1981 NBA draft explained

1981 NBA draft
Sport:Basketball
Date:June 9, 1981
Location:Felt Forum, New York City, New York
Network:USA Network
League:NBA
Overall:223
Rounds:10
First:Mark Aguirre, Dallas Mavericks
Prev:1980
Next:1982

The 1981 NBA draft was the 35th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network.[1] In this draft, 23 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 Dallas Mavericks won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Detroit Pistons were awarded the second pick.[3] 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 automatically eligible for selection. Before the draft, five college underclassmen announced that they would leave college early and would be eligible for selection.[4] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 223 players.

The Dallas Mavericks used their first pick to draft 1980 Naismith College Player of the Year Mark Aguirre from DePaul University. Aguirre, who had just finished his junior season in college, became the second underclassman to be drafted first overall, after Magic Johnson in 1979. The Detroit Pistons used the second overall pick to draft Isiah Thomas, a sophomore guard from Indiana University. Thomas had just won the 1981 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship with Indiana and was named as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The New Jersey Nets used the third pick to draft another underclassman, Buck Williams, from the University of Maryland. Williams went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and was also selected to the All-Star Game in his rookie season.[5] This draft marked the first time that the first three selections were college underclassmen.[6] Danny Ainge, the 1981 Wooden College Player of the Year, was selected in the second round with the 31st pick by the Boston Celtics.[7] Ainge had been playing professional baseball since 1979 with the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major League Baseball (MLB) while also playing college basketball at Brigham Young University. He reportedly preferred to continue his baseball career, but the Celtics successfully persuaded him to play basketball instead.[8] [9] [10] He is one of only twelve athletes who have played in both the NBA and MLB.[11] [12] [13]

