1979 NBA draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 25, 1979, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, where the Los Angeles Lakers selected Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9 point guard from Michigan State University, as the first overall pick following a coin-flip tiebreaker victory over the Chicago Bulls for the top selection rights.[1][2] This draft featured 10 rounds and 202 total selections in the NBA, though only 55 draftees ultimately played in the league, with the Lakers' acquisition of Johnson—obtained via a prior trade for the New Orleans Jazz' first-round pick—proving to be the defining moment that launched the Lakers' "Showtime" era under head coach Pat Riley and owner Jerry Buss.[1][3] Johnson, who averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists as a rookie in the 1979–80 season, would go on to win five NBA championships with the Lakers, three Finals MVP awards, and three regular-season MVP honors, fundamentally elevating the league's popularity and style of play during the 1980s.[4] Beyond Johnson, the first round yielded several impactful players, including second overall pick David Greenwood, a forward selected by the Chicago Bulls who contributed as a role player over nine NBA seasons; third pick Bill Cartwright, a center taken by the New York Knicks who later won three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s; fourth pick Greg Kelser, a forward drafted by the Detroit Pistons known for his athleticism and rebounding; fifth pick Sidney Moncrief, a guard chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks who earned five All-Defensive First Team selections, two All-NBA honors, and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 for his two-way prowess; and sixth pick Larry Bird, a forward selected by the Boston Celtics who won three NBA championships, three MVP awards, and two Finals MVP honors, helping to revitalize the league alongside Johnson.[1][5] Later rounds produced additional standouts such as seventh pick Vinnie Johnson, a guard by the Seattle SuperSonics who hit the series-clinching shot in the 1990 NBA Finals for the Detroit Pistons; and twelfth pick Jim Paxson, a guard selected by the Portland Trail Blazers who became a two-time All-Star.[1][5] Overall, the draft is celebrated for injecting elite talent into the league at a transitional period following the ABA-NBA merger, with Johnson's selection in particular credited as a pivotal event that shifted competitive balance toward the Western Conference and boosted global interest in professional basketball.[3][4]Background
Date and location
The 1979 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1979, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.[6][1] This annual event served as the league's primary mechanism for teams to acquire new player talent following the conclusion of the 1978–79 season, involving all 22 NBA franchises at the time.[7] The draft spanned 10 rounds, resulting in 202 total selections.[1] As part of the pre-draft lottery era, the selection order was based on the reverse standings from the prior season, with ties for the worst record resolved by coin flip; notably, the Los Angeles Lakers, holding the New Orleans Jazz's pick via prior trade, won the coin flip against the Chicago Bulls to secure the first overall pick.[2]Selection process
The selection process for the 1979 NBA draft followed the league's established rules, which allocated picks to the 22 teams in reverse order of their regular-season records from the 1978–79 season. The two teams with the worst records—one from each conference—were awarded the first two picks, with their order determined by a coin flip conducted by league officials. In this case, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls on the coin flip, securing the No. 1 overall selection, while the Bulls received the No. 2 pick.[8] This method ensured that struggling teams had priority access to top talent, without the weighted lottery system that would later be introduced in 1985 to discourage intentional poor performance.[9] The draft comprised 10 rounds, with each team entitled to one pick per round unless traded away, resulting in a total of 202 selections. The event itself was held in a single session at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, where team representatives made choices sequentially for the early rounds, though later rounds often involved conference calls or submissions as not all teams maintained full attendance throughout the proceedings.[1] Eligibility was primarily restricted to players from U.S. colleges who had exhausted their four-year eligibility as seniors, reflecting the league's emphasis on developed talent from domestic programs. Underclassmen could declare as hardship cases, but only if they were at least four years removed from high school graduation, as seen with select players like Larry Bird; otherwise, early entrants were ineligible to preserve amateur status. International players faced even stricter barriers, requiring them to be at least 18 years old and actively declare for the draft, though participation was minimal and the pool remained overwhelmingly composed of American college athletes.[10]Eligibility
Early entrants
