The 1974 NBA draft was the 28th annual
draft of the
National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 28, 1974, before the
1974–75 season.[1] In this draft, 18 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.[2] The
Portland Trail Blazers won the coin flip and were awarded the
first overall pick, while the
Philadelphia 76ers were awarded the second pick. 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. Prior to the draft, the
Capital Bullets were renamed the
Washington Bullets.[3] An expansion franchise, the
New Orleans Jazz, took part in the NBA Draft for the first time and were assigned the tenth pick in each round. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. Before the draft, 20 college
underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule.[4] These players had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning their living by starting their professional careers earlier.[5] The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 178 players.
Jamaal Wilkes won four NBA championships, one with the
Golden State Warriors and three with the
Los Angeles Lakers, and was selected to three All-Star Games.[14]Maurice Lucas, the 14th pick, was selected to one All-NBA Team and four All-Star Games. He also won the NBA championship in 1977 with the Trail Blazers.[15]Truck Robinson, the 22nd pick, and
Phil Smith, the 29th pick, were selected to one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games each.[16][17]Bobby Jones, the 5th pick, initially opted to play in the ABA. He played two seasons in the ABA before finally joined the NBA with the
Denver Nuggets when
both leagues merged. His achievements include an NBA championship with the 76ers in
1983, one All-ABA Team selection, one ABA All-Star Game selection, four NBA All-Star Game selections, nine
NBA All-Defensive Team selections and one Sixth Man of The Year Award.[18] Five other players from this draft, 6th pick
Scott Wedman, 8th pick
Campy Russell, 12th pick
Brian Winters, 21st pick
Billy Knight and 25th pick
John Drew, were also selected to at least one All-Star Game.[19][20][21][22][23] Two players drafted went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: Brian Winters and 45th pick
Kim Hughes.[24][25]
a 12 On the draft-day, the
Seattle SuperSonics acquired a first-round pick from the
Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for
Dick Snyder and a first-round pick.[26] The Sonics used the pick to draft Tommy Burleson. The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Campy Russell.
c On the draft-day, the
Chicago Bulls acquired a first-round pick from the
New York Knicks in exchange for
Howard Porter and a 1975 second-round pick.[28] The Bulls used the pick to draft Maurice Lucas.
d On August 31, 1972, the
Los Angeles Lakers acquired a second-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for
Jim Cleamons.[29] The Lakers used the pick to draft Billy Knight.
e On August 23, 1973, the
Washington Bullets (as the Capital Bullets) acquired a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for
Stan Love.[30] Previously, the Lakers acquired the pick on September 19, 1972, from the
Phoenix Suns in exchange for
Paul Stovall.[31] The Bullets used the pick to draft Truck Robinson.
f On September 10, 1973, the Chicago Bulls acquired
John Hummer and a second-round pick from the
Buffalo Braves in exchange for
Gar Heard,
Kevin Kunnert and a 1975 second-round pick.[32] The Bulls used the pick to draft Leon Benbow.
g On October 30, 1973, the Phoenix Suns acquired
Keith Erickson and a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for
Connie Hawkins.[33] The Suns used the pick to draft Fred Saunders.
h On October 14, 1973, the
Portland Trail Blazers acquired a second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for
Rick Adelman.[34] The Blazers used the pick to draft Phil Lumpkin.
i On September 11, 1972, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a second-round pick from the
Philadelphia 76ers as compensation for the signing of
Gary Gregor as a free agent.[35] Previously, the 76ers acquired the pick and future consideration (the 76ers acquired
John Block on July 28, 1972) on December 13, 1971, from the
Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for
Wali Jones.[31] The Blazers used the pick to draft Rubin Collins.
j On October 24, 1972, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired a third-round pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for
Charlie Davis.[36] The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Foots Walker.
k On January 26, 1973, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired
Tom Van Arsdale and a third-round pick from the
Kansas City-Omaha Kings in exchange for John Block.[37] The 76ers used the pick to draft Harvey Catchings.
l On October 9, 1973, the Phoenix Suns acquired 1974 and 1975 third-round picks from the Washington Bullets (as the Capital Bullets) in exchange for
Walt Wesley.[38] The Suns used the pick to draft Earl Williams.
^1: Even though John Shumate was a senior, he had one extra year of college eligibility remaining after he missed his sophomore year due to an illness. However, he decided to pass up his final year to enter the draft.[40] ^2: Keith Wilkes changed his name into Jamaal Abdul-Lateef prior to the start of the season. However, he retained his surname throughout his NBA career and is commonly known as Jamaal Wilkes.[14]