Key

Pos.GFC
PositionGuardForwardCenter

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11+G/FDallas Mavericks
12^GDetroit Pistons
13F/CNew Jersey Nets
14G/F
15F
16F
17+F/C
18F/CSan Diego Clippers
19+G
110G/F
111GWashington Bullets
112+G/F
113F/C
114F/CIndiana Pacers
115G/FPortland Trail Blazers
116G
117G/F
118F
119G/FLos Angeles Lakers
120+F/CPhoenix Suns
121F/CMilwaukee BucksArizona State
122GPhiladelphia 76ers
123GBoston Celtics
224FDallas Mavericks
225G/F
226F
227FUtah Jazz
228G/F
229G/F
230F
231+G/F
232G
233F
234F
235F
236G
237GIndiana Pacers
238G
239F
240FNew York Knicks
241F
242F/CLos Angeles Lakers
243G/F
244F
245F
246FPhiladelphia 76ers
347CDallas Mavericks
348GWashington Bullets
349GNew Jersey Nets
350CPortland Trail Blazers
351GLos Angeles Lakers
352G/FAtlanta Hawks
353GSeattle SuperSonics
354FSan Diego Clippers
355G
356GGolden State Warriors
357F/C
358FKansas City Kings
359FCleveland Cavaliers
360FIndiana Pacers
361CPortland Trail Blazers
362FPhoenix Suns
363FNew York Knicks
364GSan Antonio Spurs
365FLos Angeles Lakers
366FPhoenix Suns
367FMilwaukee Bucks
368FPhiladelphia 76ers
369GBoston Celtics
470GDallas Mavericks
471CDetroit Pistons
472GNew Jersey Nets
473GUtah Jazz
474GCleveland Cavaliers
475GAtlanta Hawks
476G/F
477GSan Diego Clippers
478F
479FWashington Bullets
480GGolden State Warriors
481FHouston Rockets
482FKansas City Kings
483FIndiana Pacers
484FChicago Bulls
485FPortland Trail Blazers
486FNew York Knicks
487FSan Antonio Spurs
488G/FLos Angeles Lakers
489GDetroit Pistons
490FMilwaukee Bucks
491FBoston Celtics
492FPhiladelphia 76ers
593FDallas Mavericks
594CDetroit Pistons
595F/CNew Jersey Nets
596GCleveland Cavaliers
597FUtah Jazz
598FAtlanta Hawks
599FSeattle SuperSonics
5100FSan Diego Clippers
5101G
Denver Nuggets
5102F/CGolden State Warriors
5103G/FWashington Bullets
5104GKansas City Kings
5105GHouston Rockets
5106FIndiana Pacers
5107GPortland Trail Blazers
5108FChicago Bulls
5109FNew York Knicks
5110GSan Antonio Spurs
5111CLos Angeles Lakers
5112CPhoenix Suns
5113FMilwaukee Bucks
5114GPhiladelphia 76ers
5115F
Boston Celtics
6116FDallas Mavericks
6117FDetroit Pistons
6118GNew Jersey Nets
6119CUtah Jazz
6120GCleveland Cavaliers
6121GAtlanta Hawks
6122FSeattle SuperSonics
6123GSan Diego Clippers
6124FDenver Nuggets
6125FWashington Bullets
6126GGolden State Warriors
6127GHouston Rockets
6128GKansas City Kings
6129GIndiana Pacers
6130GChicago Bulls
6131FPortland Trail Blazers
6132GNew York Knicks
6133FSan Antonio Spurs
6134FLos Angeles Lakers
6135GPhoenix Suns
6136GMilwaukee Bucks
6137FBoston Celtics
6138GPhiladelphia 76ers
7139FDallas Mavericks
7140FDetroit Pistons
7141GNew Jersey Nets
7142FCleveland Cavaliers
7143FUtah Jazz
7144CAtlanta Hawks
7145GSeattle SuperSonics
7146GSan Diego Clippers
7147GDenver Nuggets
7148FGolden State Warriors
7149FWashington Bullets
7150GKansas City Kings
7151GHouston Rockets
7152FIndiana Pacers
7153GPortland Trail Blazers
7154GChicago Bulls
7155GNew York Knicks
7156FSan Antonio Spurs
7157CLos Angeles Lakers
7158FPhoenix Suns
7159CMilwaukee Bucks
7160FPhiladelphia 76ers
7161FBoston Celtics
8162GDallas Mavericks
8163FDetroit Pistons
8164FNew Jersey Nets
8165FUtah Jazz
8166GCleveland Cavaliers
8167CAtlanta Hawks
8168FSan Diego Clippers
8169GDenver Nuggets
8170GWashington Bullets
8171CGolden State Warriors
8172GHouston Rockets
8173GKansas City Kings
8174CIndiana Pacers
8175FChicago Bulls
8176FPortland Trail Blazers
8177FNew York Knicks
8178FSan Antonio Spurs
8179GLos Angeles Lakers
8180FPhoenix Suns
8181GMilwaukee Bucks
8182FBoston Celtics
8183FPhiladelphia 76ers
9184CDallas Mavericks
9185FDetroit Pistons
9186FNew Jersey Nets
9187CCleveland Cavaliers
9188FUtah Jazz
9189FAtlanta Hawks
9190FSan Diego Clippers
9191GDenver Nuggets
9192FGolden State Warriors
9193GWashington Bullets
9194GKansas City Kings
9195FIndiana Pacers
9196FPortland Trail Blazers
9197GChicago Bulls
9198GNew York Knicks
9199F
San Antonio Spurs
9200FPhoenix Suns
9201FMilwaukee Bucks
9202CPhiladelphia 76ers
9203FBoston Celtics
10204GDallas Mavericks
10205FDetroit Pistons
10206GNew Jersey Nets
10207FUtah Jazz
10208GCleveland Cavaliers
10209CAtlanta Hawks
10210GSan Diego Clippers
10211GDenver Nuggets
10212FWashington Bullets
10213FGolden State Warriors
10214GKansas City Kings
10215FIndiana Pacers
10216GChicago Bulls
10217GPortland Trail Blazers
10218CNew York Knicks
10219GSan Antonio Spurs
10220GPhoenix Suns
10221GMilwaukee Bucks
10222GBoston Celtics
10223CPhiladelphia 76ers

Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1981 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

PlayerPos.NationalitySchool/club team
CTexas Southern (Sr.)
C/FNew Mexico (Sr.)

Trades

Draft-day trades

The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft.

Pre-draft trades

Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of picks between the teams.

