1983 NBA draft

Basketball player selection August 2023 1983 NBA draft Basketball June 28, 1983 Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)Bradley Robert D. The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts 2013 Scarecrow Press 9780810890695 USA Network ESPN NBA 226 10 Ralph Sampson (Houston Rockets) 2 C Ralph Sampson SG Clyde Drexler 3 doc rivers 1982 1984 The 1983 NBA draft took place on June 28, 1983, in New York City. A total of 226 players were selected over 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The Houston Rockets selected 7'4" center Ralph Sampson with the first overall pick. Sampson, a three-time College Player of the Year at the University of Virginia, won the NBA Rookie of the Year award and was selected as an NBA All-Star early in his career before subsequent injuries impacted his playing career. Sampson was joined in the Hall by University of Houston Cougars standout Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, taken number 14 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite there being only 23 teams at the time of the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded the 24th pick out of courtesy. Then-owner Ted Stepien was infamous for repeatedly trading first-round picks in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which, considering Cleveland's morose records in that time period, eventually culminated in the NBA creating a rule banning teams from dealing all of their first-round picks in consecutive years. August 2026 Four players from the 1983 draft later served or now serve as coaches—Doc Rivers for the Philadelphia 76ers, Randy Wittman for the Washington Wizards, Byron Scott for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2014 to 2016, and point guard of the 1983 NCAA championship North Carolina State Wolfpack Sidney Lowe. While Scott won the Coach of the Year award in 2008, Rivers won an NBA Championship with the Celtics in that same year. 7’7” Manute Bol was selected in the 5th round by the Clippers, but the NBA rejected the pick on technicalities. Manute had never filed draft paperwork, and his passport listed him at 19 (at the time, 19 years was too young to be drafted).http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1171174/2/index.htm A Gift From On High June 28, 2010 CNN March 12, 2012 December 17, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224530/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1171174/2/index.htm dead Florida State star Mitchell Wiggins, father of future No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, was drafted 23rd by the Indiana Pacers. Draft upright|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing white shirt with a logo and the word "NBA PLAYERS" on the front, is standing and posing for a photo.|Ralph Sampson was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets. alt=A man, wearing white shirt with a logo and the word "NBA PLAYERS" on the front, is standing and posing for a photo.|thumb|170x170px|Clyde Drexler was selected fourteenth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. thumb|199x199px|Doc Rivers was selected thirty-first overall by the Atlanta Hawks PG Point guard SG Shooting guard SF Small forward PF Power forward C Center y y y y y Rnd. Draft round Pick Overall pick number Player Pos. Position(s) played Nationality Player's representative nationality n nationality Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules. Team School / club team Most recent school attended or team played for before the draft1 1 Ralph Sampson^~ C United States Houston Rockets Virginia (Sr.)1 2 Steve Stipanovich C United States Indiana Pacers Missouri (Sr.)13 Rodney McCray Rodney McCray (basketball) SF United States Houston Rockets (from Cleveland via Philadelphia) Louisville (Sr.)14 Byron Scott Byron Scott (basketball) SG United States San Diego Clippers (traded to Los Angeles) Arizona State (Jr.)15 Sidney Green Sidney Green (basketball) PF United States Chicago Bulls UNLV (Sr.)16 Russell Cross C United States Golden State Warriors Purdue (Jr.)17 Thurl Bailey PF United States Utah Jazz NC State (Sr.)18 Antoine Carr PF United States Detroit Pistons Wichita State (Sr.)19 Dale Ellis* SG United States Dallas Mavericks Tennessee (Sr.)110 Jeff Malone+ SG United States Washington Bullets Mississippi State (Sr.)111 Derek Harper PG/SG United States Dallas Mavericks (from