| 1991 NBA draft | |
| Sport: | Basketball |
| Date: | June 26, 1991 |
| Location: | Felt Forum (New York City, New York) |
| Network: | TNT |
| League: | NBA |
| Overall: | 54 |
| Rounds: | 2 |
| First: | Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets) |
| Prev: | 1990 |
| Next: | 1992 |
The 1991 NBA draft took place on June 26, 1991, in New York City, New York. Larry Johnson was selected first overall; he won the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year award and as a two-time All-Star, was the first player to represent the Charlotte Hornets franchise at an All-Star game.
Dikembe Mutombo was selected fourth overall, and became one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight-time All-Star, and played in the league for 18 seasons.[1]
Other notable picks include Kenny Anderson, Steve Smith, Terrell Brandon, Dale Davis and Chris Gatling, who all made All-Star appearances, but with the exception of Brandon at two, each only appeared once.
The remaining picks in the first round failed to make an impact. Billy Owens was selected by the Sacramento Kings but refused to sign with them. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for high-scoring guard Mitch Richmond, a trade that has been regarded as one of the most lopsided in NBA history. Owens was solid but unspectacular in his career, while Richmond was a six-time All-Star and was the 1989 NBA Rookie of the Year.[2] Luc Longley was a three-time NBA Championship winner with the Chicago Bulls and held the record for playing the most NBA games by an Australian (broken by Andrew Bogut during the 2015–16 season).
As of 2011, two players are deceased: Bobby Phills and Bison Dele. Phills died in a car accident involving teammate David Wesley. Dele disappeared in the South Pacific in July 2002, with French authorities claiming that Dele's brother had killed Dele and his girlfriend and thrown them overboard the catamaran they were travelling on. Dele's brother committed suicide in September 2002.
This was the last draft held in New York City until 2001.
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
These eligible players were not selected in the 1991 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG | Fayetteville State (Sr.) | ||
| PG | Dartmouth (Sr.) | ||
| SG | Minnesota (Sr.) | ||
| C/PF | Adelaide 36ers (Australia) | ||
| PG | Michigan (Sr.) | ||
| PG | Virginia (Sr.) | ||
| SG/SF | Kentucky Wesleyan (Sr.) | ||
| PG/SG | Delaware State (Sr.) | ||
| C | Ole Miss (Sr.) | ||
| SG | S.C. Juventus Phonola Caserta (Italy) | ||
| PF | Nebraska (Sr.) | ||
| C | Minnesota–Duluth (Sr.) | ||
| SF | Kentucky (Sr.) | ||
| SG | Louisville (Sr.) | ||
| PG | East Tennessee State (Sr.) | ||
| SG | New Mexico State (Sr.) | ||
| C | Maryland (Sr.) | ||
| F | UCLA (Sr.) | ||
| PG | USC (Sr.) | ||
| SF | Coppin State (Sr.) | ||
| C | Augustana (South Dakota) (Sr.) | ||
| SG | Eastern Michigan (Sr.) | ||
| SG | Eastern Michigan (Sr.) | ||
| PG | Northern Illinois (Sr.) | ||
| PF/C | Stetson (Sr.) | ||
| SF | South Carolina State (Sr.) | ||
The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[3]
Kenny Anderson – G, Georgia Tech (sophomore) Terrell Brandon – G, Oregon (junior) Tony Farmer – F, Nebraska (junior) Jerome Harmon – G, Louisville (junior) Donald Hodge – C, Temple (junior) Anderson Hunt – G, UNLV (junior) Raoul Hutchens – G, Whittier (junior) Ty Moseler – G, Waukesha County Tech (sophomore) Chancellor Nichols – F, James Madison (junior) Billy Owens – F, Syracuse (junior) Brian Williams – F/C, Arizona (junior)The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
| Player | class=unsortable | Note ! | class=unsortable | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Dumas | Hapoel Holon (Israel) | Left Oklahoma State in 1990; playing professionally since the 1990–91 season | [4] | ||
| Stanley Roberts | Real Madrid (Spain) | Left LSU in 1990; playing professionally since the 1990–91 season | [5] |