1981 NBA Draft Recap

The 1981 NBA Draft took place in New York on June 9, 1981

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First Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
1 Mark Aguirre DAL SF 6-6 232 21 13 DePaul Jr * United States
2 Isiah Thomas DET PG 6-1 180 20 13 Indiana So * United States
3 Buck Williams NJN PF 6-8 215 21 17 Maryland Jr * United States
4 Al Wood ATL GF 6-6 193 23 7 North Carolina Sr United States
5 Danny Vranes SEA SF 6-7 210 22 0 Utah Sr United States
6 Orlando Woolridge CHI PF 6-9 215 21 13 Notre Dame Sr United States
7 Steve Johnson KCK FC 6-10 235 23 10 Oregon State Sr United States
8 Tom Chambers SDC PF 6-10 220 21 16 Utah Sr United States
9 Rolando Blackman DAL G 6-6 190 22 13 Kansas State Sr Panama / United States
10 Albert King NJN GF 6-6 190 21 9 Maryland Sr United States
11 Frank Johnson WAS G 6-1 185 22 10 Wake Forest Sr United States
12 Kelly Tripucka DET SF 6-6 220 22 10 Notre Dame Sr United States
13 Danny Schayes UTH C 6-11 235 22 19 Syracuse Sr United States
14 Herb Williams IND C 6-10 242 23 18 Ohio State Sr United States
15 Jeff Lamp POR GF 6-6 195 22 6 Virginia Sr United States
16 Darnell Valentine POR G 6-1 183 22 9 Kansas Sr United States
17 Kevin Loder KCK SF 6-6 205 22 4 Alabama State Sr United States
18 Ray Tolbert NJN F 6-9 225 22 5 Indiana Sr United States
19 Mike McGee LAL GF 6-5 190 21 9 Michigan Sr United States
20 Larry Nance PHX PF 6-10 205 22 13 Clemson Sr United States
21 Alton Lister MIL FC 7-0 240 22 18 Arizona State Sr United States
22 Franklin Edwards PHL G 6-1 170 22 7 Cleveland State Sr United States
23 Charles Bradley BOS SG 6-5 215 22 3 Wyoming Sr United States

Second Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
24 Jay Vincent DAL F 6-7 220 21 9 Michigan State Sr United States
25 Tracy Jackson BOS SG 6-6 205 22 3 Notre Dame Sr United States
26 Brian Jackson POR PF 6-8 200 22 0 Utah State Sr United States
27 Howard Wood UTH SF 6-7 235 22 1 Tennessee Sr United States
28 Gene Banks SAN GF 6-7 215 22 7 Duke Sr United States
29 Eddie Johnson KCK SF 6-7 215 22 17 Illinois Sr United States
30 Ed Rains SAN SF 6-7 190 24 3 South Alabama Sr United States
31 Danny Ainge BOS G 6-4 175 22 14 Brigham Young Sr United States
32 Mike Olliver CHI CHI to IND PG 6-1 185 22 0 Lamar Sr United States
33 Sam Williams GOS F 6-8 210 22 0 Arizona State Jr United States
34 Ken Green DEN PF 6-8 215 21 2 Texas-RGV Sr United States
35 Charles Davis WAS F 6-7 215 22 8 Vanderbilt Sr United States
36 Ray Blume IND IND to CHI SG 6-4 185 22 1 Oregon State Sr United States
37 Al Leslie IND SG 6-3 185 21 0 Bucknell Sr United States
38 Clyde Bradshaw ATL PG 6-0 170 21 0 DePaul Sr United States
39 Harvey Knuckles LAL SF 6-6 185 22 1 Toledo Sr United States
40 Greg Cook NYK PF 6-8 225 22 1 LSU Sr United States
41 Claude Gregory WAS F 6-8 205 22 3 Wisconsin Sr United States
42 Elvis Rolle LAL FC 6-10 225 23 0 Florida State Sr United States
43 Elston Turner DAL GF 6-5 190 21 8 Ole Miss Sr United States
44 Steve Lingenfelter WAS PF 6-9 225 22 2 South Dakota State Sr United States
45 Ed Turner HOU SF 6-6 195 23 0 Texas A&M - Kingsville Sr United States
46 Vernon Smith PHL PF 6-8 220 22 1 Texas A&M Sr United States

