How the NBA’s 1979 Draft Changed Basketball Forever

On June 25, 1979, the NBA draft changed the league forever. The first pick was Magic Johnson and the second was Larry Bird

The NBA’s 1979 draft was the first to feature foreign players.

While the 1979 NBA Draft is largely remembered for featuring four future Hall of Fame players – Magic Johnson Larry Bird Sidney Moncrief and Bill Laimbeer – it made history for another reason. For the first time ever, foreign players were eligible to be selected in the NBA Draft

And while it would be several years before a foreign player was actually drafted in the first round – that would finally happen in 1984, when Hakeem Olajuwon was taken first overall by the Houston Rockets – the 1979 draft paved the way for the globalization of the sport of basketball.

In the 40 years since, foreign players have become a staple of the NBA, with players from all over the world coming to the league to showcase their skills. Today, it’s not uncommon to see multiple foreign players on an NBA team’s roster, and some of the league’s biggest stars hail from outside the United States

So while it may not have been obvious at the time, the 1979 NBA draft truly changed basketball forever.

The NBA’s 1979 draft ushered in a new era of basketball.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was one of the most important drafts in the history of the sport. It ushered in a new era of basketball, with players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird changing the way the game was played. The 1979 draft also produced some of the most iconic moments in NBA history like when Johnson was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a turning point for the league.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a turning point for the league. It was the first year that the draft was held in June, and it signaled a change in the way the game of basketball was played. The 1979 draft is often cited as one of the most important drafts in NBA history as it produced some of the game’s most iconic players.

In the first round, the draft saw the selection of Magic Johnson with the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers Johnson would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, winning five NBA championships with the Lakers. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history With the second overall pick, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Sidney Moncrief, who would go on to become an All-Star and one of the best Defensive Players in NBA history The third overall pick was Larry Bird who would go on to have a legendary career with the Boston Celtics Bird is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history Other notable picks from this draft include Calvin Murphy (18th overall), Gus Williams (26th overall), and Michael Cooper (60th overall).

The 1979 NBA draft changed basketball forever and set the stage for some of the greatest players in NBA history to enter the league. It is considered one of the most important drafts in NBA history

The NBA’s 1979 draft changed the way teams drafted players.

In the late 1970s, the NBA was in the middle of a mini-crisis. A bitter labor dispute had led to a truncated 1978-1979 season, and attendance figures and television ratings were down. In an effort to bring some excitement back to the sport, the league decided to allow each team to draft two players instead of one in the 1979 draft.

The results were immediate and dramatic. Suddenly, teams were forced to reevaluate their strategies for organizing their roster. young players who might have languished on the bench for years became key contributors, and veterans found themselves traded away or benched in favor of up-and-comers. The league was transformed, and the 1979 draft is often cited as one of the most important events in NBA history

The NBA’s 1979 draft had a lasting impact on the game of basketball

The NBA’s 1979 draft changed basketball forever. In what is considered one of the deepest and most talented drafts in NBA History nine future Hall of Famers were drafted, including five in the first round. The class of 1979 has been credited with changing the way basketball is played, both on the court and off.

On the court, the 1979 Draft Class introduced a new level of athleticism and skill to the game. Many of the draftees went on to have successful careers, becoming some of the greatest players in NBA history Off the court, the 1979 draft class helped pave the way for greater racial and ethnic diversity in the NBA. Today, the league is more diverse than ever before, with players from all over the world coming to play in the NBA.

The impact of the 1979 NBA Draft can still be felt today, nearly 40 years later. It was a watershed moment for basketball, one that changed the game forever.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a game-changer for the league.

In the 1979 NBA Draft the league saw the arrival of some of the most talented and influential players in its history. These rookies would go on to change the game of basketball forever, leaving their mark on the sport both on and off the court.

Among the most notable picks from this draft were future Hall of Fame guards Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who were taken first and sixth overall respectively. Both players would go on to have prolific careers, winning multiple championships and individual awards. They also helped to spur a rivalrous competition between their respective teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics which further captivated fans across the country.

Other standouts from the 1979 draft include forward Sidney Moncrief (taken fifth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks), center Moses Malone (picked up by the Houston Rockets in a trade with the Buffalo Braves), and guard Micheal Cooper (drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round). All three of these players would go on to be named All-Stars multiple times throughout their careers.

The 1979 NBA Draft was truly a game-changer for the league. The impact that these rookies had on basketball would be felt for years to come, both on and off the court.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a watershed moment for the sport.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a watershed moment for the sport. It introduced a number of new concepts that would change the game forever, including the introduction of the Draft Lottery which awarded the first overall pick to the team with the Worst Record in the league. The draft also saw the debut of “Late Round” picks, which allowed teams to select players who had not been chosen in the earlier rounds. These players were often overlooked because they were considered to be too old or too short to be successful in the NBA. However, many of them went on to have long and successful careers in the league, proving that late round picks can be just as valuable as early round picks.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a pivotal moment in the history of the league.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a pivotal moment in the history of the league. It was the first draft to include foreign players, and it changed the way basketball is played forever.

In 1978, the NBA instituted a new rule that allowed teams to draft players who were not yet eligible for the NBA. This opened up the door for International Players to enter the league, and in 1979, the first foreign player was drafted into the NBA. center Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria.

Since then, hundreds of international players have been drafted into the NBA, and the game of basketball has been changed forever. Thanks to the 1979 draft, basketball is now a truly global game

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a major turning point for the game of basketball.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a major turning point for the game of basketball. It was the first time that players from outside the United States were being drafted in large numbers, and it signaled a changing of the guard in the league. For years, American players had dominated the NBA, but now players from other countries were starting to make their mark.

In the years since the 1979 draft, international players have become an important part of the league. They bring with them a different style of play that often adds a new dimension to teams. Additionally, many international players have gone on to become All-Stars and even Hall of Famers

The 1979 draft was truly a watershed moment for the NBA, and it changed the game of basketball forever.

The NBA’s 1979 draft was a defining moment in the history of the NBA.

It was a moment that changed the direction of the NBA forever. On June 25, 1979, the league held its annual draft, and it was clear from the start that this was going to be a special class. With Future Hall of Famers like Magic Johnson Larry Bird and Julius Erving leading the way, the 1979 draft turned out to be one of the most impactful in NBA history

Today, we take a look back at that groundbreaking draft and how it changed basketball forever.