# 1979 NBA draft

The 1979 NBA draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on Monday, June 25. In this draft, the 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players; it went ten rounds and selected 202 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 Los Angeles Lakers, who obtained the New Orleans Jazz' first-round pick in a trade, won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Chicago Bulls 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. 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. Larry Bird would have been eligible to join this draft class because his "junior eligible" draft status from being taken by Boston in 1978 would expire the minute the 1979 draft began, but Bird and the Celtics agreed on a five-year contract on June 8 to avoid that. Before the draft, five college underclassmen were declared eligible for selection under the "hardship" rule. 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. Prior to the draft, the Jazz relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City and became the Utah Jazz.

## Draft selections and draftee career notes

Magic Johnson from NCAA champion Michigan State University, one of the "hardship" players, was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson, who had just finished his sophomore season in college, became the first underclassman to be drafted first overall. He went on to win the NBA championship with the Lakers in his rookie season. He also won the Finals Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first rookie ever to win the award. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Lakers and won five NBA championships. He also won three Most Valuable Player Awards, three Finals Most Valuable Player Awards, ten consecutive All-NBA Team selections and twelve All-Star Game selections. For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. After retiring as a player, Johnson went on to have a brief coaching career as an interim head coach of the Lakers in 1994.
Sidney Moncrief, the fifth pick, won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was selected to five consecutive All-NBA Teams, five consecutive All-Defensive Teams and five consecutive All-Star Games. In "The Book of Basketball", Bill Simmons noted that then-Lakers head coach Jerry West had actually wanted to trade down from the #1 pick and use it to get Moncrief along with more players and picks, but Jerry Buss vetoed West's plans because Buss wanted Magic to be the new face of the team he was just finishing his full purchase of. Jim Paxson, the twelfth pick, was selected to one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games. Bill Cartwright, the third pick, won three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls from 1991 through 1993. He also had one All-Star Game selection, which occurred in his rookie season. He then became the Bulls' head coach for three seasons. Bill Laimbeer, the 65th pick, won two NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990 and was selected to four All-Star Games. After retiring, he coached the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons, leading them to three WNBA championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008. Mark Eaton, who had only completed one year of college basketball, was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 107th pick. He opted to return to college basketball and later joined the NBA in 1982, after he was drafted again by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 draft. During his eleven-year career with the Jazz, he won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was selected to five consecutive All-Defensive Team and one All-Star Game. Two other players from this draft, eighth pick Calvin Natt and 73rd pick James Donaldson, were also selected to one All-Star Game each.
In the fourth round, the Boston Celtics selected Nick Galis from Seton Hall University with the 68th pick. However, he suffered a serious injury in the training camp and was waived by the Celtics before the season started. Galis, who was born in the United States to Greek parents, opted to play in Greece. He never played in the NBA and spent all of his professional career in Greece, where he helped the country emerge as an international basketball power. He won a Eurobasket title, 8 Greek championships, 7 Greek cups as well as numerous personal honors and awards. He has been inducted into both the FIBA Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

