1988 NBA draft

1988 NBA draft

The (/wiki/1988–89NBAseason) NBA draft took place on June 28, 1988, in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds. This was also the first draft for the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, prior to their inaugural season.

Danny Manning was picked first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and later became a two-time All-Star and a Sixth Man of the Year winner. However, injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential, despite playing 15 seasons. Mitch Richmond, the fifth pick, went on to earn six All-Star and five All-NBA team selections, while also winning Rookie of the Year. Other notable selections include All-Stars Rik Smits, Hersey Hawkins and Dan Majerle, as well as nine-time NBA champion Steve Kerr, who achieved championship success as a player (five championships) and as a coach (four championships).

Draft

1988 NBA draft

Rik Smits, the 2nd pick

Rod Strickland, the 19th pick

Brian Shaw, the 24th pick

Keith Smart, the 41st pick

Steve Kerr, the 50th pick

Craig Neal, the 71st pick

^	Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
	Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team
+	Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game
x	Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team
#	Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game
~	Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year

<table><thead><tr><th>Round</th><th>Pick</th><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>Nationality</th><th>Team</th><th>School/club team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>Danny Manning+</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>Kansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>Rik Smits+</td><td>C</td><td> Netherlands</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>Marist (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>Charles Smith</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers (traded to L.A. Clippers)</td><td>Pittsburgh (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>Chris Morris</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>Mitch Richmond^~</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>Kansas State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>Hersey Hawkins+</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers (from Sacramento, traded to Philadelphia)</td><td>Bradley (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>Tim Perry</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Temple (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>Rex Chapman</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Kentucky (So.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>Rony Seikaly</td><td>C</td><td> Lebanon</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Syracuse (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>10</td><td>Willie Anderson</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>Georgia (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>Will Perdue</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls (from New York)</td><td>Vanderbilt (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>12</td><td>Harvey Grant</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>Oklahoma (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>13</td><td>Jeff Grayer</td><td>SG/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Iowa State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>14</td><td>Dan Majerle+</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland)</td><td>Central Michigan (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>Gary Grant</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>Michigan (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>Derrick Chievous</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Missouri (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>17</td><td>Eric Leckner</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>Wyoming (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>18</td><td>Ricky Berry</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Sacramento Kings (from Atlanta)</td><td>San Jose State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>19</td><td>Rod Stricklandx</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>New York Knicks (from Chicago)</td><td>DePaul (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>20</td><td>Kevin Edwards</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat (from Dallas)[a]</td><td>DePaul (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>21</td><td>Mark Bryant</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>Seton Hall (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>22</td><td>Randolph Keys</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (from Detroit via Phoenix)</td><td>Southern Miss (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>23</td><td>Jerome Lane</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>Pittsburgh (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>24</td><td>Brian Shaw</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>UC Santa Barbara (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>25</td><td>David Rivers</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Notre Dame (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>26</td><td>Rolando Ferreira</td><td>C</td><td> Brazil</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>Houston (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>27</td><td>Shelton Jones</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>St. John's (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>28</td><td>Andrew Lang</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Arkansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>29</td><td>Vinny Del Negro</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>NC State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>Fennis Dembo</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>Wyoming (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>31</td><td>Everette Stephens</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Purdue (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>32</td><td>Charles Shackleford</td><td>F/C</td><td> United States</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>NC State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>33</td><td>Grant Long</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Eastern Michigan (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>34</td><td>Tom Tolbert</td><td>F/C</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Arizona (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>35</td><td>Sylvester Gray</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat (from New York via Chicago, Seattle, and Boston)[b]</td><td>Memphis State (So.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>36</td><td>Ledell Eackles</td><td>G/F</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>New Orleans (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>37</td><td>Greg Butler</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>Stanford (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>38</td><td>Dean Garrett</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland)</td><td>Indiana (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>39</td><td>Tito Horford</td><td>C</td><td> Dominican Republic</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Miami (FL) (So.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>40</td><td>Orlando Graham</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat (from Seattle)[c]</td><td>Auburn-Montgomery (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>41</td><td>Keith Smart</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>Indiana (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>42</td><td>Jeff Moe#</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>Iowa (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>43</td><td>Todd Mitchell</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>Purdue (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>44</td><td>Anthony Taylor</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>Oregon (Sr)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>45</td><td>Tom Garrick</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>Rhode Island (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>46</td><td>Morlon Wiley</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Long Beach State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>47</td><td>Vernon Maxwell</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>Florida (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>48</td><td>Micheal Williams</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>Baylor (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>49</td><td>José Vargas#</td><td>C/PF</td><td> Dominican Republic</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>LSU (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>50</td><td>Steve Kerr</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Arizona (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>51</td><td>Rob Lock</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>Kentucky (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>52</td><td>Derrick Hamilton#</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>Southern Miss (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>53</td><td>Anthony Mason</td><td>SF/PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State)</td><td>Tennessee State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>54</td><td>Jorge González#</td><td>C</td><td> Argentina</td><td>Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento)</td><td>Sport Club de Cañada de Gómez (Argentina) 1966</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>55</td><td>Rodney Johns#</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Grand Canyon (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>56</td><td>Barry Sumpter</td><td>F/C</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>Austin Peay (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>57</td><td>Hernán Montenegro#</td><td>PF/C</td><td> Argentina</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Olimpo (Argentina)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>58</td><td>Jeff Moore#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>59</td><td>Nate Johnston</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Tampa (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>60</td><td>Ed Davender#</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>Kentucky (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>61</td><td>Herbert Crook #</td><td>SF/SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>Louisville (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>62</td><td>Derrick Lewis#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls (from New York)</td><td>Maryland (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>63</td><td>Mike Jones#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Auburn (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>64</td><td>Winston Bennett</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>Kentucky (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>65</td><td>Corey Gaines</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>Loyola Marymount (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>66</td><td>Dwight Boyd#</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets (from Houston)</td><td>Memphis State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>67</td><td>Ricky Grace</td><td>G</td><td> Australia</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>Oklahoma (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>68</td><td>Darryl Middleton#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>Baylor (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>69</td><td>Phil Stinnie#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>New York Knicks (from Chicago)</td><td>VCU (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>70</td><td>Jerry Johnson#</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Florida Southern (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>71</td><td>Craig Neal</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>Georgia Tech (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>72</td><td>Lee Johnson</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>Norfolk State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>73</td><td>Michael Anderson</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Indiana Pacers (from Denver via L.A. Clippers)</td><td>Drexel (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>74</td><td>Gerald Paddio</td><td>F/G</td><td> United States</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>UNLV (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>75</td><td>Archie Marshall#</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (from L.A. Lakers)</td><td>Kansas (Sr.)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Notable undrafted players

