Andrew Pace
The 1980 NBA draft was held on June 10, 1980, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel & Towers, marking the 34th annual draft. This draft was notable for being the third to utilize the green room experience, where anticipated draftees sat with their families and representatives, waiting to be called to the podium to meet the NBA commissioner and conduct media interviews. The Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz held the first two picks, with the Golden State Warriors ultimately securing the number one pick, Joe Barry Carroll. The Chicago Bulls also made a notable trade, acquiring the 1980 and 1981 second-round picks from the Los Angeles Lakers.
1980 NBA Draft
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 10, 1980 |
| Location | New York City, New York |
| First pick | Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Warriors |
| Number of players selected | 224 |
| Notable players | Kevin McHale, Andrew Toney, Kiki Vandeweghe, Mike O'Koren, Jeff Ruland |
| Notable selections | Carroll was selected over Kevin McHale, who became a Hall of Famer |
| Draft trades | Multiple trades, most notably the trade of Robert Parish and the draft rights of McHale from the Golden State Warriors to the Boston Celtics for the number 3 overall pick in the draft, Joe Barry Carroll |
| Fun fact | This draft class produced two NBA champions in their rookie season: Isiah Thomas and Kelvin Ransey |
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What You'll Learn
The Boston Celtics traded the first pick to the Golden State Warriors
The 1980 NBA draft was a significant event in the history of basketball. It was the 34th annual draft, and it took place on June 10, 1980, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel & Towers. The Boston Celtics played a pivotal role in this draft, as they held the No. 1 pick, which they had obtained from the Detroit Pistons in a trade and then won a coin flip with the Utah Jazz to secure. However, in a landmark move, the Boston Celtics traded the first pick to the Golden State Warriors, setting in motion a chain of events that would shape the future of both franchises.
The Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors engineered a blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through the basketball world. The Celtics, fresh off a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, were looking to rebuild and strengthen their roster. On the other hand, the Warriors were aiming to climb out of the Pacific Division doldrums and establish themselves as contenders. The trade between these two storied franchises became one of the most consequential and important trades in the history of basketball.
As part of the deal, the Boston Celtics sent the No. 1 pick to the Golden State Warriors. In return, the Celtics received Robert Parish and the No. 3 pick, which they used to select Kevin McHale from the University of Minnesota. McHale would go on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Celtics, winning three NBA championships and numerous individual accolades, including two Sixth Man of the Year awards. Parish, who joined the Celtics as part of the trade, also played a pivotal role in the team's success during the 1980s.
The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, used the No. 1 pick to select Joe Barry Carroll from Purdue University. Carroll had a successful career with the Warriors, but the team never finished better than third place in the Pacific Division during his tenure. The Warriors also acquired the 13th pick in the trade and selected Rickey Brown. While Brown's stint with the Warriors was relatively short, Carroll and McHale would be forever linked, with their careers often compared due to this trade.
The trade between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors had a profound impact on both franchises. For the Celtics, it marked the beginning of their ""Big 3 era," with McHale and Parish joining forces with Larry Bird to form a dominant trio that would lead the team to multiple championships in the 1980s. The Warriors, on the other hand, laid the foundation for their future success, as they rebuilt and eventually won three championships in the 2010s, showcasing the long-term benefits of the trade.
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The Utah Jazz selected Darrell Griffith second
The 1980 NBA draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Utah Jazz selected Darrell Griffith, a shooting guard from the University of Louisville, as the second overall pick. The Jazz had recently moved to Salt Lake City from New Orleans and needed a star player to replace Pete Maravich.
Griffith, nicknamed "Dr. Dunkenstein" and "The Golden Griff", was known for his high-flying dunks and three-point shooting abilities. He had an impressive first season, averaging 20.6 points per game and winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. For the next four seasons, Griffith formed one of the league's highest-scoring duos with small forward Adrian Dantley. With defensive support from center Mark Eaton and point guard Rickey Green, the Jazz improved significantly, winning the Midwest Division title in 1983-84 and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the first time.
Griffith continued to excel, leading the league in three-point shooting during the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons. In the latter season, he averaged a career-high 22.6 points per game and broke his own league record by sinking 92 three-pointers. However, the team dynamics changed in the mid-1980s with the emergence of Karl Malone and John Stockton as Utah's primary offensive options. Griffith suffered injuries, including a stress fracture in his foot that caused him to miss the entire 1985-86 season. Despite these setbacks, Griffith remained a fan favourite, as evidenced by his appearance at a Jazz game in 2018, where he was cheered by the crowd and signed basketballs for them.
