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Louisville basketball’s NBA draft history among top programs in NCAA. See 1st-round picks

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Louisville basketball’s NBA draft history among top programs in NCAA. See 1st-round picks

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Louisville men’s basketball has produced enough NBA players to field nearly 15 starting lineups.

The Cardinals, with 73 selections across their 110-year history, are one of only 10 programs in the country to have at least 70 players who have heard their names called on draft day. Their 24 first-round picks put them in a tie for 10th all time with Syracuse.

Heading into the 2024 NBA Draft, the only schools with more (per NCAA.com) are Kentucky (58), Duke (55), North Carolina (53), UCLA (41), Kansas (36), Michigan (30), Indiana (28), Arizona (26) and Ohio State (25).

Ahead of the draft, which runs June 26 through June 27, The Courier Journal revisited the careers of U of L’s first-round selections.

We’ll start with the most recent, Donovan Mitchell, and work our way back:

Donovan Mitchell

Year: 2017

Pick: No. 13

Team: Utah Jazz (via trade from Denver Nuggets)

An All-Rookie selection in 2018, Mitchell has made five consecutive All-Star games. He finished sixth in Most Valuable Player voting and received second-team All-NBA honors in 2022-23; when he averaged a career-high 28.3 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former Card is one of only eight players in league history who have scored 71 or more points in a game.

Terry Rozier

Year: 2015

Pick: No. 16

Team: Boston Celtics

Terry Rozier just wrapped up his ninth NBA season, which saw him traded from Charlotte to the Miami Heat. His best campaign to date was 2022-23, when he averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game for the Hornets. He reached the Eastern Conference finals with Boston in 2018.

Gorgui Dieng

Year: 2013

Pick: No. 21

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves (via trade from Utah Jazz)

Gorgui Dieng‘s playing days ended in 2023, after which he accepted an operations job with the San Antonio Spurs. Across his decade in the league with four different teams, he averaged double-digit points twice, in 2015-16 and 2016-17 with the Timberwolves. The big man from Senegal made the All-Rookie second team in 2014.

Earl Clark

Year: 2009

Pick: No. 14

Team: Phoenix Suns

Earl Clark‘s time in the NBA spanned six years and as many teams. The former Card earned a few votes for the league’s Most Improved Player award in 2012-13, when he averaged a career-high 7.3 points across 59 appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers. Clark is playing for the Hsinchu Lioneers in Taiwan.

Terrence Williams

Year: 2009

Pick: No. 11

Team: New Jersey Nets

Terrence Williams was sentenced to 10 years in prison last August for leading a multimillion-dollar scam against the NBA’s health plan. He spent four seasons in the league, with New Jersey, Houston, Sacramento and Boston, and finished with career averages of 7.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Francisco Garcia

Year: 2005

Pick: No. 23

Team: Sacramento Kings

Francisco Garcia appeared in 549 games during his decade in the NBA with the Kings and the Rockets. His best season was 2008-09, when he averaged career highs in points (12.7), rebounds (3.4) and assists (2.3) per game for Sacramento.

Reece Gaines

Year: 2003

Pick: No. 15

Team: Orlando Magic

Reece Gaines‘ time in the NBA was short-lived. Across 71 games in three seasons, he averaged 1.7 points. In 2004, he was part of the trade that sent Tracy McGrady from the Magic to the Rockets. He finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Samaki Walker

Year: 1996

Pick: No. 9

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Winning a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002 was the highlight of Samaki Walker‘s decade in the NBA. From an individual standpoint, his best season was 1997-98, when he averaged career highs in points (8.9) and rebounds (7.4) per game as a second-year pro with Dallas.

Greg Minor

Year: 1994

Pick: No. 25

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Greg Minor had a whirlwind welcome to the NBA. The day after he was drafted, the Clippers traded him to the Indiana Pacers. Four months later, he was released and signed with Boston. Minor spent five years with the Celtics, finishing his career with averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Clifford Rozier

Year: 1994

Pick: No. 16

Team: Golden State Warriors

Clifford Rozier‘s first NBA season was his best; he averaged 6.8 points and 7.4 rebounds across 66 appearances for the Warriors during the 1994-95 campaign. Three years later, his time in the league came to an end following stints in Toronto and Minnesota. He died of a heart attack in 2018 at age 45, after struggling with documented mental health problems and drug abuse.