Third Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
47 Art Housey DAL PF 6-10 220 23 2 Kansas Sr United States
48 Mike Ferrara WAS SG 6-4 190 22 1 Colgate Sr United States
49 David Burns NJN PG 6-2 180 22 1 Saint Louis Sr United States
50 Derek Holcomb POR C 6-11 240 N/A 0 Indiana Sr United States
51 Zam Fredrick LAL SG 6-2 180 21 0 South Carolina Sr United States
52 Rudy Macklin ATL PF 6-7 205 23 4 LSU Sr United States
53 Mark Radford SEA SG 6-4 190 21 2 Oregon State Sr United States
54 Jim Smith SDC PF 6-9 225 23 2 Ohio State Sr United States
55 Mickey Dillard CLE PG 6-3 170 22 1 Florida State Sr United States
56 Carlton Neverson GOS SG 6-5 195 23 0 Pittsburgh Sr United States
57 Frank Brickowski NYK PF 6-9 240 21 13 Penn State Sr United States
58 Curtis Berry KCK PF 6-7 215 21 0 Missouri Sr United States
59 Russell Bowers CLE SF 6-5 205 23 1 American University Sr United States
60 Purvis Miller IND F 6-7 225 N/A 0 USC Sr United States
61 Petur Gudmundsson POR C 7-2 260 22 6 Valur (Iceland) 1958 DOB Iceland
62 Sam Clancy PHX FC 6-6 238 23 0 Pittsburgh Sr United States
63 Wayne McKoy NYK PF 6-9 235 23 0 St. John's Sr United States
64 Tom Baker SAN PG 6-2 - N/A 0 Eastern Kentucky Sr United States
65 Ron Cornelius LAL PF 6-8 200 N/A 0 Pacific Sr United States
66 Craig Dykema PHX PF 6-8 190 21 3 Long Beach State Sr United States
67 Mark Smith MIL SF 6-7 195 21 1 Illinois Sr United States
68 Ernest Graham PHL SF 6-7 180 21 1 Maryland Sr United States
69 John Johnson BOS G 6-4 200 22 0 Michigan Sr England

Fourth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
70 Eddie Moss DAL PG 6-2 180 22 0 Syracuse Sr United States
71 John May WAS PF 6-8 200 N/A 0 South Alabama Sr United States
72 Ed Sherod NJN PG 6-2 170 21 4 VCU Sr United States
73 Georgie Torres UTH PG 6-3 214 23 0 Southern Nazarene So Puerto Rico
74 Ethan Martin CLE PG 6-1 170 N/A 1 LSU Sr United States
75 Kevin Figaro ATL SG 6-4 190 21 1 Louisiana Sr United States
76 Lewis Lloyd GOS GF 6-6 205 22 7 Drake Sr United States
77 Lee Raker SDC SG 6-5 190 22 0 Virginia Sr United States
78 Kenny Dennard KCK PF 6-8 220 22 3 Duke Sr United States
79 Ron Davis WAS SF 6-6 200 21 0 Arizona Sr United States
80 Terry Adolph GOS PG 5-8 165 N/A 0 West Texas A&M Sr United States
81 Larry Spriggs HOU F 6-7 230 21 6 Howard Sr United States
82 B.B. Davis KCK PF 6-8 230 N/A 0 Lamar Sr United States
83 Rolando Frazier IND SF 6-6 190 22 0 Briar Cliff Sr Panama
84 Oliver Lee CHI F 6-7 215 N/A 0 Marquette Sr United States
85 Pete Verhoeven POR F 6-9 215 22 6 Fresno State Sr United States
86 Alex Bradley NYK F 6-6 215 21 1 Villanova Sr United States
87 Earl Belcher SAN SF 6-6 - N/A 0 St. Bonaventure Sr United States
88 Kevin McKenna LAL GF 6-5 195 22 7 Creighton Sr United States
89 Don Koonce DET SG 6-3 180 21 1 Charlotte Sr United States
90 Kris Anderson MIL PF 6-9 220 N/A 0 Florida State Sr United States
91 Stanley Williams BOS F 6-7 190 N/A 0 La Salle Sr United States
92 Rynn Wright PHL SF 6-6 225 22 0 Texas A&M Sr United States