The NBA first permitted underclassmen to enter the draft early through a hardship provision introduced in 1971, requiring applicants to provide evidence of financial need to the league office for approval.[11] This rule aimed to accommodate players facing economic difficulties but limited early participation to those meeting strict criteria. By 1976, the provision evolved to allow college juniors—who had completed their junior year—to declare eligibility without demonstrating hardship, while sophomores and freshmen still needed to satisfy the financial hardship requirement.[12] In the context of the 1979 draft, held on June 25, this framework enabled juniors and a select group of sophomores under hardship to join the pool. No non-college early entrants participated in the 1979 draft, including high school prospects or international players bypassing traditional amateur pathways; all declarations came from U.S. college underclassmen.[13] High school selections remained exceedingly rare in the NBA during this period, with the league maintaining an informal understanding with the NCAA to prioritize college development, and foreign player involvement was minimal, confined to established amateurs rather than early entries.[14] Underclassmen who declared early had the option to withdraw their candidacy by notifying the NBA office before the league's established deadline, typically set 10 to 15 days prior to the draft to allow teams final preparation.[12] This withdrawal process preserved collegiate eligibility for those opting to return to school. The early entry mechanism modestly expanded the 1979 talent pool in an era overwhelmingly dominated by college seniors, who comprised the vast majority of selections and reflected the league's emphasis on mature, experienced amateurs.[11] By introducing a limited number of underclassmen—all five of whom were ultimately drafted—it injected youthful potential into the proceedings, foreshadowing the gradual shift toward broader underclassmen participation in subsequent decades.[13]College underclassmen
In the 1979 NBA draft, college underclassmen could declare eligibility under the league's rules, with sophomores required to apply via the hardship provision—providing evidence of financial need or other hardships, established in 1971 following legal challenges to the four-year rule—while juniors could declare without it following the 1976 rule change.[15][12] This era predated the modern one-and-done policy, making early entries rare and typically motivated by immediate professional opportunities or economic pressures rather than standard practice. Only a small number—five underclassmen—declared for the draft, a stark contrast to the dozens seen in contemporary drafts, reflecting the rule's stringent requirements and the cultural norm of completing college.[16] Key declarants included Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a sophomore guard from Michigan State University, who announced his entry on May 12, 1979, citing readiness for professional basketball after leading the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA championship.[17] Other notable underclassmen were Cliff Robinson, a sophomore forward from the University of Southern California; Sly Williams, a junior forward-guard from the University of Rhode Island; Garcia Hopkins, a sophomore forward from Morgan State University; and Don Newman, a junior guard from the University of Idaho, all of whom applied as announced by the NBA on or around May 16, 1979 (with Johnson earlier).[16] The group represented a pioneering wave of early college departures in a league transitioning toward younger talent, with three sophomores under hardship and two juniors. Under the 1979 rules, underclassmen were required to renounce their remaining college eligibility by approximately 45 days before the draft date of June 25, effectively setting a mid-May deadline to formalize their professional intentions and avoid ineligibility conflicts.[10] Of the five who declared, three achieved high selection rates in the first round, with Johnson taken first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, Robinson selected 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets, and Williams picked 21st overall by the New York Knicks, while Newman was taken 75th overall (4th round) by the Indiana Pacers and Hopkins 128th overall (6th round) by the Washington Bullets, underscoring the value placed on their potential despite their inexperience.[1] These outcomes demonstrated the early entry rules' role in accelerating careers for ready prospects while limiting participation to a select few.Draft proceedings
Invited attendees
The NBA extended invitations to a select group of top college prospects to attend the 1979 draft in person on June 25 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, highlighting those projected as high lottery selections based on extensive scouting evaluations.[18] These invitations were determined primarily through scouting reports compiled by Marty Blake, the league's director of scouting, who analyzed over 250 college players focusing on their on-court performance, athletic attributes, and NBA potential.