# 1972 NBA draft

The 1972 NBA draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on April 10 and 15, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 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. The Portland Trail Blazers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Buffalo Braves 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. As a result of last year's supplemental hardship draft, the Cincinnati Royals, the Atlanta Hawks, the Golden State Warriors and the Baltimore Bullets forfeited their first-round picks, while the Los Angeles Lakers forfeited their fourth round pick. Prior to the start of the season, the Cincinnati Royals relocated and became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. The draft consisted of 18 rounds comprising the selection of 198 players.

## Draft selections and draftee career notes

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, eight college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule, a similar case in which Spencer Haywood successfully argued in his court case against the NBA which allowed him to play in the NBA before his college class graduated. 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. This was the first draft where college underclassmen were allowed to enter.
LaRue Martin from Loyola University Chicago was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Bob McAdoo, a college junior from the University of North Carolina, was selected second by the Buffalo Braves, and went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. McAdoo, 10th pick Paul Westphal, and 12th pick Julius Erving have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and Erving was also named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. McAdoo was a 3-time NBA Scoring champion, and NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. He won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1975, had two All-NBA Team selections, and was a five-time All-Star. Erving had left college in 1971 to play professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Virginia Squires. He joined the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged, playing 11 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. An NBA champion in 1983, he was MVP in 1981, won three ABA Most Valuable Player Awards, was All-ABA five times and All-NBA seven, and an ABA All-Star five times and NBA All-Star eleven.
Paul Westphal, the 10th pick, was named All-NBA four times, an All-Star five, and on the 1974 NBA championship Boston Celtics. After retiring as a player, he went on to coach three NBA teams, most recently the Sacramento Kings. The 16th pick, Jim Price, and 34th pick, Don Buse, were also selected to an All-Star Game. Chris Ford, the 17th pick, won the NBA championship in 1981 with the Celtics. After retiring as a player, he went on to coach four NBA teams, including the Celtics. Ralph Simpson, the 11th pick, had left college in 1970 to play professionally in the ABA with Denver Rockets. He was selected to five ABA All-Star Games and four All-ABA Teams before he joined the NBA in 1976.
LaRue Martin is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. Martin only lasted four seasons in the league with a career scoring average of 5.3. Martin and eight other first-round picks all had insignificant contributions to the league; none of them had career scoring averages above 9 points per game and only one of them lasted more than six seasons in the NBA. Two of the first-round picks, Erving and Simpson, had already played in the ABA before the draft. They stayed there until both leagues merged in 1976 and only Simpson played for the team that he got drafted to.
In the tenth round, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Krešimir Ćosić from Brigham Young University with the 144th pick. However, he opted to play another season in college before returning to Yugoslavia in 1973. Ćosić, who was also selected in the fifth round of the 1973 draft, had a successful career in Europe, winning numerous league and club titles, as well as six gold medals with the Yugoslavian national team. For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to the FIBA Hall of Fame.

## Key

| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| $^+$ | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| $^#$ | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular season or playoff game |

