# 1978 NBA draft

The 1978 NBA draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1978, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York, before the 1978–79 season. In this draft, 22 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 Indiana Pacers won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Kansas City Kings, who obtained the New Jersey Nets' first-round pick in a trade, were awarded the second pick. The Pacers then traded the first pick to the Portland Trail Blazers before the draft. 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. 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 start of the season, the Buffalo Braves relocated to San Diego and became the San Diego Clippers. The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 202 players.

## Draft selections and draftee career notes

Mychal Thompson from the University of Minnesota was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson, who was born in the Bahamas, became the first foreign-born player to be drafted first overall. Phil Ford from the University of North Carolina was selected second by the Kansas City Kings. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team in his rookie season. A college underclassman from Indiana State University, Larry Bird, was selected sixth by the Boston Celtics. However, he opted to return to Indiana State for his senior season before entering the league in 1979. He won the Rookie of the Year Award and was also selected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All Star Game in his rookie season. Bird spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics and won three NBA championships. He also won three consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards and two Finals Most Valuable Player Awards. He was also selected to ten All-NBA Teams and thirteen consecutive All-Star Games. For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bird 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, Bird went on to have a coaching career. He coached the Indiana Pacers for three seasons, leading them to an NBA Finals appearance. He also won the Coach of the Year Award in 1998.
Before the draft, Larry Bird had just finished his junior year at Indiana State. However, he was eligible to be drafted without applying for "hardship" because his original college class at Indiana University had graduated. He initially enrolled at Indiana University in 1974 but dropped out before the season began. After sitting out a year, he enrolled at Indiana State. Despite being eligible for the draft, he stated that he would return to college for his senior season. His hometown team, the Indiana Pacers, initially held the first overall pick. However, when they failed to persuade him to leave college early, they traded the first pick to the Blazers, who also failed to convince him into signing. Five teams, including the Pacers who held the third pick, passed on Bird until the Celtics used the sixth pick to draft him. They drafted him even though they knew that they might lose the exclusive rights to him if he didn't sign before the next draft. He could reenter the draft in 1979 and sign with the other team that drafted him, and in negotiations with Red Auerbach Bird's agent Bob Woolf bluntly dismissed Red's lowball salary offers (he said that he would not offer Bird a contract that paid him more than the $400,000 annual salary of the team's highest-paid player at the time, Dave Cowens) and made it clear that Bird would enter the 1979 Draft without any regrets if Boston didn't change its plans. Nevertheless, in April 1979, he signed a five-year, US$3.25-million contract with the Celtics, which made him the highest-paid rookie in the history of team sport at that time.
Maurice Cheeks, the 36th pick, was selected to four All-Star Games and five consecutive All-Defensive Teams. After retiring as a player, he coached the Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers for four and a half seasons each. He then coached the Detroit Pistons for the first portion of the 2013/14 NBA season but was fired before finishing his first season with the team. Micheal Ray Richardson, the fourth pick, Larry Bird, the sixth pick, Reggie Theus, the ninth pick, and Mike Mitchell, the fifteenth pick, are the only other players from this draft who were selected to an All-Star Game. Michael Cooper, the 60th pick, won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987 and was selected to eight consecutive All-Defensive Teams. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships. After retiring, he coached the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons, leading them to two consecutive WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. He also served as an interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets in the 2004–2005 season. Four other players drafted also went on to have coaching careers in the NBA: Reggie Theus, 21st pick Mike Evans, 53rd pick Randy Ayers and 55th pick Marc Iavaroni.