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Kevin McHale was selected third by the Boston Celtics
The 1980 NBA draft was held on June 10, 1980, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel & Towers. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.
Kevin McHale, from the University of Minnesota, was selected third overall by the Boston Celtics. McHale, born in Hibbing, Minnesota, on December 19, 1957, played his entire 13-year career with the Celtics and won three NBA championships. He also won two consecutive Sixth Man of the Year awards and was selected for one All-NBA Team, seven All-Star Games, and six All-Defensive Teams.
McHale's selection by the Celtics came about through a pre-draft trade with the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics had initially held the number-one overall pick but traded this, along with an additional first-round pick, to the Warriors in exchange for center Robert Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick, which was the third overall selection used to draft McHale.
McHale spent his first six seasons as a valuable bench player, backing up forwards Cedric Maxwell and Larry Bird. His finest season came in 1986–87 when he was named to the All-NBA First Team as a forward. McHale led the NBA in field goal percentage in the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons, shooting 60.4% in both seasons. He was also a standout defensive player, blocking nine shots in a game twice, the most ever by a Boston Celtics player.
Following his playing career, McHale went on to become a coach and analyst. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements as a player.
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The Chicago Bulls traded Oliver Mack for Mark Landsberger
The 1980 NBA draft was held on June 10, 1980, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel & Towers. The Chicago Bulls were involved in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, acquiring Oliver Mack, a shooting guard born in New York City, and second-round picks in 1980 and 1981 in exchange for Mark Landsberger.
Mark Landsberger, a 6'8" power forward and centre, had been selected by the Bulls in the second round of the 1977 NBA draft. He played 196 games for the Bulls from 1977 to 1980, averaging 7.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. On January 28, 1979, he grabbed 29 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets, the third-highest single-game rebounding total in Chicago Bulls history at the time.
Oliver Mack, born on June 6, 1957, played college basketball for the East Carolina Pirates. He averaged 22.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during his time at East Carolina University. Mack was acquired by the Lakers in the trade with the Bulls for Landsberger.
The Bulls used the 1980 second-round pick they acquired in the trade to select Sam Worthen. The Lakers benefited from Landsberger's presence, as he averaged 4.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, winning NBA Championship rings as a reserve in 1980 and 1982 while playing alongside the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Magic Johnson.
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The draft was the first to be aired on national TV
The 1980 NBA draft was the first to be aired on national television, marking a significant milestone in the history of the league. The event was broadcast on the USA Network, and it continued to air the NBA draft for several years until 1985, when it moved to TBS. This decision to broadcast the draft nationally was a testament to the growing popularity and reach of the NBA, bringing the excitement of the draft process into the homes of basketball fans across the country.
The 1980 NBA draft was held on June 10, 1980, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel & Towers, ahead of the 1980–81 season. Twenty-three NBA teams participated in the draft, taking turns to select amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The first two picks were determined by a coin flip, with the Boston Celtics winning the toss and acquiring the first overall pick from the Detroit Pistons in a trade. They then traded this pick to the Golden State Warriors, who selected Joe Barry Carroll from Purdue University.
The Utah Jazz, who had the second pick, chose Darrell Griffith from the University of Louisville. Griffith had a stellar rookie season, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. The Boston Celtics, with the third pick, selected Kevin McHale from the University of Minnesota. McHale had a distinguished 13-year career with the Celtics, winning three NBA championships and numerous individual accolades, ultimately earning induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The 1980 NBA draft also featured future coaches among its selections. Terry Stotts, the 38th pick, coached the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers. Kurt Rambis, the 58th pick, played for the Los Angeles Lakers and later became their interim head coach in 1999 before securing his first permanent head coaching role with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009. The draft also included Kiki Vandeweghe and Kenny Natt, who had brief spells as interim head coaches in the NBA.
The national television broadcast of the 1980 NBA draft brought added exposure and excitement to the event, allowing fans across the country to follow the selections and learn about the newest talent joining the league. It marked a new era for the NBA, recognizing the growing interest in professional basketball and the draft process, and set a precedent for future drafts to be aired on television, further enhancing the league's popularity and engagement with fans.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1980 NBA draft was the 34th annual draft, held on June 10, 1980, where 23 NBA teams selected amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.
The first two picks went to the teams that finished last in each conference, with the order decided by a coin toss. The remaining first-round picks and subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win-loss record from the previous season.
The Boston Celtics won the coin toss and were awarded the first overall pick, which they traded to the Golden State Warriors before the draft. The Utah Jazz were awarded the second pick.
The number one pick in the 1980 NBA draft was Joe Barry Carroll, who went on to play for the Golden State Warriors.