## Draft

| Rnd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
| 1 | 1 | LaRue Martin | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Loyola (Illinois) (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Bob McAdoo^ | F/C | United States | Buffalo Braves | North Carolina (Jr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Dwight Davis | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Corky Calhoun | F | United States | Phoenix Suns (from Detroit via Houston) | Penn (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Fred Boyd | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 1 | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Cincinnati Royals (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) |
| 1 | 6 | Russ Lee | G/F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks (from Houston) | Marshall (Sr.) |
| 1 | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Atlanta Hawks (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) |
| 1 | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Baltimore Bullets (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) |
| 1 | 7 | Isaac Stallworth | G/F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Tom Riker | F/C | United States | New York Knicks | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Bob Nash | F | United States | Detroit Pistons (from Phoenix) | Hawaii (Sr.) |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Golden State Warriors (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) |
| 1 | 10 | Paul Westphal^ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | USC (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Ralph Simpson | G/F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Denver Rockets (ABA) |
| 1 | 12 | Julius Erving^ | G/F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Virginia Squires (ABA) |
| 1 | 13 | Travis Grant | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Kentucky State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 14 | Bob Davis | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Weber State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 15 | Harold Fox | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 2 | 16 | Jim Price$^+$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland) | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 2 | 17 | Chris Ford | G/F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 2 | 18 | Joby Wright | F/C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics (from Philadelphia) | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 19 | Sam Sibert | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Kentucky State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 20 | John Gianelli | F/C | United States | Houston Rockets | Pacific (Sr.) |
| 2 | 21 | Steve Bracey | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 2 | 22 | Paul Stovall | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Baltimore) | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 23 | Brian Taylor | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Princeton (Jr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Steve Hawes | F/C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (from New York) | Washington (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Tom Patterson | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets (from Phoenix) | Ouachita Baptist (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Dave Twardzik | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State) | Old Dominion (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Dennis Wuycik$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Mike Ratliff | C | United States | Cincinnati Royals (from Chicago) | Eau Claire State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Chuck Terry | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Ollie Johnson | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Los Angeles) | Temple (Sr.) |
| 3 | 31 | Lloyd Neal | F/C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 32 | Bob Morse$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Penn (Sr.) |
| 3 | 33 | Scott English | F | United States | Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland) | Texas-El Paso (Sr.) |
| 3 | 34 | Don Buse$^+$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns (from Detroit) | Evansville (Sr.) |
| 3 | 35 | Frank Russell | G | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Cincinnati) | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 36 | Charlie Tharpe$^#$ | C | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Belhaven (Sr.) |
| 3 | 37 | Eric McWilliams | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 38 | Ron Riley | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals (from Atlanta) | Southern California (Sr.) |
| 3 | 39 | Kevin Porter | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Saint Francis (PA) (Sr.) |
| 3 | 40 | Jim Creighton | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 3 | 41 | Ansley Truitt$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | California (Sr.) |
| 3 | 42 | Claude Terry | G/F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Stanford (Sr.) |
| 3 | 43 | Bill Chamberlain | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 3 | 44 | Wayne Grabiec$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 3 | 45 | Chuck Jura$^#$ | C | United States | Chicago Bulls | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 3 | 46 | George Adams$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Gardner–Webb (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Gregg Northington$^#$ | C | United States | New York Knicks | Alabama State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 48 | Gary Stewart$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Canisius (Sr.) |
| 4 | 49 | George Bryant$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Eastern Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 4 | 50 | Hank Siemiontkowski$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 4 | 51 | Ernie Fleming$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 4 | 52 | Marshall Wingate$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Niagara (Sr.) |
| 4 | 53 | Frank Schade | G | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Eau Claire State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 54 | Wil Robinson$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | West Virginia (Sr.) |
| 4 | 55 | Reggie Bird$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Princeton (Sr.) |
| 4 | 56 | Al Sanders$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | LSU (Sr.) |
| 4 | 57 | Joe Mackey$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | USC (Sr.) |
