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 now serve as coaches. One serves at a major-college program—Craig Robinson (who never played in the NBA) at Oregon State —and three in the NBA—Doc Rivers for the Los Angeles Clippers , Randy Wittman for the Washington Wizards , and Byron Scott for the Los Angeles Lakers . While Scott won the Coach of the Year award in 2008, Rivers won an NBA Championship with the Celtics on 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 current First Lady Michelle Obama . Sidney Lowe coached at North Carolina State from 2006 to 2011.
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). [ 1]
Round
Pick
Player
Pos.
Nationality
Team
School/club team
1
1
Sampson, Ralph Ralph Sampson ^
C
United States
Houston Rockets
Virginia (Sr. )
1
2
Stipanovich, Steve Steve Stipanovich
C
United States
Indiana Pacers
Missouri (Sr. )
1
3
McCray, Rodney Rodney McCray
SF
United States
Houston Rockets (from Cleveland via Philadelphia )
Louisville (Sr. )
1
4
Scott, Byron Byron Scott
SG
United States
San Diego Clippers
Arizona State (Jr. )
1
5
Green, Sidney Sidney Green
PF
United States
Chicago Bulls
UNLV (Sr. )
1
6
Cross, Russell Russell Cross
C
United States
Golden State Warriors
Purdue (Jr. )
1
7
Bailey, Thurl Thurl Bailey
SF
United States
Utah Jazz
NC State (Sr. )
1
8
Carr, Antoine Antoine Carr
PF
United States
Detroit Pistons
Wichita State (Sr. )
1
9
Ellis, Dale Dale Ellis *
SG
United States
Dallas Mavericks
Tennessee (Sr. )
1
10
Malone, Jeff Jeff Malone +
SG
United States
Washington Bullets
Mississippi State (Sr. )
1
11
Harper, Derek Derek Harper
PG/SG
United States
Dallas Mavericks (from Atlanta via Cleveland )
Illinois (Jr. )
1
12
Walker, Darrell Darrell Walker
SG
United States
New York Knicks
Arkansas (Sr. )
1
13
Whatley, Ennis Ennis Whatley
PG
United States
Kansas City Kings
Alabama (So. )
1
14
Drexler, Clyde Clyde Drexler ^
SG
United States
Portland Trail Blazers
Houston (Jr. )
1
15
Carter, Howard Howard Carter
SG
United States
Denver Nuggets
LSU (Sr. )
1
16
Sundvold, Jon Jon Sundvold
PG
United States
Seattle SuperSonics
Missouri (Sr. )
1
17
Rautins, Leo Leo Rautins
SF
Canada
Philadelphia 76ers (from New Jersey )
Syracuse (Sr. )
1
18
Breuer, Randy Randy Breuer
C
United States
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota (Sr. )
1
19
Paxson, John John Paxson
PG
United States
San Antonio Spurs
Notre Dame (Sr. )
1
20
Hinson, Roy Roy Hinson
C
United States
Cleveland Cavaliers (from Phoenix )
Rutgers (Sr. )
1
21
Kite, Greg Greg Kite
C
United States
Boston Celtics
BYU (Sr. )
1
22
Wittman, Randy Randy Wittman
SG
United States
Washington Bullets (from Los Angeles )
Indiana (Sr. )
1
23
Wiggins, Mitchell Mitchell Wiggins
SG
United States
Indiana Pacers (from Philadelphia )
Florida State (Sr. )
1
24
Granger, Stewart Stewart Granger
PG
Canada
Cleveland Cavaliers *
Villanova (Sr. )
2
25
Lowe, Sidney Sidney Lowe
PG
United States
Chicago Bulls
NC State (Sr. )
2
26
Combs, Leroy Leroy Combs
SF
United States
Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma State (Sr. )
2
27
Garris, John John Garris
PF
United States
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston College (Sr. )
2
28
Foster, Rod Rod Foster
PG
United States
Phoenix Suns
UCLA (Sr. )
2
29
Micheaux, Larry Larry Micheaux
PF
United States
Chicago Bulls
Houston (Sr. )
2
30
West, Mark Mark West
C
United States
Dallas Mavericks
Old Dominion (Sr. )
2
31
Rivers, Doc Doc Rivers +