Fifth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
93 Pete Budko DAL - - N/A 0 North Carolina Sr United States
94 George DeVone DET G - - N/A 0 Charlotte Sr United States
95 Joe Cooper NJN FC 6-10 230 23 3 Colorado Sr United States
96 Ken Page CLE G - - N/A 1 New Mexico Sr * United States
97 Mike Clark UTH - - N/A 0 Oregon Sr United States
98 Steve Krafscisin ATL C 6-9 - N/A 0 Iowa Sr United States
99 Andra Griffin SEA F - - N/A 0 Washington Sr United States
100 Dennis Isbell SDC F - - N/A 0 Memphis Sr United States
101 Willie Sims DEN - - 22 0 LSU Sr United States / Israel
102 Hank McDowell GOS FC 6-9 215 21 7 Memphis Sr United States
103 Garry Witts WAS G 6-7 - 21 1 Holy Cross Sr United States
104 U.S. Reed KCK - - N/A 2 Arkansas Sr United States
105 Hasan Houston HOU - - N/A 0 Bradley Sr United States
106 George Peterson IND - - N/A 0 New Jersey City Sr United States
107 Herb Andrew POR - - N/A 1 South Alabama Sr United States
108 Johnny Nash CHI F - - N/A 0 Arizona State Sr United States
109 Jim Wright NYK - - N/A 0 Rhode Island Sr United States
110 Mike Rhodes SAN G - - N/A 0 Vanderbilt Sr United States
111 Craig Watts LAL C 6-11 - N/A 0 NC State Sr United States
112 Paul Heuerman PHX - - N/A 0 Michigan Sr United States
113 Kelvin Troy MIL - - N/A 0 Rutgers Sr United States
114 Steve Craig PHL - - N/A 0 Brigham Young Sr United States
115 Glen Grunwald BOS - - 22 0 Indiana Sr United States

Sixth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
116 Karl Bakowski DAL F - - N/A 0 Utah Sr United States
117 Vince Brookins DET F 6-5 235 N/A 0 Iowa Sr United States
118 Kevin Lynam NJN G 6-2 180 N/A 0 La Salle Sr United States
119 Kevin Sprewer UTH - - N/A 0 Loyola (IL) Sr United States
120 Aaron Strayhorn CLE G - - N/A 0 Hawaii Sr United States
121 Darryl Warwick ATL - - N/A 0 Hampton Sr United States
122 Earl Banks SEA F 6-7 220 N/A 0 Auburn Sr United States
123 Mike Pepper SDC PG 6-3 188 N/A 0 North Carolina Sr United States
124 Alonzo Weatherley DEN - - N/A 0 Denver Sr United States
125 Robert Williams WAS - - N/A 0 Grambling State Sr United States
126 Carter Scott GOS G - - N/A 0 Ohio State Sr United States
127 Fred Cowan HOU FC 6-8 - N/A 0 Kentucky Sr United States
128 Brian Walker KCK G - - N/A 0 Purdue Sr United States
129 Robert Fronk IND - - N/A 0 Washington Sr United States
130 Roger Burkman CHI SG 6-5 175 23 1 Louisville Sr United States
131 Roshern Arnie POR - - N/A 0 UTEP Sr United States
132 John Blair NYK - - N/A 1 Monmouth Sr United States
133 Norman Shavers SAN - - N/A 0 Jackson State Sr United States
134 Kevin Singleton LAL - - N/A 0 California Sr United States
135 Pete Harris PHX - - N/A 0 Northeastern Sr United States
136 Jo Jo Hunter MIL - - N/A 0 Colorado Sr United States
137 Steve Waite BOS - - N/A 0 Iowa Sr United States
138 Michael Thomas PHL - - N/A 0 North Park Sr United States

