1985 NBA draft


The 1985 NBA draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA draft of the "lottery" era. It was also around this time where the league decreased the amount of rounds the draft spent, with the previous few years lasting up to 10 rounds total. A total of 162 players were selected over seven rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick by winning the first-ever NBA draft lottery, which was held in May of that year. The Knicks used it on Georgetown's Patrick Ewing. In addition to Ewing, this draft also resulted in Hall of Famer Karl Malone taken by the Utah Jazz at pick 13.

Draft selections

PGPoint guardSGShooting guardSFSmall forwardPFPower forwardCCenter

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11^CUnited StatesNew York KnicksGeorgetown
12PFUnited StatesIndiana PacersOklahoma
13CUnited StatesLos Angeles ClippersCreighton
14+PFUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsWichita State
15CUnited StatesAtlanta HawksSMU
16CUnited StatesSacramento KingsArkansas
17^SFUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsSt. John's
18*SF/PFDallas Mavericks Washington
19+PFUnited StatesCleveland Cavaliers *Virginia Union
110PFUnited StatesPhoenix SunsVillanova
111CUnited StatesChicago BullsMemphis State
112FUnited StatesWashington BulletsWake Forest
113^PFUnited StatesUtah JazzLouisiana Tech
114SGUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursLoyola
115CUnited StatesDenver Nuggets Oregon
116CCanadaDallas Mavericks St. John's
117CDallas MavericksIndiana
118^SGUnited StatesDetroit PistonsMcNeese State
119SGUnited StatesHouston RocketsTulsa
120SGUnited StatesBoston Celtics Michigan State
121PFUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersSouth Alabama
122G/FUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksLSU
123+SF/PFUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersOregon State
124+PGUnited StatesPortland Trail Blazers Wisconsin–Stevens Point
225CCanadaPortland Trail BlazersCanisius
226FUnited StatesIndiana PacersGeorgetown
227SGUnited StatesIndiana PacersVillanova
228FUnited StatesChicago BullsMichigan State
229CUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursSouth Carolina
230#GUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersVCU
231CWashington BulletsBridgeport
232CUnited StatesPhoenix SunsSanta Clara
233F/CUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersIowa
234#SGUnited StatesChicago BullsWichita State
235SF/PFUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursDePaul
236CNew Jersey NetsGeorgia Tech
237FUnited StatesUtah JazzLIU Brooklyn
238PFSpainNew Jersey NetsReal Madrid
239#FUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersIllinois
240F/CUnited StatesDallas MavericksOral Roberts
241PFUnited StatesAtlanta HawksNC State
242#C/FUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsAlabama
243G/FUnited StatesDenver NuggetsIowa State
244SGUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersBradley
245PFUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersTulane
246SFUnited StatesChicago Bulls Maryland
247SGUnited StatesNew York Knicks Chattanooga

*Further compensation for draft choices previously traded away by Ted Stepien.

Notable post-second round picks

This list includes only players who appeared in at least one NBA game but were not selected in the first or second rounds of the 1985 NBA draft.
RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
349PFUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsUCLA
354SF/PFUnited StatesHouston Rockets ***Mercer
359PGUnited StatesAtlanta Hawks*Dayton
361SGUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersVirginia Tech
363SGUnited StatesDallas MavericksSanta Clara
366+PGUnited StatesKansas City Kings Boston College
369CUnited StatesChicago Bulls**George Washington
473PGUnited StatesNew York KnicksEastern Michigan
475FUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsColorado
477^C
Atlanta Hawks Žalgiris Kaunas
479SFUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersOld Dominion
482SFUnited StatesSan Antonio SpursWisconsin
483GUnited StatesUtah JazzWake Forest
484SGUnited StatesAtlanta Hawks Rutgers
487PGUnited StatesDetroit PistonsNC State
489PFUnited StatesDenver NuggetsArizona
490PFUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersUTSA
491PFUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksNC State
492PGUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersSouth Alabama
6139SGUnited StatesBoston CelticsLa Salle
7144SGUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsAlcorn State
7148PFPhoenix SunsAkademik Varna
7160SF/SGUnited StatesMilwaukee BucksAmerican International

* Compensation for the Utah Jazz signing Billy Paultz

** Compensation for the Los Angeles Lakers signing Larry Spriggs

*** Compensation for the Atlanta Hawks signing Billy Paultz

Controversy

Some have argued that NBA Commissioner David Stern fixed the first overall pick to help his hometown team, the struggling New York Knicks. The lottery system used in 1985 involved a random drawing of seven envelopes from a hopper, with each of the then-seven non-playoff teams having an equal chance of obtaining the first pick. Inside each of the envelopes was the logo of a non-playoff team. The team whose envelope was drawn first would get the first pick. The process was then repeated until the rest of the first seven lottery picks were determined. In the U.S., CBS had live coverage of Stern pulling the envelopes from the hopper.
There is speculation that the envelope containing the Knicks logo was refrigerated beforehand, enabling David Stern to recognize and select it.
According to another theory, some claim that when an accountant from Ernst & Whinney inserted the seven envelopes into the glass drum, some have claimed that he banged the fourth one against the side of the drum to create a creased corner, thereby making it easier for Stern to determine which envelope to choose: the envelope containing the Knicks logo. As the drum was being spun by NBA security director Jack Joyce, Stern was watching the envelopes closely. He then opened the drum, took a deep breath, reached in and selected the envelope with the bent corner and the Knicks logo.