1979 NBA draft

Did You Know?

• The New Orleans Jazz relocated to Salt Lake City and became the Utah Jazz before the draft.
• Larry Bird would have been eligible for the 1979 draft because his 'junior eligible' status from 1978 expired when the draft began, but he agreed to a five-year contract with the Celtics on June 8 to avoid that.
• Only four college underclassmen declared early entry for the 1979 draft: Garcia Hopkins, Magic Johnson, Cliff Robinson, and Sly Williams.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

Magic Johnson, a sophomore from Michigan State who entered under the hardship rule, was chosen first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first underclassman drafted first overall and won the NBA championship with the Lakers in his rookie season, earning the Finals Most Valuable Player Award as the first rookie to do so. Johnson spent his entire 13-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships, three MVP Awards, and three Finals MVP Awards, and was named to ten consecutive All-NBA Teams and twelve All-Star Games.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. After retiring, he served as interim head coach of the Lakers. Sidney Moncrief, selected fifth, won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and earned five consecutive All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Star selections. Jim Paxson, the twelfth pick, made one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.

Bill Cartwright, the third pick, won three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and was an All-Star in his rookie season; he later became the Bulls' head coach for three seasons. Bill Laimbeer, taken 65th, won two NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons and was selected to four All-Star Games; after retiring, he coached the Detroit Shock to three WNBA championships. Mark Eaton, drafted 107th by the Phoenix Suns after one year of college, returned to college and later entered the NBA after being drafted again by the Utah Jazz in 1982.

Trades

On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired 1977, 1978, and 1979 first-round picks plus a 1980 second-round pick from the New Orleans Jazz as compensation for the Jazz signing Gail Goodrich; the Lakers used the 1979 pick to draft Magic Johnson. On February 12, 1979, the New York Knicks obtained three first-round picks from the Boston Celtics for Bob McAdoo; the Celtics had previously acquired one first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors for Jo Jo White and another from the Seattle SuperSonics for Dennis Awtrey.

The Knicks used those picks to select Bill Cartwright, Larry Demic, and Sly Williams. On draft day, the Detroit Pistons traded the sixth pick and cash to the Milwaukee Bucks for the fifth pick, which they used on Greg Kelser; the Bucks had acquired that pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 1, 1978. On October 24, 1975, the Seattle SuperSonics sent Spencer Haywood to the New York Knicks for Gene Short and a first-round pick, later used to draft James Bailey.

On October 4, 1978, the SuperSonics received Lonnie Shelton and a 1979 first-round pick from the Knicks as compensation for the Knicks signing Marvin Webster; the Sonics used that pick on Vinnie Johnson. On May 31, 1979, the New Jersey Nets acquired John Gianelli and the eighth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks for Harvey Catchings; the Bucks had obtained that pick from the Indiana Pacers as compensation for Alex English's free-agent signing. The Nets used the pick to draft Calvin Natt.

Invited attendees

The 1979 NBA draft is considered the second NBA draft to feature a "green room" experience, where anticipated draftees sat with their families in the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom. After hearing their names called, players walked to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with commissioner Larry O'Brien, then conducted interviews backstage. The NBA compiled the list of green room invites through collective voting by team presidents and general managers, who identified the top six prospects: Bill Cartwright, David Greenwood, Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser, Sidney Moncrief, and Calvin Natt.