The 1980 NBA draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 10, 1980, before the 1980–81 season. 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.[1] The Boston Celtics, who obtained the Detroit Pistons' first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Utah Jazz were awarded the second pick.[2] The Celtics then traded the first pick to the Golden 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 the previous season. An expansion franchise, the Dallas 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 automatically eligible for selection. Before the draft, five college underclassmen announced that they would leave college early and would be eligible for selection.[3] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 214 players. This draft has the distinction of being the first to be NBA Draft to be televised.
Nine players drafted went on to have a coaching career in the NBA. Kevin McHale served as the interim head coach for the Timberwolves in 2005 and in the 2008–2009 season, as well as currently working as head coach of the Houston Rockets.[12]Mike Woodson, the 12th pick, coached the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons.[13]Larry Drew, the 17th pick, worked as Woodson's assistant before he was promoted to the head coaching position in 2010.[14]Bill Hanzlik, the 20th pick, coached the Denver Nuggets in the 1997–1998 season, compiling an 11–71 record, the worst full-season record for a rookie coach in NBA history.[15]Butch Carter, the 37th pick, coached the Toronto Raptors for two and a half seasons.[16]Terry Stotts, the 38th pick, coached both the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons, and is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.[17]Kurt Rambis, the 58th pick, who played nine years for the Los Angeles Lakers, served as the team's interim head coach in 1999. After working as the Lakers assistant coach for seven years, Rambis received his first permanent head coaching position with the Minnesota Timberwolvesin2009.[18] Two other players, Kiki Vandeweghe and Kenny Natt, had brief spells as interim head coaches in the NBA, each of which lasted less than one season.[19][20] 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 the New 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, the Golden State Warriors acquired the first and the thirteenth pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Robert Parish and the third pick.[22][23] Previously, the Celtics acquired two first-round picks on September 6, 1979 from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Bob McAdoo. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Celtics signed M. L. Carr on July 24, 1979.[24][25] Previously, the Pistons acquired 1980 and 1982 first-round picks on July 12, 1979 from the Washington Bullets as compensation for the signing of Kevin Porter as a free agent.[26] 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 the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Randy Smith.[30] The Clippers used the pick to draft Michael Brooks.
e On July 16, 1979, the Washington Bullets acquired a first-round pick from the Houston Rockets as compensation for the signing of Tom Henderson as a free agent.[31] The Bullets used the pick to draft Wes Matthews.
f On February 4, 1980, the Detroit Pistons acquired Kent Benson and a first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Bob Lanier.[32] The Pistons used the pick to draft Larry Drew.
h On February 15, 1980, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Don Ford and a 1980 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Butch Lee and a 1982 first-round pick.[34] The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Chad Kinch.
i On February 1, 1980, the Denver Nuggets acquired Alex English and a first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for George McGinnis.[35] Previously, the Pacers acquired the pick on July 19, 1978 from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Earl Tatum.[36] 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 for Rickey Green.[37] The Warriors used the pick to draft Larry Smith.
k On October 9, 1978, the Chicago Bulls acquired Oliver Mack, 1980 and 1981 second-round picks from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Mark Landsberger.[38] 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 signed Gail Goodrich on July 19, 1976.[39] The Bulls used the pick to draft Sam Worthen.
"1980 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
"1977–1981 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
^"Rookie of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Kevin McHale Bio Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
^"The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Joe Barry Carroll Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Kiki Vandeweghe Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Larry Drew Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Kiki Vandeweghe Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Bob McAdoo Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Pistons Get McAdoo as Compensation". The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Journal Company. September 6, 1979. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
^"Randy Smith Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Truck Robinson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Butch Lee Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
^"Alex English Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
