1992 NBA draft

1992 NBA draft

The (/wiki/1992–93NBAseason) NBA draft took place on June 24, 1992, at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. The top three picks (Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner) were considered can't-miss prospects. All three are Hall of Famers (Naismith & FIBA); O'Neal and Mourning are (individual) player-inducted, whereas Laettner is team-inducted. Laettner made one All-Star game in his career and was an Olympic Gold Medalist on the 1992 Dream Team, but did not live up to the lofty expectations set for him. The trio would end up playing together on the 2005 Miami Heat. Two other players went on to become All-Stars (Tom Gugliotta once, Latrell Sprewell four times) and several others had solid careers (Jimmy Jackson, Robert Horry, Doug Christie, P.J. Brown, LaPhonso Ellis, Jon Barry, Walt Williams, Anthony Peeler, and Clarence Weatherspoon). Harold Miner, who was given the nickname "Baby Jordan" because of his similarities to Michael Jordan, slipped to number 12 and, other than winning two slam dunk contests, only had a brief, uneventful, and injury prone four-year career.

This was the first time the NBA draft was held outside of New York.

Draft selections

1992 NBA draft

Shaquille O'Neal, the 1st pick to the Orlando Magic

Alonzo Mourning, the 2nd pick to the Charlotte Hornets

Christian Laettner, the 3rd pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves

Tom Gugliotta, the 6th pick to the Washington Bullets

^	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>Pos.</th><th>Nationality</th><th>Team</th><th>School / club team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>Shaquille O'Neal^~</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>LSU (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>Alonzo Mourning^</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Georgetown (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>Christian Laettner+</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>Duke (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>Jimmy Jackson</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Ohio State (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>LaPhonso Ellis</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>Notre Dame (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>Tom Gugliotta+</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>NC State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>Walt Williams</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>Maryland (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>Todd Day</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Arkansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>Clarence Weatherspoon</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Southern Miss (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>10</td><td>Adam Keefe</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>Stanford (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>Robert Horry</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Alabama (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>12</td><td>Harold Miner</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>USC (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>13</td><td>Bryant Stith</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets (from New Jersey)</td><td>Virginia (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>14</td><td>Malik Sealy</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>St. John's (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>Anthony Peeler</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Missouri (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>Randy Woods</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>La Salle (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>17</td><td>Doug Christie</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>Pepperdine (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>18</td><td>Tracy Murray</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>UCLA (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>19</td><td>Don MacLean</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Detroit Pistons (traded to Washington via L.A. Clippers)</td><td>UCLA (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>20</td><td>Hubert Davis</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>North Carolina (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>21</td><td>Jon Barry</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>Georgia Tech (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>22</td><td>Oliver Miller</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Arkansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>23</td><td>Lee Mayberry</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks (from Utah)</td><td>Arkansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>24</td><td>Latrell Sprewell</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>Alabama (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>25</td><td>Elmore Spencer</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers (from Cleveland)</td><td>UNLV (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>26</td><td>Dave Johnson</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>Syracuse (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>27</td><td>Byron Houston</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Oklahoma State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>28</td><td>Marlon Maxey</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>UTEP</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>29</td><td>P. J. Brown</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>Louisiana Tech</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>Sean Rooks</td><td>PF/C</td><td> United States</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>31</td><td>Reggie Smith</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>TCU</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>32</td><td>Brent Price</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>Oklahoma</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>33</td><td>Corey Williams</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Oklahoma State</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>34</td><td>Chris Smith</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>Connecticut</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>35</td><td>Tony Bennett</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Wisconsin–Green Bay</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>36</td><td>Duane Cooper</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>USC</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>37</td><td>Isaiah Morris</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Arkansas</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>38</td><td>Elmer Bennett</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>Notre Dame</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>39</td><td>Litterial Green</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Georgia</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>40</td><td>Steve Rogers#</td><td>SG/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>Alabama State</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>41</td><td>Popeye Jones</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Murray State</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>42</td><td>Matt Geiger</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Georgia Tech</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>43</td><td>Predrag Danilović</td><td>SG</td><td> Yugoslavia</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>KK Partizan (Yugoslavia)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>44</td><td>Henry Williams#</td><td>G</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>UNC-Charlotte</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>45</td><td>Chris King</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>Wake Forest</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>46</td><td>Robert Werdann</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>St. John's</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>47</td><td>Darren Morningstar</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>Pittsburgh</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>48</td><td>Brian Davis</td><td>F/G</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Duke</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>49</td><td>Ron Ellis#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Louisiana Tech</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>50</td><td>Matt Fish</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>UNC-Wilmington</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>51</td><td>Tim Burroughs#</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>Jacksonville</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>52</td><td>Matt Steigenga</td><td>F</td><td> United States</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Michigan State</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>53</td><td>Curtis Blair#</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Richmond</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>54</td><td>Brett Roberts#</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>Morehead State</td></tr></tbody></table>

Notable undrafted players

1992 NBA draft

These players were not selected in the 1992 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA.

Player	Pos.	Nationality	School/club team
Gary Alexander	F	United States	South Florida (Sr.)
Eric Anderson	PF	United States	Indiana (Sr.)
Mark Baker	PG	United States	Ohio State (Sr.)
Alex Blackwell	SF	United States	Monmouth (Sr.)
Marques Bragg	PF	United States	Providence (Sr.)
Tim Breaux	SF	United States	Wyoming (Sr.)
Dexter Cambridge	PF	The Bahamas	Texas (Sr.)
Joe Courtney	PF	United States	Southern Miss (Sr.)
Rastko Cvetković	C	FR Yugoslavia  Serbia	Crvena zvezda (Yugoslavia)
Dell Demps	PG/SG	United States	Pacific (Sr.)
Harold Ellis	SG	United States	Morehouse (Sr.)
Jo Jo English	SG	United States	South Carolina (Sr.)
Shane Heal	PG	Australia	Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
Stephen Howard	SF	United States	DePaul (Sr.)
Chris Jent	SG/SF	United States	Ohio State (Sr.)
Sam Mack	SF	United States	Houston (Sr.)
Gerald Madkins	PG	United States	UCLA (Sr.)
Bob Martin	C	United States	Minnesota (Sr.)
Darrick Martin	PG	United States	UCLA (Sr.)
Matt Othick	PG	United States	Arizona (Sr.)
Reggie Slater	PF	United States	Wyoming (Sr.)
Mark Strickland	SF/PF	United States	Temple (Sr.)
Keith Tower	C	United States	Notre Dame (Sr.)
Anthony Tucker	SF	United States	Wake Forest (Sr.)
Marcus Webb	PF	United States	Alabama (Jr.)
David Wesley	PG	United States	Baylor (Sr.)

Early entrants

College underclassmen

For the tenth year in a row and the fourteenth time in fifteen years, no college underclassman would withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. Not only that, but this would also be the first year since (/wiki/1985NBAdraft) where no underclassmen playing overseas would enter the NBA draft and would be the first draft since (/wiki/1986NBAdraft) with no foreign-born underclassmen as well. This year would see a total of sixteen college underclassmen entering the draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.

Invited attendees

1992 NBA draft

The 1992 NBA draft is considered to be the fifteenth 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 somewhere within the Veterans Memorial Coliseum building in Portland, Oregon), 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 14 prospects at the time. Despite the large amount of invites and them successfully avoiding any inviting prospects waiting into the second round (to the point where four errors were in mind from getting a perfectly ordered invited attendees line-up this time around), the only notable absence from this group would be (the controversial) Latrell Sprewell from the University of Alabama. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.