2005 NBA draft
The 2005 NBA draft was the 58th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 28, 2005, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1] In this event, the league's 30 teams selected 60 amateur players across two rounds, with the Milwaukee Bucks choosing Australian center Andrew Bogut from the University of Utah as the first overall pick.[1] Of those draftees, 55 ultimately appeared in at least one NBA game, marking a solid conversion rate for the class.[1] The draft produced several impactful players who shaped franchises over the subsequent decades, most notably point guards Chris Paul (selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets) and Deron Williams (third overall by the Utah Jazz), both of whom earned multiple All-Star selections and led their teams to deep playoff runs.[1] Paul, in particular, announced on November 22, 2025, that he will retire after the 2025–26 season as the final active player from the 2005 draft class,[2][3] having amassed 215.2 win shares during his career[1] and, as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.[4] Other key first-round selections included small forward Marvin Williams (second overall, Atlanta Hawks), point guard Raymond Felton (fifth, Charlotte Bobcats), and center Andrew Bynum (tenth, Los Angeles Lakers), who played a pivotal role in the Lakers' 2009 and 2010 NBA championships.[1] Beyond the lottery, the 2005 draft excelled in unearthing late-round gems that became All-Stars and reliable contributors, such as power forward David Lee (30th overall, New York Knicks, 76.0 win shares), guard Monta Ellis (40th, Golden State Warriors), and guard Lou Williams (45th, Philadelphia 76ers).[1] The class's collective output, led by Paul's dominance and supported by a depth of starters like Bogut (50.6 win shares) and Williams (77.3 win shares), underscores its reputation as one of the more productive drafts of the mid-2000s, yielding multiple franchise cornerstones despite lacking a singular MVP-caliber talent.[1]Overview
Date and location
The 2005 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2005, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1][5] The event marked the annual selection process where NBA teams chose eligible amateur players to join their rosters for the upcoming season. Announcements of the draft selections began at 7:30 p.m. EDT and were broadcast live on ESPN, allowing a national audience to follow the proceedings in real time.[6] NBA Commissioner David Stern presided over the event, introducing each pick from the stage as was customary for drafts during his tenure.[7] The atmosphere included invited guests such as players' families, league scouts, and media personnel, creating an intimate setting focused on the draftees' moments on stage.[8]Draft format and rounds
The 2005 NBA draft was structured in a two-round format, consisting of 30 picks per round for a total of 60 selections, with each of the league's 30 teams allocated one pick per round unless altered by prior trades. This setup allowed teams to select amateur and eligible professional players, with traded picks potentially enabling some franchises to acquire multiple selections in a round while others might forfeit theirs. The draft process emphasized strategic allocation based on team needs, ensuring broad participation across the league.[9] The order of selection was established by the reverse order of teams' regular-season winning percentages from the 2004–05 NBA season, positioning the worst-performing teams first and providing them with the highest odds in the draft lottery to secure one of the top three picks. For teams tied in winning percentage, tiebreakers followed a standardized procedure: first, the head-to-head record between the tied teams; second, winning percentage against divisional opponents; third, winning percentage against conference opponents; and finally, a random drawing if necessary. This system aimed to reward poorer performance while resolving ambiguities fairly, with the lottery process influencing only the initial positions as detailed in subsequent sections.[10] Eligibility for the draft required players to meet specific criteria, including automatic inclusion for U.S. college seniors and graduates, early entry declarations from college underclassmen at least 60 days prior to the draft, direct declarations from high school graduates, and international players who were either at least 22 years old, had completed four years of professional basketball following high school, or met equivalent professional standards. Notably, 2005 marked the final draft permitting direct high school entries without further age or post-graduation requirements. All teams selected in both rounds irrespective of prior contractual obligations, fostering comprehensive talent acquisition across the league.[9][11]Draft Lottery and Order
Lottery process and results
