# 1971 NBA draft

The 1971 NBA draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on March 29 and 30, 1971, before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. 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. 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 Cleveland Cavaliers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Portland Trail Blazers 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 start of the season, the San Diego Rockets and the San Francisco Warriors relocated to Houston, Texas, and Oakland, California, and became the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors respectively. The draft consisted of 19 rounds comprising the selection of 237 players. The league also hosted a supplemental hardship draft on September 20, 1971, for college underclassmen who wished to join the league.

## Draft selections and draftee career notes

Austin Carr from the University of Notre Dame was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sidney Wicks from the University of California, Los Angeles, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was selected second by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Spencer Haywood, the 30th pick, and Randy Smith, the 104th pick, were selected to both the All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game. Haywood was selected to four All-NBA Teams and five All-Star Games. He also won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980. During his first and only season in the American Basketball Association (ABA), he won the ABA Most Valuable Player Award, and was selected to the ABA All-Star Game and All-ABA Team. Smith was selected to one All-NBA Team and two All-Star Games.
Artis Gilmore, the 117th pick, initially opted to play in the ABA. Gilmore spent five seasons with the Kentucky Colonels before finally joined the NBA in 1976 after both leagues merged. His achievements include ABA Most Valuable Player Award in 1972, five All-ABA Team selections, five ABA All-Star Game selections and six NBA All-Star Game selections. For his achievements, he was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Fred Brown, the 6th pick, spent all of his 13-year playing career with the Sonics and was selected to one All-Star Game. Carr, Wicks, and 11th pick Curtis Rowe are the only other players from this draft who were selected to an All-Star Game. Phil Chenier, a college underclassman selected in the supplemental hardship draft, was also selected to both All-NBA Team and All-Star Game. Two players drafted went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: 13th pick Jim Cleamons and 46th pick Dave Wohl.
Spencer Haywood was selected in the second round by the Buffalo Braves although he already played in the NBA with the Seattle SuperSonics in the previous season. He left college basketball in 1969 with two years remaining in his college eligibility. At that time, the NBA prohibited the drafting or signing of a player before his college class had graduated. He then played in the ABA with the Denver Rockets for a season before controversially signed by the Sonics. The league and the other NBA teams opposed the move and argued Haywood should be prohibited to join and play with the Sonics. This led to a court case between the NBA against the Sonics and Haywood. He argued that he should be allowed to play because he was a "hardship case", due to his position as the sole wage earner in his family. He then won the case and was allowed to play late in the 1970–71 season. This led to the NBA allowing college underclassmen to enter the draft provided they could give evidence of "hardship". With the existing rules, Haywood was eligible for this year's draft, when his college class graduated. The Braves used one of their three second-round picks to select him, hoping that they would win the rights to sign him. However, he remained with the Sonics and never played for the Braves.