| 4 | 58 | Henry Bibby | G | United States | New York Knicks | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 4 | 59 | Matt Gantt$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 4 | 60 | John Tschogl | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | UC Santa Barbara (Sr.) |
| 4 | 61 | Nate Stephens$^#$ | C | United States | Boston Celtics | Long Beach State (Jr.) |
| 4 | 62 | Ted Martiniuk$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Saint Peter's (Sr.) |
| 4 | 63 | Art White$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) | Los Angeles Lakers (forfeited due to participation in the 1971 hardship draft) |
| 5 | 64 | Michael Reid$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | UC Riverside (So.) |
| 5 | 65 | Arnie Berman$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Brown (Sr.) |
| 5 | 66 | Sam Cash$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | UC Riverside (Sr.) |
| 5 | 67 | Ernest Pettis$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Western Michigan (Sr.) |
| 5 | 68 | Dave Bustion$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Denver (Sr.) |
| 5 | 69 | Joe Bynes$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Arkansas–Pine Bluff (Sr.) |
| 5 | 70 | James Silas | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Stephen F. Austin (Sr.) |
| 5 | 71 | Bob Lackey$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 5 | 72 | Walter Jones$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | LIU (Sr.) |
| 5 | 73 | Gary Ladd$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Seattle (Sr.) |
| 5 | 74 | Bob Ford$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 5 | 75 | Wardell Dyson$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Shaw College (Sr.) |
| 5 | 76 | Charles Dudley | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Washington (Sr.) |
| 5 | 77 | Bryan Adrian$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Davidson (Sr.) |
| 5 | 78 | Rowland Garrett | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 79 | Ron Harris$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 80 | Glen Summors$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Gannon (Sr.) |
| 6 | 81 | Joe Gaines$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Belmont (Sr.) |
| 6 | 82 | Ed Czernota$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Sacred Heart (Sr.) |
| 6 | 83 | Tom Parker$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 6 | 84 | Terry Benton$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 85 | John Glover$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Wiley (Sr.) |
| 6 | 86 | Jerry Crocker$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Guilford (Sr.) |
| 6 | 87 | Mike Collins$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Seattle (Sr.) |
| 6 | 88 | Randy Noll$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Marshall (Jr.) |
| 6 | 89 | Dwaine Dillard$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Eastern Michigan (So.) |
| 6 | 90 | Ron Thomas$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 6 | 91 | Greg Cluess$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 92 | Charles Edge$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | LeMoyne–Owen (Jr.) |
| 6 | 93 | Henry Bacon$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 6 | 94 | Don Holcomb$^#$ | C | United States | Boston Celtics | Memphis (Sr.) |
| 6 | 95 | Mike Stewart$^#$ | C | United States | Chicago Bulls | Santa Clara (Jr.) |
| 6 | 96 | Wally Rice$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Widener (Sr.) |
| 6 | 97 | Sam Simmons$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 7 | 98 | Bob Lynn$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 99 | Greg Kohls$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 7 | 100 | Steve Davidson$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | West Texas State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 101 | Bruce Anderson$^#$ | C | United States | Detroit Pistons | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 7 | 102 | Mike Sneed$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Fayetteville State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 103 | Curtis Pritchett$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | St. Augustine's (Sr.) |
| 7 | 104 | Mike Jackson$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Cal State Los Angeles (Sr.) |
| 7 | 105 | Billy Pleas$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 7 | 106 | Marvin Brown$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 107 | Jerry Dunn$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 7 | 108 | Tracy Tripucka$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Lafayette (Sr.) |
| 7 | 109 | Bernie Fryer | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Brigham Young (Sr.) |
| 7 | 110 | Bill Franklin$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 7 | 111 | Steve Previs$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 7 | 112 | Jerry Pender$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Fresno State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 113 | Mickey Davis | G/F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) |
| 8 | 114 | Ruben Vance$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Kent State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 115 | Andy Denny$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | South Alabama (Sr.) |
| 8 | 116 | Roger Evans$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kent State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 117 | Ben Kelso | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 8 | 118 | Jim Kopp$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Rockhurst (Sr.) |
| 8 | 119 | Jerry Clack$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 120 | Henry Harris$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 8 | 121 | Oscar Evans$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Butler (Sr.) |
| 8 | 122 | James Floyd$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Shaw College (Sr.) |
| 8 | 123 | Willie Stoudamire$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Portland State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 124 | Tom Corde$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 8 | 125 | Russell Golden$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 126 | John Burks$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 8 | 127 | Sam McCamey$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Oral Roberts (Sr.) |
| 8 | 128 | Cavin Andersen$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Valley City State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 129 | Charles Kirkland$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Cheyney (Sr.) |
