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1968 NBA draft

Basketball player selection


Basketball player selection

FieldValue
name1968 NBA draft
sportBasketball
dateApril 3, 1968 (first round)
May 8 and 10, 1968 (Other rounds)
locationNew York City, New York
leagueNBA
overall214
rounds21
firstElvin Hayes, San Diego Rockets
hofnum{{Collapsible list
title2
1F Elvin Hayes
2F Wes Unseld}}
prev[1967](1967-nba-draft)
next[1969](1969-nba-draft)

May 8 and 10, 1968 (Other rounds) The 1968 NBA draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on April 3, 1968, and May 8 and 10, 1968, before the 1968–69 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball 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 division, with the order determined by a coin flip. The San Diego Rockets won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Baltimore Bullets 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. Six teams that had the best records in previous season were not awarded second round draft picks. Two expansion franchises, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, took part in the NBA Draft for the first time and were assigned the seventh and eighth pick in the first round, along with the last two picks of each subsequent round. The St. Louis Hawks relocated to Atlanta and became the Atlanta Hawks prior to the start of the season. The draft consisted of 21 rounds comprising 214 players selected. It would also be a catalyst for the upstart rivaling American Basketball Association to either force an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA due to a leaked document that was sent to the ABA by a disgruntled ex-employee revealing the NBA's plans to show how much each team was to contribute to get the college star players to sign with the NBA teams over the ABA teams or engage in a merger between the two leagues, which eventually resulted in the NBA–ABA merger happening years later.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston was selected first overall by the San Diego Rockets. Wes Unseld from the University of Louisville was selected second by the Baltimore Bullets. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player Award in his first season, becoming only the second player to win both awards in the same season, after Wilt Chamberlain in 1960. Hayes and Unseld have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. They were also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. Hayes and Unseld both won the NBA championship with the Washington Bullets in 1978. In the Finals, Unseld was named as the Finals Most Valuable Player. Unseld, who spent all of his 13-year playing career with the Bullets, was also selected to one All-NBA Team and five All-Star Games, while Hayes was selected to six All-NBA Teams and twelve All-Star Games. Bob Kauffman, the third pick, is the only other player from this draft who has been selected to an All-Star Game; he was selected to three All-Star Games during his career.

Unseld became a head coach after ending his playing career. He coached the Washington Bullets for seven seasons. Three other players drafted also went on to have a coaching career: 12th pick Don Chaney and 79th pick Rick Adelman. Chaney coached four NBA teams and won the Coach of the Year Award in 1991 with the Houston Rockets. Adelman coached four NBA teams, most recently with the Houston Rockets. He lost the NBA Finals twice with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1990 and 1992.

In the fourteenth round, the Seattle SuperSonics selected Mike Warren of UCLA. However, Warren never played professional basketball; he opted for an acting career in films and television instead.

