1978 NBA draft

1978 NBA draft
General information
SportBasketball
Date(s)June 9, 1978
LocationPlaza Hotel (New York City, New York)
Overview
202 total selections in 10 rounds
LeagueNBA
First selectionMychal Thompson (Portland Trail Blazers)
← 1977
1979 →

The 1978 NBA draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York,[1] before the 1978–79 season. In this draft, 22 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.[2] The Indiana Pacers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Kansas City Kings, who obtained the New Jersey Nets' first-round pick in a trade, were awarded the second pick.[3] The Pacers then traded the first pick to the Portland Trail Blazers before the draft. 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. 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, five college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule.[4] 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.[5] Prior to the start of the season, the Buffalo Braves relocated to San Diego and became the San Diego Clippers.[6] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 202 players.

  1. ^ Robert D. Bradley (May 2, 2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  3. ^ "Pacers Beat Kings in NBA Draft Flip, Hope Bird Is Up For Early Flight". Washington Post. February 27, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Early Entry Candidate History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  5. ^ "Spencer Haywood Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  6. ^ "This Date in History–July". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.