## 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

| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
| 1 | 1 | Austin Carr$^+$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Sidney Wicks$^+$ | F/C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Elmore Smith | C | United States | Buffalo Braves | Kentucky State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Ken Durrett | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | La Salle (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | George Trapp | F/C | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Fred Brown$^+$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Iowa (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Cliff Meely | F/C | United States | San Diego Rockets | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Darnell Hillman | F/C | United States | San Francisco Warriors | U.S. Armed Forces (AAU) |
| 1 | 9 | Stan Love | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Clarence Glover | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Curtis Rowe$^+$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 12 | Dana Lewis$^#$ | C | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Jim Cleamons | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Ohio State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 14 | John Roche | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Kennedy McIntosh | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Eastern Michigan (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Dean Meminger | G | United States | New York Knicks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Collis Jones$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 2 | 18 | Steve Patterson | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 2 | 19 | Fred Hilton | G/F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Grambling (Sr.) |
| 2 | 20 | Willie Sojourner$^#$ | F/C | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Portland) | Weber State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 21 | John Mengelt | G | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 2 | 22 | Ted McClain | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 23 | Jim McDaniels | F/C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Mike Newlin | G/F | United States | San Diego Rockets | Utah (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Charlie Yelverton | G/F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from San Francisco) | Fordham (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Amos Thomas$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Southwestern State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Rick Fisher$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Baltimore) | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Jim Rose$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | Isaiah Wilson | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Baltimore (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Spencer Haywood^ | F/C | United States | Buffalo Braves (from Philadelphia) | Seattle SuperSonics (NBA) |
| 2 | 31 | Joe Bergman$^#$ | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals (from Los Angeles) | Creighton (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | Howard Porter | F/C | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Phoenix) | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Marvin Stewart$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers (from Chicago) | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Gregg Northington$^#$ | C | United States | New York Knicks | Alabama State (Jr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Willie Long$^#$ | F/C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (from Milwaukee) | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 3 | 36 | Gerald Lockett$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Arkansas AM&N (Sr.) |
| 3 | 37 | Larry Steele | G/F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 3 | 38 | Rich Yunkus$^#$ | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 39 | Jeff Halliburton | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Drake (Sr.) |
| 3 | 40 | Clifford Ray | C | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Seattle) | Oklahoma (Sr.) |
| 3 | 41 | Jackie Ridgle | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Diego) | California (Sr.) |
| 3 | 42 | William Smith | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from San Francisco) | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 3 | 43 | Rich Rinaldi | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Saint Peter's (Sr.) |
| 3 | 44 | Dave Robisch | F/C | United States | Boston Celtics | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 3 | 45 | Marv Roberts | F/C | United States | Detroit Pistons | Utah State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 46 | Dave Wohl | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Pennsylvania (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Mike Gale | G | United States | Chicago Bulls (from Los Angeles) | Elizabeth City State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Mo Layton | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | USC (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Dick Gibbs | G/F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Texas-El Paso (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Kenny Mayfield | G | United States | New York Knicks | Tuskegee (Sr.) |
| 3 | 51 | Gary Brell$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 4 | 52 | Cliff Harris$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Hardin–Simmons (Sr.) |
| 4 | 53 | Jimmy O'Brien$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Boston College (Sr.) |
| 4 | 54 | Bobby Fields$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | La Salle (Sr.) |
| 4 | 55 | Sid Catlett | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 4 | 56 | Jim Welch$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Houston (Sr.) |
| 4 | 57 | Pembrook Burrows$^#$ | C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 4 | 58 | Tom Owens | F/C | United States | San Diego Rockets | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 4 | 59 | Greg Gary$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 4 | 60 | Will Allen$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Miami (Florida) (Sr.) |
| 4 | 61 | Randy Denton | C | United States | Boston Celtics | Duke (Sr.) |
| 4 | 62 | Jarrett Durham$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 4 | 63 | Erwin Johnson$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Augusta (Sr.) |
| 4 | 64 | Roger Brown | C | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 4 | 65 | Walt Szczerbiak$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | George Washington (Sr.) |
| 4 | 66 | Jim Irving$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Saint Louis (Sr.) |
| 4 | 67 | Steve Niles$^#$ | C | United States | New York Knicks | Texas A&M (Sr.) |
| 4 | 68 | Henry Smith$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 5 | 69 | Brian Mahoney$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 5 | 70 | Garry Nelson$^#$ | C | United States | Buffalo Braves | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 5 | 71 | Héctor Blondet$^#$ | F | Puerto Rico | Portland Trail Blazers | Murray State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 72 | Jimmie Guymon$^#$ | G | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Eastern New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 5 | 73 | Tyrone Marioneaux$^#$ | C | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Loyola (Louisiana) (Sr.) |
