1963 NBA draft

Draft selections and draftee career notes

Tom Thacker from the University of Cincinnati was selected before the draft as Cincinnati Royals' territorial pick. Art Heyman from Duke University was selected first overall by the New York Knicks. Two players from this draft, Nate Thurmond and Gus Johnson, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Thurmond was also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. Thurmond's achievements include seven All-Star Game selections and five All-Defensive Team selections. Johnson's achievement include four All-NBA Team selections and five All-Star Game selections. Two players from this draft, 4th pick Eddie Miles and 13th pick Jim King, have also been selected to an All-Star Game.

Reggie Harding, who was the first player drafted out of high school when he was drafted the previous year, was drafted again by the Detroit Pistons with the 48th pick. He finally enter the league after spending a year in the Midwest Professional Basketball League (MPBL) due to the rules that prevent a high school player to play in the league until one year after his high school class graduated. Larry Brown from the University of North Carolina was selected with the 55th pick. However, he never played in the NBA. He spent his playing career within the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) before joining the newly formed American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. He played there for five seasons, earning one All-ABA Team selection and three ABA All-Star Game selections. After his playing career, he became a head coach. He coached nine NBA teams, most recently with the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets). He won the NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and went to the NBA Finals two other times; with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001 and with the Pistons in 2005. In between his NBA coaching career, he also coached the Kansas Jayhawks of the University of Kansas for five seasons, winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in 1988. He is the only coach to win both an NCAA title and an NBA championship. As a player, he won the gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1964 Olympic Games. He then coached the U.S. national team to a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, becoming the only U.S. male basketball participant to both play and coach in the Olympics. Rod Thorn, the 2nd pick, also had a coaching career. He was the interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1982.

Key

Draft

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.

Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1963 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

Trades

• On September 14, 1962, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the second-round pick of the Cincinnati Royals in exchange for Tom Hawkins. The Lakers used the pick to draft Jim King.

References

;General

;Specific

References

1. Bradley, Robert D.. (2013). "The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts". Scarecrow Press.
2. (May 21, 2007). "How the NBA draft became a lottery". The Seattle Times Company.
3. (April 23, 1958). "Lakers Select Baylor In NBA Draft Meeting". Pennsylvania State University.
4. Hareas, John. (August 6, 2001). "A Colorful Tradition". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
5. "Sixers History". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
6. "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com.
7. "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
8. "Nate Thurmond Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
9. "Gus Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
10. "Eddie Miles Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
11. "Jim King Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
12. Hilton, Dan. (July 14, 2008). "Doesn't the Extra Year Help Teams?". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
13. (July 3, 1962). "Pistons Can't Use 7-Foot Prep". Lawrence Journal-World.
14. "Lawrence "Larry" Brown Bio". International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
15. "Larry Brown Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
16. "Larry Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
17. (April 29, 2008). "Bobcats Name Larry Brown Head Coach". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
18. "Rod Thorn Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
19. (May 4, 1963). "New Balto. 5 gets 2 of 17 draftees". Baltimore Afro-American.
20. "1963 NBA draft".
21. "NBA Past Drafts - RealGM".
22. (January 7, 1963). "This Game Called What's The Name". Toledo Blade.
23. "Tom Hawkins Statistics". basketball-reference.com.