1971 NBA draft explained

1971 NBA draft
Sport:Basketball
Date:March 29, 1971 (first 10 rounds)
March 30, 1971 (remaining rounds)
Location:New York City, New York
League:NBA
Overall:237
Rounds:19
First:Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers
Prev:1970
Next:1972

The 1971 NBA draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on March 29 and 30, 1971, before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. 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. 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.[1] The Cleveland Cavaliers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Portland Trail Blazers were awarded the second pick. 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. Prior to the start of the season, the San Diego Rockets and the San Francisco Warriors relocated to Houston, Texas, and Oakland, California, and became the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors respectively.[2] [3] The draft consisted of 19 rounds comprising the selection of 237 players. The league also hosted a supplemental hardship draft on September 20, 1971, for college underclassmen who wished to join the league.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

Austin Carr from the University of Notre Dame was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sidney Wicks from the University of California, Los Angeles, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was selected second by the Portland Trail Blazers.[4]

Spencer Haywood, the 30th pick, and Randy Smith, the 104th pick, were selected to both the All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game. Haywood was selected to four All-NBA Teams and five All-Star Games. He also won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980.[5] During his first and only season in the American Basketball Association (ABA), he won the ABA Most Valuable Player Award, and was selected to the ABA All-Star Game and All-ABA Team.[6] Smith was selected to one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.[7]

Artis Gilmore, the 117th pick, initially opted to play in the ABA. Gilmore spent five seasons with the Kentucky Colonels before finally joined the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged. His achievements include ABA Most Valuable Player Award in 1972, five All-ABA Team selections, five ABA All-Star Game selections and six NBA All-Star Game selections.[8] For his achievements, he was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.[9]

Fred Brown, the 6th pick, spent all of his 13-year playing career with the Sonics and was selected to one All-Star Game.[10] Carr, Wicks, and 11th pick Curtis Rowe are the only other players from this draft who were selected to an All-Star Game.[11] [12] [13] Phil Chenier, a college underclassman selected in the supplemental hardship draft, was also selected to both All-NBA Team and All-Star Game.[14] Two players drafted went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: 13th pick Jim Cleamons and 46th pick Dave Wohl.[15] [16]

Spencer Haywood was selected in the second round by the Buffalo Braves although he already played in the NBA with the Seattle SuperSonics in the previous season.[17] He left college basketball in 1969 with two years remaining in his college eligibility. At that time, the NBA prohibited the drafting or signing of a player before his college class had graduated. He then played in the ABA with the Denver Rockets for a season before controversially signed by the Sonics. The league and the other NBA teams opposed the move and argued Haywood should be prohibited to join and play with the Sonics. This led to a court case between the NBA against the Sonics and Haywood. He argued that he should be allowed to play because he was a "hardship case", due to his position as the sole wage earner in his family. He then won the case and was allowed to play late in the 1970–71 season. This led to the NBA allowing college underclassmen to enter the draft provided they could give evidence of "hardship". With the existing rules, Haywood was eligible for this year's draft, when his college class graduated. The Braves used one of their three second-round picks to select him, hoping that they would win the rights to sign him. However, he remained with the Sonics and never played for the Braves.[5] [18]