Key

PositionGuardForwardCenter

Draft

Rnd.PickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool / club team
11^F/CUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsHouston (Sr.)
12^F/CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsLouisville (Sr.)
13+F/CUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsGuilford (Sr.)
14CUnited StatesChicago BullsTennessee (Sr.)
15F/CUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsIowa State (Sr.)
16F/CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsPan American (Sr.)
17F/CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksNortheastern State (Sr.)
18F/CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsSouth Carolina (Sr.)
19GUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsWest Virginia (Sr.)
110F/CUnited StatesNew York KnicksOhio State (Sr.)
111FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersUSC (Sr.)
112GUnited StatesBoston CelticsHouston (Sr.)
113GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksSouth Carolina (Sr.)
114G/FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersUtah State (Sr.)
215FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsNevada Southern (Sr.)
216GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsStanford (Sr.)
217GUnited StatesChicago BullsOregon State (Sr.)
218G/FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsXavier (Ohio) (Sr.)
219#CUnited StatesChicago Bulls (from Cincinnati)Illinois (Sr.)
220F/CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsNiagara (Sr.)
221CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsMurray State (Sr.)
222#F/CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksSaint Louis (Sr.)
323GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsNebraska (Sr.)
324#CUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsUtah (Sr.)
325#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSt. Mary of the Plains (Sr.)
326#GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsNew Mexico (Sr.)
327GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsColorado (Sr.)
328FUnited StatesCincinnati Royals (from Detroit)Miami (Ohio) (Sr.)
329#F/CUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsOklahoma (Sr.)
330FUnited StatesNew York KnicksDayton (Sr.)
331CUnited StatesChicago Bulls (from Los Angeles)Columbia (Sr.)
332F/CUnited StatesBoston CelticsEastern Kentucky (Sr.)
333#GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSouth Carolina (Sr.)
334#CUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsTennessee State (Sr.)
335GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksIowa (Sr.)
336#CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsAmerican (Sr.)
437FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsNortheastern (Sr.)
438#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsWestern Carolina (Sr.)
439FUnited StatesChicago BullsUCLA (Sr.)
440#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsKentucky Wesleyan (Sr.)
441#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsWeber State (Sr.)
442CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSaint Louis (Sr.)
443#FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsUCLA (Sr.)
444#GUnited StatesNew York KnicksWichita State (Sr.)
445GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersNorth Carolina State (Sr.)
446CUnited StatesBoston CelticsGrambling (Sr.)
447#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksVanderbilt (Sr.)
448#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsBenedictine (Sr.)
449F/CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsMemphis State (Sr.)
450FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksWestern Kentucky (Sr.)
551#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsVirginia Tech (Sr.)
552GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsBowling Green (Sr.)
553#FUnited StatesChicago BullsLoyola Chicago (Sr.)
554#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsVoorhees (Sr.)
555#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsBoston College (Sr.)
556#CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsBethune–Cookman (Sr.)
557CUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsBrigham Young (Sr.)
558#CUnited StatesNew York KnicksCheyney (Jr.)
559#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersMissouri State (Sr.)
560#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsKentucky (Sr.)
561#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksMiami (Florida) (Sr.)
562#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersNorth Carolina (Sr.)
563#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksWisconsin (Sr.)
564#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsDenver (Sr.)
665#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsTulsa (Sr.)
666#FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsDuquesne (Sr.)
667#CUnited StatesChicago BullsDelaware (Sr.)
668#GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsPrinceton (Sr.)
669#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsTexas Southern (Sr.)
670F/CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsCreighton (Jr.)
671FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsMarshall (Sr.)
672#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksMarquette (Sr.)
673#CUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersKansas State (Sr.)
674#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsIndiana State (Sr.)
675#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksGeorgia Tech (Sr.)
676GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersColorado (Sr.)
677F/CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsDavidson (Sr.)
678#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksHawaii (Sr.)
779GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsLoyola (California) (Sr.)
780#CUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsWashington State (Sr.)
781#CUnited StatesChicago BullsNorth Texas (Sr.)
782#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSouthern (Sr.)
783#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsNortheastern State (Sr.)
784#GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsLIU (Sr.)
785#FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsWest Virginia (Sr.)
786#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksDickinson State (Sr.)
787#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersHillsdale (Sr.)
788#CUnited StatesBoston CelticsDuke (Sr.)
789#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksElizabeth City State (Sr.)
790#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersFairfield (Sr.)
791#CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksMinnesota (Sr.)
792#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsIdaho State (Sr.)
893#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsJackson State (Sr.)
894#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsOklahoma (Sr.)
895#FUnited StatesChicago BullsPasadena (Sr.)
896GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSaint Louis (Sr.)
897#CUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsMississippi State (Sr.)
898#GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSaint Peter's (Sr.)
899#FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsBowling Green (Sr.)
8100#GUnited StatesNew York KnicksDayton (Sr.)
8101#CUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersSouthern Colorado State (Sr.)
8102#F/CUnited StatesBoston CelticsAlcorn A&M (Jr.)
8103#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksManhattan (Sr.)
8104#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersAlbany State (Sr.)
8105#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsDenver (Sr.)
8106#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksUNLV (Sr.)
9107#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsAshland (Sr.)
9108#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsUtah State (Sr.)
9109#FUnited StatesChicago BullsLoyola Chicago (Sr.)
9110#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsWestern Kentucky (Sr.)
9111#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsIndiana (Sr.)
9112#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSyracuse (Sr.)
9113#GUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsSan Francisco (Sr.)
9114#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksKansas (Sr.)
9115#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersMarshall (Sr.)
9116#GUnited StatesBoston CelticsSt. Bonaventure (Sr.)
9117#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksAlbany State (Sr.)
9118#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersTemple (Sr.)
9119#CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksKentucky (Sr.)
9120#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsUtah (Sr.)
9121#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsMemphis (Sr.)
10122FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsDuke (Sr.)
10123#FUnited StatesChicago BullsNorthwestern (Sr.)
10124#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsBoston College (Sr.)
10125#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsVanderbilt (Sr.)
10126#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsNebraska (Sr.)
10127#FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsSanta Clara (Sr.)
10128#GUnited StatesNew York KnicksNorth Carolina A&T (Sr.)
10129#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersEast Carolina (Sr.)
10130#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsLIU (Sr.)
10131FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksTennessee State Huntsmen (AAU)
10132#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersRider (Sr.)
10133#F/CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsNorth Carolina Central (Sr.)
10134#CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksMissouri (Sr.)
11135#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsClark Atlanta (Sr.)
11136FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsUSC (Sr.)
11137#GUnited StatesChicago BullsIowa State (Sr.)
11138#CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsBowling Green (Sr.)
11139#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsRIT (Sr.)
11140#GUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsUNLV (Sr.)
11141#GUnited StatesNew York KnicksMarshall (Sr.)
11142#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersFlorida Presbyterian (Sr.)
11143#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsEvansville (Sr.)
11144#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksTennessee State Huntsmen (AAU)
11145#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersMiami (Florida) (Sr.)
11146#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksMarquette (Sr.)
11147G/FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsIdaho State (Sr.)
12148#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsLane (Sr.)
12149#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsUtah (Sr.)
12150#FUnited StatesChicago BullsWisconsin–Oshkosh (Sr.)
12151#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsUTEP (Sr.)
12152#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsNortheast Louisiana State (Sr.)
12153#FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsCalifornia (Sr.)
12154#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksGuilford (Sr.)
12155#G/FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersWestern Michigan (Sr.)
12156#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsFordham (Sr.)
12157#CUnited StatesAtlanta HawksUTEP (Sr.)
12158#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersNorth Carolina A&T (Sr.)
12159#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksFlorida (Sr.)
12160#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsArizona (Sr.)
13161#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsLincoln (Missouri) (Sr.)
13162FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsSanta Clara (Jr.)
13163G/FUnited StatesChicago BullsPurdue (Jr.)
13164#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSt. John's (Sr.)
13165#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsUMass (Sr.)
13166#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksHillsdale (Sr.)
13167#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersElks Club (AAU)
13168#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsRhode Island (Sr.)
13169#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksSouth Carolina (Sr.)
13170#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersKansas State (Sr.)
13171#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsCalifornia State (Sr.)
14172#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsSouth Carolina State (Sr.)
14173#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsUCLA (Sr.)
14174#GUnited StatesChicago BullsWashington (Sr.)
14175#CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsEast Tennessee State (Sr.)
14176#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsSoutheastern Louisiana (Sr.)
14177#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksPrinceton (Sr.)
14178#GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersAbilene Christian (Sr.)
14179#GUnited StatesBoston CelticsHoly Cross (Sr.)
14180#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksSyracuse (Sr.)
14181#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersDavidson (Sr.)
15182#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsEast Texas State (Sr.)
15183#FUnited StatesChicago BullsTCU (Sr.)
15184#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsBradley (Sr.)
15185#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsWestminster College (Pennsylvania) (Sr.)
15186#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksGuilford (Sr.)
15187FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersTemple (Jr.)
15188#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksPasadena (Sr.)
15189#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersNorth Carolina A&T (Sr.)
16190#GUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsUMSL (Sr.)
16191#GUnited StatesChicago BullsLouisville (Sr.)
16192#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSan Francisco (Sr.)
16193#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsManchester (Sr.)
16194#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksTennessee Wesleyan (Sr.)
16195#GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersWyoming (Sr.)
16196#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksBaldwin–Wallace (Sr.)
16197#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersVillanova (Sr.)
17198#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsDakota Wesleyan (Sr.)
17199#GUnited StatesChicago BullsCentral Washington State (Sr.)
17200#GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsCornell (Sr.)
17201#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsCincinnati (Sr.)
17202GUnited StatesNew York KnicksLincoln (Missouri) (Sr.)
17203#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersTennessee State (Sr.)
18204#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsPepperdine (Sr.)
18205#FUnited StatesChicago BullsDePaul (Sr.)
18206#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsFairfield (Sr.)
18207#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsEvansville (Sr.)
19208#FUnited StatesSan Diego RocketsUConn (Sr.)
19209#FUnited StatesChicago BullsIndiana State (Sr.)
19210#FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsSeattle (Sr.)
19211#FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsGeorgia (Sr.)
20212#GUnited StatesChicago BullsNorfolk State (Jr.)
20213#CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsMidwestern (Sr.)
21214#FUnited StatesChicago BullsDelaware State (Sr.)

