1977 ABF Draft Recap: San Antonio, Portland, and St. Louis Leave Their Mark
The American Basketball Federation held its first annual draft on June 10, 1977, and the pyramid’s new shape was immediately felt. With three first-round picks changing hands via offseason trades, the first round of the inaugural ABF draft delivered drama, surprises, and a glimpse at the league’s future.
The Top of the Draft
Chicago Bulls – Pick 1: Kent Benson (C, Indiana)
The Bulls wasted no time, selecting the polished Indiana big man to anchor their rebuild. Coach Dick Motta gets a ready-now center who plays with toughness and fundamental soundness — exactly what Chicago needed.
New York Knicks – Pick 2: Otis Birdsong (G, Houston)
MSG gets its new star. Birdsong’s explosiveness and scoring touch will electrify the Garden. Red Holzman’s up-tempo system just found its lead guard.
Milwaukee Bucks – Pick 3: Marques Johnson (F, UCLA)
The Bucks land the most complete player in the draft. Johnson’s versatility, IQ, and polish make him an immediate building block for Larry Costello’s structured system.
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Trades Reshape the Middle of Round 1
Three teams made aggressive moves on draft night, reshaping the middle of the first round:
San Antonio Spurs – Pick 8 (from Denver): Tree Rollins (C, Clemson)
The Spurs acquired this pick in the James Silas trade and used it to grab a defensive anchor. Rollins is a shot-blocker, a system fit, and exactly what Stan Albeck needs to build around.
Portland Trail Blazers – Pick 10 (from Buffalo): Rickey Green (G, Michigan)
Part of the Bill Walton return package, this pick gave Portland a future backcourt leader. Jack Ramsay gets a speedy, defensive-minded point guard to build around in the Founders Cup.
St. Louis Spirits – Pick 12 (from Houston): Cedric Maxwell (F, UNC Charlotte)
The centerpiece of the Moses Malone trade, Maxwell is a high-energy winner who sets a culture. Hubie Brown gets his kind of guy.
Notable Selections Across the Board
Boston Celtics – Pick 9: Tom LaGarde (F/C, North Carolina)
The Tar Heel big man fits the Celtic mold — high-IQ, fundamental, a winner.
Seattle Supersonics – Pick 17: Eddie Johnson (F, Auburn)
Bill Russell lands a future All-Star at 17. Johnson is the steal of the draft.
Detroit Pistons – Pick 30: Mike Bratz (G, Stanford)
The Pistons start their rebuild with a crafty, high-IQ guard.
The Complete First Round
| Pick | Team | Player | Pos | College |
|——|——|——–|—–|———|
| 1 | Chicago Bulls | Kent Benson | C | Indiana |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Otis Birdsong | G | Houston |
| 3 | Milwaukee Bucks | Marques Johnson | F | UCLA |
| 4 | Washington Bullets | Walter Davis | G/F | North Carolina |
| 5 | Phoenix Suns | Bernard King | F | Tennessee |
| 6 | Golden State Warriors | Kenny Carr | F | NC State |
| 7 | Los Angeles Lakers | Jack Sikma | C | Illinois Wesleyan |
| 8 | San Antonio Spurs (from Denver) | Tree Rollins | C | Clemson |
| 9 | Boston Celtics | Tom LaGarde | F/C | North Carolina |
| 10 | Portland Trail Blazers (from Buffalo) | Rickey Green | G | Michigan |
| 11 | Philadelphia 76ers | Ernie Grunfeld | G/F | Tennessee |
| 12 | St. Louis Spirits (from Houston) | Cedric Maxwell | F | UNC Charlotte |
| 13 | Indiana Pacers | Mike Glenn | G | Southern Illinois |
| 14 | San Antonio Spurs | Brad Davis | G | Maryland |
| 15 | Kentucky Colonels | T.R. Dunn | G | Alabama |
| 16 | Long Island Nets | Robert Reid | F | St. Mary’s (TX) |
| 17 | Seattle Supersonics | Eddie Johnson | F | Auburn |
| 18 | New Orleans Jazz | Ben Poquette | C | Central Michigan |
| 19 | Atlanta Hawks | Larry Moffett | F | UNLV |
| 20 | Kansas City Kings | Wilson Washington | F/C | Old Dominion |
| 21 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Glenn Mosley | F | Seton Hall |
| 22 | Oklahoma City Stampede | Kim Anderson | G/F | Missouri |
| 23 | Baltimore Ravens | Steve Sheppard | F | Maryland |
| 24 | Memphis Sounds | Alonzo Bradley | F | Texas Southern |
| 25 | Tampa Bay Tropics | Toby Knight | F | Notre Dame |
| 26 | Salt Lake | Mark Landsberger | C | Arizona State |
| 27 | Mid Atlantic Monarchs | Jeff Wilkins | C | Illinois State |
| 28 | Portland Trail Blazers | James Edwards | C | Washington |
| 29 | St. Louis Spirits | Eddie Owens | F | UNLV |
| 30 | Detroit Pistons | Mike Bratz | G | Stanford |
The 1977 season tips off in October.