Key

Pos.GFC
PositionGuardForwardCenter

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11+GCleveland Cavaliers
12+F/CPortland Trail Blazers
13CBuffalo Braves
14FCincinnati Royals
15F/CAtlanta Hawks
16+GSeattle SuperSonics
17F/CSan Diego Rockets
18F/CSan Francisco WarriorsU.S. Armed Forces (AAU)[19]
19FBaltimore Bullets
110FBoston Celtics
111+FDetroit Pistons
112CPhiladelphia 76ers
113GLos Angeles Lakers
114GPhoenix Suns
115FChicago Bulls
116GNew York Knicks
117FMilwaukee Bucks
218CCleveland Cavaliers
219G/FBuffalo Braves
220F/CChicago Bulls (from Portland)
221GCincinnati Royals
222GAtlanta Hawks
223F/CSeattle SuperSonics
224G/FSan Diego Rockets
225G/FPortland Trail Blazers (from San Francisco)
226FBuffalo Braves
227FPortland Trail Blazers (from Baltimore)
228GBoston Celtics
229GDetroit Pistons
230^F/CBuffalo Braves (from Philadelphia)Seattle SuperSonics (NBA)
231FCincinnati Royals (from Los Angeles)
232F/CChicago Bulls (from Phoenix)
233GPhiladelphia 76ers (from Chicago)
234CNew York Knicks
235F/CCleveland Cavaliers (from Milwaukee)
336FCleveland Cavaliers
337G/FPortland Trail Blazers
338FCincinnati Royals
339GAtlanta Hawks
340CChicago Bulls (from Seattle)
341GCleveland Cavaliers (from San Diego)
342CPortland Trail Blazers (from San Francisco)
343GBaltimore Bullets
344F/CBoston Celtics
345F/CDetroit Pistons
346GPhiladelphia 76ers
347GChicago Bulls (from Los Angeles)
348GPhoenix Suns
349G/FChicago Bulls
350GNew York Knicks
351FMilwaukee Bucks
452FCleveland Cavaliers
453GBuffalo Braves
454GPortland Trail Blazers
455FCincinnati Royals
456GAtlanta Hawks
457CSeattle SuperSonics
458F/CSan Diego Rockets
459GGolden State Warriors
460FBaltimore Bullets
461CBoston Celtics
462FDetroit Pistons
463FPhiladelphia 76ers
464CLos Angeles Lakers
465FPhoenix Suns
466GChicago Bulls
467CNew York Knicks
468FMilwaukee Bucks
569GCleveland Cavaliers
570CBuffalo Braves
571FPortland Trail Blazers
572GCincinnati Royals
573CCincinnati Royals
574FSeattle SuperSonics
575GHouston Rockets
576FSan Francisco Warriors
577FBaltimore Bullets
578FHouston Rockets
579FDetroit Pistons
580FPhiladelphia 76ers
581FLos Angeles Lakers
582FPhoenix Suns
583GChicago Bulls
584FPhoenix Suns
585CMilwaukee Bucks
686CCleveland Cavaliers
687FBuffalo Braves
688FPortland Trail Blazers
689FCincinnati Royals
690GAtlanta Hawks
691FSeattle SuperSonics
692GHouston Rockets
693GSan Francisco Warriors
694GBaltimore Bullets
695FBoston Celtics
696GDetroit Pistons
697GPhiladelphia 76ers
698GLos Angeles Lakers
699FPhoenix Suns
6100GChicago Bulls
6101GNew York Knicks
6102FMilwaukee Bucks
7103CCleveland Cavaliers
7104G/FBuffalo Braves
7105GPortland Trail Blazers
7106GCincinnati Royals
7107FAtlanta Hawks
7108FSeattle SuperSonics
7109GHouston Rockets
7110FGolden State Warriors
7111FBaltimore Bullets
7112GBoston Celtics
7113GDetroit Pistons
7114FPhiladelphia 76ers
7115FLos Angeles Lakers
7116FPhoenix Suns
7117^CChicago Bulls
7118FNew York Knicks
7119GMilwaukee Bucks
8120GCleveland Cavaliers
8121FBuffalo Braves
8122FPortland Trail Blazers
8123FCincinnati Royals
8124FAtlanta Hawks
8125GSeattle SuperSonics
8126FHouston Rockets
8127FGolden State Warriors
8128FBaltimore Bullets
8129FBoston Celtics
8130GDetroit Pistons
8131FPhiladelphia 76ers
8132FLos Angeles Lakers
8133FPhoenix Suns
8134GChicago Bulls
8135FNew York Knicks
8136FMilwaukee Bucks
9137GCleveland Cavaliers
9138FBuffalo Braves
9139F/CPortland Trail Blazers
9140FAtlanta Hawks
9141GSeattle SuperSonics
9142FHouston Rockets
9143FGolden State Warriors
9144CBaltimore Bullets
9145GBoston Celtics
9146GDetroit Pistons
9147FPhiladelphia 76ers
9148FLos Angeles Lakers
9149FPhoenix Suns
9150FChicago Bulls
9151FNew York Knicks
9152GMilwaukee Bucks
10153FCleveland Cavaliers
10154GBuffalo Braves
10155GPortland Trail Blazers
10156GAtlanta Hawks
10157GSeattle SuperSonics
10158FHouston Rockets
10159FGolden State Warriors
10160CBaltimore Bullets
10161GBoston Celtics
10162GDetroit Pistons
10163GPhiladelphia 76ers
10164FLos Angeles Lakers
10165GPhoenix Suns
10166FChicago Bulls
10167GNew York Knicks
10168GMilwaukee Bucks
11169GCleveland Cavaliers
11170GBuffalo Braves
11171FPortland Trail Blazers
11172FAtlanta Hawks
11173GSeattle SuperSonics
11174FHouston Rockets
11175FBaltimore Bullets
11176FBoston Celtics
11177FDetroit Pistons
11178GPhiladelphia 76ers
11179FPhoenix Suns
11180GChicago Bulls
11181GNew York Knicks
11182GMilwaukee Bucks
12183CCleveland Cavaliers
12184FBuffalo Braves
12185CPortland Trail Blazers
12186FAtlanta Hawks
12187FHouston Rockets
12188GBaltimore Bullets
12189GBoston Celtics
12190FDetroit Pistons
12191GPhiladelphia 76ers
12192FPhoenix Suns
12193FChicago Bulls
12194FNew York Knicks
12195GMilwaukee Bucks
13196GCleveland Cavaliers
13197FBuffalo Braves
13198FAtlanta Hawks
13199FHouston Rockets
13200FBaltimore Bullets
13201FBoston Celtics
13202GDetroit Pistons
13203GPhiladelphia 76ers
13204FPhoenix Suns
13205GChicago Bulls
13206FNew York Knicks
13207GMilwaukee Bucks
14208GCleveland Cavaliers
14209CBuffalo Braves
14210GHouston Rockets
14211GBaltimore Bullets
14212FDetroit Pistons
14213GPhoenix Suns
14214GChicago Bulls
14215FNew York Knicks
14216CMilwaukee Bucks
15217GCleveland Cavaliers
15218FBuffalo Braves
15219FHouston Rockets
15220GBaltimore Bullets
15221FDetroit Pistons
15222FPhoenix Suns
15223FChicago Bulls
15224GMilwaukee Bucks
16225FCleveland Cavaliers
16226GBuffalo Braves
16227FHouston Rockets
16228GDetroit Pistons
16229GChicago Bulls
17230GBuffalo Braves
17231GHouston Rockets
17232GDetroit Pistons
18233GBuffalo Braves
18234FHouston Rockets
18235GDetroit Pistons
19236FHouston Rockets
19237FDetroit Pistons