Draftee career notes

Isiah Thomas is the only player from this draft who has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[56] He was also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.[57] He spent his entire 13-year career with the Detroit Pistons and won two NBA championships. He also one Finals Most Valuable Player Award, five consecutive All-NBA Team selections and twelve consecutive All-Star Game selections.[58] After retiring as a player, Thomas went on to have a coaching career with the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.[59] Mark Aguirre, the first pick, won two NBA championships with Thomas and the Pistons. His other achievements include three All-Star Game selections.[60] Buck Williams, the third pick, was selected to one All-NBA Team, three All-Star Games and four All-Defensive Teams.[5] Tom Chambers, the eighth pick, was selected to two All-NBA Teams and four All-Star Games.[61] Five other players from this draft, seventh pick Steve Johnson, ninth pick Rolando Blackman, 12th pick Kelly Tripucka, 20th pick Larry Nance and 31st pick Danny Ainge, were also selected to at least one All-Star Game each.[7] [62] [63] [64] [65] Eddie Johnson, the 29th pick, is the only other player from this draft who has won an annual NBA award as a player; he won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1989.[66] Aside from Thomas, four other players drafted also went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: Danny Ainge, 11th pick Frank Johnson, 14th pick Herb Williams and 179th pick Jay Triano.[67] [68] [69] [70]

In the eighth round, the Golden State Warriors used the 171st pick to selected Yasutaka Okayama, a Japanese basketball player who was measured at 7inchesft8inchesin (ftin) and 330lb.[71] [72] Okayama, who attended and played junior varsity basketball at the University of Portland for one and a half years in 1976 as an exchange student, declined to try out for the Warriors and never played in the NBA.[73] He is the tallest person ever drafted and would have been the tallest player in the NBA had he played in the league.[74] The San Diego Clippers used their last pick in the draft, the 210th pick, to draft Tony Gwynn, who starred at both baseball and basketball at San Diego State University.[71] Gwynn was also selected in the 1981 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres. He opted to play baseball and ended up playing 20 seasons with the Padres. He received multiple awards and honors during his playing career, is one of only 28 players in MLB history with 3,000 career hits, and was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame at his first opportunity in .[75] Kenny Easley, a college football star from the University of California, Los Angeles, was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 216th pick in the 10th round.[76] Easley, who was selected fourth in the 1981 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Seattle Seahawks, played seven seasons with the Seahawks and received several awards and honors before retiring in 1988 due to kidney problems that eventually led to a transplant.[77] [78]

Early entrants

College underclassmen

The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[79]

