The1980 NBA draft was the 34th annualdraft of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 10, 1980, at theSheraton Centre Hotel & Towers,[1] before the1980–81 season. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S.college basketball players and othereligible 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 acoin flip.[2] TheBoston Celtics, who obtained theDetroit Pistons' first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded thefirst overall pick, while theUtah Jazz were awarded the second pick.[3] The Celtics then traded the first pick to theGolden State Warriors before the draft. The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in theprevious season. An expansion franchise, theDallas Mavericks, took part in the NBA Draft for the first time and were assigned the eleventh pick in each round. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was automaticallyeligible for selection. Before the draft, five collegeunderclassmen announced that they would leave college early and would be eligible for selection.[4] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 214 players. This draft was also notable for being the first NBA draft to air on national TV, with the event being aired on theUSA Network; it would continue airing on the USA Network for a few more years after this one up until the1985 NBA draft occurred, which had the event start airing onTBS instead.[5]
Nine players drafted went on to have a coaching career in the NBA. Kevin McHale served as the interim head coach for the Timberwolves in2005 and in the2008–2009 season before working as head coach of theHouston Rockets for four and a half seasons.[14]Mike Woodson, the 12th pick, coached theAtlanta Hawks for six seasons.[15]Larry Drew, the 17th pick, worked as Woodson's assistant before he was promoted to the head coaching position in2010.[16]Bill Hanzlik, the 20th pick, coached theDenver Nuggets in the1997–1998 season, compiling an 11–71 record, the worst full-season record for a rookie coach in NBA history.[17]Butch Carter, the 37th pick, coached theToronto Raptors for two and a half seasons.[18]Terry Stotts, the 38th pick, coached both the Atlanta Hawks andMilwaukee Bucks for two seasons, and thePortland Trail Blazers for nine seasons.[19]Kurt Rambis, the 58th pick, who played nine years for theLos Angeles Lakers, served as the team's interim head coach in1999. After working as the Lakers assistant coach for seven years, Rambis received his first permanent head coaching position with theMinnesota Timberwolves in2009.[20] Two other players,Kiki Vandeweghe andKenny Natt, had brief spells as interim head coaches in the NBA, each of which lasted less than one season.[21][22] Woodson would later go on to be the first person in NBA history to become head coach of the team that drafted him when he took over as head coach of theNew York Knicks on an interim basis in March 2012.
Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of picks between the teams.
a 123 On June 9, 1980, theGolden State Warriors acquired the first and the thirteenth pick from theBoston Celtics in exchange forRobert Parish and the third pick.[33][34] Previously, the Celtics acquired two first-round picks on September 6, 1979, from theDetroit Pistons in exchange forBob McAdoo. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Celtics signedM. L. Carr on July 24, 1979.[35][36] Previously, the Pistons acquired 1980 and 1982 first-round picks on July 12, 1979, from theWashington Bullets as compensation for the signing ofKevin Porter as a free agent.[37] The Warriors used the picks to draft Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown. The Celtics used the pick to draft Kevin McHale.
d On September 21, 1979, the San Diego Clippers acquired a first-round pick from theCleveland Cavaliers in exchange forRandy Smith.[41] The Clippers used the pick to draft Michael Brooks.
e On July 16, 1979, the Washington Bullets acquired a first-round pick from theHouston Rockets as compensation for the signing ofTom Henderson as a free agent.[42] The Bullets used the pick to draft Wes Matthews.
f On February 4, 1980, the Detroit Pistons acquiredKent Benson and a first-round pick from theMilwaukee Bucks in exchange forBob Lanier.[43] The Pistons used the pick to draft Larry Drew.
h On February 15, 1980, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquiredDon Ford and a 1980 first-round pick from theLos Angeles Lakers in exchange forButch Lee and a 1982 first-round pick.[45] The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Chad Kinch.
i On February 1, 1980, theDenver Nuggets acquiredAlex English and a first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange forGeorge McGinnis.[46] Previously, the Pacers acquired the pick on July 19, 1978, from the Boston Celtics in exchange forEarl Tatum.[47] The Nuggets used the pick to draft Carl Nicks.
j On October 9, 1978, the Golden State Warriors acquired a second-round pick from the Detroit Pistons in exchange forRickey Green.[48] The Warriors used the pick to draft Larry Smith.
k On October 9, 1978, theChicago Bulls acquiredOliver Mack, 1980 and 1981 second-round picks from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange forMark Landsberger.[49] Previously, the Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick on August 5, 1976, from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 1978 first-round pick and a 1977 second-round pick. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Jazz signedGail Goodrich on July 19, 1976.[50] The Bulls used the pick to draft Sam Worthen.
For the third year in a row, no underclassmen that qualified for entry in the NBA draft would withdraw their entry into the event, with this year's draft seeing an improvement with seven official players that qualified for the event. The followingcollege basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[51]
Bobby Turner of theLouisville Cardinals was granted an exemption to stay eligible for the draft despite him not declaring after he dropped out prior to his senior season (with him ultimately being selected by theNew York Knicks in the seventh round this year).[52]
The 1980 NBA draft is considered to be the third ever NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned in the Sheraton Centre Hotel's Grand Ballroom[53]), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands withLarry O'Brien, the NBA's commissioner.[5] The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top six prospects at the time.[54] As such, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.[53]
^Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according toFIBA rules.
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United States
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Kiki VanDeWeghe – SF,UCLA