1987 NBA draft

Basketball player selection October 2020 May 2016 1987 NBA draft Basketball June 22, 1987 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 TBS Superstation NBA 161 7 David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs) 4 C David Robinson SF Scottie Pippen SG Reggie Miller SG Šarūnas Marčiulionis 1986 1988 The 1987 NBA draft was held on June 22, 1987, in New York City. This draft included two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players and the basketball Hall of Fame, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen, as well as fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Other notable selections include Kevin Johnson, Kenny Smith, Horace Grant, Reggie Lewis, Muggsy Bogues, Mark Jackson, and Šarūnas Marčiulionis. Also in this draft was former Florida Gators men's basketball head coach Billy Donovan (drafted 68th by the Utah Jazz), who led that program to NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships in 2006 and in 2007. David Robinson did not join the NBA until the 1989–90 season due to his service commitment with the United States Navy. This was the last NBA draft to go over three rounds, as it was reduced to three the next year and later to two since 1989. Draft selections PG Point guard SG Shooting guard SF Small forward PF Power forward C Center y y y y y y thumb|227x227px|David Robinson, the 1st pick right|thumb|150px|Scottie Pippen, the 5th pick right|thumb|150px|Kenny Smith, the 6th pick right|thumb|150px|Kevin Johnson, the 7th pick right|thumb|150px|Horace Grant, the 10th pick right|thumb|150px|Reggie Miller, the 11th pick right|thumb|150px|Muggsy Bogues, the 12th pick right|thumb|150px|Mark Jackson, the 18th pick right|thumb|150px|Steve Alford, the 26th pick thumb|right|150px|Billy Donovan, the 68th pick Round Pick Player Position Nationalityn 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 1 1 David Robinson^~ C United States San Antonio Spurs Navy (Sr.) 1 2 Armen Gilliam PF United States Phoenix Suns UNLV (Sr.) 1 3 Dennis Hopson SF United States New Jersey Nets Ohio State (Sr.) 1 4 Reggie Williams Reggie Williams (basketball, born 1964) SF United States Los Angeles Clippers Georgetown (Sr.) 1 5 Scottie Pippen^ SF United States Seattle SuperSonics (from New York, traded to Chicago) Central Arkansas (Sr.) 1 6 Kenny Smith PG United States Sacramento Kings North Carolina (Sr.) 1 7 Kevin Johnson* PG United States Cleveland Cavaliers California (Sr.) 1 8 Olden Polynice C Chicago Bulls (from Denver via New York, traded to Seattle) Hamby Rimini (Italy) 1 9 Derrick McKey SF/PF United States Seattle SuperSonics Alabama (Jr.) 1 10 Horace Grant+ PF/C United States Chicago Bulls Clemson (Sr.) 1 11 Reggie Miller^ SG United States Indiana Pacers UCLA (Sr.) 1 12 Muggsy Bogues PG United States Washington Bullets Wake Forest (Sr.) 1 13 Joe Wolf C United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Houston) North Carolina (Sr.) 1 14 Tellis Frank PF United States Golden State Warriors Western Kentucky (Sr.) 1 15 José Ortiz José Ortiz (basketball)PF Utah Jazz Oregon State (Sr.) 1 16 Christian Welp C Philadelphia 76ers Washington (Sr.) 1 17 Ronnie Murphy SG United States Portland Trail Blazers Jacksonville (Sr.) 1 18 Mark Jackson Mark Jackson (basketball)+~ PG United States New York Knicks (from Milwaukee via Seattle) St. John's (Sr.) 1 19 Ken Norman SF United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit) Illinois (Sr.) 1 20 Jim Farmer SG United States Dallas Mavericks Alabama (Sr.) 1 21 Dallas Comegys C United States Atlanta Hawks DePaul (Sr.) 1 22 Reggie Lewis+ SG United States Boston Celtics Northeastern (Sr.) 1 23 Greg "Cadillac" Anderson Cadillac Anderson PF United States San Antonio Spurs (from L.A. Lakers) Houston (Sr.) 2 24 Freddie Banks# SG United States Detroit Pistons UNLV (Sr.) 2 25 Ron Moore Ron Moore (basketball) C United States New York Knicks West Virginia State (Sr.) 2 26 Steve Alford SG