## 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 |
| $^x$ | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team |
| $^#$ | 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 | Mychal Thompson | F/C | Bahamas | Portland Trail Blazers (from Indiana) | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 1 | 2 | Phil Ford$^x$ | G | United States | Kansas City Kings (from New Jersey) | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 1 | 3 | Rick Robey | F/C | United States | Indiana Pacers (from Buffalo via Portland) | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 1 | 4 | Micheal Ray Richardson$^+$ | G/F | United States | New York Knicks (from Houston via Buffalo and New Jersey) | Montana (Sr.) |
| 1 | 5 | Purvis Short | G/F | United States | Golden State Warriors (from Kansas City via Los Angeles) | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 6 | Larry Bird^ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Indiana State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Ron Brewer | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Detroit via Seattle) | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Freeman Williams | G/F | United States | Boston Celtics (from New Orleans via Los Angeles) | Portland State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Reggie Theus$^+$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | UNLV (Jr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Butch Lee | G | Puerto Rico | Atlanta Hawks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | James Hardy | F/C | United States | New Orleans Jazz (from Golden State) | San Francisco (Jr.) |
| 1 | 12 | George Johnson | F/C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks (from Cleveland) | St. John's (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Winford Boynes | G/F | United States | New Jersey Nets (from New York) | San Francisco (Jr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Roger Phegley | G/F | United States | Washington Bullets | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Mike Mitchell$^+$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (from Milwaukee) | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Jack Givens | G/F | United States | Atlanta Hawks (from Los Angeles via New Orleans) | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Rod Griffin$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets (from Seattle) | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Dave Corzine | C | United States | Washington Bullets (from Denver) | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Marty Byrnes | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Frankie Sanders | G/F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Southern (Jr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Mike Evans | G | United States | Denver Nuggets (from Philadelphia) | Kansas State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Raymond Townsend | G | United States | Golden State Warriors (from Portland) | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 2 | 23 | Terry Tyler | G/F | United States | Detroit Pistons (from New Jersey) | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 2 | 24 | Keith Herron | G/F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Buffalo via Atlanta) | Villanova (Sr.) |
| 2 | 25 | Rick Wilson | G | United States | Atlanta Hawks (from Houston) | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 2 | 26 | Ron Carter | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers (from Kansas City) | VMI (Sr.) |
| 2 | 27 | Wayne Radford | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 2 | 28 | Buster Matheney$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets (from Boston) | Utah (Sr.) |
| 2 | 29 | John Long | G/F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Detroit (Sr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Jeff Judkins | G/F | United States | Boston Celtics (from New Orleans) | Utah (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Marvin Johnson$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 2 | 32 | John Rudd | F | United States | New York Knicks (from Atlanta) | McNeese State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Harry Davis | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Greg Bunch | F | United States | New York Knicks | Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Tommie Green | G | United States | New Orleans Jazz (from Golden State) | Southern (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Maurice Cheeks^ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers (from Milwaukee) | West Texas State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Terry Sykes$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Grambling State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Lew Massey$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | UNC Charlotte (Sr.) |
| 2 | 39 | James Lee$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Wayne Cooper | F/C | United States | Golden State Warriors (from Denver) | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Jerome Whitehead | F/C | United States | Buffalo Braves (from Phoenix) | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Keven McDonald$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics (from San Antonio) | Pennsylvania (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Glenn Hagan | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Clemon Johnson | F/C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Florida A&M (Sr.) |