Trades

Hardship draft

On September 10, 1971, the NBA hosted a supplemental hardship draft for college underclassmen who wish to join the league. Prior to the 1971 Draft, college underclassmen were not eligible to be drafted until their college class graduated. These underclassmen fulfilled the "hardship" criteria and were allowed to enter the draft early. This new rule came as a result of Spencer Haywood winning the court case against the NBA which allowed him to play in the NBA before his college class graduated.[5] [34] The teams selected in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. The team that made a selection must withdraw their equivalent selection in the 1972 draft.[35] The teams were allowed to not exercise their rights on this hardship draft and thus retained their full selection in the 1972 draft.

Three teams that were supposed to have the first three selections, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Buffalo Braves and Portland Trail Blazers, declined to exercise their rights. Therefore, the Cincinnati Royals had the first selection, which they used to select Nate Williams from Utah State University. Phil Chenier, a junior guard from the University of California, was selected by the Baltimore Bullets.[36] He is the only player from the hardship draft who was selected to All-NBA Team and All-Star Game.[14] Joe Hammond, who had not played high school and college basketball, was selected in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Lakers.[37] Hammond, who had played for the Allentown Jets in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) prior to the draft, had to apply as the "hardship case" because his college class could not graduate until 1972 if he had gone to the college.[38] From the six players that were available for selection, only Ed Owens from Weber State University was not selected by any NBA team.[39]

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11G/FCincinnati RoyalsUtah State (Jr.)
12CAtlanta HawksKentucky (So.)
13F/CGolden State WarriorsCreighton (Jr.)
14GBaltimore BulletsCalifornia (Jr.)
45GLos Angeles LakersAllentown Jets (EBA)