See also

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Let's go to the tape. Bill. Simmons. July 12, 2002. ESPN.com. December 1, 2010.
  2. Web site: Evolution of the Draft and Lottery. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101203184544/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html. 3 December 2010. dead.
  3. Web site: Mavericks Win First Draft Pick. May 1, 1981. The New York Times . December 1, 2010.
  4. Web site: Early Entry Candidate History. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20090914112043/http://www.nba.com/news/lottery02_earlyentry_history.html. September 14, 2009. dead.
  5. Web site: Buck Williams Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 1, 2010.
  6. News: Draft is not for everybody. Michael. Wilbon. April 15, 1993. The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Journal Company. December 1, 2010.
  7. Web site: Danny Ainge Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  8. Web site: Danny Ainge Statistics and History. baseball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  9. News: Celtics Gamble on Danny Ainge. Howarn. Ulman. June 10, 1981. Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine. Sun Media Group. December 5, 2010.
  10. Back in the game. May 9, 2003. Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. December 5, 2010. November 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103163700/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/05/09/ainge_celtics_ap/. dead.
  11. News: Sports Hot Line. November 1, 1981. Beaver County Times. Beaver, Pennsylvania. Calkins Media. December 5, 2010.
  12. Web site: Hendrickson Becomes Latest to Play In Both NBA and Major League Baseball . August 9, 2002 . WSU Cougars . CBS Interactive . December 5, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718123002/http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/080902aaa.html . July 18, 2011 .
  13. News: The Inside Track; Morning Briefing; New Coach Pulls the Strings in Washington. Jerry. Crowe. August 13, 2002. Los Angeles Times. December 5, 2010. March 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120302215918/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/148709171.html?dids=148709171:148709171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+13%2C+2002&author=Jerry+Crowe&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=The+Inside+Track%3B+MORNING+BRIEFING%3B+New+Coach+Pulls+the+Strings+in+Washington&pqatl=google. dead.
  14. Web site: Ray Blume Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  15. Web site: Al Wood Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  16. Web site: Kelvin Ransey Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  17. Web site: Lionel Hollins Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  18. Web site: Terry Furlow Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  19. Web site: Slick Watts Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  20. Web site: Joe Meriweather Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  21. Web site: Lonnie Shelton Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  22. Web site: Kiki Vandeweghe Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  23. Web site: Maurice Lucas Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  24. Web site: Raymond Townsend Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  25. Web site: Leon Douglas Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  26. Web site: James Edwards Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  27. Web site: Scott Wedman Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  28. Web site: Randy Smith Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101204233307/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithra01.html. 4 December 2010 . live.
  29. Web site: George Johnson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  30. Web site: Chris Ford Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  31. Web site: Clemon Johnson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  32. Web site: John Williamson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  33. Web site: Larry Kenon Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  34. Web site: Dennis Awtrey Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  35. Web site: Mark Landsberger Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  36. Web site: Kenny Carr Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  37. Web site: Tom Burleson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  38. Web site: Ron Lee Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  39. Web site: Tiny Archibald Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  40. Web site: Cedrick Hordges Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  41. Web site: Jeff Ruland Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 8, 2010.
  42. Web site: Bernard King Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  43. Web site: Robert Smith Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  44. Web site: Elvin Hayes Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  45. Web site: Wayne Robinson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  46. Web site: Jim Brewer Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  47. Web site: Dave Corzine Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  48. Web site: Wiley Peck Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  49. Web site: Otis Birdsong Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  50. Web site: Len Elmore Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  51. Web site: Kevin Kunnert Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  52. Web site: Dave Robisch Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  53. Web site: Jim Cleamons Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  54. Web site: Rudy White Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  55. Web site: Geoff Crompton Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 11, 2010.
  56. Web site: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101205010924/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html. 5 December 2010 . live.
  57. Web site: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405004357/http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html. April 5, 2010. dead.
  58. Web site: Isiah Thomas Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 5, 2010.
  59. Web site: Isiah Thomas Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  60. Web site: Isiah Thomas Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101115185053/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aguirma01.html. 15 November 2010 . live.
  61. Web site: Tom Chambers Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  62. Web site: Steve Johnson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  63. Web site: Rolando Blackman Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  64. Web site: Kelly Tripucka Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  65. Web site: Larry Nance Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  66. Web site: Eddie Johnson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  67. Web site: Danny Ainge Coaching Record . basketball-reference.com . December 5, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101223091804/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/aingeda01c.html . December 23, 2010 .
  68. Web site: Frank Johnson Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  69. Web site: Herb Williams Coaching Record . basketball-reference.com . December 5, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010211134020/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bio/herb_williams.html . February 11, 2001 .
  70. Web site: Jay Triano Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. December 7, 2010.
  71. Web site: Draft Oddities. Randy. Kim. June 19, 2003. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101202215648/http://www.nba.com/draft2003/draft_oddities_030619.html. 2 December 2010. dead.
  72. News: Chibi Not A Chibi. June 11, 1981. Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading Eagle Company. December 5, 2010.
  73. News: 7-foot 7 and a judo expert too. October 29, 1983. Tri-City Herald. Kennewick, Washington. The McClatchy Company. December 5, 2010. June 29, 2012. https://archive.today/20120629141045/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vl0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1243,7882560. dead.
  74. Web site: Former NBA player, humanitarian Manute Bol dies at age 47. June 19, 2010. NY Daily News. December 5, 2010. June 29, 2012. https://archive.today/20120629141059/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-06-19/sports/27067656_1_sudan-sunrise-sudanese-giant-dinka-tribe. dead.
  75. Web site: Tony Gwynn Statistics and History. baseball-reference.com. December 5, 2010.
  76. News: Nets Choose UCLA Manager In Draft. June 10, 1981. The Spartanburg Herald. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Public Welfare Foundation. December 5, 2010.
  77. Web site: Kenny Easley Football Statistics. pro-football-reference.com. December 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101030005507/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EaslKe00.htm. 30 October 2010 . live.
  78. Web site: New Kidney for Easley. June 9, 1990. The New York Times . December 5, 2010.
  79. Web site: 1981 Underclassmen . The Draft Review . August 4, 2007 . December 13, 2022.