Jabari Parker is part of a very deep NBA Draft class this season. Had things been different then, the 1979 class may have been the best ever.
File photo by Greg Behrens
The 2014 NBA Draft is considered to have one of the deepest pools of talent in many years with the top talent in the draft, such as Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins, being capable of turning a losing team into an instant winner.
However the deepest draft, in terms of franchise-changing talent, would have taken place in 1979 except for one small problem: High school athletes were not eligible for selection in the NBA Draft at the time.
If high school seniors were eligible, however, there's no doubt that the 1979 Draft would have been historic and would have shaped the NBA for years to come. The 1979 high school class is considered one of the deepest ever, containing future NBA Hall of Famers Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy and Isiah Thomas, along with future NBA players like Ralph Sampson, Sam Bowie and Clark Kellogg.
The 1979 draft was an important one without the help of eligible high school players. No. 1 pick Earvin "Magic" Johnson went to the Los Angeles Lakers after a stellar career at Michigan State where he led the Spartans to an NCAA championship with a win over Indiana State and its star player Larry Bird.
Bird would have been eligible for the 1979 draft, however he had been selected by Arnold "Red" Auerbach, general manager of the Boston Celtics, with the No. 6 pick in the 1978 draft as a junior eligible (Bird was four years out of high school and was eligible for the draft, although he was technically only a junior because of his transfer from Indiana as a freshman).
Johnson and Bird went on to shape the NBA for the next decade. The NBA was going through an identity crisis in the late 1970s with few bankable stars and a continuing drug epidemic that cast a bad light on the sport. As a result, NBA games were not even shown in prime time, often airing on TV at 11:30 p.m. The NBA needed star players in order to turn around its public image and Bird and Johnson fit the bill.
Johnson and the Lakers won NBA titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 while Bird and the Celtics won championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. Bird and Johnson squared off in the finals three times: 1984, 1985 and 1987.
However, the 1980s might have had a much different look if high school players were eligible for the draft in 1979. There's a good chance that as many as a dozen high school players might have tested the waters in the NBA. Their talent was that good.
So what would the draft have looked like in 1979 with those extra high school players? The 1979 draft, aside from the selection of Johnson at the top spot, was very mediocre, but the addition of high school players would have made it one of the most exciting drafts ever. Here's a look at what that draft might have looked like along with how those selections might have impacted the NBA for the next decade.
No. 1 – Los Angeles Lakers: Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Michigan State
With Kareem Abdul Jabbar at center, the Lakers had no need for one of the top high school big men, such as the 7-foot-4 Sampson or the 7-1 Bowie. Johnson was the obvious selection after leading Michigan State to the NCAA title.
Impact – Johnson would likely have at least won an NBA title in 1980 and 1982, but later titles might have been in doubt, as will be noted below.
No. 2 – Boston Celtics (from Chicago via trade for Bob McAdoo): Ralph Sampson, Harrisonburg (Va.) First of all, Boston didn't have the No. 2 pick in the 1979 draft. That belonged to Chicago. The trade for McAdoo is also fictional; however, since this whole exercise is fictional, we're going to add in some fictional trades as well, but based on the logic of the time. McAdoo arrived in Boston in February of 1979 for three first round draft picks. This couldn't have set well with Auerbach, who reportedly was not aware of the trade at the time.
Owner John Brown orchestrated the trade for the high-scoring former NBA MVP with Auerbach learning of the trade through the media. Auerbach had acquired two of the first round picks the previous month by trading JoJo White to the Warriors and backup center Dennis Awtrey to the SuperSonics. But instead of having three first-round picks for the 1979 draft, Auerbach was left with McAdoo, who apparently didn't fit into Auerbach's vision for the team as he traded away McAdoo to the Pistons in the summer of 1979. That draft pick eventually became the No. 1 overall pick, which Auerbach traded to the Warriors for Robert Parrish and No. 3 overall pick Kevin McHale.
Impact: Auerbach was enamored with Sampson in 1980 after the big man's freshman year at Virginia. Auerbach was ready to take Sampson with the No .1 overall pick if he could convince Sampson to leave school early and enter the NBA Draft. However Sampson eventually decided to stay in school and Auerbach made the trade with the Warriors, which still ranks as one of the greatest trades in NBA history. While there is no indication that Auerbach was aware of Sampson's prowess as a high school senior, it's hard to believe that Auerbach, who lived in Washington, D.C., was unfamiliar with the exploits of an All-American high school player from Virginia. Thus Auerbach makes the move here, in our fictional draft, to select Sampson and trade McAdoo. The move is a decent one for Chicago, which was looking for a scoring forward, but it would mean no blockbuster deal for Parrish and McHale and no Big 3 for the Celtics. Would it mean no NBA titles for Bird and the Celtics? That's hard to say since Sampson was a very good player early in his career before knee injuries slowed him down considerably. However the Celtics team would have definitely had a much different look.
