The 1976 draft, redrafted
Hoops Redraft rates 43 players from the 1976 draft. Four of them reached 70 or better in at least one season. By the game's numbers the best career in the class belongs to Robert Parish, taken 8th by Golden State. The latest pick in the redraft's top five is Dennis Johnson, who went 29th.
The board below is the real order: where each man was taken and by whom, his rating in 1976-77, his best season and the number of seasons he is rated. Ratings are scaled inside each season, so 50 is that year's average player and 70 is a star. Seven of them have no 1976-77 rating, shown as a dash.
Play from 1976-77 Take over any club in 1976-77. The 1976 class is the first draft of your run.
The redraft
The class again, in the order the game's numbers would take it: by career value, which adds up how far each of his seasons sits above an average player. A long good career beats one great season.
- Robert Parish, centre, taken 8th by Golden State. Peak 80 in 1980-81, 21 rated seasons.
- Alex English, forward, taken 23rd by Milwaukee. Peak 81 in 1982-83, 15 rated seasons.
- Adrian Dantley, guard/forward, taken 6th by Buffalo. Peak 77 in 1983-84, 15 rated seasons.
- Artis Gilmore, centre, taken 1st by Chicago. Peak 74 in 1977-78, 12 rated seasons.
- Dennis Johnson, guard, taken 29th by Seattle. Peak 64 in 1980-81, 14 rated seasons.
- John Lucas II, guard, taken 1st by Houston. Peak 64 in 1983-84, 14 rated seasons.
- Lonnie Shelton, forward/centre, taken 25th by NYK. Peak 67 in 1977-78, 10 rated seasons.
- Quinn Buckner, guard, taken 7th by Milwaukee. Peak 62 in 1979-80, 10 rated seasons.
- Mitch Kupchak, forward/centre, taken 13th by Washington. Peak 63 in 1976-77, 9 rated seasons.
- Johnny Davis, guard, taken 22nd by Portland. Peak 60 in 1984-85, 10 rated seasons.
Steals and misses
Taken well after his career said he should have gone:
- Dennis Johnson: 29th in the real draft, 5th in the redraft. Peak 64.
- Alex English: 23rd in the real draft, 2nd in the redraft. Peak 81.
- Lonnie Shelton: 25th in the real draft, 7th in the redraft. Peak 67.
Top-ten picks the redraft moves furthest down:
- Bird Averitt: 7th in the real draft, 29th in the redraft. Peak 46.
- Wally Walker: 5th in the real draft, 24th in the redraft. Peak 51.
- Scott May: 2nd in the real draft, 17th in the redraft. Peak 56.
The real board
| Pick | Player | Pos | Club | Rookie | Peak | Seasons | Redraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Lucas IIMaryland | G | Houston | 56 | 64 1983 | 14 | 6 |
| 1 | Artis GilmoreKentucky Colonels | C | Chicago | 71 | 74 1977 | 12 | 4 |
| 2 | Scott MayIndiana | F | Chicago | 56 | 56 1976 | 7 | 17 |
| 3 | Richard WashingtonUCLA | F/C | Kansas City | 60 | 60 1976 | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Ron BooneSpirits of St. Louis | G/F | Kansas City | 65 | 65 1976 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Leon DouglasAlabama | F/C | Detroit | 55 | 57 1977 | 7 | 15 |
| 5 | Wally Walker | F | Portland | 43 | 51 1981 | 8 | 24 |
| 6 | Adrian DantleyNotre Dame | G/F | Buffalo | 64 | 77 1983 | 15 | 3 |
| 7 | Quinn BucknerIndiana | G | Milwaukee | 56 | 62 1979 | 10 | 8 |
| 7 | Bird AverittKentucky Colonels | G | Buffalo | 45 | 46 1977 | 2 | 29 |
| 8 | Robert ParishCentenary | C | Golden State | 65 | 80 1980 | 21 | 1 |
| 9 | Armond HillPrinceton | G | Atlanta | 50 | 51 1977 | 8 | 23 |
| 10 | Ron LeeOregon | G | Phoenix | 62 | 65 1977 | 6 | 12 |
| 10 | Louie DampierKentucky Colonels | G | San Antonio | 47 | 52 1977 | 3 | 21 |
| 11 | Bob WilkersonIndiana | G/F | Seattle | 47 | 55 1981 | 7 | 16 |
| 12 | Terry FurlowMichigan State | G/F | Philadelphia | 32 | 52 1978 | 4 | 22 |
| 13 | Mitch KupchakNorth Carolina | F/C | Washington | 63 | 63 1976 | 9 | 9 |
| 14 | Larry WrightGrambling State | G | Washington | – | 24 1981 | 1 | 43 |
| 15 | Chuckie WilliamsKansas State | G | Cleveland | 25 | 25 1976 | 1 | 42 |
| 16 | Norm CookKansas | F | Boston | 31 | 31 1976 | 2 | 37 |
| 17 | Sonny ParkerTexas A&M | G/F | Golden State | 49 | 59 1977 | 6 | 14 |
| 18 | Willie SmithMissouri | G | Chicago | 23 | 47 1979 | 4 | 28 |
| 20 | Major JonesAlbany State | F | Portland | – | 49 1979 | 6 | 26 |
| 21 | Earl TatumMarquette | G/F | Los Angeles | 56 | 56 1976 | 4 | 19 |
| 22 | Johnny DavisDayton | G | Portland | 49 | 60 1984 | 10 | 10 |
| 23 | Alex EnglishSouth Carolina | F | Milwaukee | 40 | 81 1982 | 15 | 2 |
| 24 | Scott LloydArizona State | F/C | Milwaukee | 44 | 46 1980 | 6 | 30 |
| 25 | Lonnie SheltonOregon State | F/C | NYK | 66 | 67 1977 | 10 | 7 |
| 26 | Jacky DorseyGeorgia | F | – | 31 1978 | 3 | 38 | |
| 27 | Phil HicksTulane | F | Houston | 24 | 29 1978 | 2 | 40 |
| 28 | Bob CarringtonBoston College | G/F | Atlanta | – | 42 1977 | 2 | 31 |
| 29 | Dennis JohnsonPepperdine | G | Seattle | 59 | 64 1980 | 14 | 5 |
| 30 | Al FlemingArizona | F | Phoenix | – | 30 1977 | 1 | 39 |
| 31 | Joe PaceCoppin State | C | Washington | 32 | 40 1977 | 2 | 33 |
| 32 | Mo HowardMaryland | G | Cleveland | 28 | 28 1976 | 1 | 41 |
| 33 | Butch FeherVanderbilt | G | Phoenix | 42 | 42 1976 | 1 | 32 |
| 34 | Marshall RogersPan American | G | Golden State | 33 | 33 1976 | 1 | 35 |
| 37 | Lars HansenWashington | C | Chicago | – | 33 1978 | 1 | 36 |
| 38 | Phil SellersRutgers | G/F | Detroit | 37 | 37 1976 | 1 | 34 |
| 40 | Lloyd WaltonMarquette | G | Milwaukee | 43 | 49 1978 | 5 | 27 |
| 43 | Tom AbernethyIndiana | F | Los Angeles | 47 | 50 1977 | 5 | 25 |
| 45 | Ira TerrellSMU | F/C | Phoenix | 53 | 53 1976 | 2 | 20 |
| 50 | Abdul JeelaniWisconsin–Parkside | F/C | Cleveland | – | 57 1979 | 2 | 18 |
More drafts
The 1977 draft · Every draft, 1976 to 2025
How the numbers are made is on the ratings page. How a run plays is in How to play.