1991 NBA draft

Basketball player selection August 2023 1991 NBA draft Basketball June 26, 1991 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 TNT NBA 54 2 1 C Dikembe Mutombo Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets) 1990 1992 The 1991 NBA draft took place on June 26, 1991, in New York City, New York. Larry Johnson was selected first overall; he won the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year award and as a two-time All-Star, was the first player to represent the Charlotte Hornets franchise at an All-Star game. Dikembe Mutombo was selected fourth overall, and became one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight-time All-Star, and played in the league for 18 seasons.https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mutomdi01.html Dikembe Mutombo Statistics basketball-reference.com October 11, 2009 Other notable picks include Kenny Anderson, Steve Smith, Terrell Brandon, Dale Davis and Chris Gatling, who all made All-Star appearances, but with the exception of Brandon at two, each only appeared once. The remaining picks in the first round failed to make an impact. Billy Owens was selected by the Sacramento Kings but refused to sign with them. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for high-scoring guard Mitch Richmond. Owens was solid but unspectacular in his career, while Richmond was a six-time All-Star and was the 1989 NBA Rookie of the Year.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/06/24/gallery.nbabusts/content.8.html Sports Illustrated 2010-10-30 2010-10-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20101012094653/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/06/24/gallery.nbabusts/content.8.html dead Luc Longley was a three-time NBA Championship winner with the Chicago Bulls and held the record for playing the most NBA games by an Australian (broken by Andrew Bogut during the 2015–16 season). As of 2024, three players are deceased: Bobby Phills, Bison Dele, and Dikembe Mutombo. Phills died in a car accident involving teammate David Wesley. Dele disappeared in the South Pacific in July 2002, with French authorities claiming that Dele's brother had killed Dele and his girlfriend and thrown them overboard the catamaran they were travelling on. Dele's brother committed suicide in September 2002. Mutombo died from brain cancer on September 30, 2024. This was the last draft held in New York City until 2001. Draft thumb|Larry Johnson was selected 1st overall by the Charlotte Hornets. thumb|Kenny Anderson was selected 2nd overall by the New Jersey Nets. thumb|Dikembe Mutombo was selected 4th overall by the Denver Nuggets. thumb|Rick Fox was selected 24th overall by the Boston Celtics. PGPoint guard SGShooting guard SFSmall forward PFPower forward CCenter y y y y y y Rnd. Draft round Pick Overall pick number Player Pos. Position(s) played Nationality Player's representative nationalityn 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 draft11 Larry Johnson Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)*~ PF United States Charlotte Hornets UNLV (Sr.)12 Kenny Anderson Kenny Anderson (basketball)+ PG United States New Jersey Nets Georgia Tech (So.)13 Billy Owens SF United States Sacramento Kings (traded to Golden State) Syracuse (Jr.)14 Dikembe Mutombo^ C Zaire Denver Nuggets Georgetown (Sr.)15 Steve Smith Steve Smith (basketball)+ SG United States Miami Heat Michigan State (Sr.)16 Doug Smith Doug Smith (basketball) PF United States Dallas Mavericks Missouri (Sr.)17 Luc Longley C Australia Minnesota Timberwolves New Mexico (Sr.)18 Mark Macon SG United States Denver Nuggets (from Washington) Temple (Sr.)19 Stacey Augmon SG/SF United States Atlanta Hawks (from L.A. Clippers) UNLV (Sr.)110 Brian Williams Bison Deledele Note 1 PF/C United States Orlando Magic Arizona (Jr.)111 Terrell Brandon+ PG United States Cleveland Cavaliers Oregon (Jr.)112 Greg Anthony PG United States New York Knicks UNLV (Sr.)113 Dale Davis Dale Davis (basketball)+ PF United States Indiana Pacers Clemson (Sr.)114 Rich King Rich King (basketball) C United States Seattle SuperSonics Nebraska (Sr.)115 Anthony Avent PF United States Atlanta Hawks Seton Hall (Sr.)116 Chris Gatling+ PF United States Golden State Warriors (from Philadelphia) Old Dominion (Sr.)117 Victor Alexander C United States Golden State Warriors Iowa State (Sr.)118 Kevin Brooks Kevin Brooks (basketball) SF United States Milwaukee Bucks Southwestern Louisiana (Sr.)119 LaBradford Smith SG United States Washington Bullets (from Detroit via Dallas and Denver) Louisville (Sr.)120 John Turner John Turner (basketball) PF United States Houston Rockets Phillips (Sr.)121 Eric Murdock PG United States Utah Jazz Providence (Sr.)122 LeRon Ellis PF United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Phoenix via Seattle) Syracuse (Sr.)123 Stanley Roberts C United States Orlando Magic (from San Antonio) Real Madrid (Spain)124 Rick Fox SF Canada Boston Celtics North Carolina (Sr.)125 Shaun Vandiver# PF United States Golden State Warriors (from L.A. Lakers) Colorado (Sr.)126 Mark Randall Mark Randall (basketball) PF United States Chicago Bulls Kansas (Sr.)127 Pete Chilcutt PF United States Sacramento Kings (from Portland) North Carolina (Sr.)228 Kevin Lynch Kevin Lynch (basketball) G/F