No. 3 – New York Knicks (from Boston via McAdoo trade): Bill Cartwright, San Francisco
The Knicks needed a big man and Cartwright was the top college big man in 1979. No reason to believe they wouldn't have selected Cartwright even though Bowie was available.
Impact: Cartwright had a solid career with the Knicks and won several titles later in his career with the Bulls, but his career with the Knicks might have been much different due to the Knicks' other two draft picks (see below).
No. 4 – Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.)
The Pistons had one of the top point guards in the NBA in Kevin Porter, who led the league in assists in 1979. However Porter was a free agent that summer and that meant the Pistons might need a point guard. Thomas was considered one of the best high school point guards ever so it's safe to assume the Pistons would choose him.
Impact: Thomas gets a two-year head start on his career at Detroit. It's quite possible that he might have saved the job of the Pistons' coach in 1980. That would be future ESPN announcer Dick Vitale, who was fired 12 games into the 1980 season.
No. 5 – Milwaukee Bucks: Sam Bowie, Lebanon (Pa.)
After being drafted ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft, Bowie has been viewed as an NBA bust due mainly to Jordan's brilliance and his own shortcomings, which were due in large part to severe leg injuries. However, as a high school senior, Bowie was considered by some to be the top player in the Class of 1979. While the Bucks had Kent Benson at center, it's hard to believe that they would pass up a shot at a 7-1 center like Bowie to replace Benson, who never quite lived up to his potential after an outstanding college career.
Impact: The Bucks were an up-and-coming team with some very good young players like Marques Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, Quinn Buckner and Brian Winters. One thing the Bucks never had during the 1980s to compete against the Celtics or the 76ers, however, was a center (until Jack Sikma arrived in the late 80s). A healthy Bowie might have been the final piece of the puzzle.
No. 6 - Seattle SuperSonics: James Worthy, Ashbrook (Gastonia, N.C.)
If not for Magic Johnson's emergence with the Lakers, the SuperSonics might have been a perennial NBA champion. Seattle had a very young team with stars like Dennis Johnson, Gus Williams and Jack Sikma and a solid power forward in Lonnie Shelton. All four had less than four years experience, yet they led the Sonics to an NBA title in 1979 after losing in the finals in 1978. With the Nos. 6 and 7 picks in the 1979 draft, the Sonics were poised to extend their dominance into the 1980s. It never happened. Seattle selected James Bailey and Vinnie Johnson with the two picks and only Johnson went on to have a serviceable career. The SuperSonics needed a small forward to replace the aging John Johnson and Worthy would have been the obvious choice.
Impact: Worthy might have been just the piece to put the SuperSonics into the 1980 championship series and many more. It also means that the Lakers would not have been able to select him with the No. 1 overall pick in 1982 and thus that might have meant fewer Laker titles in the mid-1980s.
No. 7 - Seattle SuperSonics: Clark Kellogg, St. Joseph's (Cleveland)
The SuperSonics relied heavily on 14-year veteran Paul Silas at backup power forward in 1979 so another power forward is a clear need. Kellogg was the top high school power forward in 1979.
Impact: Considering that the SuperSonics also had one of the NBA's all-time great coaches in Lenny Wilkens, it's hard to imagine the SuperSonics not winning more than one championship with such an outstanding frontline. Kellogg did break down early in his career due to knee injuries, however.
No. 8 - New Jersey Nets: Dominique Wilkins, Washington (N.C.)
The Nets needed a scoring forward in 1979 and while the player they actually chose, Calvin Natt, was a solid NBA player, he hardly matched the scoring ability of Wilkins, who averaged 30 points a game in high school.
Impact: The Nets won only one playoff series during the 1980s and never won more than 49 games in a season. That might have been different with Wilkins in the lineup.
No. 9 – New York Knicks (from Boston): Sydney Moncrief, Arkansas
Only the third college player chosen so far, the Knicks needed a shooting guard and Moncrief is the best available.
Impact: Moncrief was an integral part of the Milwaukee Bucks' success during the 1980s, so there's good reason to believe that he would have improved New York's run during the 1980s that included only two seasons of more than 50 wins.
No. 10 – Detroit Pistons: Greg Kelser, Michigan State
The Pistons chose Kelser with the No. 4 overall pick in 1979. Since he is still available in the fictional 1979 draft, there's no reason to believe the Pistons wouldn't make the same choice given that they have already filled their need at guard with Thomas.
Impact: Little. Kelser played only two full seasons for the Pistons and was out of the league after five seasons.
No. 11 – New Jersey Nets: David Greenwood, UCLA
The actual No. 2 overall pick in the 1979 draft, Greenwood slides due to all of the other quality high school players that are available.
Impact: Greenwood never became a superstar in the league, but he was one of the league's top rebounders during his prime. His presence, alongside Wilkins (drafted No. 8) would have made it unnecessary for the Nets to trade for Maurice Lucas during the 1980 season and would have given the Nets a very promising frontcourt.