Atlanta via Cleveland) Illinois (Jr.)112 Darrell Walker SG United States New York Knicks Arkansas (Sr.)113 Ennis Whatley PG United States Kansas City Kings Alabama (So.)114 Clyde Drexler^ SG United States Portland Trail Blazers Houston (Jr.)1 15 Howard Carter Howard Carter (basketball) SG United States Denver Nuggets LSU (Sr.)116 Jon Sundvold PG United States Seattle SuperSonics Missouri (Sr.)117 Leo Rautins SF Canada Philadelphia 76ers (from New Jersey) Syracuse (Sr.)118 Randy Breuer C United States Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota (Sr.)119 John Paxson PG United States San Antonio Spurs Notre Dame (Sr.)120Roy Hinson C United States Cleveland Cavaliers (from Phoenix) Rutgers (Sr.)121 Greg Kite C United States Boston Celtics BYU (Sr.)122 Randy Wittman SG United States Washington Bullets (from Los Angeles) Indiana (Sr.)123 Mitchell Wiggins SG United States Indiana Pacers (from Philadelphia) Florida State (Sr.)1 24 Stewart Granger Stewart Granger (basketball)PG Canada Cleveland Cavaliers * Villanova (Sr.)225 Sidney Lowe PG United States Chicago Bulls NC State (Sr.)226Leroy CombsSFUnited StatesIndiana PacersOklahoma State (Sr.)227John Garris basketballPFUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersBoston College (Sr.)228Rod FosterPGUnited StatesPhoenix SunsUCLA (Sr.)229Larry MicheauxPFUnited StatesChicago BullsHouston (Sr.)2 30 Mark West Mark West (basketball)C United States Dallas Mavericks Old Dominion (Sr.)2 31Doc Rivers+n Rivers will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026 as a coach.PG United States Atlanta Hawks Marquette (Jr.)232Michael Britt#SFUnited StatesWashington Bullets UDC (Sr.)233Dirk MinniefieldPGUnited StatesDallas MavericksKentucky (Sr.)234Guy Williams Guy Williams (basketball)FUnited StatesWashington BulletsWashington State (Sr.)235Darrell LockhartCUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursAuburn (Sr.)236Scooter McCrayPFUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsLouisville (Sr.)237David Russell David Russell (basketball)#SFUnited StatesDenver NuggetsSt. John's (Sr.) 238Chris McNealy Chris McNealy (basketball, born 1961)PFUnited StatesKansas City KingsSan Jose State (Sr.)239Granville WaitersCUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersOhio State (Sr.)240Jim Thomas basketballSGUnited StatesIndiana PacersIndiana (Sr.)241Ted Kitchel#SFUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksIndiana (Sr.)242Mike Davis Mike Davis (basketball, born 1960)#SGUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksAlabama (Sr.)243Pace MannionSFUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsUtah (Sr.)244Horace Owens#SGUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsRhode Island (Sr.)245Paul Williams Paul Williams (basketball)#SFUnited StatesPhoenix SunsArizona State (Sr.)246Kevin Williams Kevin Williams (basketball)PGUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursSt. John's (Sr.)247Kenneth Lyons#PFUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersNorth Texas State (Sr.)348 Craig Ehlo SG United States Houston Rockets Washington State (Sr.)349Greg Jones Greg Jones (basketball)#GUnited StatesIndiana PacersWest Virginia (Sr.)350Paul Thompson Paul Thompson (basketball)SFUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersTulane (Sr.)351Dereck Whittenburg#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsNC State (Sr.)352Winfred King#GUnited StatesIndiana PacersEast Tennessee State (Sr.)353Mike HoltonSGUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsUCLA (Sr.)354Bob HansenSG United States Utah Jazz Iowa (Sr.)355Erich Santifer 1#GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSyracuse (Sr.)356Larry Anderson 1# SG United States Cleveland Cavaliers UNLV (Sr.)357Darren DayeSFUnited StatesWashington BulletsUCLA (Sr.)358John PinoneSFUnited StatesAtlanta HawksVillanova (Sr.)359Bruce KuczenskiPFUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsConnecticut (Sr.)360Steve Harriel 1#FUnited StatesKansas City KingsWashington State (Sr.)361David Little 1#FUnited StatesDenver NuggetsOklahoma (Sr.)362Tom Piotrowski Tom Piotrowski (basketball)CUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersLa Salle (Sr.)363Frank Burnell 1#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsStetson (Sr.)364Claude Riley#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersTexas A&M (Sr.)365Billy Goodwin 