1988 NBA draft

This section is for players who were eligible for the 1988 NBA draft, did not get selected, but still later appeared in at least one NBA regular season or postseason game.

John Starks was undrafted but had a successful career, including an appearance in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game.

<table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>Nationality</th><th>School/Club team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Lloyd Daniels</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Waitemata Dolphins (New Zealand)</td></tr><tr><td>Wayne Engelstad</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>UC Irvine (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Duane Ferrell</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Georgia Tech (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Ben Gillery</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Georgetown (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Henry James</td><td>PF/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>St. Mary's (TX) (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Avery Johnson</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Southern (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Bill Jones</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Iowa (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Tim Legler</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>La Salle (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Carlton McKinney</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>SMU (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Tracy Moore</td><td>SG/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Tulsa (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Morton</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Cal State Fullerton (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Žarko Paspalj</td><td>SF</td><td> Yugoslavia</td><td>KK Partizan (Yugoslavia)</td></tr><tr><td>Ramon Rivas</td><td>C</td><td> Puerto Rico</td><td>Temple (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>John Starks+</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Oklahoma State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Henry Turner</td><td>SG/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Cal State Fullerton (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>João Vianna</td><td>PF</td><td> Brazil</td><td>C.A. Monte Líbano (Brazil)</td></tr><tr><td>Gary Voce</td><td>PF</td><td> Jamaica</td><td>Notre Dame (Sr.)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Early entrants

College underclassmen

For the sixth year in a row and the tenth time in eleven years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. Not only that, for the third time in a row, there would be at least one player that qualified for the status of "college underclassman" while playing professional basketball overseas. In this case, three players ended up qualifying for this case with Lloyd Daniels leaving Mt. San Antonio College to play for the Waitemata Dolphins in New Zealand, the Argentinian born Hernán Montenegro leaving Louisiana State University to play for Olimpo de Bahía Blanca in his home land of Argentina, and Eddie Pope leaving the University of Southern Mississippi to play for Saint-Étienne Basket in France. If you include those three players, the number of college underclassmen increases from nine to twelve total players for this year. Regardless, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.

Other eligible players

This would be the third year in a row with at least one player that previously played in college entering the NBA draft as an underclassman. However, it would be the second year in a row where multiple players would qualify for such a feat and the first where none of the underclassmen players would play in Italy after the previous two drafts had a player go to Italy first before being drafted. It was also the second year where a foreign-born player would qualify as an underclassman while also playing for an international team and the first time it happened while said player was playing for what would be considered his home nation.

Player	Team	Note	Ref.
Lloyd Daniels	Waitemata Dolphins (New Zealand)	Left Mt. San Antonio College in 1987; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season
Hernán Montenegro	Olimpo de Bahía Blanca (Argentina)	Left LSU in 1987; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season
Eddie Pope	Saint-Étienne Basket (France)	Left Southern Miss in 1986; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season

Invited attendees

1988 NBA draft

The 1988 NBA draft is considered to be the eleventh NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned in the Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum for the seventh year in a row), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time. The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 17 prospects at the time. Despite the large amount of invites, two notable absences from this group include Dan Majerle from Central Michigan University and Anthony Mason from Tennessee State University, with Shelton Jones waiting into the second round himself. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.