## Draft

| 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 |
| Rnd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
| 1 | 1 | Magic Johnson^ | G/F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Utah) | Michigan State (So.) |
| 1 | 2 | David Greenwood | F/C | United States | Chicago Bulls | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Bill Cartwright$^+$ | C | United States | New York Knicks (from Boston) | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Greg Kelser | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Sidney Moncrief^ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks (from Cleveland) | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | James Bailey | F/C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics (from New York) | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Vinnie Johnson | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics (from New Jersey via New York) | Baylor (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Calvin Natt$^+$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets (from Indiana via Milwaukee) | Northeast Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Larry Demic | F/C | United States | New York Knicks (from Golden State via Boston) | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Roy Hamilton | G | United States | Detroit Pistons (from Milwaukee via San Diego) | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Cliff Robinson | F | United States | New Jersey Nets (from San Diego) | USC (So.) |
| 1 | 12 | Jim Paxson* | G/F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Dudley Bradley | G/F | United States | Indiana Pacers (from Atlanta) | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Brad Holland | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Phil Hubbard | F/C | United States | Detroit Pistons (from Denver) | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Jim Spanarkel | G/F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Duke (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Lee Johnson | F | United States | Houston Rockets | East Texas State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Reggie King | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Wiley Peck | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Larry Knight$^#$ | F | United States | Utah Jazz (from Phoenix) | Loyola (IL) (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Sly Williams | G/F | United States | New York Knicks (from Seattle via Boston) | Rhode Island (Jr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Kyle Macy | G | United States | Phoenix Suns (from Washington) | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 23 | Tico Brown$^#$ | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Johnny High | G | United States | Phoenix Suns (from Boston) | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Oliver Mack | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Detroit via Denver) | East Carolina (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Bruce Flowers | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Reggie Carter | G | United States | New York Knicks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Danny Salisbury$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors (from Chicago) | Pan American (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Tony Price | G | United States | Detroit Pistons (from New Jersey) | Pennsylvania (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Gary Garland | G | United States | Denver Nuggets (from Golden State via San Diego) | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Edgar Jones | F/C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Nevada (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Tony Zeno | F | United States | Indiana Pacers | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Lawrence Butler$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls (from San Diego via Denver) | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Kim Goetz$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks (from Portland) | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | James Bradley$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Memphis State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Clint Richardson | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers (from Denver via New Jersey) | Seattle (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Bernard Toone | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Larry Wilson$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks (from Houston) | Nicholls State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | Victor King$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Louisiana Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Andrew Fields$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from San Antonio via Seattle) | Cheyney State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Mark Young$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Kansas City via Denver) | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Paul Mokeski | F/C | United States | Houston Rockets (from Phoenix via Seattle) | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Johnny Moore | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Texas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Joe DeSantis$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 3 | 45 | Arvid Kramer | C | United States | Utah Jazz | Augustana (SD) (Sr.) |
| 3 | 46 | Andrew Parker$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Iowa State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Calvin Garrett | F | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Cleveland) | Oral Roberts (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Terry Duerod | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Cedrick Hordges | F/C | United States | Chicago Bulls | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Geoff Huston | G | United States | New York Knicks | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 51 | John Gerdy$^#$ | G | United States | New Jersey Nets | Davidson (Sr.) |
| 3 | 52 | Larry Gibson$^#$ | C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Maryland (Sr.) |
| 3 | 53 | Wayne Kreklow | G | United States | Boston Celtics (from Indiana) | Drake (Sr.) |
| 3 | 54 | Lynbert Johnson | G/F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Wichita State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 55 | Tom Channel$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Boston University (Sr.) |
| 3 | 56 | Mickey Fox$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Saint Mary's University (Canada) (Sr.) |
| 3 | 57 | Don Marsh$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Franklin & Marshall (Sr.) |
| 3 | 58 | Earl Cureton | F/C | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 3 | 59 | Ricardo Brown$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 3 | 60 | Walter Daniels$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Georgia (Sr.) |
