Date(s) June 28, 1983 | Network(s) (US) USA Network and ESPN | |
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Location Felt Forum, New York City, New York First selection Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets | ||
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. At least four players from the 1983 draft later served or now serve as coaches. One served at a major-college program—Craig Robinson (who never played in the NBA) at Oregon State—and two in the NBA—Doc Rivers for the Los Angeles Clippers and Randy Wittman for the Washington Wizards. Another player, Byron Scott, coached for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2014 to 2016. While Scott won the Coach of the Year award in 2008, Rivers won an NBA Championship with the Celtics in that same year (it could be also noted that Rivers won that award prior to Scott, in 2000, while he was still coaching the Orlando Magic). Robinson, who led the Beavers to the 2009 College Basketball Invitational title, has an additional claim to fame as the older brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Sidney Lowe coached at North Carolina State from 2006 to 2011.
Contents
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).
Draft
* compensation for draft choices traded away by Ted Stepien
Notable post-second round picks
These picks have played at least one game in the NBA but were not selected in the first or second rounds.