The 1977 draft, redrafted
Hoops Redraft rates 47 players from the 1977 draft. Five of them reached 70 or better in at least one season. By the game's numbers the best career in the class belongs to Walter Davis, taken 5th by Phoenix. The latest pick in the redraft's top five is Ray Williams, who went 10th.
The board below is the real order: where each man was taken and by whom, his rating in 1977-78, 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. Five of them have no 1977-78 rating, shown as a dash.
Play from 1977-78 Take over any club in 1977-78. The 1977 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.
- Walter Davis, guard/forward, taken 5th by Phoenix. Peak 79 in 1978-79, 15 rated seasons.
- Bernard King, forward, taken 7th by New Jersey. Peak 77 in 1984-85, 14 rated seasons.
- Jack Sikma, forward/centre, taken 8th by Seattle. Peak 70 in 1981-82, 14 rated seasons.
- Marques Johnson, guard/forward, taken 3rd by Milwaukee. Peak 75 in 1978-79, 11 rated seasons.
- Ray Williams, guard, taken 10th by New York. Peak 74 in 1979-80, 10 rated seasons.
- James Edwards, forward/centre, taken 46th by Los Angeles. Peak 64 in 1980-81, 19 rated seasons.
- Otis Birdsong, guard, taken 2nd by Kansas City. Peak 67 in 1980-81, 12 rated seasons.
- Norm Nixon, guard, taken 22nd by Los Angeles. Peak 63 in 1978-79, 10 rated seasons.
- Eddie Johnson, guard, taken 49th by Atlanta. Peak 64 in 1979-80, 10 rated seasons.
- Cedric Maxwell, forward, taken 12th by Boston. Peak 67 in 1978-79, 11 rated seasons.
Steals and misses
Taken well after his career said he should have gone:
- James Edwards: 46th in the real draft, 6th in the redraft. Peak 64.
- Eddie Johnson: 49th in the real draft, 9th in the redraft. Peak 64.
- Norm Nixon: 22nd in the real draft, 8th in the redraft. Peak 63.
Top-ten picks the redraft moves furthest down:
- Tom LaGarde: 9th in the real draft, 25th in the redraft. Peak 54.
- Kent Benson: 1st in the real draft, 16th in the redraft. Peak 65.
- Kenny Carr: 6th in the real draft, 17th in the redraft. Peak 62.
The real board
| Pick | Player | Pos | Club | Rookie | Peak | Seasons | Redraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent BensonIndiana | C | Milwaukee | 52 | 65 1978 | 11 | 16 |
| 2 | Otis BirdsongHouston | G | Kansas City | 61 | 67 1980 | 12 | 7 |
| 3 | Marques JohnsonUCLA | G/F | Milwaukee | 68 | 75 1978 | 11 | 4 |
| 4 | Greg BallardOregon | F | Washington | 45 | 64 1979 | 11 | 11 |
| 5 | Walter DavisNorth Carolina | G/F | Phoenix | 75 | 79 1978 | 15 | 1 |
| 6 | Kenny CarrNC State | F | Los Angeles | 42 | 62 1983 | 10 | 17 |
| 7 | Bernard KingTennessee | F | New Jersey | 64 | 77 1984 | 14 | 2 |
| 8 | Jack SikmaIllinois Wesleyan | F/C | Seattle | 56 | 70 1981 | 14 | 3 |
| 9 | Tom LaGardeNorth Carolina | F/C | Denver | 40 | 54 1980 | 6 | 25 |
