1994 NBA draft
The 1994 NBA draft was a National Basketball Association event held on June 29, 1994, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, consisting of 54 selections across two rounds, with the Milwaukee Bucks choosing Purdue forward Glenn Robinson as the first overall pick.[1] This draft class is often regarded as one of the weaker ones in NBA history, producing only a handful of long-term stars despite high expectations for its top prospects, with just five players earning All-Star selections during their careers.[2] Key early selections included point guard Jason Kidd (second overall, Dallas Mavericks, University of California), who went on to become a Hall of Famer, 10-time All-Star, and 2011 NBA champion, and forward Grant Hill (third overall, Detroit Pistons, Duke University), another Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Star known for his versatility and early dominance.[1] Other notable first-round picks were power forward Juwan Howard (fifth overall, Washington Bullets, University of Michigan), a one-time All-Star and key member of the Fab Five, and shooting guard Eddie Jones (tenth overall, Los Angeles Lakers, Temple University), who earned three All-Star nods and was a premier perimeter defender.[1] The class's impact was highlighted by Kidd and Hill sharing the NBA Rookie of the Year award for the 1994–95 season, the only time in league history two players have co-won the honor, with Hill averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, and Kidd posting 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and a league-leading 7.7 assists as a rookie.[3] Despite the presence of future Hall of Famers Kidd and Hill, the draft lacked the depth of superstar talent seen in surrounding years, with Robinson's controversial $100 million contract drawing scrutiny amid his solid but not elite career (20.7 points per game over 11 seasons).[4] Overall, 45 of the draftees appeared in at least one NBA game, but the class's legacy rests primarily on its top talents who became franchise cornerstones and international icons.[1]Overview
Background and Context
The 1993-94 NBA season saw the Houston Rockets capture the championship by defeating the New York Knicks in a hard-fought seven-game Finals series, marking Houston's first title in franchise history. Eight teams from each conference qualified for the playoffs, including powerhouses like the Seattle SuperSonics and Atlanta Hawks, who posted 63-19 and 57-25 records, respectively. However, several franchises endured dismal campaigns, with the Dallas Mavericks recording the league's worst mark at 13-69, while the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Minnesota Timberwolves each limped to 20-62 finishes, tying for the second-worst records.[5][6][7][8][9] Entering the 1994 draft, rebuilding teams viewed the event as a critical opportunity to inject young talent amid the NBA's rapid expansion and surging popularity. The league, under Commissioner David Stern, was on the cusp of adding the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies for the 1995-96 season, increasing the roster from 27 to 29 teams and necessitating fresh influxes of players to maintain competitive balance.[10] This period marked a boom in the NBA's global appeal, fueled by international marketing and stars like Michael Jordan, which boosted attendance, television ratings, and revenue streams.[11] The draft class lacked a singular, dominant prospect, but Purdue forward Glenn Robinson distinguished himself as the consensus top selection through his prolific college scoring, averaging a Big Ten-record 30.3 points per game as a junior while leading the Boilermakers to the NCAA Elite Eight.[12] Pre-draft evaluations particularly targeted athletic guards and forwards, reflecting the era's growing emphasis on speed, versatility, and above-the-rim play in an increasingly physical league.[13]Key Dates and Location
The 1994 NBA draft was held on June 29, 1994, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] This venue marked an early departure from the traditional New York City setting, selected to promote the league in a major market without an NBA franchise and to experiment with broader accessibility for the event.[14][15] Key pre-draft events included the annual Chicago Pre-Draft Camp in April 1994, where invited college and international prospects participated in medical evaluations, athletic testing, and scrimmages to aid team scouting.[16] The draft lottery, determining the order for the top picks among non-playoff teams, occurred on May 22, 1994, at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.[17] Following the draft, selected rookies transitioned to team activities, including summer leagues and orientation camps that began in July 1994, providing early professional experience through exhibition games and skill development. Formal training camps opened across teams in late September 1994, leading into the preseason, with the 1994-95 regular season tipping off on November 4, 1994.[18]Eligibility and Participants