1#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksSt. John's (Sr.)366Les Craft 1#CUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersKansas State (Sr.)367Derrick Hord 1#GUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersKentucky (Sr.)368Craig Robinson 1#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsVirginia (Sr.)369Orlando Phillips#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersPepperdine (Sr.)370Dan Ruland#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersJames Madison (Sr.)471Darrell Browder 1#GUnited StatesHouston RocketsTCU (Sr.)472Terry Fair Terry Fair (basketball)#CUnited StatesIndiana PacersGeorgia (Sr.)473Dwight Jones 1#FUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersCincinnati (Sr.)474Kalpatrick Wells 1#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersMississippi State (Sr.)475Ron CrevierCCanadaChicago BullsBoston College (Sr.)476Doug Arnold 1#FUnited StatesUtah JazzTCU (Sr.)477Peter ThibeauxSFUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsSaint Mary's (Sr.)478Steve Bouchie 1#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsIndiana (Sr.)479Johnny Martin 1#FUnited StatesDallas MavericksNorthwestern State (Sr.)480Dan Gay 1#FUnited StatesWashington BulletsSouthwestern Louisiana (Sr.)481Harry Kelly Harry Kelly (basketball)#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksTexas Southern (Sr.)482Mark Jones Mark Jones (basketball, born 1961)PGUnited StatesNew York KnicksSt. Bonaventure (Sr.)483York Gross 1#GUnited StatesDenver NuggetsUC Santa Barbara (Sr.)484Mike Jackson 1#GUnited StatesKansas City KingsWyoming (Sr.)485Tim Dunham 1#GUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersChaminade (Sr.)486Pete DeBisschop 1#CUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsFairfield (Sr.)487Barney Mines 1#GUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsBradley (Sr.)488Mark Nickens#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksAmerican (Sr.)489Sam Mosley 1#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsNevada (Sr.)490Brant WeidnerPFUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursWilliam & Mary (Sr.)491Carlos ClarkSGUnited StatesBoston CelticsOle Miss (Sr.)492Terry Lewis 1#GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersMississippi State (Sr.)493Craig Robinson Craig Robinson (basketball)#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersPrinceton (Sr.)594Chuck Barnett 1#GUnited StatesHouston RocketsOklahoma (Sr.)595Roger Stieg 1#FUnited StatesIndiana PacersOle Miss (Sr.)596Chris Logan 1#FUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersHoly Cross (Sr.)597 Manute Bol C San Diego Clippers (Pick voided on technicalities) (Sudan)598Tim Andree#CUnited StatesChicago BullsNotre Dame (Sr.)599Greg Hines 1#FUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsHampton (Sr.)5100Matt Clark 1#GUnited StatesUtah JazzOklahoma State (Sr.)5101Ken Austin basketballPFUnited StatesDetroit PistonsRice (Sr.)5102Jim Lampley Jim Lampley (basketball)CUnited StatesDallas MavericksArkansas–Little Rock (Sr.)5103Robin Dixon 1#GUnited StatesWashington BulletsNew Hampshire (Sr.)5104Charles Jones 1#FUnited StatesAtlanta HawksOklahoma (Sr.)5105Troy Lee Mikell#GUnited StatesNew York KnicksEast Tennessee State (Sr.)5106Lorenza Andrews 1#GUnited StatesKansas City KingsOklahoma State (Sr.)5107James Braddock 1#GUnited StatesDenver NuggetsNorth Carolina (Sr.)5108Gary Monroe 1#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersWright State (Sr.)5109Brad Watson 1#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsWashington (Sr.)5110Tyren Naulls 1#GUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsTexas A&M (Sr.)5111Mark Petteway#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksNew Orleans (Sr.)5112Jeff Pehl 1#FUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursRichmond (Sr.)5113Rick Lamb 1#CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsIllinois State (Sr.)5114Bob Reitz 1#GUnited StatesBoston CelticsStonehill (Sr.)5115Danny Dixon 1#GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersAlabama A&M (Sr.)5116Mike Milligan 1#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersTennessee State (Sr.)6117Jim Stack#FUnited StatesHouston RocketsNorthwestern (Sr.)6118Cliff Pruitt 1#FUnited StatesIndiana PacersUAB (Sr.)6119Mel McLaughlin 1#GUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersCentral Michigan (Sr.)6120Russell Todd 1#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksWest Virginia (Sr.)6121Ernest Patterson 1#GUnited StatesChicago BullsNew Mexico State (Sr.)6122Fred Gilliam 1#FUnited StatesUtah JazzClemson (Sr.)6123Tom Heywood 1#CUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsWeber State (Sr.)6124Derek Perry 1#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsMichigan State (Sr.)6125Billy Allen 1#GUnited StatesDallas MavericksNevada (Sr.)6126Donald Carroll 1#FUnited StatesWashington BulletsSt. Augustine's (Sr.)6127Tom Bethea 1#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksRichmond (Sr.)6128Tony Simms#GCanadaNew York KnicksBoston University (Sr.)6129Glenn Green 1#FUnited StatesDenver NuggetsMurray State (Sr.)6130Alvis Rogers 1#FUnited StatesKansas City KingsWake Forest (Sr.)6131Derrick Pope 1#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersMontana (Sr.)6132Tony Wilson 1#FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsWestern Kentucky (Sr.)6133Oscar Taylor 1#FUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsNew Orleans (Sr.)6134Charles Hurt 1#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksKentucky (Sr.)6135Edward Bona 1#FSudanPhoenix SunsFordham (Sr.)6136Ricky Hooker 1#GUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursSt. Mary's (Texas) (Sr.)6137Paul Atkins 1#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsDallas Baptist (Sr.)6138Mark Steele 1#FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersColorado State (Sr.)6139 Sedale Threatt SG United States Philadelphia 76ers West Virginia Tech (Sr.)7140Brian Kellerman#GUnited StatesHouston RocketsIdaho (Sr.)7141Tony Brown 1#GUnited StatesIndiana PacersIndiana (Sr.)7142John Colombo 1#GUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersJohn Carroll (Sr.)7143Dan Evans 1#FUnited StatesSan Diego ClippersOregon State (Sr.)7144Jacque Hill 1#GUnited StatesChicago BullsUSC (Sr.)7145Peter Williams 1#FUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsUtah (Sr.)7146Gerald Kazanowski#FCanadaUtah JazzVictoria (Sr.)7147Rob Gonzalez 1#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsColorado (Sr.)7148Terrell Schlundt 1#FUnited StatesDallas MavericksMarquette (Sr.)7149Danny Womack 1#GUnited StatesWashington BulletsWinston-Salem State (Sr.)7150Lex Drum 1#CUnited StatesAtlanta HawksUAB (Sr.)7151Desi Barmore#FIsraelNew York KnicksFresno State (Sr.)7152Dane SuttleSGUnited StatesKansas City KingsPepperdine (Sr.)7153Maurice McDaniel 1#CUnited StatesDenver NuggetsCatawba (Sr.)7154Paul Little 1#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersPenn (Sr.)7155Tony Gattis 1#FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsMercer (Sr.)7156Keith Bennett Keith Bennett (basketball)#FUnited StatesIsraelNew Jersey NetsSacred Heart (Sr.)7157Anthony Hicks 1#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksXavier (Sr.)7158Keith Williams 1#CUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursOklahoma Panhandle State (Sr.)7159Fred Brown 1#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsVCU (Sr.)7160Ron Jackson 1#GUnited StatesBoston CelticsProvidence (Sr.)7161Ricky Mixon 1#GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersCal State Fullerton (Sr.)7162Tony Bruin 1#FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersSyracuse (Sr.)8163Jeff Bolding 1#FUnited StatesHouston RocketsArkansas State (Sr.)8164Ray McCallum#GUnited StatesIndiana PacersBall State (Sr.)8165Larry Tucker 1#FUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersLewis (Sr.)8166Mark Gannon 1#FUnited StatesSan Diego ClippersIowa (Sr.)8167Terry Bradley 1#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksChicago State (Sr.)8168Michael McCombs 1#FUnited StatesUtah JazzSanta Fe (New Mexico) (Sr.)8169Doug Harris 1#FUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsCentral Washington (Sr.)8170George Wenzel 1#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsAugustana College (Illinois) (Sr.)8171Bill Sadler 1#FUnited StatesDallas MavericksPepperdine (Sr.)8172Bernard Perry 1#GUnited StatesWashington BulletsHoward (Sr.)8173George Thomas 1#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksGeorgia Tech (Sr.)8174Mike Lang 1#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksPenn Staet (Sr.)8175Cliff Tribus 1#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksDavidson (Sr.)8176Preston Neumayr 1#GUnited StatesKansas City