| 3 | 61 | Ernesto Malcolm$^#$ | G | Panama | Boston Celtics | Briar Cliff (Sr.) |
| 3 | 62 | Terry Crosby | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 3 | 63 | Sylvester Norris | C | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 64 | Al Green$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | LSU (Sr.) |
| 3 | 65 | Bill Laimbeer$^+$ | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (from Seattle) | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 3 | 66 | Charles Floyd$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | High Point (Sr.) |
| 4 | 67 | Greg Deane | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Utah (Sr.) |
| 4 | 68 | Nikos Galis$^{^#}$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 4 | 69 | Eugene Robinson$^#$ | C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Louisiana–Monroe (Sr.) |
| 4 | 70 | Rick Swing$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | The Citadel (Sr.) |
| 4 | 71 | Larry Rogers$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | U.S. Armed Forces (AAU) |
| 4 | 72 | George Maynor$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | East Carolina (Sr.) |
| 4 | 73 | James Donaldson$^+$ | C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics (from New Jersey) | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 74 | Don Newman$^#$ | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | Idaho (Jr.) |
| 4 | 75 | Ron Ripley$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Green Bay (Sr.) |
| 4 | 76 | Sammy Drummer$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 4 | 77 | Lionel Garrett$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Southern (Sr.) |
| 4 | 78 | Darryl Robinson$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Appalachian State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 79 | Ray White$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Mississippi State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 80 | Lionel Green$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | LSU (Sr.) |
| 4 | 81 | Ricky Reed$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Temple (Sr.) |
| 4 | 82 | Jerry Sichting | G | United States | Golden State Warriors (from Denver) | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 4 | 83 | Mike Niles | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 4 | 84 | Al Daniel$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Furman (Sr.) |
| 4 | 85 | John McCullough | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 4 | 86 | Malcolm Cesare$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Florida (Sr.) |
| 4 | 87 | Richie Allen$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Cal State Dominguez Hills (Sr.) |
| 4 | 88 | Lamont Reid$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Oral Roberts (Sr.) |
| 5 | 89 | Wolfe Perry$^#$ | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Stanford (Sr.) |
| 5 | 90 | Jimmy Allen$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | New Haven (Sr.) |
| 5 | 91 | Matt Simpkins$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Georgia Southern (Sr.) |
| 5 | 92 | Flintie Ray Williams$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 5 | 93 | Larry Washington$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Drury (Sr.) |
| 5 | 94 | Johnny Green$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | UC Riverside (Sr.) |
| 5 | 95 | Jim Abromaitis$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | UConn (Sr.) |
| 5 | 96 | George Lett$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Centenary (Sr.) |
| 5 | 97 | Jim Tillman$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Eastern Kentucky (Jr.) |
| 5 | 98 | Billy Reid | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | San Francisco (Jr.) |
| 5 | 99 | Greg Joyner$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Middle Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 5 | 100 | Matthew White$^#$ | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Penn (Sr.) |
| 5 | 101 | Kendal Pinder$^#$ | F | Bahamas | Atlanta Hawks | NC State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 102 | Larry Williams$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 5 | 103 | Carl McPipe$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 5 | 104 | Allen Leavell | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Oklahoma City (Sr.) |
| 5 | 105 | Curtis Watkins$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 5 | 106 | Steve Schall$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Arkansas (Jr.) |
| 5 | 107 | Mark Eaton$^+$ | C | United States | Phoenix Suns | Cypress JC (Fr.) |
| 5 | 108 | Marshall Ashford$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 6 | 109 | Ernie Cobb$^#$ | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Boston College (Sr.) |
| 6 | 110 | Marvin Delph$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Athletes in Action |
| 6 | 111 | Truman Claytor$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 6 | 112 | Jon Manning$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | North Texas (Sr.) |
| 6 | 113 | Phil Abney$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 6 | 114 | Steve Smith$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | USC (Sr.) |
| 6 | 115 | Tony Smith$^#$ | G | United States | New Jersey Nets | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 6 | 116 | Derrick Mayes$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Illinois State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 117 | Greg Guye$^#$ | F | United States | Indiana Pacers | Stetson (Sr.) |
| 6 | 118 | Jim Mitchem$^#$ | C | United States | Golden State Warriors | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 6 | 119 | Bob Bender$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Duke (Sr.) |
| 6 | 120 | Ray Ellis$^#$ | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 6 | 121 | Dwight Williams$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Gardner–Webb (Sr.) |
| 6 | 122 | Odell Ball$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 6 | 123 | Dan Hartshorne$^#$ | C | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 6 | 124 | Collie Davis$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Southern (Sr.) |
| 6 | 125 | Terry Knight$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Pittsburgh (Sr.) |
| 6 | 126 | Bob Roma$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Princeton (Sr.) |
| 6 | 127 | Dale Shackleford$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 6 | 128 | Garcia Hopkins$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Morgan State (So.) |
| 7 | 129 | Paul Poe$^#$ | F | United States | Utah Jazz | Louisiana College (Sr.) |
| 7 | 130 | Steve Castellan$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 7 | 131 | Steve Skaggs$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 7 | 132 | Ken Jones$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Saint Mary's (Sr.) |