| 3 | 45 | Mike Phillips$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | Kentucky (Sr.) |
| 3 | 46 | Hollis Copeland | F | United States | Denver Nuggets (from Buffalo) | Rutgers (Sr.) |
| 3 | 47 | Billy Ray Bates | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Kentucky State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 48 | Mike Santos$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Utah State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 49 | Jeff Cook | F/C | United States | Kansas City Kings | Idaho State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 50 | Dana Skinner$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Merrimack (Sr.) |
| 3 | 51 | Ricky Gallon$^#$ | C | United States | San Diego Clippers | Louisville (Sr.) |
| 3 | 52 | Mike Russell$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 3 | 53 | Randy Ayers$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Miami (Ohio) (Sr.) |
| 3 | 54 | Steve Grant$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Manhattan (Sr.) |
| 3 | 55 | Marc Iavaroni | F | United States | New York Knicks | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 3 | 56 | Steve Neff$^#$ | C | United States | Golden State Warriors | Southern Nazarene (Sr.) |
| 3 | 57 | Kenny Higgs | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | LSU(Sr.) |
| 3 | 58 | Rick Apke$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Creighton (Sr.) |
| 3 | 59 | Pat Cummings | F/C | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Cincinnati (Sr.) |
| 3 | 60 | Michael Cooper$^^$ | G/F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 3 | 61 | Dave Baxter$^#$ | G | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 3 | 62 | Dave Batton | C | United States | New Jersey Nets (from Denver) | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 3 | 63 | Joel Kramer | F/C | United States | Phoenix Suns | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| 3 | 64 | Gerald Henderson | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | VCU (Sr.) |
| 3 | 65 | Marvin Delph$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Arkansas (Sr.) |
| 3 | 66 | Sterling Edmonds$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Dartmouth (Sr.) |
| 4 | 67 | Jackie Robinson | F | United States | Houston Rockets (from New Jersey) | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 4 | 68 | Jim Boylan$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 4 | 69 | Joel Thompson$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 4 | 70 | Geoff Crompton | C | United States | Kansas City Kings | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 4 | 71 | Rickey Lee$^#$ | F | United States | Indiana Pacers | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 72 | Dave Nelson$^#$ | F | United States Greece | Boston Celtics | Bloomfield (Sr.) |
| 4 | 73 | Larry Harris$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Pittsburgh (Sr.) |
| 4 | 74 | Mel Davis$^#$ | F | United States | New Orleans Jazz | North Texas (Sr.) |
| 4 | 75 | Jeff Covington$^#$ | F | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Youngstown State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 76 | Leroy McDonald$^#$ | G | United States | San Diego Clippers | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 4 | 77 | Derrick Jackson$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 4 | 78 | Stan Rome$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Clemson (Sr.) |
| 4 | 79 | Erving Giddings$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Dayton (Sr.) |
| 4 | 80 | Otis Howard | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Austin Peay (Sr.) |
| 4 | 81 | Lawrence Boston | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Maryland (Sr.) |
| 4 | 82 | Harold Robertson$^#$ | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Lincoln (Missouri) (Sr.) |
| 4 | 83 | Billy Lewis$^#$ | F | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Illinois State (Sr.) |
| 4 | 84 | Walter Jordan | F | United States | New Jersey Nets (from Denver) | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 4 | 85 | Bob Miller | F | United States | Phoenix Suns | Cincinnati (Sr.) |
| 4 | 86 | Rich Adams$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 4 | 87 | Brett Vroman | C | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | UNLV (Sr.) |
| 4 | 88 | Wayne Smith$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | UC Irvine (Sr.) |
| 5 | 89 | Cecil Rose$^#$ | G | Bahamas | New Jersey Nets | Houston (Sr.) |
| 5 | 90 | David Thompson$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 91 | Gary Goodner$^#$ | F | United States | Houston Rockets | Texas (Sr.) |
| 5 | 92 | James Sparrow$^#$ | F | United States | Indiana Pacers | North Carolina A&T (Sr.) |
| 5 | 93 | Derrick Clairborne$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | UMass (Sr.) |
| 5 | 94 | Greg Tynes$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Seton Hall (Sr.) |
| 5 | 95 | Dave Caligaris$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Northeastern (Sr.) |
| 5 | 96 | Duck Williams | G | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| 5 | 97 | Ron Anthony$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 5 | 98 | Chris Potter$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Holy Cross (Sr.) |