[18] Criteria emphasized standout college seasons, such as leading teams to deep tournament runs or excelling in key statistical categories like scoring, rebounding, and defense, positioning invitees as likely first-round talents. Among the invited prospects were Magic Johnson of Michigan State, whose playmaking and versatility in guiding the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA title made him the consensus top pick; Bill Cartwright of San Francisco, valued for his 7-foot frame and rebounding prowess; Sidney Moncrief of Arkansas, lauded for his perimeter defense and scoring efficiency; and Greg Kelser of Michigan State, recognized as a multi-faceted forward with strong athleticism.[18] Other notable invitees included David Greenwood of UCLA, a solid forward contributor; Dudley Bradley of North Carolina; Larry Demic of Arizona; Wiley Peck of Mississippi State; John Gerdy of Davidson; and Vinnie Johnson of Baylor. Larry Bird of Indiana State, who had been selected in the 1978 draft but completed his senior season amid the 1979 college campaign, represented a unique case as his professional debut aligned with this class, though he was not part of the official invitee pool for the event.[19] The 1979 invited attendee list proved highly predictive of draft success, with nearly all participants selected in the first round, underscoring the accuracy of pre-draft scouting in identifying elite talent for that year.[18] No major surprises or absences marred the group, as the focus remained on consensus top performers without notable omissions from projected high picks.Round-by-round selections
The 1979 NBA draft began with significant anticipation surrounding the top selection, determined by a coin flip between the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls for the rights to the New Orleans Jazz's first-round pick, which the Lakers had acquired in a prior trade. The Lakers won the flip and selected Earvin "Magic" Johnson from Michigan State University first overall, a move that immediately signaled a new dynasty for the franchise alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[20] The Chicago Bulls, disappointed by the loss, opted for forward David Greenwood from UCLA with the second pick, a versatile but unflashy choice that provided rebounding but lacked the star power Johnson offered.[5] The New York Knicks followed by drafting center Bill Cartwright from the University of San Francisco third overall, addressing their need for interior presence with a skilled big man who would anchor their lineup for years.[5] The Detroit Pistons then chose forward Greg Kelser, Johnson's college teammate at Michigan State, fourth overall, capitalizing on their shared fast-break style for potential chemistry.[5] The Milwaukee Bucks rounded out the top five by selecting guard Sidney Moncrief from the University of Arkansas fifth overall, a pick that surprised some scouts who had projected him slightly lower but proved prescient given his future Hall of Fame career built on tenacious defense.[5] The Seattle SuperSonics held the next two selections, drafting forward James Bailey from Rutgers sixth overall and guard Vinnie Johnson from Baylor seventh overall, adding frontcourt depth and backcourt scoring potential.[5] The New Jersey Nets selected forward Calvin Natt from Louisiana-Monroe (then known as Northeastern Louisiana University) eighth overall, providing athleticism to their roster, while the New York Knicks picked forward Larry Demic from Arizona ninth.[5] The Detroit Pistons closed the top ten by drafting guard Roy Hamilton from UCLA tenth overall.[5] As the draft progressed into later rounds, several unexpected developments emerged, including the Boston Celtics finalizing the signing of Larry Bird, whom they had selected sixth overall in the 1978 draft after he returned for his senior year at Indiana State; this move, completed shortly after the 1979 proceedings, brought a generational forward into the league and transformed the Celtics' fortunes.[21] The draft spanned 10 rounds, resulting in 202 total selections, with Commissioner Larry O'Brien announcing picks in a low-key ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, followed by a group photo of first-round draftees that captured the class's promise.[1][7]Draft outcomes
First-round picks
The first round of the 1979 NBA draft featured 11 selections, producing several players who contributed significantly to their teams' success in the early 1980s, including Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and fellow Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief.[1] Teams prioritized versatile big men and defensive specialists to address roster gaps following the 1978-79 season, with the Los Angeles Lakers setting the tone by selecting the consensus top prospect to ignite their fast-break offense.[22]| Pick | Player | Position | Team | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Johnson | PG | Los Angeles Lakers | Michigan State |
| 2 | David Greenwood | PF | Chicago Bulls | UCLA |
| 3 | Bill Cartwright | C | New York Knicks | University of San Francisco |
| 4 | Greg Kelser | SF | Detroit Pistons | Michigan State |
| 5 | Sidney Moncrief | SG/SF | Milwaukee Bucks | University of Arkansas |
| 6 | James Bailey | PF/C | Seattle SuperSonics | Rutgers University |
| 7 | Vinnie Johnson | SG | Seattle SuperSonics | Baylor University |
| 8 | Calvin Natt | SF | New Jersey Nets | Northeast Louisiana University |
| 9 | Larry Demic | PF | New York Knicks | Santa Clara University |
| 10 | Roy Hamilton | PG | Detroit Pistons | UCLA |
| 11 | Cliff Robinson | PF | New Jersey Nets | University of Southern California |