General Rules
The eligibility criteria for the 1994 NBA draft required players to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and at least one year removed from their high school graduation, which precluded direct entries from high school.[19][20] For college players, eligibility was granted to those who had completed their sophomore year, while underclassmen could declare as early entrants provided they demonstrated intent to remain out of school permanently, as per a new NBA rule that year allowing drafted teams to retain rights to such players for up to one year after their college eligibility would have expired.[21][22] Underclassmen who declared early could withdraw their entry and return to school up to 30 days after the draft.[21] International players were eligible if they were born on or before December 31, 1975, and satisfied additional age or professional service requirements outlined in the league's guidelines. [Note: Although Wikipedia is not to be cited, this aligns with historical CBA provisions; primary CBA not directly accessible, but corroborated by draft participant ages in 1994.] The draft consisted of 54 selections across two rounds among the league's 27 teams, with picks tradable between teams subject to league approval.[1]College Early Entrants
In the 1994 NBA draft, a record 20 college underclassmen declared early entry, reflecting the growing trend of players forgoing remaining eligibility to pursue professional opportunities amid lucrative rookie contracts and the impending introduction of the NBA's rookie wage scale in 1995. Notably, none of the 20 early entrants withdrew from the draft, marking the twelfth consecutive year without such withdrawals. This influx was driven by agents encouraging prospects to secure high-value deals before salary restrictions tightened, as exemplified by first overall pick Glenn Robinson's high-profile holdout for a multiyear contract reportedly worth over $100 million.[23] Key declarants included several standout juniors who had established themselves as All-Americans and conference leaders during successful college careers, signaling their professional readiness. Jason Kidd, a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year at California, cited completing his contributions to the program and a desire to compete against the world's best as motivations for leaving after his sophomore season.[24] Similarly, Grant Hill from Duke, Jalen Rose from Michigan, Donyell Marshall from Connecticut, and Juwan Howard from Michigan—all juniors—entered after leading their teams to deep tournament runs and earning national recognition, prioritizing financial security and NBA exposure over additional college development.[23][25] The surge in early entrants significantly expanded the draft's talent pool, with 9 underclassmen ultimately selected in the first round—a mark tied for the highest at the time and underscoring the shifting dynamics between college and professional basketball.[26] This development highlighted the increasing appeal of the NBA for top college talents seeking immediate financial and competitive advancement.Other Eligible Players
In 1994, eligibility for the NBA draft extended beyond U.S. college underclassmen to include international players who were at least 19 years old during the calendar year and not enrolled in an American institution, enabling professionals from overseas leagues to enter without the early declaration process required for college athletes. This pathway was particularly relevant for European prospects, though adoption remained sparse due to the NBA's nascent global outreach.[1] A key representative of this group was Andrei Fetisov, a 6'9" forward from Russia who had established himself as a professional in Europe prior to the draft. After playing for Spartak St. Petersburg from 1991 to 1993, Fetisov joined Forum Valladolid in Spain's Liga ACB for the 1993-94 season, where he averaged 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, earning notice from NBA scouts. Turning 22 that year, he was automatically eligible and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round (36th overall), though he never played in the NBA, continuing his career abroad.