1961 NBA draft

Basketball player selection August 2023 1961 NBA draft Basketball March 27, 1961 St. Louis, MissouriBradley Robert D. The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts 2013 Scarecrow Press 9780810890695, pg. 73 NBC NBA 9 107 15 Walt Bellamy, Chicago Packers 1 C Walt Bellamy 1960 1962 The 1961 NBA draft was the 15th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on March 27, 1961, before the 1961–62 season. In this draft, nine 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. In each round, the teams select in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. Before the draft, a team could forfeit its first-round draft pick and then select any player from within a 50-mile radius of its home arena as their territorial pick.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nba/2003715404_lotterytimeline21.html How the NBA draft became a lottery The Seattle Times The Seattle Times Company May 21, 2007 September 10, 2009Lakers Select Baylor In NBA Draft Meeting The Daily Collegian Pennsylvania State University April 23, 1958 http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1958/04/23&EntityId=Ar01102 September 29, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160410205729/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1958%2F04%2F23&EntityId=Ar01102 April 10, 2016 dead An expansion franchise, the Chicago Packers, were assigned the first pick of the first round and the last pick of each subsequent round, along with five extra picks at the end of the second round.http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/WizHistory_010806.html A Colorful Tradition John Hareas NBA.com/Wizards Turner Sports Interactive, Inc August 6, 2001 January 26, 2010 The draft consisted of 15 rounds comprising 107 players selected. Draft selections and draftee career notes thumb|150px|Walt Bellamy was selected first overall by the Chicago Packers. Walt Bellamy from the Indiana University was selected first overall by the Chicago Packers. Bellamy went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season and was also selected to the All-Star Game.http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html Rookie of the Year NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc October 28, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20100329231204/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html March 29, 2010 deadhttp://www.nba.com/history/players/bellamy_bio.html Walt Bellamy Bio NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc May 19, 2010 In his rookie season, he averaged 31.6 points per game, the second highest scoring average for a rookie, and 19.0 rebounds per game, the third highest rebounding average for a rookie.https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&type=per_game&per_minute_base=36&is_playoffs=N&year_min=1947&year_max=2010&season_start=1&season_end=1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&lg_id=NBA&franch_id=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos=&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts_per_g Player Season Finder: Points per game in rookie season basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&type=per_game&per_minute_base=36&is_playoffs=N&year_min=1947&year_max=2010&season_start=1&season_end=1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&lg_id=NBA&franch_id=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos=&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=trb_per_g Player Season Finder: Rebounds per game in rookie season basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 He was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games during his stint with the Packers, which later became the Chicago Zephyrs and Baltimore Bullets. He then played for three other NBA teams during his 14-year career. For his achievements, he has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees basketball-reference.com October 28, 2009 Three other players from this draft, 7th pick Tom Meschery, 21st pick Don Kojis and 32nd pick Bill Bridges, have also been selected to at least one All-Star Game.https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/meschto01.html Tom Meschery Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kojisdo01.html Don Kojis Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgbi01.html Bill Bridges Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100523003502/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgbi01.html 23 May 2010 live Doug Moe, the 22nd pick, never played in the NBA. His contract with the Packers was voided due to his suspected involvement in the college basketball point shaving scandal.https://www.espn.com/classic/s/basketball_scandals_molinas.html Explosion II: The Molinas period Joe Goldstein ESPN.com November 19, 2003 May 19, 2010http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067962/1/index.htm This Joker Is Wild November 7, 1988 Bruce Newman Sports Illustrated Time Warner Company 19 May 2010 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302214709/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067962/1/index.htm dead He eventually played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for five years. He won the ABA championship in 1969 and was selected to three ABA All-Star Games and two All-ABA Teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/moedo01.html Doug Moe Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 After his playing career, he became a head coach. He coached four NBA teams and won the Coach of the Year Award in 1988 with the Denver Nuggets.https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/moedo01c.html Doug Moe Coaching Record basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010http://www.nba.com/history/awards_coachofyear.html Coach of the Year NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc May 19, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100531191319/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_coachofyear.html 31 May 2010 dead Ray Scott, the 4th pick, played for the Detroit Pistons for five and a half seasons before he moved on to play with two other teams in the NBA and ABA.https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottra01.html Ray Scott Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 After retiring as a player in 1972, he immediately became a head coach. He coached the Pistons for three and a half seasons and won the Coach of the Year Award in 1974.https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/scottra01c.html Ray Scott Coaching Record basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100417070908/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/scottra01c.html 17 April 2010 live Two other players drafted also went on to have a coaching career: 12th pick Johnny Egan and 60th pick Donnie