KingsUC Davis (Sr.)8177Frank Smith 1#CUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersArizona (Sr.)8178Ray Smith 1#FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsArmstrong Atlantic State (Sr.)8179Joey Myers 1#FUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsDuquesne (Sr.)8180Brett Burkholder 1#CUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksDePaul (Sr.)8181Mike Mulquin 1#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsVillanova (Sr.)8182Norvell Brown 1#GUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursOklahoma Christian (Sr.)8183Trent Johnson 1#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsPittsburgh (Sr.)8184Gordon Austin 1#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersAmerican (Sr.)9185James Campbell 1#GUnited StatesHouston RocketsOklahoma Christian (Sr.)9186Lynn Mitchem 1#FUnited StatesIndiana PacersButler (Sr.)9187Joe Brown 1#FUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersGeorgia State (Sr.)9188David Maxwell 1#GUnited StatesSan Diego ClippersFordham (Sr.)9189Kenneth Orange 1#CUnited StatesChicago BullsOklahoma Christian (Sr.)9190Greg Goorjian 1#GUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsLoyola Marymount (Sr.)9191Ron Webb 1#FUnited StatesUtah JazzOklahoma Christian (Sr.)9192Marlow McLain 1#GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsEastern Michigan (Sr.)9193Sherrod Arnold 1#GUnited StatesDallas MavericksChicago State (Sr.)9194Ricky Moreland 1#FUnited StatesWashington BulletsUMBC (Sr.)9195Will Cotchery 1#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksWest Alabama (Sr.)9196Charles Jones 1#CUnited StatesNew York KnicksMarshall (Sr.)9197Bernard Hill 1#FUnited StatesKansas City KingsOklahoma Panhandle State (Sr.)9198Bobby Van Noy 1#FUnited StatesDenver NuggetsCatawba (Sr.)9199Phil Hopson 1#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersIdaho (Sr.)9200Tony Washington 1#GUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsHampton (Sr.)9201Kevin Black 1#FUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsRutgers (Sr.)9202Bill Varner#FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksNotre Dame (Sr.)9203Gary Gaspard 1#GUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursSt. Mary's (Texas) (Sr.)9204Joe Dykstra#FUnited StatesPhoenix SunsWestern Illinois (Sr.)9205John Rice 1#GUnited StatesBoston CelticsUMass Boston (Sr.)9206Charles Fisher 1#GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersJames Madison (Sr.)10 Houston Rockets (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player)n The Rockets selected Darrell Johnson of the San Jose State Spartans who was a junior and ineligible for the draft because he had not declared hardship status.Darrell Johnson -Ineligible Draftee https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11576 The Draft Review October 19, 202410207Mark Smed 1#FGermanyUnited StatesIndiana PacersAugustana College (South Dakota) (Sr.)10208Joe Hanley 1#FUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersXavier (Sr.)10209Keith Smith 1#GUnited StatesSan Diego ClippersSan Diego State (Sr.)10210Tom Emma 1#GUnited StatesChicago BullsDuke (Sr.)10211Odell Mosteller 1#GUnited StatesUtah JazzAuburn (Sr.)10212Michael Zeno 1#CUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsLong Beach State (Sr.)10213Ike Person 1#FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsMichigan (Sr.)10214Clyde Corley 1#FUnited StatesDallas MavericksFIU (Sr.)10215Isaiah Singletary 1#GUnited StatesWashington BulletsSaint Louis (Sr.)10216Ronnie Carr 1#GUnited StatesAtlanta HawksWestern Carolina (Sr.)10217Bernard Randolph 1#FUnited StatesNew York KnicksDePaul (Sr.)10218Cleveland McCrae 1#FUnited StatesDenver NuggetsCatawba (Sr.)10219Aaron Haskins 1#FUnited StatesKansas City KingsWashington State (Sr.)10220Russ Christianson 1#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersEastern Oregon (Sr.)10221David Binion 1#FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsNorth Carolina Central (Sr.)10222Rich Simkus 1#CUnited StatesNew Jersey NetsPrinceton (Sr.)10223Bob Kelly 1#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksSt. John's (Sr.)10224Bo Overton#GUnited StatesPhoenix SunsOklahoma (Sr.)10225Lamar Heard 1#FUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursGeorgia (Sr.)10226Andy Kupec 1#GUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksBentley (Sr.)10 Philadelphia 