1972 NBA draft explained

1972 NBA draft
Sport:Basketball
Date:April 10, 1972 (first 10 rounds)
April 15, 1972 (remaining rounds)
Location:New York City, New York
League:NBA
Overall:198
Rounds:18
First:LaRue Martin, Portland Trail Blazers
Prev:1971
Next:1973

The 1972 NBA draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on April 10 and 15, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 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.[1] The Portland Trail Blazers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Buffalo Braves 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. As a result of last year's supplemental hardship draft, the Cincinnati Royals, the Atlanta Hawks, the Golden State Warriors and the Baltimore Bullets forfeited their first-round picks, while the Los Angeles Lakers forfeited their fourth round pick.[2] Prior to the start of the season, the Cincinnati Royals relocated and became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. The draft consisted of 18 rounds comprising the selection of 198 players.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

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, eight college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule, a similar case in which Spencer Haywood successfully argued in his court case against the NBA which allowed him to play in the NBA before his college class graduated.[3] [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] This was the first draft where college underclassmen were allowed to enter.

LaRue Martin from Loyola University Chicago was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Bob McAdoo, a college junior from the University of North Carolina, was selected second by the Buffalo Braves, and went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season.[6] McAdoo, 10th pick Paul Westphal, and 12th pick Julius Erving have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame,[7] and Erving was also named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[8] McAdoo was a 3-time NBA Scoring champion, and NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. He won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1975, had two All-NBA Team selections, and was a five-time All-Star.[9] Erving had left college in 1971 to play professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Virginia Squires. He joined the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged, playing 11 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. An NBA champion in 1983, he was MVP in 1981, won three ABA Most Valuable Player Awards, was All-ABA five times and All-NBA seven, and an ABA All-Star five times and NBA All-Star eleven.[10] [11]

Paul Westphal, the 10th pick, was named All-NBA four times, an All-Star five, and on the 1974 NBA championship Boston Celtics.[12] After retiring as a player, he went on to coach three NBA teams, most recently the Sacramento Kings.[13] The 16th pick, Jim Price, and 34th pick, Don Buse, were also selected to an All-Star Game.[14] [15] Chris Ford, the 17th pick, won the NBA championship in 1981 with the Celtics.[16] After retiring as a player, he went on to coach four NBA teams, including the Celtics.[17] Ralph Simpson, the 11th pick, had left college in 1970 to play professionally in the ABA with Denver Rockets. He was selected to five ABA All-Star Games and four All-ABA Teams before he joined the NBA in 1976.[18]

LaRue Martin is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history.[19] [20] [21] Martin only lasted four seasons in the league with a career scoring average of 5.3.[22] Martin and eight other first-round picks all had insignificant contributions to the league; none of them had career scoring averages above 9 points per game and only one of them lasted more than six seasons in the NBA. Two of the first-round picks, Erving and Simpson, had already played in the ABA before the draft. They stayed there until both leagues merged in 1976 and only Simpson played for the team that he got drafted to.[10] [18]

In the tenth round, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Krešimir Ćosić from Brigham Young University with the 144th pick. However, he opted to play another season in college before returning to Yugoslavia in 1973. Ćosić, who was also selected in the fifth round of the 1973 draft, had a successful career in Europe, winning numerous league and club titles, as well as six gold medals with the Yugoslavian national team. For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to the FIBA Hall of Fame.[23] [24]