| 9 | 130 | Scott McCandlish$^#$ | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 9 | 131 | John Collins$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Brockport (Sr.) |
| 9 | 132 | Greg Starrick$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Southern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 9 | 133 | Jesse Mangham$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Ferris State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 134 | Steve McMahon$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Merrimack (Sr.) |
| 9 | 135 | Rod Murray$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Cal State Los Angeles (Sr.) |
| 9 | 136 | Larry Strozier$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Morehouse (Sr.) |
| 9 | 137 | Ruppert Breedlove$^#$ | C | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Oglethorpe (Sr.) |
| 9 | 138 | Dwight Holiday$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Hawaii (Sr.) |
| 9 | 139 | Tom Sullivan$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Fordham (Sr.) |
| 9 | 140 | Bill Kennedy$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 141 | Bill Duwe$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | California (Sr.) |
| 9 | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Boston Celtics (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) |
| 9 | 142 | Ralph Houston$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | West Texas State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 143 | Jim Regenold$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Ball State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 144 | Krešimir Ćosić$^#$ | C | Yugoslavia | Portland Trail Blazers | BYU (Jr.) |
| 10 | 145 | Kent Martens$^#$ | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Abilene Christian (Sr.) |
| 10 | 146 | Kent Hollenbeck$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 10 | 147 | Gary Watson$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Wisconsin (Sr.) |
| 10 | 148 | David Hall$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 149 | Jim Clesson$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 10 | 150 | Wilbert Loftin$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Southwestern Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 10 | 151 | Dan Steward$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 152 | Richie Garner$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 10 | 153 | Al Vilcheck$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 10 | 154 | Marty Hunt$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Kenyon (Sr.) |
| 10 | 155 | Chuck Taylor$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | West Liberty State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 156 | Jolly Spight$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Santa Clara (Sr.) |
| 11 | 157 | Jimmy Wilkins$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 158 | Jim Prokell$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Edinboro (Sr.) |
| 11 | 159 | Floyd Mathew$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Northern Arizona (Sr.) |
| 11 | 160 | Charles Allen$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Texas Southern (Sr.) |
| 11 | 161 | Arvin Watkins$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 162 | Steve Turner$^#$ | C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Vanderbilt (Jr.) |
| 11 | 163 | Chic Downing$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Benedictine (Sr.) |
| 11 | 164 | John Belcher$^#$ | C | United States | Phoenix Suns | Arkansas State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 165 | Mark Minor | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Ohio State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 166 | Jackie Young$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Rocky Mountain (Sr.) |
| 12 | 167 | Frank DeWitt$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 12 | 168 | Len Baltimore$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | George Washington (Sr.) |
| 12 | 169 | James Green$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Paine (Sr.) |
| 12 | 170 | Lloyd Adams$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Rhode Island (Jr.) |
| 12 | 171 | Greg Daust$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | UMSL (Sr.) |
| 12 | 172 | Mark Soderberg$^#$ | C | United States | Phoenix Suns | Utah (Sr.) |
| 12 | 173 | Phil Stephens$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | South Carolina State (Sr.) |
| 12 | 174 | Al Cotler$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Penn (Sr.) |
| 13 | 175 | Larry Morris$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 13 | 176 | Kim Huband$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 13 | 177 | Kent Scott$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Pittsburgh (Sr.) |
| 13 | 178 | Mike Krawczyk$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Loyola (Maryland) (Sr.) |
| 13 | 179 | Kelly Utley$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Shaw University (Sr.) |
| 13 | 180 | Mike Barr | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 14 | 181 | Paul Kelley$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Shaw University (Sr.) |
| 14 | 182 | Craig Corson$^#$ | C | United States | Buffalo Braves | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 14 | 183 | Bob Allen$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 14 | 184 | Aubrey Nash$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 14 | 185 | Cleveland Hill$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Nicholls (Sr.) |
| 14 | 186 | Ray Golson$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | West Texas State (Sr.) |
| 14 | 187 | Andrew Pettes$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 15 | 188 | Rich Habegger$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 15 | 189 | Paul Hoffman$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 15 | 190 | Mike Jeffries$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 15 | 191 | Gary Handleman$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Johns Hopkins (Sr.) |
| 15 | 192 | Greg Lowery$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 16 | 193 | Mose Adolph$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Cal State Los Angeles (Sr.) |
| 16 | 194 | Norman Bounds$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Brockport (Sr.) |
| 16 | 195 | Mike Peterson$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 16 | 196 | Charles Hall$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Western Montana (Sr.) |
| 17 | 197 | John Thornton$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | South Carolina State (Sr.) |
| 18 | 198 | Ron Manning$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Manhattan (Sr.) |

## Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1972 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
| Paul McCracken | G | United States | Cal State Northridge (Sr.) |

## Trades

* $^a$ On April 7, 1972, the Phoenix Suns acquired the fourth pick from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Otto Moore. Previously, the Rockets acquired a first-round pick on December 10, 1971, from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jim Davis. The Suns used the pick to draft Corky Calhoun.
* $^b$ On December 9, 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Curtis Perry and a first-round pick from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Greg Smith and 1973 third-round pick. The Bucks used the pick to draft Russ Lee.
* $^c$ On April 2, 1971, the Detroit Pistons acquired a first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Otto Moore. The Pistons used the pick to draft Bob Nash.
* $^d$ On October 13, 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a 1973 first-round pick, 1972 and 1973 second-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Rick Roberson. The Lakers used the pick to draft Jim Price.
* $^e$ On November 25, 1971, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired 1972 and a future second-round picks from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Bob Rule. The Sonics used the pick to draft Joby Wright.
* $^f$ On November 11, 1970, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a second-round pick from the Baltimore Bullets in exchange for John Tresvant. The Lakers used the pick to draft Paul Stovall.
* $^g$ On November 15, 1971, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired a second-round pick and a future pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for Luther Rackley. The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Steve Hawes.
* $^h$ On the draft-day, the Baltimore Bullets acquired a second-round pick from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Gus Johnson. The Bullets used the pick to draft Tom Patterson.
* $^i$ On March 23, 1971, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired 1971 and 1972 second-round picks and a 1971 third-round pick from the Golden State Warriors (as the San Francisco Warriors) in exchange for Jim Barnett. The Blazers used the pick to draft Dave Twardzik.
* $^{j1}$ $^2$ On November 9, 1971, the Cincinnati Royals acquired Jim Fox and a second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Norm Van Lier and a third-round pick. The Royals used the pick to draft Mike Ratliff. The Bulls used the pick to draft Frank Russell.
* $^k$ On September 11, 1971, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for LeRoy Ellis. The Blazers used the pick to draft Ollie Johnson.
* $^l$ On August 13, 1971, the Phoenix Suns acquired 1972 and a future third-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Greg Howard. The Suns used the pick to draft Scott English.
* $^k$ On October 12, 1969, the Cincinnati Royals acquired Wally Anderzunas and a third-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Dave Newmark. The Royals used the pick to draft Ron Riley.

## Early entrants
### College underclassmen

Following the success of the first ever NBA Hardship Draft the previous year, the NBA decided to continue implementing the hardship exception for college underclassmen in need for it. Originally, eight college underclassmen signed up for the draft this year, but two of them in St. John's Mel Davis and Siena College's Tony Delgado. The following college basketball players successfully applied for an NBA hardship.
* Walter Gardner – G, Kaskaskia (junior)
* Bob McAdoo – F/C, North Carolina (junior)
* Michael Reid - G, UC Riverside (sophomore)
* Brian Taylor - G, Princeton (junior)
* John Tinsley - F, Pfeiffer (sophomore)
* Philmore Westbrook - G, Albemarle (freshman)