United States Dallas Mavericks Indiana (Sr.) 2 27 Nate Blackwell PG United States San Antonio Spurs Temple (Sr.) 2 28 Rickie Winslow SF United States Chicago Bulls Houston (Sr.) 2 29 Lester Fonville# C United States Portland Trail Blazers Jackson State (Sr.) 2 30 Nikita Wilson SF United States Portland Trail Blazers LSU (Sr.) 2 31 Andre Moore PF United States Denver Nuggets Loyola (IL) (Jr.) 2 32 Bob McCannSFUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksMorehead State (Sr.) 2 33 Tony White Tony White (basketball) PG United States Chicago Bulls Tennessee (Sr.) 2 34 Brian Rowsom PF United States Indiana Pacers UNC Wilmington (Sr.) 2 35 Doug Lee Doug Lee (basketball) SG United States Houston Rockets Purdue (Sr.) 2 36 Duane Washington SG United States Washington Bullets Middle Tennessee (Sr.) 2 37 Derrick Dowell# SF United States Washington Bullets USC (Sr.) 2 38 Norris Coleman SF United States Los Angeles Clippers Kansas State (So.) 2 39 Vincent Askew SG/SF United States Philadelphia 76ers Memphis State (Jr.) 2 40 Winston Garland PG United States Milwaukee Bucks Southwest Missouri State (Sr.) 2 41 Kannard Johnson SF United States Cleveland Cavaliers Western Kentucky (Sr.) 2 42 Terrance Bailey# SG United States Atlanta Hawks Wagner (Sr.) 2 43 Andrew Kennedy Andrew Kennedy (basketball)# F Philadelphia 76ers Virginia (Sr.) 2 44 Terry Coner# PG United States Atlanta Hawks Alabama (Sr.) 2 45 Brad Lohaus PF/C United States Boston Celtics Iowa (Sr.) 2 46 Bruce Dalrymple# G United States Phoenix Suns Georgia Tech (Sr.) 3 47 Tim McCalister# G United States Los Angeles Clippers Oklahoma (Sr.) 3 48 Jamie Waller basketball SG United States New Jersey Nets Virginia Union (Sr.) 3 49 Jerome Batiste 1# F United States New York Knicks McNeese State (Sr.) 3 50 Phil Zevenbergen C United States San Antonio Spurs Washington (Sr.) 3 51 Sven Meyer 1# C Germany Sacramento Kings Oregon (Sr.) 3 52 Donald Royal SF United States Cleveland Cavaliers Notre Dame (Sr.) 3 53 Winston Crite SF United States Phoenix Suns Texas A&M (Sr.) 3 54 Tom Schafer 1# F United States Denver Nuggets Iowa State (Sr.) 3 55 Tommy Amaker# G United States Seattle SuperSonics Duke (Sr.) 3 56 John Fox 1# F United States Chicago Bulls Millersville (Sr.) 3 57 Hansi Gnad# F Germany Philadelphia 76ers Alaska Anchorage (Sr.) 3 58 Darryl Johnson basketball PG United States Golden State Warriors Michigan State (Sr.) 3 59 Danny Pearson 1# F United States Washington Bullets Jacksonville (Sr.) 3 60 Sean Couch 1# F United States Indiana Pacers Columbia (Sr.) 3 61 Clarence Martin 1# C United States Utah Jazz Western Kentucky (Sr.) 3 62 Tim McCalister# F United States Philadelphia 76ers Rutgers (Sr.) 3 63 Kevin Gamble SG United States Portland Trail Blazers Iowa (Sr.) 3 64 J. J. Weber 1# F United States Milwaukee Bucks Wisconsin (Sr.) 3 65 Eric White Eric White (basketball) PF United States Detroit Pistons Pepperdine (Sr.) 3 66 Mike Richmond 1# C United States Dallas Mavericks UTEP (Sr.) 3 67 Song Tao Song Tao (basketball)# F China Atlanta Hawks Shandong (China) 3 68 Billy Donovan PG United States Utah Jazz Providence (Sr.) 3 69 Willie Glass 1# F United States Los Angeles Lakers St. John's (Sr.) 4 70 Tom Sheehey 1# C United States Boston Celtics Virginia (Sr.) 4 71 Mike Morgan 1# C United States New York Knicks Drake (Sr.) 4 72 Andrew Moten 1# G United States New Jersey Nets Florida (Sr.) 4 73 Todd May 1# F United States San Antonio Spurs Pikeville (Sr.) 4 74 Joe Arlauckas SF United States Sacramento Kings Niagara (Sr.) 4 75 Chris Dudley C United States Cleveland Cavaliers Yale (Sr.) 4 76 Steve Beck 1# G United States Phoenix Suns Arizona State (Sr.) 4 77 David Boone 1# F United States Denver Nuggets Marquette (Sr.) 4 78 Todd Linder 1# F United States Seattle SuperSonics Tampa (Sr.) 4 79 Jack Haley Jack Haley (basketball) C United States Chicago Bulls UCLA (Sr.) 4 80 Carven Holcombe# G United States Cleveland Cavaliers TCU (Sr.) 4 81 Scott Thompson