The 2005 NBA Draft Lottery was held on May 24, 2005, at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, and televised live on ESPN.[12][13] The event determined the order of the first-round picks for the 14 teams that missed the playoffs in the 2004–05 season, with the eight playoff teams' picks slotted afterward in inverse order of their regular-season records.[14] The lottery employed a weighted probability system to discourage intentional tanking, assigning each non-playoff team a varying number of combinations from 1,000 possible outcomes generated by drawing four ping-pong balls (numbered 1 through 14) from a lottery machine without replacement.[15] The drawings for the top three picks used flat odds among qualifying teams once a combination was matched, while positions 4 through 9 were assigned sequentially based on regular-season records if not altered by the lottery; seven teams held the majority of the combinations, amplifying their chances for the top selections.[16] To maintain integrity, the ping-pong ball draws occurred privately earlier in the day, with results sealed in envelopes; during the broadcast, NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik drew the envelopes sequentially to reveal the order.[15] Odds for the No. 1 overall pick were distributed inversely to regular-season performance, with the Atlanta Hawks—holding the league's worst record of 13–69—receiving the highest probability at 25% (250 combinations).[14] The expansion Charlotte Bobcats, in their second season with an 18–64 mark, garnered 17.7% (177 combinations), closely followed by the New Orleans Hornets at 17.8% (178 combinations) despite a matching record.[13] The New York Knicks had 3.5% (35 combinations), the Portland Trail Blazers 11.9% (119 combinations), and odds tapered off for stronger non-playoff teams, reaching as low as 0.5% (5 combinations) for the best among them.[14] In the results, the Milwaukee Bucks defied 6.3% odds (63 combinations) to secure the No. 1 pick, a dramatic upset that vaulted them from the sixth-worst record (30–52).[14] The Atlanta Hawks fell to No. 2, the Portland Trail Blazers to No. 3, the New Orleans Hornets to No. 4, and the Charlotte Bobcats to No. 5, with the remaining positions 6–14 filled in inverse record order among the other lottery teams.[13] These outcomes established the initial framework for the draft order, subject to subsequent trades.[1] The full lottery-determined order for picks 1–14 was:| Position | Team | Regular-Season Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30–52 |
| 2 | Atlanta Hawks | 13–69 |
| 3 | Portland Trail Blazers | 27–55 |
| 4 | New Orleans Hornets | 18–64 |
| 5 | Charlotte Bobcats | 18–64 |
| 6 | Utah Jazz | 26–56 |
| 7 | Toronto Raptors | 33–49 |
| 8 | New York Knicks | 33–49 |
| 9 | Golden State Warriors | 34–48 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Lakers | 34–48 |
| 11 | Orlando Magic | 36–46 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 37–45 |
| 13 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42–40 |
| 14 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 44–38 |
| Position | Team | Regular-Season Record | Odds for No. 1 Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30–52 | 6.3% |
| 2 | Atlanta Hawks | 13–69 | 25.0% |
| 3 | Portland Trail Blazers | 27–55 | 11.9% |
| 4 | New Orleans Hornets | 18–64 | 17.8% |
| 5 | Charlotte Bobcats | 18–64 | 17.7% |
Final selection order
The final selection order for the 2005 NBA draft was determined by the results of the draft lottery held on May 24, 2005, which set the positions for the first 14 picks among the non-playoff teams' draft rights, weighted by inverse regular-season winning percentage. The remaining first-round picks (15–30) and all second-round picks (31–60) followed in reverse order of the 2004–05 regular-season records, with playoff teams picking last in the first round. Several pre-draft and draft-day trades transferred rights to specific picks, altering which teams made selections; for instance, the Utah Jazz acquired the third overall pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for their sixth, twenty-seventh (acquired via Boston from Denver), and a lottery-protected 2006 first-round picks.[17] No picks were forfeited, and there were no significant team obligations from prior years affecting the order beyond standard lottery participation. Ties in records were resolved per NBA tiebreaker rules (head-to-head outcomes, intraconference and intradivision records, and random drawings if needed) prior to the lottery; notably, the New Orleans Hornets won the tiebreaker over the Charlotte Bobcats, both at 18–64, assigning the Hornets the second-worst position and slightly better odds (17.8% vs. 17.7%). The order applied uniformly to all eligible players, including international prospects who could be selected without prior U.S. college or professional experience. The complete 60-pick order, reflecting all lottery outcomes, record-based assignments, and trade adjustments, is as follows:Eligibility and Early Entrants