United States Charlotte Hornets (from Denver) Minnesota (Sr.)229 George Ackles# C/PF United States Miami Heat UNLV (Sr.)230 Rodney Monroe G/F United States Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento) NC State (Sr.)231 Randy Brown basketball PG United States Sacramento Kings (from New Jersey) New Mexico State (Sr.)232 Chad Gallagher C United States Phoenix Suns (from Charlotte) Creighton (Sr.)233 Donald Hodge Donald Hodge (basketball) C United States Dallas Mavericks Temple (Jr.)234 Myron Brown G United States Minnesota Timberwolves Slippery Rock (Sr.)235 Mike Iuzzolino G United States Dallas Mavericks (from Washington via Sacramento) Saint Francis (PA) (Sr.)236 Chris Corchiani G United States Orlando Magic NC State (Sr.)237 Elliot Perry PG United States Los Angeles Clippers Memphis State (Sr.)238Joe Wylie# PF United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Cleveland) Miami (FL) (Sr.)239 Jimmy Oliver Jimmy Oliver (basketball) G/F United States Cleveland Cavaliers (from New York via Charlotte) Purdue (Sr.)240 Doug Overton PG United States Detroit Pistons (from Seattle) La Salle (Sr.)241 Sean Green Sean Green (basketball) F/G United States Indiana Pacers Iona (Sr.)242Steve Hood# SF United States Sacramento Kings (from Atlanta) James Madison (Sr.)243 Lamont Strothers G United States Golden State Warriors Christopher Newport (Sr.)244Álvaro Teherán# C Philadelphia 76ers Houston (Sr.)245 Bobby Phills SG United States Milwaukee Bucks Southern (Sr.)246 Richard Dumas F United States Phoenix Suns (from Detroit) Hapoel Holon (Israel)247 Keith Hughes Keith Hughes (basketball)# PF United States Houston Rockets Rutgers (Sr.)248 Isaac Austin C United States Utah Jazz Arizona State (Sr.)249 Greg Sutton Greg Sutton (basketball) G United States San Antonio Spurs Oral Roberts (Sr.)250Joey Wright# SG United States Phoenix Suns Texas (Sr.)251 Žan Tabak C n Croatia had declared independence just a day before the draft, but was not yet recognized by FIBA. Houston Rockets (from Boston via New Jersey and Cleveland) KK Split (Yugoslavia)252 Anthony Jones Anthony Jones (basketball, born 1967)#SF United States Los Angeles Lakers Oral Roberts (Sr.)253 Von McDade# SG United States New Jersey Nets (from Chicago) Milwaukee (Sr.)254 Marcus Kennedy# PF United States Portland Trail Blazers Eastern Michigan (Sr.) n Notable undrafted players thumb|right|150px|Darrell Armstrong was undrafted but had a 13-year career in the NBA and was the Sixth Man of the Year in 1999. List of undrafted NBA players These eligible players were not selected in the 1991 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA. Player Position Nationality School/Club teamDarrell Armstrong PGUnited StatesFayetteville State (Sr.)James Blackwell James Blackwell (basketball) PG United States Dartmouth (Sr.)Walter Bond SG United States Minnesota (Sr.)Mark Bradtke C/PF Adelaide 36ers (Australia)Demetrius Calip PG United States Michigan (Sr.)John Crotty PG United States Virginia (Sr.)Corey Crowder SG/SF United States Kentucky Wesleyan (Sr.)Emanual Davis PG/SG United States Delaware State (Sr.)Patrick Eddie C United States Ole Miss (Sr.)Vincenzo Esposito SG S.C. Juventus Phonola Caserta (Italy)Tony Farmer basketball, born 1970 PF United States Nebraska (Sr.)Jay Guidinger C United States Minnesota–Duluth (Sr.)Reggie Hanson SF United States Kentucky (Sr.)Jerome Harmon basketball SG United States Louisville (Sr.)Keith Jennings basketball PG United States East Tennessee State (Sr.)Reggie Jordan SG United States New Mexico State (Sr.)Cedric Lewis C United States Maryland (Sr.)Keith Owens F United States UCLA (Sr.)Robert Pack basketball PG United States USC (Sr.)Larry Stewart basketball SF United States Coppin State (Sr.)Brett Szabo C United States Augustana (South Dakota) (Sr.)Carl Thomas basketball SG United States Eastern Michigan (Sr.)Charles Thomas basketball, born 1969 SG United States Eastern Michigan (Sr.)Donald Whiteside PG United States Northern Illinois (Sr.)Lorenzo Williams basketball, born 1969 PF/C United States Stetson (Sr.)Travis Williams basketball player SF United States South Carolina State (Sr.) Early entrants College underclassmen For the ninth year in a row and the thirteenth time in fourteen years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. Not only that, but this would be the second time in NBA history (and the second time in three years) where an international player would be considered a direct underclassman to participate in an NBA draft, with Žan Tabak of the KK POP 84 of the Eastern Bloc nation known as SFR Yugoslavia (now since separated, with Tabak representing Croatia) being the second ever international underclassman to be taken directly from an overseas team without previously going to an American college or playing for any prior American institution (the first being fellow Yugoslavian Vlade Divac). In addition to that, this was also the sixth straight year where at least one player that previously played basketball collegiately would go play professionally overseas, with Richard Dumas from Oklahoma State University would play for Hapoel Holon B.C. in Israel, the Israeli born Nadav Henefeld from the University of Connecticut would play for the rivaling Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. in his home