Scott Thompson (basketball player)# C United States Washington Bullets San Diego (Sr.) 4 82 Joe Niego 1# F United States Houston Rockets Lewis (Sr.) 4 83 Bennie Bolton 1# F United States Golden State Warriors NC State (Sr.) 4 84 Reuben Holmes 1# C United States Utah Jazz Alabama State (Sr.) 4 85 Brian Rahilly 1# F United States Philadelphia 76ers Tulsa (Sr.) 4 86 Norwood Barber 1# G United States Portland Trail Blazers Florida State (Sr.) 4 87 Darryl Bedford 1# C United States Milwaukee Bucks Austin Peay (Sr.) 4 88 Dave Popson PF United States Detroit Pistons North Carolina (Sr.) 4 89 David Johnson 1# F United States Dallas Mavericks Oklahoma (Sr.) 4 90 Theofanis Christodoulou# C Greece Atlanta Hawks Panionios (Greece) 4 91 Darryl Kennedy 1# F United States Boston Celtics Oklahoma (Sr.) 4 92 Ralph Tally 1# G United States Los Angeles Lakers Norfolk State (Sr.) 5 93 Chad Kessler 1# F United States Los Angeles Clippers Georgia (Sr.) 4 94 James Blackmon Sr.# G United States New Jersey Nets Kentucky (Sr.) 5 95 Glen Clem 1# F United States New York Knicks Vanderbilt (Sr.) 5 96 Dennis Williams Dennis Williams (basketball)# G United States San Antonio Spurs Georgia (Sr.) 5 97 Vernon Carr 1# G United States Sacramento Kings Michigan State (Sr.) 5 98 Carl Lott 1# G United States Cleveland Cavaliers TCU (Sr.) 5 99 Brent Counts 1# C United States Phoenix Suns Pacific (Sr.) 5 100 Ronnie Grandison SF United States Denver Nuggets New Orleans (Sr.) 5 101 Michael Tait 1# G United States Seattle SuperSonics Clemson (Sr.) 5 102 Anthony Wilson 1# G United States Chicago Bulls LSU (Sr.) 5 103 Mike Milling 1# F United States Indiana Pacers Charlotte (Sr.) 5 104 Andre LaFleur 1# G United States Houston Rockets Northeastern (Sr.) 5 105 Terry Williams 1# C United States Golden State Warriors SMU (Sr.) 5 106 Patrick Fairs 1# G United States Washington Bullets Texas (Sr.) 5 107 Bart Kofoed SG United States Utah Jazz Nebraska–Kearney (Sr.) 5 108 Frank Ross 1# G United States Philadelphia 76ers American (Sr.) 5 109 David Moss 1# F United States Portland Trail Blazers Tulsa (Sr.) 5 110 Brian Vaughns 1# F United States Milwaukee Bucks UC Santa Barbara (Sr.) 5 111 Gerry Wright 1# C United States Detroit Pistons Iowa (Sr.) 5 112 Sam Hill 1# C United States Dallas Mavericks Iowa State (Sr.) 5 113 José Antonio Montero# G Spain Atlanta Hawks Joventut Badalona (Spain) 5 114 Dave Butler Dave Butler (basketball, born 1964/1965)# F United States Boston Celtics California (Sr.) 6 115 Kenny Travis# G United States Los Angeles Lakers New Mexico State (Sr.) 6 116 Martin Nessley C United States Los Angeles Clippers Duke (Sr.) 6 117 Howard Triche 1# G United States New York Knicks Syracuse (Sr.) 6 118 Perry Bromwell# G United States New Jersey Nets Penn (Sr.) 6 119 Ricky Brown 1# F United States San Antonio Spurs Pensacola Tornados (CBA) 6 120 Daryl Thomas# F United States Sacramento Kings Indiana (Sr.) 6 121 Harold Jensen# G United States Cleveland Cavaliers Villanova (Sr.) 6 122 Marcel Boyce# F United States Phoenix Suns Akron (Sr.) 6 123 Kelvin Scarborough# G United States Denver Nuggets New Mexico (Sr.) 6 124 Tom Gneiting 1# C United States Seattle SuperSonics BYU (Sr.) 6 125 Doug Altenberger 1# G United States Chicago Bulls Illinois (Sr.) 6 126 Gary Graham 1# G United States Indiana Pacers UNLV (Sr.) 6 127 Šarūnas Marčiulionis^ SG Golden State Warriors Statyba Vilnius (Soviet Union) 6 128 Dwayne Scholten 1# C United States Washington Bullets Washington State (Sr.) 6 129 Fred Jenkins 1# G United States Houston Rockets Tennessee (Sr.) 6 130 Art Sabb 1# G United States Utah Jazz Bloomfield (Sr.) 6 131 Tracy Foster 1# G United States Philadelphia 76ers UAB (Sr.) 6 132 Bernard Jackson 1# G United States Portland Trail Blazers Loyola Chicago (Sr.) 6 133 Gay Elmore# F United States Milwaukee Bucks VMI (Sr.) 6 134 Antoine Joubert# F United States Detroit Pistons Michigan (Sr.) 6 135 Quintan Gates 1# F United States Dallas Mavericks