1963 NBA draft


The 1963 NBA draft was the 17th annual draft of the National Basketball Association. The draft was held on April 30 and May 7, 1963, before the 1963–64 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. The Chicago Zephyrs relocated to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets prior to the draft. The Syracuse Nationals participated in the draft, but relocated to Philadelphia and became the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the start of the season. The draft consisted of 15 rounds comprising 84 players selected.
This draft holds the record for the fewest non-territorial picks who later debuted in the NBA, with 17.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

from the University of Cincinnati was selected before the draft as Cincinnati Royals' territorial pick. Art Heyman from Duke University was selected first overall by the New York Knicks. Two players from this draft, Nate Thurmond and Gus Johnson, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Thurmond was also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. Thurmond's achievements include seven All-Star Game selections and five All-Defensive Team selections. Johnson's achievement include four All-NBA Team selections and five All-Star Game selections. Two players from this draft, 4th pick Eddie Miles and 13th pick Jim King, have also been selected to an All-Star Game.
Reggie Harding, who was the first player drafted out of high school when he was drafted the previous year, was drafted again by the Detroit Pistons with the 48th pick. He finally enter the league after spending a year in the Midwest Professional Basketball League due to the rules that prevent a high school player to play in the league until one year after his high school class graduated. Larry Brown from the University of North Carolina was selected with the 55th pick. However, he never played in the NBA. He spent his playing career within the Amateur Athletic Union before joining the newly formed American Basketball Association in 1967. He played there for five seasons, earning one All-ABA Team selection and three ABA All-Star Game selections. After his playing career, he became a head coach. He coached nine NBA teams, most recently with the Charlotte Bobcats. He won the NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and went to the NBA Finals two other times; with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001 and with the Pistons in 2005. In between his NBA coaching career, he also coached the Kansas Jayhawks of the University of Kansas for five seasons, winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1988. He is the only coach to win both an NCAA title and an NBA championship. As a player, he won the gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1964 Olympic Games. He then coached the U.S. national team to a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, becoming the only U.S. male basketball participant to both play and coach in the Olympics. Rod Thorn, the 2nd pick, also had a coaching career. He was the interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1982.

Key

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
T–G/FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsCincinnati
11G/FUnited StatesNew York KnicksDuke
12GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsWest Virginia
13^F/CUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsBowling Green
14+G/FUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSeattle
15GUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksBoston College
16CUnited StatesSyracuse NationalsCamden Bullets
17FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersJacksonville
18#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsColorado State
29GUnited StatesNew York KnicksLoyola
210^F/CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsIdaho
211GUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City
212#GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsFurman
213+GUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers Tulsa
214#GUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksMississippi State
215#GUnited StatesSyracuse NationalsGrambling
216GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersWestern Carolina
217#FUnited StatesSt. Louis Hawks Arkansas Tech

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.
RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
324FUnited StatesSyracuse NationalsMaryland
543G/FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersToledo
648CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsHolland Oilers
759GUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksNC State
863G/FUnited StatesNew York KnicksSt. Bonaventure

Trades