| 7 | 133 | Mike Eversley$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Chicago State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 134 | Marc Coleman$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 7 | 135 | Jim Strickland$^#$ | C | United States | New Jersey Nets | South Carolina (Jr.) |
| 7 | 136 | Dirk Ewing$^#$ | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | Stetson (Sr.) |
| 7 | 137 | Ren Watson$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | VCU (Sr.) |
| 7 | 138 | Stan Ray$^#$ | C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 7 | 139 | Jene Grey$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Le Moyne (Sr.) |
| 7 | 140 | Jeff Tropf$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 7 | 141 | Tim Waterman$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 7 | 142 | Bobby Willis$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Penn (Sr.) |
| 7 | 143 | Rich Valavicius$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Auburn (Jr.) |
| 7 | 144 | John Johnson$^#$ | G | United States | Denver Nuggets | Creighton (Sr.) |
| 7 | 145 | Nick Daniels$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Xavier (Sr.) |
| 7 | 146 | Tyrone Branyan$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Texas (Sr.) |
| 7 | 147 | Ollie Matson Jr.$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 7 | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | Washington Bullets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) |
| 8 | 148 | Keith McDonald$^#$ | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Utah State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 149 | Glenn Sudhop$^#$ | C | United States | Boston Celtics | NC State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 150 | Rodney Lee$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Memphis (Sr.) |
| 8 | 151 | Mark Haymore$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | UMass (Sr.) |
| 8 | 152 | Billy Tucker$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 153 | Tony Warren$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | NC State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 154 | Henry Hollingsworth$^#$ | G | United States | New Jersey Nets | Hofstra (Sr.) |
| 8 | 155 | Mario Butler$^#$ | F | Panama | Golden State Warriors | Briar Cliff (Sr.) |
| 8 | 156 | Larry Spicer$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | UAB (Jr.) |
| 8 | 157 | Brian Magid$^#$ | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | George Washington (Sr.) |
| 8 | 158 | Renaldo Lawrence$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Appalachian State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 159 | Willie Pounds$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Chaminade (Sr.) |
| 8 | 160 | John Goedeke$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | UMBC (Sr.) |
| 8 | 161 | Delbert Watson$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | East Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 162 | Matt Teahan$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Denver (Sr.) |
| 8 | 163 | Rick Raivio$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Portland (Jr.) |
| 8 | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) | San Antonio Spurs (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player) |
| 8 | 164 | Tony Vann$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Alabama–Huntsville (Sr.) |
| 8 | 165 | Charles Jones | F/C | United States | Phoenix Suns | Albany State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 166 | Jo Jo Walters$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 9 | 167 | Milt Huggins$^#$ | G | United States | Utah Jazz | Southern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 9 | 168 | Kevin Sinnett$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Navy (Sr.) |
| 9 | 169 | Tim Joyce$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 9 | 170 | Val Bracey$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 9 | 171 | James Jackson$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 9 | 172 | Brett Wyatt$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | New Jersey City (Sr.) |
| 9 | 173 | Ricky Free$^#$ | G | United States | New Jersey Nets | Columbia (Sr.) |
| 9 | 174 | Roger Lapham$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Maine (Sr.) |
| 9 | 175 | Gene Ransom$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | California (Sr.) |
| 9 | 176 | Mike Dodd$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 177 | Stan Eckwood$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Harding (Sr.) |
| 9 | 178 | Cedric Oliver$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Hamilton (Sr.) |
| 9 | 179 | Emmett Lewis$^#$ | G | United States | Denver Nuggets | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 9 | 180 | Coby Leavitt$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Utah (Jr.) |
| 9 | 181 | Gary Wilson$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Southern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 9 | 182 | Eddie McLeod$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 9 | 183 | Hosea Champine$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Robert Morris (Sr.) |
| 9 | 184 | Gary Ray Hooker$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Murray State (Jr.) |
| 10 | 185 | Paul Dawkins | F | United States | Utah Jazz | Northern Illinois (Sr.) |
| 10 | 186 | Alton Byrd$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Columbia (Sr.) |
| 10 | 187 | Willie Polk$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Grand Canyon (Sr.) |
| 10 | 188 | Terry Peavy$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Point Park (Sr.) |
| 10 | 189 | Gordon Thomas$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 10 | 190 | Marvin Thomas$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 10 | 191 | Eric Fleisher$^#$ | G | United States | New Jersey Nets | Tulane (Sr.) |
| 10 | 192 | Kevin Heenan$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 10 | 193 | Chris Fahrbach$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | North Dakota (Sr.) |
| 10 | 194 | Greg Hunter$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 10 | 195 | Kelvin Small$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 10 | 196 | Chad Nelson$^#$ | C | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Drake (Sr.) |
| 10 | 197 | Cortez Collins$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Southern Indiana (Sr.) |
| 10 | 198 | Keith McCord | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | UAB (Jr.) |
| 10 | 199 | Glenn Fine$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Harvard (Sr.) |
| 10 | 200 | Russell Saunders$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 10 | 201 | Korky Nelson$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Santa Clara (Sr.) |
| 10 | 202 | Steve Martin$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Georgetown (Sr.) |

## Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1979 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
| Norman Black | G/F | United States | Saint Joseph's (Sr.) |
| Alan Hardy | G | United States | Michigan (Sr.) |
| Bill Mayfield | F | United States | Iowa (Sr.) |

## Trades

* $^a$ On August 5, 1976, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick from the New Orleans 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. The Lakers used the pick to draft Magic Johnson.
* $^{b1}$ $^2$ $^3$ On February 12, 1979, the New York Knicks acquired three first-round picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Bob McAdoo. Previously, the Celtics acquired a first-round pick on January 30, 1979, from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jo Jo White. The Celtics also acquired a first-round pick on January 17, 1979, from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey. The Knicks used the picks to draft Bill Cartwright, Larry Demic and Sly Williams.
* $^{c1}$ $^2$ On the draft-day, the Detroit Pistons acquired the fifth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the sixth pick and cash considerations. Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 1, 1978, in exchange for a 1978 first-round pick. The Pistons used the pick to draft Greg Kelser. The Bucks used the pick to draft Sidney Moncrief
* $^d$ On October 24, 1975, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Gene Short and a first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for Spencer Haywood. The Sonics used the pick to draft James Bailey.
* $^e$ On October 4, 1978, the Seattle SuperSonics acquired Lonnie Shelton and a 1979 first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for a 1981 first-round pick. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Knicks signed Marvin Webster on September 29, 1978. Previously, the Knicks acquired the 1978 and 1979 first-round picks on June 8, 1978, from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Phil Jackson, a 1978 first-round pick and US$3.2-million settlement of their indemnification debt to the Knicks. The Sonics used the pick to draft Vinnie Johnson.
* $^f$ On May 31, 1979, the New Jersey Nets acquired John Gianelli and the eighth pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Harvey Catchings. Previously, the Bucks acquired the pick on June 8, 1978, from the Indiana Pacers as compensation for the signing of Alex English as a free agent. The Nets used the pick to draft Calvin Natt.
* $^g$ On November 23, 1977, the Detroit Pistons acquired Gus Gerard, John Shumate and 1979 first-round pick from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Marvin Barnes, a 1978 second-round pick and a 1978 fourth-round pick. Previously, the Clippers acquired the pick on September 2, 1977, from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for John Gianelli. The Pistons used the pick to draft Roy Hamilton.
* $^h$ On September 1, 1977, the New Jersey Nets acquired George E. Johnson, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks from the San Diego Clippers in exchange for Nate Archibald. The Nets used the pick to draft Cliff Robinson.
* $^i$ On June 9, 1978, the Indiana Pacers acquired a first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks as compensation for the signing of Dan Roundfield as a free agent. The Pacers used the pick to draft Dudley Bradley.
* $^j$ On February 1, 1978, the Detroit Pistons acquired Jim Price and a first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ralph Simpson. The Pistons used the pick to draft Phil Hubbard.
* $^k$ On January 12, 1979, the Utah Jazz acquired Marty Byrnes, Ron Lee, 1979 and 1980 first-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Truck Robinson. The Jazz used the pick to draft Larry Knight.
* $^l$ On June 22, 1979, the Phoenix Suns acquired the 22nd pick and a 1980 third-round pick from the Washington Bullets in exchange for Steve Malovic. The Suns used the pick to draft Kyle Macy.
* $^m$ On October 11, 1978, the Phoenix Suns acquired a second-round pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Dennis Awtrey. The Suns used the pick to draft Johnny High.

## Early entrants
### College underclassmen

For the second year in a row, no underclassmen decided to opt out of the NBA draft, with only four total players deciding to declare entry into this year's draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
* Garcia Hopkins – F, Morgan State (sophomore)
* Magic Johnson – G, Michigan State (sophomore)
* Cliff Robinson – F, USC (sophomore)
* Sly Williams – F/G, Rhode Island (junior)