College underclassmen
In the 2005 NBA draft, 61 college underclassmen initially declared for early entry, reflecting a surge in players—primarily juniors and sophomores, with some freshmen—opting to test the professional waters after strong collegiate performances.[18] This group represented a notable portion of the overall early-entry pool, driven by the NBA's eligibility rules allowing underclassmen without agents to participate in the pre-draft process while retaining the option to return to school.[18] The declaration process required players to notify the NBA by early May 2005, with the NCAA providing advisories on academic and eligibility implications to ensure informed decisions.[19] Withdrawals were permitted until June 21, 2005, one week before the draft, enabling many to gauge feedback from workouts and team interviews before committing fully.[20] Of the 61 college declarants, 23 ultimately withdrew and returned to their programs, preserving their NCAA eligibility for the following season.[21] Prominent examples included Andrew Bogut, a junior center at the University of Utah whose dominant 2004-05 campaign—averaging 20.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game—positioned him as the consensus top prospect, leading to his selection as the No. 1 overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.[22][23] Similarly, Chris Paul, a sophomore guard from Wake Forest known for his elite playmaking and scoring (15.3 points, 6.6 assists per game that season), declared after earning national acclaim and was drafted fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets.[24] Deron Williams, a junior from Illinois with averages of 12.5 points and 6.8 assists, and Raymond Felton, a junior point guard from North Carolina posting 12.9 points and 6.9 assists, rounded out a strong contingent of backcourt talent; Williams went third to the Utah Jazz, while Felton was taken fifth by the Charlotte Bobcats.[25][26][1] This draft class underscored emerging trends in early entry, with a focus on leveraging peak college production for NBA opportunities, though true one-and-done success remained rare prior to the league's 2006 age minimum rule—exemplified by freshman Marvin Williams of North Carolina, who averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds en route to the No. 2 pick by the Atlanta Hawks.[27] Many declarants, like junior forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu from George Washington (12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds), weighed the risks and chose to withdraw after positive feedback, returning for senior seasons to bolster their resumes.[28][29] Others, such as J.J. Barea from Northeastern, opted out and re-entered the following year, eventually being selected in the second round of the 2006 draft.[21] The 38 who stayed in the draft provided teams with versatile talent, though not all secured selections, highlighting the competitive nature of the process.[21]High school players
The 2005 NBA draft represented the final year in which American high school players could declare as early entrants without first attending college, following the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement in June 2005 that established a minimum age of 19 and required one year of post-high school experience for future drafts.[30] Declarations for the draft shared an early entry deadline in late April 2005, after which players had until June 21 to withdraw if they had not signed with an agent.[18] A total of nine high school players were ultimately selected, highlighting the end of the "prep-to-pro" era that had seen increasing numbers of young talents bypass traditional college paths since Kevin Garnett's pioneering entry in 1995.[11] These players, ineligible for NCAA competition upon declaring, transitioned directly to professional basketball based on scouting evaluations emphasizing raw athleticism, skill potential, and physical attributes over seasoned experience. For instance, Monta Ellis from Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, impressed scouts with his explosive scoring and playmaking, leading his team to a state championship while averaging 38.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 4.5 steals per game as a senior.[31] Similarly, Gerald Green out of Bradford Christian Academy in Massachusetts stood out for his highlight-reel dunks and perimeter shooting, earning McDonald's All-American honors despite questions about his defensive maturity. Amir Johnson, from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, was valued for his 6-foot-9 frame, rebounding instincts, and versatility as a forward, while Andray Blatche from South Kent School in Connecticut drew attention for his 6-foot-11 height, passing vision, and post potential as a raw big man.