PG
United States
Atlanta Hawks
Marquette (Jr. )
2
32
Britt, Michael Michael Britt #
SF
United States
Washington Bullets
UDC (Sr. )
2
33
Minniefield, Dirk Dirk Minniefield
PG
United States
Dallas Mavericks
Kentucky (Sr. )
2
34
Williams, Guy Guy Williams
F
United States
Washington Bullets
Washington State (Sr. )
2
35
Lockhart, Darrell Darrell Lockhart
C
United States
San Antonio Spurs
Auburn (Sr. )
2
36
McCray, Scooter Scooter McCray
PF
United States
Seattle SuperSonics
Louisville (Sr. )
2
37
Russell, David David Russell #
SF
United States
Denver Nuggets
St. John's (Sr. )
2
38
McNealy, Chris Chris McNealy
PF
United States
Kansas City Kings
San Jose State (Sr. )
2
39
Waiters, Granville Granville Waiters
C
United States
Portland Trail Blazers
Ohio State (Sr. )
2
40
Thomas, Jim Jim Thomas
SG
United States
Indiana Pacers
Indiana (Sr. )
2
41
Kitchel, Ted Ted Kitchel #
SF
United States
Milwaukee Bucks
Indiana (Sr. )
2
42
Davis, Mike Mike Davis #
SG
United States
Milwaukee Bucks
Alabama (Sr. )
2
43
Mannion, Pace Pace Mannion
SF
United States
Golden State Warriors
Utah (Sr. )
2
44
Owens, Horace Horace Owens #
SG
United States
New Jersey Nets
Rhode Island (Sr. )
2
45
Williams, Paul Paul Williams #
SF
United States
Phoenix Suns
Arizona State (Sr. )
2
46
Williams, Kevin Kevin Williams
PG
United States
San Antonio Spurs
St. John's (Sr. )
2
47
Lyons, Kenneth Kenneth Lyons #
PF
United States
Philadelphia 76ers
North Texas State (Sr. )
* compensation for draft choices traded away by Ted Stepien
Notable post-second round picks [ edit ]
These picks have played at least one game in the NBA but were not selected in the first or second rounds.
Round
Pick
Player
Pos.
Nationality
Team
School/club team
3
48
Ehlo, Craig Craig Ehlo
SG
United States
Houston Rockets
Washington State (Sr. )
3
50
Thompson, Paul Paul Thompson
SF
United States
Cleveland Cavaliers
Tulane (Sr. )
3
53
Holton, Mike Mike Holton
SG
United States
Golden State Warriors
UCLA (Sr. )
3
54
Hansen, Bob Bob Hansen
SG
United States
Utah Jazz
Iowa (Sr. )
3
57
Daye, Darren Darren Daye
SF
United States
Washington Bullets
UCLA (Sr. )
3
58
Pinone, John John Pinone
SF
United States
Atlanta Hawks
Villanova (Sr. )
3
59
Kuczenski, Bruce Bruce Kuczenski
PF
United States
New Jersey Nets
Connecticut (Sr. )
3
62
Piotrowski, Tom Tom Piotrowski
C
United States
Portland Trail Blazers
La Salle (Sr. )
4
75
Crevier, Ron Ron Crevier
C
Canada
Chicago Bulls
Boston College (Sr. )
4
77
Thibeaux, Peter Peter Thibeaux
SF
United States
Golden State Warriors
Saint Mary's (Sr. )
4
82
Jones, Mark Mark Jones
PG
United States
New York Knicks
St. Bonaventure (Sr. )
4
90
Weidner, Brant Brant Weidner
PF
United States
San Antonio Spurs
William & Mary (Sr. )
4
91
Clark, Carlos Carlos Clark
SG
United States
Boston Celtics
Ole Miss (Sr. )
5
97
Bol, Manute Manute Bol
C
Sudan
San Diego Clippers (Pick voided on technicalities) [ 1]
Bridgeport (Sr. )
5
101
Austin, Ken Ken Austin
PF
United States
Detroit Pistons
Rice (Sr. )
5
102
Lampley, Jim Jim Lampley
C
United States
Dallas Mavericks
Arkansas–Little Rock (Sr. )
6
139
Threatt, Sedale Sedale Threatt
SG
United States
Philadelphia 76ers
West Virginia Tech (Sr. )
7
152
Suttle, Dane Dane Suttle
SG
United States
Kansas City Kings
Pepperdine (Sr. )
References [ edit ]
General
Specific
External links [ edit ]
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Related programs
Related articles
Key figures
NBA Draft
Lore