Claim: The Houston Rockets are a team.

The 1984 NBA draft was the 37th annual draft of the National Basketball Association -LRB- NBA -RRB- . It was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City , New York , on June 19 , 1984 , before the 1984 -- 85 season . The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network . In this draft , 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players , including international players . The Houston Rockets won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick , while the Portland Trail Blazers , who obtained the Indiana Pacers ' first-round pick in a trade , 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 . The Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded an extra first-round draft pick as compensation for the draft picks traded away by their previous owner , Ted Stepien . A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was automatically eligible for selection . Before the draft , five college underclassman announced that they would leave college early and would be eligible for selection . Prior to the draft , the San Diego Clippers relocated to Los Angeles and became the Los Angeles Clippers . The draft consisted of 10 rounds comprising the selection of 228 players . This draft was the last to be held before the creation of the Draft Lottery in 1985 . It was also the first NBA Draft to be overseen by David Stern .   The draft is generally considered to be one of the greatest in NBA history , with four Hall of Famers being drafted in the first sixteen picks and five overall .