UTEP (Sr.) 6 136 Riccardo Morandotti 1# F Italy Atlanta Hawks Berloni Torino (Italy) 6 137 Tim Naegeli 1# F United States Boston Celtics Wisconsin–Stevens Point (Sr.) 6 138 Frank Ford 1# G United States Los Angeles Lakers Auburn (Sr.) 7 139 Henry Carr 1# C United States Los Angeles Clippers Wichita State (Sr.) 7 140 Frank Booker Frank Booker (basketball, born 1964)# G United States New Jersey Nets Bowling Green (Sr.) 7 141 Wayne Williams 1# G United States New York Knicks Saint Joseph's (Sr.) 7 142 Raynard Davis 1# F United States San Antonio Spurs Texas (Sr.) 7 143 Scott Adubato 1# G United States Sacramento Kings Upsala (Sr.) 7 144 Michael Foster 1# G United States Cleveland Cavaliers South Carolina (Sr.) 7 145 Roy Singleton 1# G United States Phoenix Suns Grand Canyon (Sr.) 7 146 Rowan Gomes# F Antigua and Barbuda Denver Nuggets Hampton (Sr.) 7 147 Mike Giomi 1# F United States Seattle SuperSonics NC State (Sr.) 7 148 Ervin Leavy 1# G United States Chicago Bulls Central Michigan (Sr.) 7 149 Montel Hatcher 1# G United States Indiana Pacers UCLA (Sr.) 7 150 Jamie Dixon# G United States Washington Bullets TCU (Sr.) 7 151 Clarence Grier# F United States Houston Rockets Campbell (Sr.) 7 152 Ronnie Leggette 1# G United States Golden State Warriors West Virginia State (Sr.) 7 153 Keith Webster 1# G United States Utah Jazz Harvard (Sr.) 7 154 Eric Semisch 1# F United States Philadelphia 76ers West Virginia (Sr.) 7 155 Kenny Stone 1# F United States Portland Trail Blazers George Fox (Sr.) 7 156 Curtis Hunter 1# F United States Denver Nuggets North Carolina (Sr.) 7 157 Mark Gottfried# G United States Detroit Pistons Alabama (Sr.) 7 158 Gerald White 1# G United States Dallas Mavericks Auburn (Sr.) 7 159 Franjo Arapović# C Yugoslavia Atlanta Hawks Cibona (Yugoslavia) 7 160 Gerry Corcoran 1# C United States Boston Celtics Northeastern (Sr.) 7 161 Ron vanderSchaaf 1# F Netherlands Los Angeles Lakers Central Washington (Sr.) n Notable undrafted players List of undrafted NBA players These players were not selected in the draft but still appeared in at least one regular or postseason NBA game. Player Position Nationality School/club teamRandy Allen Randy Allen (basketball) F United States Florida State (Sr.)Sergei Bazarevich SG CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union)Scott Brooks PG United States UC Irvine (Sr.)Mike Champion Mike Champion (basketball) PF United States Gonzaga (Sr.)Tom Copa C United States Marquette (Sr.)Radisav Ćurčić C Union Olimpija (Yugoslavia)Andrew Gaze F Melbourne Tigers (Australia)Cedric Hunter PG United States Kansas (Sr.)Mark Wade PG United States UNLV (Sr.)David Wood David Wood (basketball) F United States Nevada (Sr.)A. J. Wynder PG United States Fairfield (Sr.) Early entrants College underclassmen For the fifth year in a row and the ninth time in ten years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. However, it would be the second year in a row that a player that qualified for the status of a "college underclassman" would be playing professional basketball overseas, as the Haitian born Olden Polynice (who had previously played for the University of Virginia for a year before travelling to Italy to play for the Hamby Rimini) would qualify as an official entry there. Not only that, but it would also be the first time in NBA history (second time if you include the 1973 entry of David Brent from the Carolina Cougars in the rivaling ABA after previously playing for Jacksonville University) that an underclassman would declare entry by playing in another American basketball league (in this case, Ricky Brown previously going from the University of South Alabama to the Pensacola Tornados of the Continental Basketball Association minor league) first before entering an NBA draft. If those two players get included into the list properly, the number of "college underclassmen" that would qualify for this year's draft would increase from seven to nine total