| 5 | 74 | Jeff Smith$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | New Mexico State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 75 | Rudy Benjamin$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 76 | Odis Allison | F | United States | San Francisco Warriors | Nevada-Las Vegas (Sr.) |
| 5 | 77 | Don Johnson$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 5 | 78 | Greg Nelson$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 5 | 79 | Vincent White$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Savannah State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 80 | Richard Hood$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Phillips (Sr.) |
| 5 | 81 | Lee Dedmon$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 5 | 82 | Ken Gardner$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Utah (Sr.) |
| 5 | 83 | Larry Weatherford$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 5 | 84 | Bob Kissane$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Holy Cross (Sr.) |
| 5 | 85 | Barry Nelson | C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Duquesne (Sr.) |
| 6 | 86 | Mike Childress$^#$ | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 87 | Glen Summors$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Gannon (Jr.) |
| 6 | 88 | Jim Day$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Morehead State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 89 | Gil McGregor | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 6 | 90 | Willie Humes$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 91 | Mike Necaise$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | William Carey (Sr.) |
| 6 | 92 | Gary Reist$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Rice (Sr.) |
| 6 | 93 | Charles Johnson | G | United States | San Francisco Warriors | California (Sr.) |
| 6 | 94 | John Novey$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Mount Saint Mary's (Sr.) |
| 6 | 95 | Thorpe Weber$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Vanderbilt (Sr.) |
| 6 | 96 | Jim Larrañaga$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Providence (Sr.) |
| 6 | 97 | Jake Jones | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Assumption (Sr.) |
| 6 | 98 | Bill Brickhouse$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Montana State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 99 | William Graham$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Kentucky State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 100 | Jim England$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 6 | 101 | Bill Mainor$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Fordham (Sr.) |
| 6 | 102 | Ed Kemp$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Adams State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 103 | Tom Bush$^#$ | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Drake (Sr.) |
| 7 | 104 | Randy Smith* | G/F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Buffalo State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 105 | Gene Knolle$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 7 | 106 | Ollie Shannon$^#$ | G | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 7 | 107 | Mike Jordan$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Savannah State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 108 | John Duncan$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Kentucky Wesleyan (Sr.) |
| 7 | 109 | Eric Hill$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 7 | 110 | Ken May$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 7 | 111 | Dennis Hogg$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 112 | Skip Young$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 113 | Steve Kelly$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | BYU (Sr.) |
| 7 | 114 | Curtis Ford$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Northeastern State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 115 | Gene Gathers$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 7 | 116 | Ralph Brateris$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Trenton State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 117 | Artis Gilmore^ | C | United States | Chicago Bulls | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 7 | 118 | Danny Davis$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Henderson State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 119 | Gene Phillips$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | SMU (Sr.) |
| 8 | 120 | Charlie Davis | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 8 | 121 | Craig Love$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 8 | 122 | John Sutter$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Tulane (Sr.) |
| 8 | 123 | Frank Fitzgerald$^#$ | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Boston College (Sr.) |
| 8 | 124 | Jim Smith$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Kentucky Wesleyan (Sr.) |
| 8 | 125 | Charlie Lowery | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Puget Sound (Sr.) |
| 8 | 126 | Rick Katherman$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Duke (Sr.) |
| 8 | 127 | Jim Haderlein$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 8 | 128 | Russell Golden$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Jackson State (Jr.) |
| 8 | 129 | John Ribock$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 8 | 130 | Wayne Jones$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Niagara (Sr.) |
| 8 | 131 | Barry Yates | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Maryland (Jr.) |
| 8 | 132 | Luke Adams$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Lamar (Sr.) |
| 8 | 133 | Vernell Ellzy$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 134 | Clarence Sherrod$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Wisconsin (Sr.) |
| 8 | 135 | Leroy Eldridge$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Cheyney (Sr.) |
| 8 | 136 | Felix Thruston$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Trinity (Sr.) |
| 9 | 137 | Rich Walker$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Bowling Green (Sr.) |
| 9 | 138 | Gary Stewart$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Canisius (Jr.) |
| 9 | 139 | Goo Kennedy | F/C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Texas Christian (Sr.) |
| 9 | 140 | Ernie Fleming$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Jacksonville (Jr.) |
| 9 | 141 | Larry Holliday$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 9 | 142 | Willie Cherry$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Denver (Sr.) |
| 9 | 143 | Clarence Smith$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 9 | 144 | Ron Johnson$^#$ | C | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Murray State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 145 | Ray Greene$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | California State (Pennsylvania) (Sr.) |
| 9 | 146 | Paul Botts$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 9 | 147 | Tom Lee$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 9 | 148 | Bob Cheeks$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Whittier (Sr.) |
| 9 | 149 | Mike Johnson$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Pittsburg State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 150 | Jackie Dinkins | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Voorhees (Sr.) |
| 9 | 151 | Mike O'Brien$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Saint Leo (Sr.) |
| 9 | 152 | Rick Howat$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 10 | 153 | Jim Meredith$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Washington State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 154 | Don Ward$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Colgate (Sr.) |
| 10 | 155 | Greg Starrick$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Southern Illinois (Jr.) |