Notable undrafted player

This player was not selected in the 1968 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

PlayerPos.NationalitySchool/club team
SGUnited StatesBowling Green (Sr.)

Trades

  • On October 20, 1967, the Chicago Bulls acquired Flynn Robinson, 1968 and 1969 second-round picks from the Cincinnati Royals in exchange for Guy Rodgers. The Bulls used the pick to draft Ron Dunlap.
  • On November 27, 1967, the Cincinnati Royals acquired a third-round pick from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Len Chappell. The Royals used the pick to draft Fred Foster.
  • On January 9, 1968, the Chicago Bulls acquired Jim Barnes and a third-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Erwin Mueller. The Bulls used the pick to draft Dave Newmark.

Notes

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. (May 5, 1968). "Atlanta Gets Cage Hawks". Ocala Star-Banner.
  2. "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  3. "Hawks: Franchise History". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  4. Pluto, Terry, ''Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association'' (Simon & Schuster, 1990), {{ISBN. 978-1-4165-4061-8, p. 426
  5. "Rookie of the Year". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  6. "Most Valuable Player". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  7. "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com.
  8. "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  9. "Wes Unseld Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  10. "Elvin Hayes Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  11. "Bob Kauffman Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
  12. "Wes Unseld Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
  13. "Don Chaney Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
  14. "Coach of the Year". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  15. "Rick Adelman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
  16. [[Michael Warren (actor)]]
  17. https://www.thedraftreview.com/nba-players/1968-nba-draft/dwight-waller
  18. "Guy Rodgers Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
  19. "Chicago Bulls All-Time Transactions". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  20. "Len Chappell Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
  21. "Pistons: All-Time Transactions". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
  22. "Jim Barnes Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
  23. Abdul-Aziz, Zaid. (2006). "Darkness to Sunlight". Sunlight Publishing Inc.
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