76ers (forfeited due to selection of ineligible player)n The 76ers selected Norman Horvitz, the medical director of Nutrisystem and a friend of 76ers owner Harold Katz. Horvitz had graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1956 and was declared ineligible by the NBA because he had been out of college for more than 27 years. Excluding later draft selections of players from the Soviet Union, Horvitz would be the last person the NBA considered to be an ineligible draft selection.Norman Horvitz - Ineligible Draftee https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6801 The Draft Review October 19, 2024 *Compensation for draft choices previously traded away by Ted Stepien. n Early entrants College underclassmen For the fifth time in six years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. This time, only six college underclassmen would declare their entry into the draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.1983 Underclassmen https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3030:1983-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 The Draft Review August 4, 2007 December 13, 2022 USA Russell Cross – F, Purdue (junior) USA Clyde Drexler – G/F, Houston (junior) USA Derek Harper – G, Illinois (junior) USA Doc Rivers – G, Marquette (junior) USA Byron Scott – G, Arizona State (junior) USA Ennis Whatley – G, Alabama (sophomore) Invited attendees The 1983 NBA draft is considered to be the sixth NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned in the Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum for the second year in a rowhttps://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1983-green-room-invites 1983 Green Room Invites - The Draft Review Matthew Maurer September 16, 2023 The Draft Review), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with Larry O'Brien, the NBA's commissioner at the time.https://www.thedraftreview.com/404 Error 404 - The Draft Review The Draft Review June 18, 2024 The Draft Review The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 13 prospects at the time.Green Room - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room https://web.archive.org/web/20250326141933/https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room 2026-09-03 2025-03-26 However, two of the invitations to the draft in Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg would end up staying in the green room by not just the second round, but by as late as the third round at the 51st round, with Whittenburg being the latest selection for a natural, day one draftee invite as of 2025. Not only that, but Whittenburg would be the first invite to never play a single NBA game after being drafted following his invitation, as well as be the only invite drafted into the third round back when the NBA draft would go beyond just two rounds starting in 1989. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person. USA Thurl Bailey – PF, North Carolina State USA Antoine Carr – PF, Wichita State USA Clyde Drexler – SG, Houston CAN Stewart Granger – PG, Villanova USA Sidney Green – PG, UNLV USA Roy Hinson – C, Rutgers USA Sidney Lowe – PG, North Carolina State USA Rodney McCray – SF, Louisville USA Ralph Sampson – C, Virginia USA Steve Stipanovich – C, Missouri USA Darrell Walker – SG, Arkansas USA Dereck Whittenburg – PG, North Carolina State USA Randy Wittman – SG, Indiana See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References General http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html Complete First Round Results 1980-89 NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc December 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100321192607/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1980s.html March 21, 2010 dead https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1983.html 1983 NBA Draft basketball-reference.com Sports Reference LLC December 11, 2010 http://www.apbr.org/8286drft.html 1982–1986 NBA Drafts The Association for Professional Basketball Research December 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101116182918/http://apbr.org/8286drft.html 16 November 2010 live Specific 30em External links NBA.com NBA.com: NBA Draft History Draft Category:NBA draft NBA draft NBA draft Category:1980s in Manhattan Category:Basketball in New York City Category:Sporting events in New York City Category:Sports in Manhattan