See also

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evolution of the Draft and Lottery. March 29, 2010. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405004402/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html. 5 April 2010. dead.
  2. Web site: Owners, fans waited years before Rockets took off. September 20, 2001. March 29, 2010. The Houston Chronicle. https://web.archive.org/web/20100504171038/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/first100/1050922.html. 4 May 2010 . live.
  3. News: Warriors take their hearts to Oakland. https://archive.today/20120629145729/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CKklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E_QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5914,743640. dead. June 29, 2012. The Miami News. August 3, 1971. March 29, 2010.
  4. Web site: Rookie of the Year. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090307081705/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html. 7 March 2009. dead.
  5. Web site: Spencer Haywood Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2010.
  6. Web site: Spencer Haywood Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 13, 2010.
  7. Web site: Randy Smith Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 28, 2010.
  8. Web site: Artis Gilmore Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100410075022/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html. 10 April 2010 . live.
  9. Web site: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2011 – Mullin, Rodman, Gilmore and VanDerveer Headline Distinguished Group . April 4, 2011 . Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . April 9, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110407072832/http://www.hoophall.com/news/2011/4/4/naismith-memorial-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-class-of.html . April 7, 2011 .
  10. Web site: Fred Brown Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325035304/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownfr01.html. 25 March 2010 . live.
  11. Web site: Austin Carr Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 13, 2010.
  12. Web site: Sidney Wicks Statistics . basketball-reference.com . April 13, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100623084653/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wickssi01.html . June 23, 2010 .
  13. Web site: Curtis Rowe Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100526212610/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rowecu01.html. 26 May 2010 . live.
  14. Web site: Phil Chenier Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325175344/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cheniph01.html. 25 March 2010 . live.
  15. Web site: Jim Cleamons Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. May 18, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100403085344/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/cleamji01c.html. 3 April 2010 . live.
  16. Web site: Dave Wohl Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. April 16, 2010.
  17. News: Basketball War Heats Up As Braves Draft Haywood. Mike Recht. March 30, 1971. March 29, 2010. The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Public Welfare Foundation.
  18. Web site: The Original 'Hardship' – Spencer Haywood, The First Player To Bolt Early For The Pros, Waits For History To Remember Him. Elliott. Almond. October 29, 1997. The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. March 29, 2010.
  19. News: Can Warriors Sign Hillman?. https://archive.today/20120629145730/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1948&dat=19710402&id=pdYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x-AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2753,439953. dead. June 29, 2012. The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. The McClatchy Company. April 2, 1971. March 30, 2010.
  20. Web site: Shaler Halimon Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  21. Web site: Chicago Bulls All-Time Transactions. NBA.com/Bulls. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100319081149/http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/alltime_transactions.html. 19 March 2010 . live.
  22. Web site: Jim Barnett Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  23. Web site: Golden State Warriors 2009–10 Media Guite: Draft & Transactions. NBA.com/Warriors. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100330164749/http://www.nba.com/warriors/media/0910_GSWMG_DraftTransactions.pdf. 2010-03-30. dead.
  24. Web site: Dorie Murrey Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100306082232/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/murredo01.html. 6 March 2010 . live.
  25. Web site: Bailey Howell Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  26. Web site: Clippers: All-Time Transactions. NBA.com/Clippers. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100319232102/http://www.nba.com/clippers/history/transactions.html. 2010-03-19. dead.
  27. Web site: Flynn Robinson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  28. Web site: Clem Haskins Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  29. Web site: Matt Guokas Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  30. Web site: McCoy McLemore Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100505142655/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mclemmc01.html. 5 May 2010 . live.
  31. Web site: Bob Boozer Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  32. Web site: Johnny Egan Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100403091339/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/eganjo01.html. 3 April 2010 . live.
  33. Web site: Mike Lynn Statistics. basketball-reference.com. March 29, 2010.
  34. Web site: Haywood made a stand, and today's players benefit from it. March 16, 2010. Steve. Aschburner. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 30, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108130034/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/03/16/haywood/. 2012-11-08. dead.
  35. News: Hardship Draft Set. The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. September 10, 1971. October 6, 2010.
  36. Web site: Draft History: Phil Chenier. Andrew. Rosen. June 25, 2008. NBA.com/Wizards. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 29, 2010.
  37. Web site: BASKETBALL; Legend of the Playground . Vincent M. . Mallozzi . November 11, 1990 . The New York Times Company . March 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100417141324/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/11/sports/basketball-legend-of-the-playground.html . 17 April 2010 . live .
  38. News: Payne, College Court Ace, Due to Go Into Pro Ranks. Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading Eagle Company. September 2, 1971. March 30, 2010.
  39. News: 5 Players Chosen In Hardship Draft. September 11, 1971. Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. Ludington Daily News, Inc.. March 29, 2010.