| 5 | 99 | Ken Koenigs$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 5 | 100 | Greg Green$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Southern (Sr.) |
| 5 | 101 | Bubba Wilson | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Western Carolina (Sr.) |
| 5 | 102 | Roger Dickens$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Towson (Sr.) |
| 5 | 103 | Russ Coleman$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Pacific (Sr.) |
| 5 | 104 | Carlos Terry | G/F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Winston-Salem State (Sr.) |
| 5 | 105 | Ralph Drollinger | C | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Athletes in Action |
| 5 | 106 | Michael Edwards$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Pan American (Sr.) |
| 5 | 107 | Andre Wakefield | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Loyola (Illinois) (Sr.) |
| 5 | 108 | Eugene Parker$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 5 | 109 | Mark Haymore$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | UMass (Jr.) |
| 5 | 110 | Clay Johnson | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Missouri (Sr.) |
| 6 | 111 | Golie Augustus$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 6 | 112 | Bob Misevicius$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Providence (Sr.) |
| 6 | 113 | Eddie Joe Chavez$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Santa Clara (Sr.) |
| 6 | 114 | Jim Krivacs$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | Texas (Sr.) |
| 6 | 115 | Sherman Dillard$^#$ | G | United States | Indiana Pacers | James Madison (Sr.) |
| 6 | 116 | Dave Winey$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 6 | 117 | Audie Matthews$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 6 | 118 | John Douglas | G | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 6 | 119 | John Shoemaker$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Miami (Ohio) (Sr.) |
| 6 | 120 | Gerald Glover$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Howard (Sr.) |
| 6 | 121 | Eddie Warren$^#$ | G | Panama | New York Knicks | Briar Cliff (Sr.) |
| 6 | 122 | Buzz Harnett$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | San Diego (Sr.) |
| 6 | 123 | Ron Bell$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| 6 | 124 | Dave Kyle$^#$ | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 125 | Archie Aldridge$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Miami (Ohio) (Sr.) |
| 6 | 126 | Kim Stewart$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Washington (Sr.) |
| 6 | 127 | Robert Heard$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Columbus State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 128 | Charles Thompson$^#$ | F | Bahamas | Phoenix Suns | Houston (Sr.) |
| 6 | 129 | Harry Morgan$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Indiana State (Sr.) |
| 6 | 130 | Osborne Lockhart$^#$ | G | Bahamas | Philadelphia 76ers | Minnesota (Sr.) |
| 6 | 131 | Tim Evans$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Puget Sound (Sr.) |
| 7 | 132 | Doug Jemison$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 7 | 133 | Stan Pietkiewicz | G/F | United States | Buffalo Braves | Auburn (Sr.) |
| 7 | 134 | Stan Stewart$^#$ | G | United States | Houston Rockets | Loyola Marymount (Sr.) |
| 7 | 135 | Ollie Matson Jr.$^#$ | F | United States | Indiana Pacers | Pepperdine (Jr.) |
| 7 | 136 | Charles McMillian$^#$ | G | United States | Kansas City Kings | North Texas (Sr.) |
| 7 | 137 | Steve Balkun$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 7 | 138 | Herb Entzminger$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Johnson C. Smith (Sr.) |
| 7 | 139 | Willie Howard$^#$ | F | United States | New Orleans Jazz | New Mexico (Sr.) |
| 7 | 140 | Jarvis Reynolds$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | West Georgia (Sr.) |
| 7 | 141 | Jim DeWeese$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Gonzaga (Sr.) |
| 7 | 142 | Rick Bernard$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Saint Mary's (Sr.) |
| 7 | 143 | Tony Smith$^#$ | G | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | UNLV (Jr.) |
| 7 | 144 | Gary Pember$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | Nasson (Sr.) |
| 7 | 145 | Ed Hopkins$^#$ | F | United States | Washington Bullets | Georgetown (Sr.) |
| 7 | 146 | Kim Anderson | F | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Libertas Forli (Italy) |
| 7 | 147 | Larry Paige$^#$ | F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 7 | 148 | Jack Gilloon$^#$ | G | United States | Denver Nuggets | South Carolina (Sr.) |
| 7 | 149 | Steve Malovic | C | United States | Phoenix Suns | San Diego State (Jr.) |
| 7 | 150 | Hector Olivencia$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Sacred Heart (Sr.) |
| 7 | 151 | Anthony Murray$^#$ | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 7 | 152 | Walter Reason$^#$ | G | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Pacific (Sr.) |
| 8 | 153 | Bruce Campbell$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | Providence (Sr.) |
| 8 | 154 | Felton Young$^#$ | C | United States | San Diego Clippers | Jacksonville (Sr.) |
| 8 | 155 | Ron Hammye$^#$ | F | United States | Kansas City Kings | Bowling Green (Sr.) |
| 8 | 156 | Kim Fisher$^#$ | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Fairfield (Sr.) |
| 8 | 157 | Earl Evans | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | UNLV (Jr.) |