No. 12 – Portland Trail Blazers: Calvin Natt, Northeast Louisiana
The Trailblazers were in rebuilding mode in 1979 after losing Bill Walton to San Diego in 1978. Starters Lionel Hollins and Maurice Lucas exited during the 1980 season with Lucas going to the Nets for 1979 draft pick Calvin Natt. This time the Trail Blazers get Natt a year early.
Impact: Not much. The Blazers had Natt for most of his rookie season anyway so it's hard to see that their fortunes would have changed drastically by having him a few months earlier.
No. 13 – Indiana Pacers: Steve Stipanovich, DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis)
The Pacers had solid scoring at the guard positions and small forward, but needed some help at power forward. Stipanovich was a rebounding force in high school at 6-11.
Impact: Stipanovich was actually drafted by Indiana in 1983, but he never measured up to be the consistent rebounder the Pacers needed, averaging less than eight per game for his career.
No. 14 – Los Angeles Lakers: Vinnie Johnson, Baylor
The Lakers could use some instant offense off the bench at guard. Johnson fits the bill after averaging over 24 points per game in college.
Impact: The Lakers never really had a scoring presence off the bench at guard (Michael Cooper provided more of a defensive presence), so Johnson might have been a key ingredient to righting that deficiency since it proved to be his forte throughout his career.
No. 15 – Detroit Pistons: James Bailey, Rutgers
The Pistons needed a presence inside and the 6-9 Bailey was known for his dunking ability while at Rutgers.
Impact: Not much. Bailey was a career journeyman playing for six teams in six NBA seasons.
No. 16 – Philadelphia 76ers: Cliff Robinson, USC
The 76ers were a very complete team heading into the 1980 season, as evidenced by their appearance in the 1980 finals. Some backup scoring help at power forward behind Bobby Jones would help and Robinson was a solid scorer at USC.
Impact: Little. As was the case for many of the players in the 1979 draft, Robinson bounced from team to team throughout his career while always maintaining a high scoring average.
No. 17 – Houston Rockets: Larry Demic, Arizona
The Rockets needed a big man to pair with Moses Malone and the 6-9 Demic was an all-conference player in the Pac-10.
Impact: None. Demic never turned into a consistent player and was out of the NBA in four seasons.
No. 18 – Kansas City Kings: Antoine Carr, Heights (Wichita, Kan.)
The Kings needed a scorer and rebounder at forward and homestate hero Antoine Carr was exactly that type of player.
Impact: Carr had a long, solid career in the NBA and he might have paired well with Phil Ford, Otis Birdsong and Sam Lacey. The Kings likely make a decent playoff run during the early 1980s and stay in Kansas City instead of moving to Sacramento.
No. 19 – San Antonio Spurs: Jim Paxson, Dayton
A prolific scorer in college, Paxson could have been the missing piece of the puzzle for the Spurs, who received only eight points a game from the shooting guard position in 1979.
Impact: With Paxson, George Gervin and Larry Kenon in the lineup, the Spurs would have been a force in the Western Conference in the early 1980s.
No. 20 – Utah Jazz: John Paxson, Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio)
The Jazz needed help everywhere in 1979 and with Gail Goodrich entering his 13th season a shooting guard was a must. Paxson was an outstanding outside shooter in high school and later used that ability to help the Chicago Bulls win an NBA title.
Impact: Paxson joins the Jazz to perhaps one day form a talented trio with John Stockton and Karl Malone. He also is selected one pick after his older brother Jim.
No. 21 – New York Knicks: Rodney McCray, Mt. Vernon (N.Y.)
With a big man and a shooting guard already in the fold with the drafting of Bill Cartwright and Sydney Moncrief, the Knicks tab talented small forward Rodney McCray. The New York native was good enough as a freshman to help lead Louisville to an NCAA title in 1980 so he likely would have been a solid addition to the Knicks.
Impact: The Knicks likely find a little more success in the early 1980s than they originally did, however McCray's presence might have meant that the Knicks never would have traded for Bernard King.
No. 22 – Phoenix Suns: Rod Foster, St. Thomas Aquinas (Conn.)
The Suns were a solid team in 1979, but needed a point guard. Foster averaged 30.2 points in high school and was a blur on the court. As a freshman, he led UCLA to the NCAA championship game, so he was likely capable of contributing in the NBA at a young age.
Impact: Foster was actually drafted by Phoenix in 1983 and showed plenty of promise, but a car accident resulted in a broken leg in 1986 and he never played in the NBA again.
Conclusion: The Celtics and Lakers might not have been the dynasties they came to be in the 1980s if high school players were eligible for the 1979 draft. Boston likely would not have traded for Robert Parish and drafted Kevin McHale while the Lakers wouldn't have drafted Worthy. The dynasties, instead, might have been the Seattle SuperSonics, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, all of whom bolstered their rosters in our fictional 1979 draft - the deepest draft that never was.