nation, and Stanley Roberts from Louisiana State University would play for Real Madrid Baloncesto in Spain. Including those four people, the total number of underclassmen would increase from ten to fourteen players. Regardless, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.1991 Underclassmen https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3038:1991-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 The Draft Review August 4, 2007 December 15, 2022 USA Kenny Anderson – G, Georgia Tech (sophomore) USA Terrell Brandon – G, Oregon (junior) USA Tony Farmer – F, Nebraska (junior) USA Jerome Harmon – G, Louisville (junior) USA Donald Hodge – C, Temple (junior) USA Anderson Hunt – G, UNLV (junior) USA Raoul Hutchens – G, Whittier (junior) USA Ty Moseler – G, Waukesha County Tech (sophomore) USA Chancellor Nichols – F, James Madison (junior) USA Billy Owens – F, Syracuse (junior) USA Brian Williams – F/C, Arizona (junior) International players This would be the second time in NBA history where an international born and raised player would be considered an underclassman in an NBA draft, as well as the second time a player from the now-former nation of SFR Yugoslavia would enter the NBA draft as such a player. The following international player successfully applied for early draft entrance. SFR Yugoslavia/CRO Žan Tabak – C, Split (Yugoslavia) Other eligible players This would be the sixth year in a row with at least one player that previously played in college entering the NBA draft as an underclassman, as well as the first year where multiple underclassmen that went overseas to play professionally would play in the same nation as each other (albeit for different teams). Player Team Most recent team played for before the draft Note Ref.USA Richard Dumas Hapoel Holon (Israel) Left Oklahoma State in 1990; playing professionally since the 1990–91 season Baldwin Mike Dumas May Get a Chance https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1991/12/08/dumas-may-get-a-chance/62508729007/ The Oklahoman December 15, 2022 December 8, 1991ISR Nadav Henefeld Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) Left UConn in 1990; playing professionally since the 1990–91 season SPORTS PEOPLE: COLLEGE BASKETBALL; UConn's Henefeld Signs With Israeli Pro Team https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/11/sports/sports-people-college-basketball-uconn-s-henefeld-signs-with-israeli-pro-team.html The New York Times October 1, 2024 August 11, 1990USA Stanley Roberts Real Madrid (Spain) Left LSU in 1990; playing professionally since the 1990–91 season Cress Doug Roberts's Return Adds Beef to NBA Lottery https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/05/13/robertss-return-adds-beef-to-nba-lottery/759d048f-5886-41cc-8c01-d78e8da049ea/ The Washington Post December 15, 2022 May 13, 1991 Invited attendees The 1991 NBA draft is considered to be the fourteenth 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 somewhere within the main building of the Madison Square Garden1991 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review December 27, 2025 https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1991-green-room-invites ), 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. 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 David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.Maurer Matthew 2024-02-18 Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts 2025-12-27 The Draft Review en-us 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 14 prospects at the time.Green Room - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room 2025-12-27 The Draft Review en-us Despite the large amount of invites and them successfully avoiding any inviting prospects waiting into the second round (to the point where the only error in mind from getting a perfectly ordered invited attendees line-up was leaving out Dale Davis from Clemson University), two notable absences from this group include the aforementioned Dale Davis from Clemson University and Chris Gatling from Old Dominion University, making this the most accurate green room draft invite list for the NBA yet. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person. USA Kenny Anderson – PG, Georgia Tech USA Greg Anthony – PG, UNLV USA Stacey Augmon – SG/SF, UNLV USA Anthony Avent – PF, Seton Hall USA Terrell Brandon – PG, Oregon USA Larry Johnson – PF, UNLV USA Rich King – C, Nebraska AUS Luc Longley – C, New Mexico USA Mark Macon – SG, Temple Zaire/DR Congo Dikembe Mutombo – C, Georgetown USA Billy Owens – SF, Syracuse USA Doug Smith – PF, Missouri USA Steve Smith – SG, Michigan State USA Brian Williams – PF/C, Arizona Notes dele Brian Williams changed his name to Bison Dele in 1998.Bison Dele Bio http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bison_dele/bio.html NBA June 30, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20050216014129/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bison_dele/bio.html February 16, 2005 dead See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References External links 1991 NBA Draft Draft Category:NBA draft NBA draft NBA draft Category:1990s in Manhattan Category:Basketball in New York City Category:Sporting events in New York City Category:Sports in Manhattan