players. Regardless, these following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.1987 Underclassmen https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3034:1987-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 The Draft Review August 4, 2007 December 13, 2022 USA Vincent Askew – F, Memphis (junior) USA Norris Coleman – F, Kansas State (sophomore) USA Kenny Drummond – G, High Point (junior) USA Derrick McKey – F, Alabama (junior) USA Russell Pierre – F, Virginia Tech (junior) USA Reinhard Schmuck – F, Baruch (junior) USA Kevin Smith – F, Minnesota (junior) Other eligible players This would be the second year in a row that a player that previously played in college would enter the NBA draft as an underclassman (coincidentally also playing for an Italian basketball team while doing so). Not only that, but this would also be the second year in NBA history (third if you include David Brent's 1973 NBA draft entry while he was a part of the Carolina Cougars in the rivaling American Basketball Association) that an underclassman would enter the NBA draft by playing in another American basketball league (in this case, the Continental Basketball Association minor league) first; the first case happened in 1971 with Joe Hammond from the Allentown Jets in what was formerly called the Eastern Basketball Association. It was also the first year where a foreign-born player would qualify as an underclassman while also playing for an international team. Player Team Most recent team played for before the draft Note Ref.USA Ricky Brown Pensacola Tornados (CBA) Left South Alabama in 1986; playing professionally since the 1986–87 season Ricky Brown https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10085 The Draft Review May 29, 2017 December 13, 2022HAI Olden Polynice Hamby Ramini (Italy) Left Virginia in 1986; playing professionally since the 1986–87 season Jenkins Sally On Eve of NBA Draft, Polynice Insists, 'I've Grown Up' https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/06/20/on-eve-of-nba-draft-polynice-insists-ive-grown-up/0b37491b-f3d3-455a-927e-1fce8fe82295/ The Washington Post December 13, 2022 June 20, 1987 Invited attendees The 1987 NBA draft is considered to be the tenth 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 sixth year in a rowMaurer Matthew 2023-09-16 1987 Green Room Invites - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1987-green-room-invites 2025-08-20 The Draft Review en-us), 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 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 2025-08-20 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 16 prospects at the time.Green Room - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room 2025-08-20 The Draft Review en-us However, despite the large amount of invites this year when compared to previous years, there are many notable things about the listing that would still be in mind here, such as the absences of future Hall of Famers David Robinson and Reggie Miller and multi-time All-Star Kevin Johnson, the first foreign team player invite via Olden Polynice, and both Ron Moore and Andre Moore going into the second round. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person. USA Cadillac Anderson – PF, Houston USA Muggsy Bogues – PG, Wake Forest USA Dallas Comegys – C, DePaul USA Tellis Frank – PF, Western Kentucky USA Armen Gilliam – PF, UNLV USA Horace Grant – PF/C, Clemson USA Dennis Hopson – SF, Ohio State USA Mark Jackson – PG, St. John's USA Derrick McKey – SF/PF, Alabama USA Andre Moore – PF, Loyola (IL) USA Ron Moore – C, West Virginia State PUR José Ortiz – PF, Oregon State USA Scottie Pippen – SF, Central Arkansas HAI Olden Polynice – C, Hamby Rimini (Italy) USA Kenny Smith – PG, North Carolina USA Reggie Williams – SF, Georgetown See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References Past Drafts: 1987 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