| 10 | 156 | Ron Rippetoe$^#$ | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Lipscomb (Sr.) |
| 10 | 157 | Ed Huston$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Puget Sound (Sr.) |
| 10 | 158 | Calvin Oliver$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Pan American (Sr.) |
| 10 | 159 | Bill Drozdiak$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 10 | 160 | Eddie Myers$^#$ | C | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 10 | 161 | Dale Dover$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Harvard (Sr.) |
| 10 | 162 | Steve Butcher$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Pikeville (Sr.) |
| 10 | 163 | Jim Dinwiddie$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 10 | 164 | Cliff Mosley$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Quinnipiac (Sr.) |
| 10 | 165 | Tom Newell$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Hawaii (Sr.) |
| 10 | 166 | David Withers$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Delaware State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 167 | Andy Toth$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Cheyney (Sr.) |
| 10 | 168 | Dan Fife$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 11 | 169 | Mike Casey$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 11 | 170 | Bill Warner$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 11 | 171 | Howard Burford$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Gonzaga (Sr.) |
| 11 | 172 | Levi Wyatt$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Alcorn State (Sr.) |
| 11 | 173 | Jerome Perry$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Western Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 11 | 174 | Doug Rex$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | UC Santa Barbara (Sr.) |
| 11 | 175 | Chuck Olkowski$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Baltimore (Sr.) |
| 11 | 176 | Reggie Brooks$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | New Hampshire College (Sr.) |
| 11 | 177 | Larry Saunders$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Duke (Sr.) |
| 11 | 178 | Dana Pagett$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | USC (Sr.) |
| 11 | 179 | Paul Litz$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Western Carolina (Sr.) |
| 11 | 180 | Al Smith$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 11 | 181 | Kenneth Davis$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Georgetown (Kentucky) (Sr.) |
| 11 | 182 | Blaine Henry$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Marshall (Sr.) |
| 12 | 183 | Doug Hess$^#$ | C | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Toledo (Sr.) |
| 12 | 184 | Butch Webster$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 12 | 185 | Don Sechler$^#$ | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Delaware Valley (Sr.) |
| 12 | 186 | Roger Moore$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Columbus (Sr.) |
| 12 | 187 | Chris Schrobilgen$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | USC (Sr.) |
| 12 | 188 | Bob Connor$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Loyola (Maryland) (Sr.) |
| 12 | 189 | John Dalton$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Suffolk (Sr.) |
| 12 | 190 | Bob Horn$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Tulsa (Sr.) |
| 12 | 191 | Ken Kowall$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Ohio (Sr.) |
| 12 | 192 | Floyd Mason$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Alcorn State (Sr.) |
| 12 | 193 | Ken Riley$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Middle Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 12 | 194 | Carl Greenfield$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Eastern Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 12 | 195 | Gene Mumford$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Scranton (Sr.) |
| 13 | 196 | Bobby Jones$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Drake (Sr.) |
| 13 | 197 | Pete Smith$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Hartford Capitols (EBA) |
| 13 | 198 | Ed Jenkins$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Shaw College (Sr.) |
| 13 | 199 | Lee McCullough$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Indiana (Pennsylvania) (Sr.) |
| 13 | 200 | Tom Crosswhite$^#$ | F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 13 | 201 | Leroy Chalk$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Nebraska (Sr.) |
| 13 | 202 | Willie Roberson$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 13 | 203 | Hank Commodore$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Northwestern State (Sr.) |
| 13 | 204 | Ron Dorsey$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Tennessee State (Sr.) |
| 13 | 205 | Ed Goode$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 13 | 206 | Larry Ducksworth$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Henderson State (Sr.) |
| 13 | 207 | Pierre Russell$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 14 | 208 | Bubbles Harris$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 14 | 209 | Ray Lavender$^#$ | C | United States | Buffalo Braves | Drury (Sr.) |
| 14 | 210 | Gene Roberson$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Canisius (Sr.) |
| 14 | 211 | Rudolph Peele$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Norfolk State (Sr.) |
| 14 | 212 | Art Davis$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Johnson C. Smith (Sr.) |
| 14 | 213 | Kenny Booker$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 14 | 214 | Richard Dixon$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 14 | 215 | Jack O'Connor$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Great Falls (Sr.) |
| 14 | 216 | George Jackson$^#$ | C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 15 | 217 | Larry Baker$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Wittenberg (Sr.) |
| 15 | 218 | William Chatmon$^#$ | F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Baylor (Sr.) |
| 15 | 219 | Bill Quigg$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Gonzaga (Sr.) |
| 15 | 220 | Morrell James$^#$ | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Norfolk State (Sr.) |
| 15 | 221 | James Fleming$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Alcorn State (Sr.) |
| 15 | 222 | Curtis Carter$^#$ | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Bishop (Sr.) |
| 15 | 223 | Lisco Thomas$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Furman (Sr.) |
| 15 | 224 | Loyd King$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 16 | 225 | Tyree Vance$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Wisconsin–Oshkosh (Sr.) |
| 16 | 226 | James Douglas$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | Memphis (Sr.) |
| 16 | 227 | Leonard Jackson$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Oregon (Sr.) |
| 16 | 228 | Fred Smiley$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Detroit College of Business (So.) |
| 16 | 229 | Bob Bissant$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Loyola (Louisiana) (Sr.) |
| 17 | 230 | Nelson Isley$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | LSU (Sr.) |
| 17 | 231 | Steve Sims$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Pepperdine (Sr.) |
| 17 | 232 | Leroy Jenkins$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Davenport (Sr.) |
| 18 | 233 | Joey Meyer$^#$ | G | United States | Buffalo Braves | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 18 | 234 | Carlos Quintanar$^#$ | F | Mexico | Houston Rockets | – |
| 18 | 235 | Ike Bundy$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Detroit Tech (Sr.) |
| 19 | 236 | Gary Schneider$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 19 | 237 | Ed Jenkins$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Shaw College (Sr.) |

