page_title: 1997 NBA draft
section_title: Notable undrafted players
hierarchical_section_title: 1997 NBA draft / Notable undrafted players
caption_attribution_description: English: Pat Burke during Euroleague game between Assecco Prokom and Armani Jeans. Polski: Pat Burke podczas meczu Euroligi pomiędzy zespołami Assecco Prokom i Armani Jeans.
context_page_description: The 1997 NBA draft took place on June 25, 1997, at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Boston Celtics had the second-worst record in the 1996–97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson and Sean Elliott to injury early in the season, finished with the third-worst record, and subsequently won the lottery. Leading up to the draft, there was no doubt that Tim Duncan would be selected at No. 1 by the Spurs, and the rest of the draft was regarded with some skepticism. The Celtics had the third and sixth picks, selecting Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, both of whom were traded in the next two years.
  The Washington Wizards forfeited their 1997 first-round pick in connection with the signing of Juwan Howard. Thus, the draft only had 28 first-round selections and 57 selections overall.
context_section_description: These players were not selected in the 1997 NBA Draft but have played in the NBA.
caption: Despite going undrafted Pat Burke gained notability through being the NBA's first Irish player.
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