| 10 | Ray WilliamsMinnesota | G | New York | 59 | 74 1979 | 10 | 5 |
| 11 | Ernie GrunfeldTennessee | G/F | Milwaukee | 47 | 65 1981 | 9 | 19 |
| 12 | Cedric MaxwellUNC Charlotte | F | Boston | 55 | 67 1978 | 11 | 10 |
| 13 | Tate ArmstrongDuke | G | Chicago | 39 | 39 1977 | 2 | 37 |
| 14 | Tree RollinsClemson | C | Atlanta | 61 | 65 1979 | 18 | 13 |
| 15 | Brad DavisMaryland | G | Los Angeles | 34 | 62 1982 | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Rickey GreenMichigan | G | Golden State | 40 | 63 1982 | 14 | 12 |
| 17 | Bo EllisMarquette | F | Washington | 44 | 44 1977 | 3 | 34 |
| 18 | Wesley CoxLouisville | F | Golden State | 38 | 38 1977 | 1 | 38 |
| 19 | Rich LaurelHofstra | G | Portland | 27 | 27 1977 | 1 | 44 |
| 20 | Glenn MosleySeton Hall | F | Philadelphia | 24 | 34 1978 | 2 | 42 |
| 21 | Anthony RobertsOral Roberts | G/F | Denver | 51 | 51 1977 | 5 | 28 |
| 22 | Norm NixonDuquesne | G | Los Angeles | 56 | 63 1978 | 10 | 8 |
| 23 | Mike GlennSouthern Illinois | G | Chicago | 45 | 54 1983 | 10 | 23 |
| 25 | Wilson WashingtonOld Dominion | F/C | Philadelphia | 26 | 51 1978 | 2 | 29 |
| 26 | Glen GondrezickUNLV | G/F | New York | 44 | 58 1981 | 6 | 22 |
| 29 | Alonzo BradleyTexas Southern | F | Indiana | 38 | 38 1977 | 3 | 39 |
| 30 | Steve SheppardMaryland | F | Chicago | 38 | 38 1977 | 2 | 40 |
| 31 | Eddie OwensUNLV | F | Kansas City | 26 | 26 1977 | 1 | 45 |
| 32 | Toby KnightNotre Dame | F | New York | 49 | 61 1979 | 4 | 20 |
| 34 | Larry MoffettUNLV | F | Houston | 26 | 26 1977 | 1 | 46 |
| 35 | Mark LandsbergerArizona State | F/C | Chicago | 44 | 53 1979 | 7 | 26 |
| 36 | Ben PoquetteCentral Michigan | F/C | Detroit | 38 | 57 1982 | 10 | 18 |
| 37 | Jeff WilkinsIllinois State | F/C | San Antonio | – | 55 1982 | 6 | 24 |
| 39 | Phil WalkerMillersville | G | Washington | 36 | 36 1977 | 1 | 41 |
| 40 | Robert ReidSt. Mary's | G/F | Houston | 49 | 60 1980 | 13 | 14 |
| 41 | T. R. DunnAlabama | G/F | Portland | 38 | 52 1981 | 14 | 27 |
| 42 | Bob ElliottArizona | F/C | Philadelphia | – | 51 1980 | 3 | 30 |
| 44 | Essie HollisSt. Bonaventure | F | – | 32 1978 | 1 | 43 | |
| 46 | James EdwardsWashington | F/C | Los Angeles | 58 | 64 1980 | 19 | 6 |
| 48 | Sam SmithUNLV | G | Atlanta | – | 42 1979 | 2 | 35 |
| 49 | Eddie JohnsonAuburn | G | Atlanta | 56 | 64 1979 | 10 | 9 |
| 52 | Joe HassettProvidence | G | Seattle | 37 | 48 1979 | 6 | 31 |
| 53 | John KuesterNorth Carolina | G | Kansas City | 46 | 46 1977 | 3 | 33 |
| 60 | Marlon RedmondSan Francisco | G | Golden State | – | 42 1978 | 2 | 36 |
| 62 | Phil BondLouisville | G | Houston | 24 | 24 1977 | 1 | 47 |
| 65 | Robert SmithUNLV | G | Denver | 35 | 48 1978 | 7 | 32 |
| 66 | Mike BratzStanford | G | Phoenix | 43 | 57 1981 | 9 | 21 |
More drafts
The 1976 draft · The 1978 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.