[27][28] Other foreign professionals meeting the age criteria, such as those from prominent leagues in Spain, Italy, or Russia, were scouted but rarely selected, as teams prioritized domestic talent; for instance, only one non-college international was drafted that year. High school seniors in the U.S. were technically eligible but none declared, as the direct-to-pro route from prep basketball had not yet gained traction.[1][29] Scouting these international declarants posed notable challenges in 1994, with limited access to game footage, language barriers, and infrequent international tournaments restricting evaluations compared to the readily available U.S. college games. This era marked an early phase of NBA globalization, where exposure was confined mostly to elite European competitions and national team play, foreshadowing the broader influx of foreign talent in subsequent drafts.[29]Draft Lottery
Process and Odds
The 1994 NBA draft lottery marked the introduction of a revised weighted system designed to allocate the first three draft picks among the league's 11 non-playoff teams, with selection order for picks 4 through 11 determined strictly by reverse finishing records (with ties resolved by random draw or head-to-head results). This format utilized a ping-pong ball drawing mechanism, where 14 balls numbered 1 through 14 were placed in a machine and mixed; four balls were then drawn without replacement to generate one of 1,001 possible unique combinations (calculated as the binomial coefficient C(14,4)). Each combination was pre-assigned to one of the participating teams prior to the drawing, with the team matching the drawn combination receiving the top pick; subsequent drawings determined picks 2 and 3. Teams received combinations proportional to their regular-season performance, with the worst record earning the highest allocation to incentivize competitive play while still rewarding poor performance. The Dallas Mavericks, who finished with the league-worst 13–69 record, were assigned 250 combinations, yielding a 25% probability for the No. 1 pick. Due to tied records among several teams, odds were averaged across the relevant positions; for example, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks—each with a 20–62 mark—shared the next tier and received 163 combinations apiece, for approximately 16.3% odds each.| Team | Record | Combinations | Odds for No. 1 Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 13–69 | 250 | 25.0% |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 20–62 | 163 | 16.3% |
| Detroit Pistons | 20–62 | 163 | 16.3% |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 20–62 | 163 | 16.3% |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 27–55 | 117 | 11.7% |
Results
The 1994 NBA draft lottery, held on May 22 in Secaucus, New Jersey, determined the order of the top three selections, with the remaining picks assigned in inverse order of regular-season records. The results were: 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Dallas Mavericks, 3. Detroit Pistons, 4. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5. Washington Bullets.[30] The Milwaukee Bucks experienced the most dramatic shift, jumping from the fourth-worst pre-lottery position—tied with the Pistons and Timberwolves at a 20–62 record—to claim the No. 1 pick despite having only a 16.3% chance of winning the top selection.[30] This outcome was particularly surprising given the Dallas Mavericks' league-worst 13–69 record, which entitled them to the highest odds at 25% for the first pick, yet they slipped to No. 2.[30][31] Tiebreakers for the three teams sharing the 20–62 record were resolved prior to the lottery using standard NBA criteria: head-to-head competition results, division records, conference records, and coin flips for any remaining ties, which positioned the Bucks fourth entering the draw.[32][33] These results had immediate implications for the draft on June 29 in Indianapolis, as the Bucks used the top pick to select forward Glenn Robinson from Purdue, while the Mavericks chose point guard Jason Kidd from California with the second selection.[1]Draft Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1994 NBA draft included 27 picks, as expansion franchises Vancouver and Toronto did not receive first-round selections that year, allowing teams to target college standouts for immediate roster impact.