Butcher.https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/eganjo01c.html Johnny Egan Coaching Statistics basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/butchdo01c.html Donnie Butcher Coaching Record basketball-reference.com May 19, 2010 Similar to the 1951 draft, this draft would also be marked by a significant number of players being permanently banned in the NBA before even playing a single game due to their participation in a significant college scandal, in this case a gambling scandal. While none of the players selected this year were considered to have been as high profile of players as Gene Melchiorre, the #1 pick of the 1951 NBA draft was, a significant amount of players drafted during this time were still permanently banned due to their participation in the event all the same. Players from this draft who were selected by teams there, but were later permanently banned by the NBA (at least in terms of playing there) included the likes of Leroy Wright (the 16th pick of the draft), Jerry Graves (the 19th pick of the draft), Doug Moe (the 22nd pick of the draft), Tony Jackson (the 24th pick of the draft), Jack Egan (the 29th pick of the draft), and Vincent Kempton (the 107th and final pick of the draft). Many other players that went undrafted following this scandal would also be permanently banned by extension also, including two college freshmen at the time who would since become Hall of Famers following the case. Key Pos.GFCPositionGuardForwardCenter y y y y Draft thumb|150px|Tom Meschery was selected 7th overall by the Philadelphia Warriors. thumb|150px|Don Kojis was selected 21st overall by the Chicago Packers. Round Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team School/club team11 Walt Bellamy^~ C United States Chicago Packers Indiana12 Tom Stith F United States New York Knicks St. Bonaventure13 Larry Siegfried F United States Cincinnati Royals Ohio State14 Ray Scott Ray Scott (basketball) F/C United States Detroit Pistons Allentown Jets (EPBL)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-AjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8iYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7380,2086286 https://archive.today/20120629151348/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-AjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8iYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7380,2086286 dead June 29, 2012 Archie! April 15, 1961 The Milwaukee Journal May 18, 201015 Wayne Yates C United States Los Angeles Lakers Memphis State16 Ben Warley G/F United States Syracuse Nationals Cleveland Pipers (NIBL)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VkcrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=otQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=888,3610459 National Basketball Draft Brings Smiles March 28, 1961 The Nevada Daily Mail May 18, 201017 Tom Meschery+ F United States1 Philadelphia Warriors Saint Mary's (CA)18 Cleo Hill G United States St. Louis Hawks Winston-Salem State19 Gary Phillips Gary Phillips (basketball) G United States Boston Celtics Houston210 Whitey Martin G United States New York Knicks St. Bonaventure211 Bob Wiesenhahn F United States Cincinnati Royals Cincinnati212 Johnny Egan Johnny Egan (basketball) G United States Detroit Pistons Providence213 Fred Sawyer# C United States Los Angeles Lakers Louisville214 Chris Smith Chris Smith (basketball, born 1939)# C United States Syracuse Nationals Virginia Tech215 Ted Luckenbill F United States Philadelphia Warriors Houston216 Ron Horn F United States St. Louis Hawks U.S. Armed Forces (AAU)217 Al Butler G United States Boston Celtics Niagara218 Jack Turner Jack Turner (basketball, born 1939) G/F United States Chicago Packers Louisville219 Jerry Graves# F United States Chicago Packers Mississippi State220 York Larese G United States Chicago Packers North Carolina221 Don Kojis+ F United States Chicago Packers Marquette222 Doug Moe# G/F United States Chicago Packers North Carolina223 Jeff Cohen Jeff Cohen (basketball)# C United States Chicago Packers William & Mary Other picks thumb|150px|Bevo Nordmann was selected 25th overall by the Cincinnati Royals. The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1961.html 1961 NBA drafthttp://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/past_drafts/1961 NBA Past Drafts - RealGM Round Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team School/club team325 Bevo Nordmann C United States Cincinnati Royals Saint Louis326 Doug Kistler F United States Detroit Pistons Duke328 Chuck Osborne F United States Syracuse Nationals Western Kentucky332 Bill Bridges Bill Bridges (basketball)+ F/C United States Chicago Packers Kansas433 George Blaney G United States New York Knicks Holy Cross542 Bill Smith Bill Smith (basketball, born 1939) G/F United States New York Knicks Saint Peter's544 Danny Doyle Danny Doyle (basketball) F United States Detroit Pistons Belmont Abbey550 Howie Carl G United States Chicago Packers DePaul651 Cleveland Buckner F/C United States New York Knicks Jackson State760 Donnis Butcher G United States New York Knicks Pikeville761 Dave Zeller G United States Cincinnati Royals Miami (OH)1091 Larry Comley G United States Chicago Packers Kansas State1192 Kevin Loughery G United States New York Knicks St. John's12100 George Patterson George Patterson (basketball) F/C United States Cincinnati Royals Toledo Notable undrafted players List of undrafted NBA players These players were not selected in the 1961 draft but played at least one game in the NBA. Player Pos. Nationality School/club teamEd BurtonSFUnited StatesAllentown Jets (EPBL) Notes 1 Tom Meschery (née Tomislav Mescheryakov) was born in Harbin, Manchuria (now part of China) to Russian parents. He moved to the United States at the age of 8 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-09-sp-crowe9-story.html Former NBA tough guy Tom Meschery a man of rhyme, reason Jerry Crowe November 9, 2009 Los Angeles Times October 3, 2010http://www.nba.com/history/International_Timeline.html International Timeline NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc October 2, 2010 See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References General http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1960s.html Complete First Round Results 1960–69 NBA.com Turner Sports Interactive, Inc January 8, 2010 https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1961.html 1961 NBA Draft basketball-reference.com January 26, 2010 http://www.apbr.org/5761drft.html 1957–1961 NBA Drafts The Association for Professional Basketball Research December 28, 2009 http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=285&Itemid=103 1961 NBA Draft The Draft Review January 26, 2010 Specific 30em External links NBA.com NBA.com: NBA Draft History Draft Category:NBA draft NBA draft NBA draft Category:Basketball in New York City Category:Sporting events in New York City