Key

Pos.GFC
PositionGuardForwardCenter

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11CPortland Trail Blazers
12^F/CBuffalo Braves
13FCleveland Cavaliers
14F
15GPhiladelphia 76ers
16G/F
17G/FSeattle SuperSonics
18F/CNew York Knicks
19F
110^GBoston Celtics
111G/FChicago Bulls
112^G/FMilwaukee Bucks
113FLos Angeles Lakers
214FPortland Trail Blazers
215GBuffalo Braves
216+G
217G/FDetroit Pistons
218F/C
219FCincinnati Royals
220F/CHouston Rockets
221GAtlanta Hawks
222F
223GSeattle SuperSonics
224F/C
225F
226G
227FBoston Celtics
228C
229FMilwaukee Bucks
230F
331F/CPortland Trail Blazers
332FBuffalo Braves
333F
334+G
335G
336CPhiladelphia 76ers
337FHouston Rockets
338F
339GBaltimore Bullets
340FSeattle SuperSonics
341FNew York Knicks
342G/FPhoenix Suns
343FGolden State Warriors
344GBoston Celtics
345CChicago Bulls
346FMilwaukee Bucks
347CNew York Knicks
448FPortland Trail Blazers
449GBuffalo Braves
450FCleveland Cavaliers
451FDetroit Pistons
452GPhiladelphia 76ers
453GCincinnati Royals
454GHouston Rockets
455GAtlanta Hawks
456FBaltimore Bullets
457FSeattle SuperSonics
458GNew York Knicks
459FPhoenix Suns
460FGolden State Warriors
461CBoston Celtics
462GChicago Bulls
463FMilwaukee Bucks
564GPortland Trail Blazers
565FBuffalo Braves
566FCleveland Cavaliers
567GDetroit Pistons
568FKansas City–Omaha Kings
569FPhiladelphia 76ers
570GHouston Rockets
571GAtlanta Hawks
572FBaltimore Bullets
573GSeattle SuperSonics
574FNew York Knicks
575FPhoenix Suns
576GGolden State Warriors
577GBoston Celtics
578FChicago Bulls
579FMilwaukee Bucks
580FLos Angeles Lakers
681FPortland Trail Blazers
682FBuffalo Braves
683FCleveland Cavaliers
684FDetroit Pistons
685FPhiladelphia 76ers
686GKansas City–Omaha Kings
687FHouston Rockets
688FAtlanta Hawks
689FBaltimore Bullets
690FSeattle SuperSonics
691FNew York Knicks
692FPhoenix Suns
693GGolden State Warriors
694CBoston Celtics
695CChicago Bulls
696GBoston Celtics
697GLos Angeles Lakers
798FPortland Trail Blazers
799GBuffalo Braves
7100FCleveland Cavaliers
7101CDetroit Pistons
7102FKansas City–Omaha Kings
7103FPhiladelphia 76ers
7104FHouston Rockets
7105FAtlanta Hawks
7106FBaltimore Bullets
7107FSeattle SuperSonics
7108GNew York Knicks
7109GPhoenix Suns
7110FGolden State Warriors
7111GBoston Celtics
7112GChicago Bulls
7113G/FMilwaukee Bucks
8114GPortland Trail Blazers
8115FBuffalo Braves
8116FCleveland Cavaliers
8117GDetroit Pistons
8118FPhiladelphia 76ers
8119GKansas City–Omaha Kings
8120GHouston Rockets
8121GAtlanta Hawks
8122FBaltimore Bullets
8123GSeattle SuperSonics
8124GNew York Knicks
8125FPhoenix Suns
8126FGolden State Warriors
8127FBoston Celtics
8128GChicago Bulls
8129FMilwaukee Bucks
9130CPortland Trail Blazers
9131FBuffalo Braves
9132GCleveland Cavaliers
9133FDetroit Pistons
9134FKansas City–Omaha Kings
9135GPhiladelphia 76ers
9136FAtlanta Hawks
9137CBaltimore Bullets
9138GSeattle SuperSonics
9139FNew York Knicks
9140GPhoenix Suns
9141FGolden State Warriors
9142FChicago Bulls
9143GMilwaukee Bucks
10144CPortland Trail Blazers
10145CCleveland Cavaliers
10146GDetroit Pistons
10147FPhiladelphia 76ers
10148FKansas City–Omaha Kings
10149GAtlanta Hawks
10150FBaltimore Bullets
10151GSeattle SuperSonics
10152GNew York Knicks
10153FPhoenix Suns
10154GBoston Celtics
10155GChicago Bulls
10156GMilwaukee Bucks
11157GPortland Trail Blazers
11158GBuffalo Braves
11159FKansas City–Omaha Kings
11160GAtlanta Hawks
11161FBaltimore Bullets
11162CSeattle SuperSonics
11163FNew York Knicks
11164CPhoenix Suns
11165FBoston Celtics
11166GChicago Bulls
12167FBuffalo Braves
12168FKansas City–Omaha Kings
12169GAtlanta Hawks
12170GBaltimore Bullets
12171FSeattle SuperSonics
12172CPhoenix Suns
12173FBoston Celtics
12174FChicago Bulls
13175FPortland Trail Blazers
13176GBuffalo Braves
13177GKansas City–Omaha Kings
13178FBaltimore Bullets
13179GPhoenix Suns
13180GChicago Bulls
14181FPortland Trail Blazers
14182CBuffalo Braves
14183FKansas City–Omaha Kings
14184GBaltimore Bullets
14185FSeattle SuperSonics
14186GPhoenix Suns
14187GChicago Bulls
15188FPortland Trail Blazers
15189GBuffalo Braves
15190GKansas City–Omaha Kings
15191GBaltimore Bullets
15192GChicago Bulls
16193GPortland Trail Blazers
16194FBuffalo Braves
16195FKansas City–Omaha Kings
16196FChicago Bulls
17197GChicago Bulls
18198FChicago Bulls

Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1972 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

Trades

Early entrants

College underclassmen

The following college basketball players successfully applied for an NBA hardship.[41]

See also

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evolution of the Draft and Lottery. March 20, 2010. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20100321141751/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html. 21 March 2010. dead.
  2. News: 5 Players Chosen In Hardship Draft. September 11, 1971. Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. Ludington Daily News, Inc.. March 29, 2010.
  3. News: Off-Court Action Heavy. Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. April 7, 1972. April 1, 2010.
  4. Web site: Haywood made a stand, and today's players benefit from it. March 16, 2010. Steve. Aschburner. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108130034/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/steve_aschburner/03/16/haywood/. 2012-11-08. dead.
  5. Web site: Spencer Haywood Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 11, 2010.
  6. Web site: Rookie of the Year. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090307081705/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html. 7 March 2009. dead.
  7. Web site: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees. basketball-reference.com. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100510070651/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html. 10 May 2010 . live.
  8. Web site: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405004357/http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html. 5 April 2010. dead.
  9. Web site: Bob McAdoo Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2010.
  10. Web site: Julius Erving Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100317150711/http://www.nba.com/history/players/erving_bio.html. 17 March 2010 . live.
  11. Web site: Julius Erving Statistics. basketball-reference.com. June 10, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100608235040/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ervinju01.html. 8 June 2010 . live.
  12. Web site: Paul Westphal Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100413232940/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westppa01.html. 13 April 2010 . live.
  13. Web site: Paul Westphal Coaching Record . basketball-reference.com . April 8, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407061709/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/westppa01c.html . 7 April 2010 . dead .
  14. Web site: Jim Price Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  15. Web site: Don Buse Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  16. Web site: Chris Ford Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 8, 2010.
  17. Web site: Chris Ford Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. April 8, 2010.
  18. Web site: Ralph Simpson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 1, 2010.
  19. Web site: The 100 worst draft picks ever. David. Schoenfield. April 26, 2006. April 1, 2010. ESPN.com.
  20. The 10 biggest draft flops in NBA history. John. Hollinger. June 26, 2003. Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. April 1, 2010.
  21. Web site: NBA Draft: All-time busts. Jake. Curtis. June 29, 2005. San Francisco Chronicle. April 1, 2010.
  22. Web site: LaRue Martin Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100502011858/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/martila01.html. 2 May 2010 . live.
  23. Web site: Krešimir Ćosić Bio . February 24, 2007 . FIBA . November 29, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100419103436/http://www.halloffame.fiba.com/pages/eng/hof/indu/p/lid_9024_newsid/18008/playBio.html . April 19, 2010 .
  24. Web site: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees. basketball-reference.com. November 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101205010924/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html. 5 December 2010 . live.
  25. Web site: Otto Moore Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010.
  26. Web site: Jim Davis Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010.
  27. Web site: Pistons: All-Time Transactions. NBA.com/Pistons. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100320040345/http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/transactions_alltime.html. 20 March 2010 . live.
  28. Web site: Curtis Perry Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010.
  29. Web site: Rick Roberson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100326154032/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/roberri01.html. 26 March 2010 . live.
  30. Web site: Bob Rule Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010.
  31. Web site: John Tresvant Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100304215813/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tresvjo01.html. 4 March 2010 . live.
  32. Web site: Luther Rackley Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  33. Web site: Gus Johnson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100410075206/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsgu01.html. 10 April 2010 . live.
  34. Web site: Shaler Halimon Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  35. Web site: Golden State Warriors 2009–10 Media Guite: Draft & Transactions. NBA.com/Warriors. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100409213137/http://www.nba.com/warriors/media/0910_GSWMG_DraftTransactions.pdf. 2010-04-09. dead.
  36. Web site: Norm Van Lier Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100317120251/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vanlino01.html. 17 March 2010 . live.
  37. Web site: Chicago Bulls All-Time Transactions. NBA.com/Bulls. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100409074259/http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/alltime_transactions.html. 9 April 2010 . live.
  38. Web site: Leroy Ellis Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  39. Web site: Greg Howard Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010.
  40. Web site: Wally Anderzunas Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100304223246/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/anderwa01.html. 4 March 2010 . live.
  41. Web site: 1972 Underclassmen Hardship List . The Draft Review . August 4, 2007 . December 11, 2022.