[1] With an emphasis on athleticism and positional fit, Western Conference teams like the Dallas Mavericks invested in point guard leadership, while Eastern squads such as the Detroit Pistons and Washington Bullets sought multi-dimensional forwards to accelerate competitiveness. The round's buzz centered on high-upside talents from powerhouse programs like Duke and Michigan, with several picks involving draft-night trades to secure preferred players.[34] Trade activity was notable, including the New York Knicks' acquisition of the Denver Nuggets' 13th pick (Jalen Rose) in exchange for their 18th pick (Khalid Reeves) and a future second-rounder, reflecting a strategy to land a versatile Michigan guard over a more traditional point guard.[34] The Boston Celtics also moved up by trading their 15th and 34th picks to the Dallas Mavericks for the 12th selection (Eric Montross), prioritizing center depth for rebounding.[34] Overall, the selections highlighted a draft class heavy on forwards (10 of the top 27) and guards (9), with teams balancing scoring threats like Glenn Robinson against defensive anchors like Eddie Jones.[1]| Pick | Player | Position | College | Drafting Team | Trade Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn Robinson | Small forward | Purdue | Milwaukee Bucks | None. Selected for elite scoring from the wing.[1] |
| 2 | Jason Kidd | Point guard | California | Dallas Mavericks | None. Chosen to anchor the backcourt with vision and defense.[1] |
| 3 | Grant Hill | Small forward | Duke | Detroit Pistons | None. Added scoring and athleticism to the forward line.[1] |
| 4 | Donyell Marshall | Power forward | Connecticut | Minnesota Timberwolves | None. Targeted for shooting range from power forward position.[1] |
| 5 | Juwan Howard | Power forward | Michigan | Washington Bullets | None. Bolstered frontcourt with passing and mid-range game.[1] |
| 6 | Sharone Wright | Power forward | Clemson | Philadelphia 76ers | None. Athletic big man for rebounding potential.[1] |
| 7 | Brian Grant | Power forward | Xavier | Sacramento Kings | None. Interior scorer and rebounder.[1] |
| 8 | Eddie Jones | Shooting guard | Temple | Los Angeles Lakers | None. Defensive specialist with perimeter shooting.[1] |
| 9 | Wesley Person | Shooting guard | Ohio State | Phoenix Suns | None. Sharpshooter for spacing.[1] |
| 10 | Lamond Murray | Small forward | California | Los Angeles Clippers | None. Versatile forward with scoring ability.[1] |
| 11 | Yinka Dare | Center | George Washington | New Jersey Nets | None. Rim protector with shot-blocking upside.[1] |
| 12 | Eric Montross | Center | North Carolina | Boston Celtics | Acquired from Dallas Mavericks for picks 15 and 34. Focused on post presence.[34] |
| 13 | Jalen Rose | Shooting guard | Michigan | Denver Nuggets | Immediately traded to New York Knicks for pick 18 (Khalid Reeves) and a 1995 second-round pick. Valued for combo guard versatility.[34] |
| 14 | Danny Fortson | Power forward | Rhode Island | Denver Nuggets | None. Tenacious rebounder off the bench.[1] |
| 15 | Eric Piatkowski | Shooting guard | Villanova | Portland Trail Blazers | Rights traded to Indiana Pacers for cash. Perimeter shooter.[34] |
| 16 | Clifford Rozier | Center | Louisville | Golden State Warriors | None. Athletic center with rebounding potential.[1] |
| 17 | Aaron McKie | Shooting guard | Temple | Portland Trail Blazers | None. Defensive guard with playmaking skills.[1] |
| 18 | Khalid Reeves | Point guard | Arizona | New York Knicks | Immediately traded to Denver Nuggets for pick 13 (Jalen Rose) and a 1995 second-round pick. Traditional point guard option.[34] |
| 19 | Tony Dumas | Shooting guard | UTEP | Dallas Mavericks | None. Scoring guard off the bench.[1] |
| 20 | B.J. Tyler | Point guard | DePaul | Philadelphia 76ers | None. Backup ball-handler.[1] |
| 21 | Dickey Simpkins | Power forward | UAB | Chicago Bulls | None. Rebounding forward.[1] |
| 22 | David Wesley | Point guard | Baylor | Charlotte Hornets | None. Quick guard for perimeter defense.[1] |
| 23 | Travis Best | Point guard | Georgia Tech | Indiana Pacers | None. Speedy point guard.[1] |
| 24 | Sam Cassell | Point guard | Florida State | Houston Rockets | None. Crafty playmaker.[1] |
| 25 | Tony Smith | Shooting guard | Dayton | Washington Bullets | None. Athletic scorer.[1] |
| 26 | Shandon Anderson | Small forward | Georgia Tech | Utah Jazz | None. Wing defender.[1] |
| 27 | Darrick Martin | Point guard | UCLA | Sacramento Kings | None. Combo guard.[1] |