| 8 | 158 | Carl Kilpatrick | C | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Northeast Louisiana (Sr.) |
| 8 | 159 | Chubby Cox | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | San Francisco (Sr.) |
| 8 | 160 | Ed Murphy$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Merrimack (Sr.) |
| 8 | 161 | Roland Martin$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Missouri Southern (Sr.) |
| 8 | 162 | Greg Sanders$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| 8 | 163 | Tony Searcy$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Appalachian State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 164 | Tom Zaliagiris$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | North Carolina (Sr.) |
| 8 | 165 | Nestor Cora$^#$ | F | Puerto Rico | Washington Bullets | St. Francis Brooklyn (Sr.) |
| 8 | 166 | Larry Vaculik$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 8 | 167 | George Fowler$^#$ | C | United States | Phoenix Suns | Pacific (Sr.) |
| 8 | 168 | Henry Taylor$^#$ | F | United States | San Antonio Spurs | UT Rio Grande Valley (Sr.) |
| 8 | 169 | Alan Cunningham$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Colorado State (Sr.) |
| 8 | 170 | Mark Wickman$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Linfield (Sr.) |
| 9 | 171 | Frank Sowinski$^#$ | F | United States | New Jersey Nets | Princeton (Sr.) |
| 9 | 172 | Bobby White$^#$ | F | United States | San Diego Clippers | Centenary (Sr.) |
| 9 | 173 | Les Anderson$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | George Washington (Sr.) |
| 9 | 174 | Ulice Payne$^#$ | F | United States | Detroit Pistons | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 9 | 175 | Chad Nelson$^#$ | C | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Drake (Jr.) |
| 9 | 176 | Joe Ponsetto$^#$ | F | United States | Chicago Bulls | DePaul (Sr.) |
| 9 | 177 | Maurice Robinson$^#$ | C | United States | Atlanta Hawks | West Virginia (Sr.) |
| 9 | 178 | Denny Fields$^#$ | F | United States | New York Knicks | UNC Wilmington (Sr.) |
| 9 | 179 | Bobby Humbles$^#$ | G | United States | Golden State Warriors | Bradley (Sr.) |
| 9 | 180 | Steve Bayless$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Central State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 181 | Tim Claxton$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Temple (Sr.) |
| 9 | 182 | Gary Rosenberger$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Marquette (Sr.) |
| 9 | 183 | Thomas Schneeberger$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Air Force (Sr.) |
| 9 | 184 | Nate Stokes$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Grand Canyon (Sr.) |
| 9 | 185 | Rick Taylor$^#$ | G | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Arizona State (Sr.) |
| 9 | 186 | Paul Cozens$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | George Fox (Sr.) |
| 10 | 187 | Michael Vicens$^#$ | G | Puerto Rico | New Jersey Nets | Holy Cross (Sr.) |
| 10 | 188 | Walter Harrigan$^#$ | F | United States | Boston Celtics | Brandeis (Sr.) |
| 10 | 189 | Dave Grauzer$^#$ | G | United States | Detroit Pistons | Central Michigan (Sr.) |
| 10 | 190 | Rickey Williams | G | United States | New Orleans Jazz | Long Beach State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 191 | Mark Tucker$^#$ | G | United States | Chicago Bulls | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 192 | Marshall Lester$^#$ | F | United States | Atlanta Hawks | Florida Southern (Sr.) |
| 10 | 193 | Mike Muff$^#$ | F | United States | Golden State Warriors | Murray State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 194 | Gary Winton$^#$ | F | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | Army (Sr.) |
| 10 | 195 | Ernest Simons$^#$ | G | United States | New York Knicks | Pace (Sr.) |
| 10 | 196 | Tom Anderson$^#$ | G | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | Green Bay (Sr.) |
| 10 | 197 | Steve Connor$^#$ | G | United States | Washington Bullets | Boise State (Sr.) |
| 10 | 198 | Phil Taylor$^#$ | F | United States | Denver Nuggets | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 10 | 199 | Lewis Cohen$^#$ | G | United States | Phoenix Suns | Cal Poly (Sr.) |
| 10 | 200 | Larry Brewster$^#$ | C | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Florida (Sr.) |
| 10 | 201 | Dennis James$^#$ | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Widener (Sr.) |
| 10 | 202 | Tim Warkentin$^#$ | F | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Biola (Sr.) |

## Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1978 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
| Del Beshore | G | United States | California (Pennsylvania) (Sr.) |
| Mike Davis | C | United States | Maryland (Sr.) |
| Rock Lee | C | United States | San Diego State (Sr.) |
| Myles Patrick | F | United States | Auburn (Sr.) |
| Sam Pellom | C | United States | Buffalo (Sr.) |
| Jim Zoet | C | Canada | Lakehead (Sr.) |

## Trades

* $^{a1}$ $^2$ On June 8, 1978, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired the first pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Johnny Davis and the third overall pick. Previously, the Blazers acquired a first-round pick on October 18, 1976, from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Moses Malone. The Blazers used the pick to draft Mychal Thompson. The Pacers used the pick to draft Rick Robey.