[1] The inclusion of high school players sparked significant controversy regarding their readiness for the NBA's physical and mental demands, with critics arguing that many lacked the maturity and development to succeed against professionals. Scouting reports often noted concerns over low maturity levels and incomplete games, contributing to a historically low success rate for direct high school entrants compared to college underclassmen or seniors—only a handful, like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, had become superstars, while others like Kwame Brown struggled with consistency and adaptation.[11] Green himself acknowledged the risks, stating, "There’s a lot of players that come out of high school that are not really prepared."[11] Following the draft, several second-round high school selections were assigned to the NBA Development League (now G League) for further seasoning, reflecting teams' strategies to nurture young talent outside the main roster. Notable among these were players like Ellis (selected 40th overall by the Golden State Warriors) and Blatche (49th by the Washington Wizards), who used minor league stints to build experience before earning NBA rotations. Johnson (56th by the Detroit Pistons) and Green (18th by the Boston Celtics, later traded to Houston) also benefited from structured development paths, though Green's immediate NBA exposure with the Rockets underscored the varied approaches to integrating prep stars.[32]International players
In the 2005 NBA draft, 11 international players filed as early-entry candidates, underscoring the league's burgeoning interest in global talent beyond traditional U.S. pathways.[33] These entrants typically hailed from professional environments in Europe and other regions, where FIBA regulations allowed players to sign pro contracts as early as age 16, enabling them to declare for the NBA draft upon reaching the league's minimum age of 18 during the draft year.[34] Prominent examples included Johan Petro from France, selected 25th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics after two seasons with Pau-Orthez in the French professional league, where he averaged double-digit points as a teenager.[35] Fran Vázquez of Spain, drafted 11th by the Orlando Magic, represented a high-profile case but ultimately never played in the NBA, choosing to stay with Real Madrid in Europe amid contract disputes and reluctance to relocate.[36] Similarly, Marcin Gortat from Poland went 57th to the Phoenix Suns after developing in Polish and German pro leagues, later becoming a key NBA center for over a decade.[1] These players often encountered significant hurdles, including visa processing delays, linguistic barriers, and the need to adjust from methodical European systems to the NBA's emphasis on athleticism and perimeter play, which prompted some, like Vázquez, to extend their overseas careers.[34] The draft also reflected broader trends, with NBA teams ramping up scouting operations across Europe and Asia amid a surge in international representation—roster spots for foreign-born players had climbed from 29 in 1997 to 81 by the 2004-05 season—positioning 2005 as a pivotal year for the league's globalization.[37]Draft Selections
First round picks
The first round of the 2005 NBA Draft featured 30 selections made by NBA teams on June 28, 2005, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1] The Milwaukee Bucks chose center Andrew Bogut from the University of Utah as the No. 1 overall pick, making him the first Australian-born player ever selected at the top of the draft. Bogut, standing at 7 feet tall, was praised in pre-draft scouting for his shot-blocking ability and passing skills as a big man during his junior season at Utah, where he averaged 18.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. A notable surprise occurred at No. 2, when the Atlanta Hawks opted for forward Marvin Williams from the University of North Carolina over the highly touted point guard Chris Paul, despite mock drafts projecting Paul as a top-two selection due to his playmaking and defensive prowess; UNC made history that night with four lottery picks from their 2005 national championship team: Marvin Williams (#2), Raymond Felton (#5), Sean May (#13), and Rashad McCants (#14).[38] Williams, a 6-foot-9 forward who contributed to North Carolina's 2005 national championship as a freshman, was selected for his versatile scoring and athleticism. The Utah Jazz followed at No. 3 with point guard Deron Williams from the University of Illinois, acquired via a pre-draft trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 6 pick and other assets. At No. 4, the New Orleans Hornets selected Chris Paul from Wake Forest, where he led the team in steals (2.4 per game) as a sophomore while averaging 18.8 points and 6.6 assists. Several draft-day trades affected player assignments, including the Phoenix Suns selecting Nate Robinson at No. 21 before trading his rights, along with Quentin Richardson, to the New York Knicks for Kurt Thomas and the rights to the 54th pick, and the Denver Nuggets choosing Jarrett Jack at No. 22 before sending him to the Portland Trail Blazers in a multi-player deal.