1984 NBA draft

1984 NBA draft
General information
SportBasketball
Date(s)June 19, 1984
LocationFelt Forum, Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)[1]
Network(s)USA Network
Overview
228 total selections in 10 rounds
LeagueNBA
First selectionAkeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
← 1983
1985 →

The 1984 NBA draft was the 37th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, on June 19, 1984, before the 1984–85 season.[2] The draft is generally considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in NBA history,[3][4][5] with four Hall of Famers being drafted in the first sixteen picks and five overall. It included first pick Akeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network.[6]

In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The Houston Rockets won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Portland Trail Blazers, who obtained the Indiana Pacers' first-round pick in a trade, were awarded the second pick.[7] 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. The Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded an extra first-round draft pick as compensation for the draft picks traded away by their previous owner, Ted Stepien.[8]

A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was automatically eligible for selection. Before the draft, five college underclassmen announced that they would leave college early and would be eligible for selection.[9] Prior to the draft, the San Diego Clippers relocated to Los Angeles and became the Los Angeles Clippers.[10] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 228 players. This draft was the last to be held before the creation of the draft lottery in 1985.[11] It was the first NBA draft to be overseen by David Stern, who continued as the commissioner of the league for the following 30 years.

  1. ^ Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695.
  2. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 20, 1984). "Olajuwon Is No.1 Pick in College Draft". The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  3. ^ NBA Best Draft classes CNN
  4. ^ Boozell, Joe. "The List: Top five draft classes in NBA history". NBA.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  5. ^ "25 of the best NBA Draft picks ever". CBSSports.com. August 18, 2015. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  6. ^ Simmons, Bill (July 12, 2002). "Let's go to the tape". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  7. ^ DuPree, David (June 25, 2007). "25 drafts, dozens of stars, one Michael". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  8. ^ "Ted Stepien, N.B.A. Owner, Is Dead at 82". The New York Times Company. September 15, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  9. ^ "Early Entry Candidate History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  10. ^ "Clippers move into LA Sports Arena". Times Daily. Florence, Alabama: Tennessee Valley Printing Co., Inc. May 16, 1984. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  11. ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.