* $^b$ On September 10, 1976, the Kansas City Kings acquired Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor, 1977 and 1978 first-round picks from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Nate Archibald. The Kings used the pick to draft Phil Ford.
* $^{c1}$ $^2$ On June 8, 1978, the New York Knicks acquired the fourth pick and a 1979 first-round pick from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Phil Jackson, the thirteenth pick and US$3.2-million settlement of their indemnification debt to the Knicks. Previously, the Nets acquired George E. Johnson, the pick and a 1979 first-round pick on September 1, 1977, from the Buffalo Braves in exchange for Nate Archibald. Previously, the Braves acquired the pick and a 1977 first-round pick on October 24, 1976, from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Moses Malone. The Knicks used the pick to draft Micheal Ray Richardson. The Nets used the pick to draft Winford Boynes.
* $^{d1}$ $^2$ On September 14, 1977, the Golden State Warriors acquired a first-round pick and cash considerations from the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade was arranged as compensation when the Lakers signed Jamaal Wilkes on July 11, 1977. Previously, the Lakers acquired Ollie Johnson, the pick and a second-round pick on June 1, 1977, from the Kansas City Kings in exchange for Lucius Allen. The Warriors used the pick to draft Purvis Short. The Lakers used the pick to draft Ron Carter.
* $^e$ On November 11, 1977, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired a 1978 first-round pick and a 1979 second-round pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Wally Walker. Previously, the Sonics acquired the pick on September 25, 1975, from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Archie Clark. The Blazers used the pick to draft Ron Brewer.
* $^{f1}$ $^2$ On December 27, 1977, the Boston Celtics acquired Don Chaney, Kermit Washington and a first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Charlie Scott. On October 13, 1977, the Atlanta Hawks acquired a first-round pick from the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Joe Meriweather. Previously, the Lakers acquired 1977, 1978 and 1979 first-round picks, and a 1980 second-round pick on August 5, 1976, from the 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 Celtics used the pick to draft Freeman Williams. The Hawks used the pick to draft Jack Givens.
* $^g$ On October 3, 1977, the New Orleans Jazz acquired a first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors as compensation for the signing of E. C. Coleman as a free agent. The Jazz used the pick to draft James Hardy.
* $^h$ On January 13, 1977, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Rowland Garrett, 1977 and 1978 first-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Elmore Smith and Gary Brokaw. The Bucks used the pick to draft George Johnson.
* $^i$ On June 1, 1978, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the 15th pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 1979 first-round pick. The Cavaliers used the pick to draft Mike Mitchell.
* $^j$ On the draft-day, the Denver Nuggets acquired the 17th pick from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Tom LaGarde. The Nuggets used the pick to draft Rod Griffin.
* $^k$ On October 11, 1977, the Washington Bullets acquired a first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Bo Ellis. The Bullets used the pick to draft Dave Corzine.
* $^l$ On the draft-day, the Denver Nuggets acquired the 21st pick from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 1984 first-round pick. The Nuggets used the pick to draft Mike Evans.
* $^m$ On June 7, 1978, the Golden State Warriors acquired the 22nd pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a 1981 first-round pick. The Warriors used the pick to draft Raymond Townsend.

## Early entrants
### College underclassmen

This year's draft only saw five total players that qualified as underclassmen entering the draft, with none of them opting to withdraw from this draft year. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
* Winford Boynes – G, San Francisco (junior)
* James Hardy – F, San Francisco (junior)
* James Holley – G, Schenectady County CC (sophomore)
* Frankie Sanders – F, Southern (junior)
* Reggie Theus – G, UNLV (junior)