[39] The full list of first-round selections is presented below, including player positions, heights (as measured at the pre-draft camp), and college or country of origin. Fran Vázquez, selected 11th by the Orlando Magic, is denoted with an asterisk (*) as he never appeared in an NBA game, instead returning to play professionally in Europe.[1]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | College/Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIL | Andrew Bogut | C | 7-0 | Utah (Australia) |
| 2 | ATL | Marvin Williams | F | 6-9 | North Carolina |
| 3 | UTA | Deron Williams | G | 6-3 | Illinois |
| 4 | NOH | Chris Paul | G | 6-0 | Wake Forest |
| 5 | CHA | Raymond Felton | G | 6-1 | North Carolina |
| 6 | POR | Martell Webster | G/F | 6-7 | USA (high school) |
| 7 | TOR | Charlie Villanueva | F | 6-11 | UConn |
| 8 | NYK | Channing Frye | F/C | 6-11 | Arizona |
| 9 | GSW | Ike Diogu | F | 6-9 | Arizona State |
| 10 | LAL | Andrew Bynum | C | 7-0 | USA (high school) |
| 11 | ORL | Fran Vázquez* | C | 6-11 | Spain |
| 12 | LAC | Yaroslav Korolev | F | 6-9 | Russia |
| 13 | CHA | Sean May | F/C | 6-9 | North Carolina |
| 14 | MIN | Rashad McCants | G | 6-4 | North Carolina |
| 15 | NJN | Antoine Wright | G/F | 6-7 | Texas A&M |
| 16 | TOR | Joey Graham | F | 6-7 | Oklahoma State |
| 17 | IND | Danny Granger | F | 6-8 | New Mexico |
| 18 | BOS | Gerald Green | G/F | 6-8 | USA (high school) |
| 19 | MEM | Hakim Warrick | F | 6-9 | Syracuse |
| 20 | DEN | Julius Hodge | G | 6-7 | NC State |
| 21 | PHO (traded to NYK) | Nate Robinson | G | 5-9 | Washington |
| 22 | DEN (traded to POR) | Jarrett Jack | G | 6-3 | Georgia Tech |
| 23 | SAC | Francisco García | G/F | 6-7 | Louisville |
| 24 | HOU | Luther Head | G | 6-3 | Illinois |
| 25 | SEA | Johan Petro | C | 7-0 | France |
| 26 | DET | Jason Maxiell | F | 6-7 | Cincinnati |
| 27 | POR | Linas Kleiza | F | 6-8 | Missouri |
| 28 | SAS | Ian Mahinmi | C | 6-11 | France |
| 29 | MIA | Wayne Simien | F | 6-9 | Kansas |
| 30 | NYK | David Lee | F | 6-9 | Florida |
Second round picks
The second round of the 2005 NBA draft featured selections from the 31st to 60th overall picks, typically comprising prospects viewed as developmental talents, including a notable contingent of high school graduates and international players who often faced uncertain paths to NBA rosters. Unlike first-round selections, which carried guaranteed contracts, second-round picks generally received non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed offers, leading many to sign training camp invitations, overseas deals, or G League (then NBDL) contracts to prove their value. This round highlighted the draft's depth, with frequent trades altering team acquisitions and underscoring the speculative nature of late selections.[1] The following table lists all 30 second-round picks, including player names, positions, heights, origins, and the teams that selected them (noting that several rights were traded on draft night).[1]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | ATL | Salim Stoudamire | G | 6-1 | Arizona |
| 32 | LAC | Daniel Ewing | G | 6-3 | Duke |
| 33 | NOH | Brandon Bass | F | 6-8 | LSU |
| 34 | UTA | C.J. Miles | G/F | 6-6 | USA (high school) |
| 35 | POR | Ricky Sánchez | F | 6-11 | Puerto Rico |
| 36 | MIL | Ersan İlyasova | F | 6-10 | Turkey |
| 37 | LAL | Ronny Turiaf | F/C | 6-10 | Gonzaga |
| 38 | ORL | Travis Diener | G | 6-1 | Marquette |
| 39 | LAL | Von Wafer | G | 6-5 | Florida State |
| 40 | GSW | Monta Ellis | G | 6-3 | USA (high school) |
| 41 | TOR | Roko Ukić | G | 6-5 | Croatia |
| 42 | GSW | Chris Taft | F/C | 6-10 | Pittsburgh |
| 43 | NJN | Mile Ilić | C | 7-1 | Serbia |
| 44 | ORL | Martynas Andriuškevičius | C | 7-3 | Lithuania |
| 45 | PHI | Lou Williams | G | 6-1 | USA (high school) |
| 46 | IND | Erazem Lorbek | F | 6-10 | Slovenia |
| 47 | MIN | Bracey Wright | G | 6-3 | Indiana |
| 48 | SEA | Mickaël Gelabale | F | 6-7 | France |
| 49 | WAS | Andray Blatche | F/C | 6-11 | USA (high school) |
| 50 | BOS | Ryan Gomes | F | 6-7 | Providence |
| 51 | UTA | Robert Whaley | C | 6-10 | Walsh University |
| 52 | DEN | Axel Hervelle | F | 6-9 | Belgium |
| 53 | BOS | Orien Greene | G | 6-4 | Louisiana |
| 54 | NYK | Dijon Thompson | G/F | 6-7 | UCLA |
| 55 | SEA | Lawrence Roberts | F | 6-9 | Mississippi State |
| 56 | DET | Amir Johnson | F | 6-9 | USA (high school) |
| 57 | PHO | Marcin Gortat | C | 6-11 | Poland |
| 58 | TOR | Uroš Slokar | F | 6-10 | Slovenia |
| 59 | ATL | Cenk Akyol | G | 6-6 | Turkey |
| 60 | DET | Alex Acker | G | 6-5 | Pepperdine |