Seventh Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
139 Danny Davis DAL SF 6-7 235 N/A 1 UNC Wilmington Sr United States
140 Greg Nance DET PF 6-8 205 N/A 0 West Virginia Sr United States
141 Rod Robertson NJN - - N/A 0 Northwestern Sr United States
142 Andre Smith CLE C 6-7 - N/A 0 Nebraska Sr United States
143 Mike Robinson UTH - - N/A 0 Central Michigan Sr United States
144 Kevin Vesey ATL C 6-10 - N/A 0 Iona Sr United States
145 Tom Sienkiewicz SEA G - - N/A 0 Villanova Sr United States
146 Randy Johnson SDC - - N/A 0 Colorado-Colorado Springs Sr United States
147 Greg Manning DEN SG - - N/A 0 Maryland Sr United States
148 Robby Dosty GOS - - N/A 0 Arizona Sr United States
149 Randy Martel WAS - - N/A 1 Houston Christian Sr United States
150 Clinton Wheeler KCK G 6-1 185 21 5 William Paterson Sr United States
151 Joe Faine HOU - - N/A 0 Bowling Green Sr United States
152 Larry McKinney IND - - N/A 0 Boise State Sr United States
153 Julius Wayne HOU - - N/A 0 UTEP Sr United States
154 Scott Williams CHI - - N/A 0 South Alabama Sr United States
155 Terry Cramer NYK - - N/A 0 Ripon College Sr United States
156 Mark Minderman SAN - - N/A 0 Northern Michigan Sr United States
157 Larry Petty LAL - - N/A 0 Wisconsin Sr United States
158 David Williams PHX SF 6-6 - N/A 0 Southern Sr United States
159 Lewis Latimore MIL FC 6-9 - N/A 0 Virginia Sr United States
160 John Crawford PHL F 6-7 178 N/A 0 Kansas Sr United States
161 Tom Seaman BOS - - N/A 0 Holy Cross Sr United States

Eighth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
162 David Kennedy DAL - - N/A 0 Cincinnati Sr United States
163 Joe Schoen DET F - - N/A 0 St. Francis (PA) Sr United States
164 Ken Webb DET - - N/A 0 Fairleigh Dickinson Sr United States
165 Bobby Cattage UTH PF 6-9 250 22 3 Auburn Sr United States
166 Glen Marcus CLE PG - - N/A 0 UAB Sr United States
167 Gilbert Salinas ATL C 6-11 - N/A 0 Notre Dame Sr United States
168 Todd Haynes SDC - - N/A 0 Davidson Sr United States
169 Curtis Redding DEN G 6-5 - N/A 0 St. John's Sr United States
170 Mike Howard WAS - - N/A 1 Wofford Sr United States
171 Yasutaka Okayama GOS C 7-7 - 26 0   1954 DOB Japan
172 Stanley Brewer HOU - - N/A 0 West Georgia Sr United States
173 Randy Smithson KCK G - - N/A 0 Wichita State Sr United States
174 Len Hatzenbeller IND C - - N/A 0 Drexel Sr United States
175 Ben Mitchell CHI - - N/A 0 Alabama-Huntsville Sr United States
176 John Smith POR - - N/A 1 Saint Joseph's Sr United States
177 Brian O'Connor NYK - - N/A 0 Thomas More Sr United States
178 Bob Bartholomew SAN - - N/A 0 San Diego Sr United States
179 Jay Triano LAL SG 6-4 194 22 1 Simon Fraser Sr Canada
180 Steve Risley PHX PF 6-8 - N/A 0 Indiana Sr United States
181 Mike Brkovich MIL - - N/A 0 Michigan State Sr Canada
182 George Morrow BOS F - - N/A 0 Creighton Sr United States
183 Frank Gilroy PHL - - N/A 0 St. John's Sr United States