## Trades

* $^a$ On October 20, 1970, the Chicago Bulls acquired a second-round pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Shaler Halimon. The Bulls used the pick to draft Willie Sojourner.
* $^{b1}$ $^2$ On March 23, 1971, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired 1971 and 1972 second-round picks and a 1971 third-round pick from the San Francisco Warriors in exchange for Jim Barnett. The Blazers used the picks to draft Charlie Yelverton and William Smith.
* $^c$ On October 22, 1970, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a second-round pick from the Baltimore Bullets in exchange for Dorie Murrey. The Blazers used the pick to draft Rick Fisher.
* $^d$ On May 11, 1970, the Buffalo Braves acquired Bob Kauffman and a second-round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Bailey Howell. The Braves used the pick to draft Spencer Haywood.
* $^e$ On the draft-day, the Cincinnati Royals acquired a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Flynn Robinson. The Royals used the pick to draft Joe Bergman.
* $^f$ On April 23, 1970, the Chicago Bulls acquired Jim Fox and a second-round pick from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Clem Haskins. The Bulls used the pick to draft Howard Porte.
* $^g$ On October 16, 1970, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired a second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Matt Guokas. The 76ers used the pick to draft Marvin Stewart.
* $^h$ On February 1, 1971, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Gary Freeman and a second-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for McCoy McLemore. The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Willie Long.
* $^i$ On September 5, 1969, the Chicago Bulls acquired Bob Kauffman and a third-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Bob Boozer and Barry Clemens. The Bulls used the pick to draft Clifford Ray.
* $^j$ On December 9, 1970, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired a third-round pick from the San Diego Rockets in exchange for Johnny Egan. The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Jackie Ridgle.
* $^k$ On September 9, 1969, the Chicago Bulls acquired a third-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Mike Lynn. The Bulls used the pick to draft Mike Gale.

## Hardship draft

On September 10, 1971, the NBA hosted a supplemental hardship draft for college underclassmen who wish to join the league. Prior to the 1971 Draft, college underclassmen were not eligible to be drafted until their college class graduated. These underclassmen fulfilled the "hardship" criteria and were allowed to enter the draft early. This new rule came as a result of Spencer Haywood winning the court case against the NBA which allowed him to play in the NBA before his college class graduated. The teams selected in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. The team that made a selection must withdraw their equivalent selection in the 1972 draft. The teams were allowed to not exercise their rights on this hardship draft and thus retained their full selection in the 1972 draft. Seventeen different players had initially entered the hardship draft, but only six players would ultimately commit to entering the NBA's hardship draft that year. The first hardship draft saw North Carolina's Bill Chamberlain, Marquette's Jim Chones, St. John's Mel Davis, Duquesne's Mickey Davis, Villanova's Chris Ford, the first potential high school prospect in Raymond Lewis from Verbum Dei High School, future Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo from Vincennes Community College, another first potential high school prospect in Campy Russell from Pontiac Central High School, Princeton's Brian Taylor, future Hall of Famer Bill Walton from UCLA, and Michigan's Henry Wilmore all initially enter this year's draft by the hardship draft, but later declined their entry for at least another year.
Three teams that were supposed to have the first three selections, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Buffalo Braves and Portland Trail Blazers, declined to exercise their rights. Therefore, the Cincinnati Royals had the first selection, which they used to select Nate Williams from Utah State University. Phil Chenier, a junior guard from the University of California, was selected by the Baltimore Bullets. He is the only player from the hardship draft who was selected to All-NBA Team and All-Star Game. Joe Hammond, who had not played high school and college basketball, was selected in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Lakers. Hammond, who had played for the Allentown Jets in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) prior to the draft, had to apply as the "hardship case" because his college class could not graduate until 1972 if he had gone to the college. From the six players that were available for selection, only Ed Owens from Weber State University was not selected by any NBA team. The rivaling ABA would also host their own hardship draft later that year called the "Special Circumstances Draft" in response to the NBA's hardship draft, though the ABA would only see three total selections from that specific event, including a repeat selection of Phil Chenier there.
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
| 1 | 1 | Nate Williams | G/F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Utah State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Tom Payne | C | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Kentucky (So.) |
| 1 | 3 | Cyril Baptiste$^#$ | F/C | United States | Golden State Warriors | Creighton (Jr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Phil Chenier* | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | California (Jr.) |
| 4 | 5 | Joe Hammond$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Allentown Jets (EBA) |