft for the first time, receiving the seventh and eighth picks in the first round to build their initial rosters. This expansion aimed to tap into new markets like Milwaukee and Phoenix while countering competitive threats, marking a pivotal moment in the league's evolution from a regional circuit to a national entity.[7][8] A key driver of this expansion was the emergence of the rival American Basketball Association (ABA), which launched its inaugural 1967–68 season with 11 teams and immediately challenged the NBA for talent and fan interest. The ABA conducted parallel drafts, selecting many of the same top college prospects and sparking bidding wars that drove up player salaries; for example, Elvin Hayes was chosen first overall by both the San Diego Rockets in the NBA draft and the Houston Mavericks in the ABA draft. This rivalry forced the NBA to accelerate its growth strategy to protect its dominance, as the ABA's innovative style and higher pay offers lured established stars like Rick Barry and threatened to fragment the professional basketball landscape.[9][10] The 1968 draft occurred amid this transitional period, featuring 21 rounds to accommodate the new teams and distribute talent across the enlarged league, though the influx of franchises and ABA competition contributed to concerns over talent dilution and escalating costs. NBA teams collectively allocated over $547,000 in equalization payments for their 1968 first-round picks, payable over three years, reflecting the rising financial stakes. The event's first round took place on April 3, 1968, in New York City, with the remaining rounds held on May 8 and 10 to finalize selections.[11]Draft Eligibility and Procedures
The 1968 NBA draft operated under eligibility rules that primarily targeted U.S. college basketball players who had exhausted their four-year collegiate eligibility, meaning graduating seniors were automatically eligible for selection.[12] International players were also eligible provided they were amateurs and had not signed professional contracts, but the draft remained predominantly focused on domestic college talent with no formal age minimum imposed.[13] The draft order was established in reverse sequence of the 1967–68 regular-season standings, with non-playoff teams selecting first in that inverted order, followed by playoff teams in reverse order of their postseason finish.[4] To determine the top two picks, a coin flip was held between the worst-performing team in each division—the San Diego Rockets (15–67 record, last in the Western Division) and the Baltimore Bullets (36–45 record, last in the Eastern Division)—with the winner awarded the first overall selection and the loser the second; the coin flip occurred on March 25, 1968, via conference call in New York, where San Diego called heads and won.[14] The two expansion franchises, the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, were integrated into the order by receiving the seventh and eighth picks in the first round, respectively, and picked last in each of the subsequent rounds to aid their roster building.[4] The draft consisted of 21 rounds comprising 214 total selections distributed among the league's 14 teams (12 established franchises plus the two expansion clubs), conducted without territorial picks—a practice eliminated prior to the 1966 draft in favor of a uniform reverse-order system.[4][15] The first round took place on April 3, 1968, in New York City, with subsequent rounds held on May 8 and 10.[4]Draft Execution
First-Round Selection
The 1968 NBA draft featured 14 first-round selections, corresponding to the league's 14 teams at the time. The top two picks were determined by a coin flip between the San Diego Rockets and Baltimore Bullets, with the Rockets winning and selecting first overall while the Bullets took second.[4][14] The first round emphasized big men and versatile forwards, reflecting the era's focus on interior scoring and rebounding. Below is the complete list of first-round picks, including each player's primary position(s), drafting team, and college.
These selections were made on April 3, 1968, in New York City, with teams prioritizing players from major college programs as well as smaller schools to build frontcourt depth.[1][17]
Subsequent Rounds
The subsequent rounds of the 1968 NBA draft consisted of 200 selections across rounds 2 through 21, held on May 8 and 10, 1968, enabling the league's 14 franchises—including the expansion Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns—to acquire additional talent and construct deeper rosters for the 1968–69 season.[4] The expansion teams received picks in the latter positions of each round, consistent with their placement at the end of the first-round order, which helped facilitate roster building for the new entrants.[4] These rounds featured primarily amateur players from U.S. colleges, with no selections of international amateurs or non-U.S. college prospects noted.[4] A prominent pattern was the large proportion of draftees who never reached the NBA; out of the 200 picks, only 37 individuals appeared in at least one league game.[4] Among second-round selections, John Trapp (15th overall, Milwaukee Bucks) stood out, enjoying a five-season NBA career that included one championship and averages of 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.[18] Later rounds yielded additional contributors, such as Greg Smith (50th overall, round 4, Milwaukee Bucks), who played eight seasons with one title and 7.8 points plus 6.2 rebounds per game, and Ron Boone (147th overall, round 11, Phoenix Suns), who logged five years averaging 13.9 points and 3.4 assists.[18] The table below aggregates data on draftees from rounds 2–21 who played in the NBA, emphasizing the limited success rate beyond the early rounds:| Round | Total Picks | Players Who Played in NBA Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 14 | 7 |
| 3 | 14 | 3 |
| 4 | 14 | 4 |
| 5–21 | 158 | 23 |
| Total | 200 | 37 |