Ninth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
184 John Hollinden DAL C 7-6 - N/A 0 Indiana State Sr United States
185 Eddie Baker DET C - - N/A 0 Alcorn State Sr United States
186 Rudy Williams NJN F 6-7 - N/A 0 Providence Sr United States
187 Paul Roba CLE - - N/A 0 Cleveland State Sr United States
188 Ken Ollie UTH F - - N/A 0 Wyoming Sr United States
189 Howard Thompkins ATL - - N/A 0 Wagner Sr United States
190 Art Jones SDC F 6-7 185 N/A 0 North Carolina Central Sr United States
191 Andrew Burton DEN - - N/A 0 Austin Peay Sr United States
192 Doug Murrey GOS - - N/A 0 San Jose State Sr United States
193 Eddie Brown WAS - - N/A 1 Valdosta State Sr United States
194 Mike Perry KCK - - N/A 1 Richmond Sr United States
195 Scott Whitley IND - - N/A 0 William & Mary Sr United States
196 Sid Williams POR - - N/A 0 San Jose State Sr United States
197 Terry Martin CHI - - N/A 0 Lambuth Sr United States
198 Marty Headd NYK SG 6-2 180 22 0 Syracuse Sr United States
199 Leonel Marquetti SAN F 6-7 - N/A 0 Hampton Sr * United States
200 Brian Johnson PHX - - N/A 0 Colorado Sr United States
201 Chip Rucker MIL - - N/A 0 Northeastern Sr United States
202 Ron Wister PHL - - N/A 0 Temple Sr United States
203 Greg McCray BOS - - N/A 0 VCU Sr United States

Tenth Round Selections

Pick Player Team Draft Trades Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
204 Scott Bolanko DAL - - N/A 0 Northern State Sr United States
205 Melvin Maxwell DET - - N/A 0 Western Michigan Sr United States
206 Vic Sison NJN - - N/A 0 UCLA Sr United States
207 Joe Merten UTH - - N/A 0 Wisconsin-Eau Claire Sr United States
208 Greg Boone CLE - - N/A 0 Augsburg College Sr United States
209 Mike Frazier ATL C 7-0 240 N/A 0 Georgetown Sr United States
210 Tony Gwynn SDC PG 5-11 195 21 0 San Diego State Sr United States
211 Derrick Rowland DEN GF 6-5 185 21 3 SUNY Potsdam Sr United States
212 Ralton Way WAS - - N/A 0 Houston Christian Sr United States
213 Barry Brooks GOS - - N/A 0 USC Sr United States
214 Mark Wilson KCK - - N/A 0 Fort Hays State Sr United States
215 Rodney Benson IND - - N/A 0 Wright State Sr United States
216 Kenny Easley CHI - - 22 0 UCLA Sr United States
217 Steve Cochran POR - - N/A 0 Lewis & Clark Sr United States
218 Kevin Rogers NYK - - N/A 1 Saint Peter's Sr United States
219 Alvin Brooks SAN - - N/A 0 Saint Peter's Sr United States
220 Felton Sealey PHX - - N/A 0 Oregon Sr United States
221 Artie Green MIL - - N/A 0 Lamar Sr United States
222 Ken Matthews BOS - - N/A 0 NC State Sr United States
223 Pete Mullenberg PHL C 6-7 - N/A 0 Delaware Sr United States

Undrafted Players

Player Pos HT WT Age YOS Pre-Draft Team Class Nationality
Jerome Henderson FC 6-11 230 21 5 New Mexico Sr United States
Ron Cavenall C 7-1 230 22 2 Texas Southern Sr United States

* Team owns the player's draft rights