LaBradford Smith

Year: 1991

Pick: No. 19

Team: Washington Bullets

During his three years in the NBA, LaBradford Smith was best known for dropping a career-high 37 points in a loss to the Chicago Bulls (and Michael Jordan) on March 19, 1993. Between his time with Washington and Sacramento, he averaged 6.7 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

Felton Spencer

Year: 1990

Pick: No. 6

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

The late Felton Spencer‘s NBA career began with an appearance on the All-Rookie second team in 1991. The Louisville native had high-water marks of 9.3 points (1994-95) and 8.3 rebounds (1993-94) during his 12 years in the league, which spanned six teams, and finished with career averages of 5.2 and 5.4, respectively.

Kenny Payne

Year: 1989

Pick: No. 19

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Kenny Payne made 144 appearances for the 76ers during his four seasons in the NBA. For his career, the former Louisville head coach averaged 3.5 points and 1.2 rebounds. His best game was a 24-point, seven-rebound performance in a loss to Charlotte on Feb. 27, 1992.

Pervis Ellison

Year: 1989

Pick: No. 1

Team: Sacramento Kings

Pervis Ellison, Louisville’s only No. 1 overall pick to date, spent 11 seasons in the NBA. He was named the league’s Most Improved Player for the 1991-92 campaign; during which he averaged career highs in points (20) and rebounds (11.2) per game with the Washington Bullets. Ellison’s career also included stops with the Celtics and the Seattle SuperSonics.

Billy Thompson

Year: 1986

Pick: No. 19

Team: Los Angeles Lakers (via trade from Atlanta Hawks)

After a draft-day trade, Billy Thompson was part of the Lakers’ run to back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988. Two days after winning a second title, he was selected by Miami in the expansion draft. His best individual seasons were 1988-89 (10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds) and 1989-90 (11 points, seven rebounds) with the Heat.

Lancaster Gordon

Year: 1984

Pick: No. 8

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Lancaster Gordon spent his four-year NBA career with the Clippers. He appeared in 201 games and left the league with averages of 5.6 points, 1.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds. His best season was 1986-87, when he tallied 7.5 points, two assists and 1.8 rebounds per contest.

Rodney McCray

Year: 1983

Pick: No. 3

Team: Houston Rockets

Rodney McCray went out in style as a member of the Bulls’ 1993 championship run. Across his decade in the NBA, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The former Card also earned All-Defensive honors in 1986-87 (second team) and 1987-88 (first team).

Darrell Griffith

Year: 1980

Pick: No. 2

Team: Utah Jazz

Darrell Griffith was named Rookie of the Year in 1981; he averaged 20.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals during his debut season with Utah, where he spent his entire NBA career. “Dr. Dunkenstein” retired after the 1990-91 campaign, finishing with career averages of 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals. The Jazz retired No. 35 in the Louisville native’s honor two years after he left the league.

Wesley Cox

Year: 1977

Pick: No. 18

Team: Golden State Warriors

Exercise-induced asthma limited Wesley Cox to only two seasons in the NBA. The Louisville native finished with career averages of 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds across 74 appearances.

Junior Bridgeman

Year: 1975

Pick: No. 8

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Junior Bridgeman had a productive NBA career, averaging 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 12 seasons; but it pales in comparison to the success he’s enjoyed as an entrepreneur. His 711 appearances for the Bucks rank third in franchise history. Less than a month after he was drafted, Bridgeman was part of the trade that sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Milwaukee to Los Angeles.

Butch Beard

Year: 1969

Pick: No. 10

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Butch Beard‘s NBA resume includes an All-Star appearance in 1972 with the Cavaliers and a championship in 1975 with the Warriors. Across nine years in the league, he averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. The Hardinsburg native was the New Jersey Nets’ head coach from 1994-96.

Wes Unseld

Year: 1968

Pick: No. 2

Team: Baltimore Bullets

To date, no former Louisville player has come close to rivaling the late Wes Unseld‘s storied NBA career; although it began with the Hall of Famer choosing to sign with the Bullets over his hometown Kentucky Colonels of the ABA. He and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to win the league’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in the same season. A five-time All-Star, Unseld brought a championship to Washington, D.C., in 1978 and was named MVP of the Finals. He was a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams and served as the Bullets’ head coach from 1988-94.

Charlie Tyra

Year: 1957

Pick: No. 2

Team: New York Knicks (via trade from Detroit Pistons)

Charlie Tyra, Louisville’s all-time leading rebounder and its first All-American, spent five seasons in the NBA. Totaling 348 appearances between stints with the Knicks and the Chicago Packers, the Atherton High School grad averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. He died in 2006 at age 71.

Bob Lochmueller

Year: 1952

Pick: No. 7

Team: Syracuse Nationals

A knee injury ended Bob Lochmueller‘s NBA career after only one season, but the Indiana native went on to find success as a high school coach in his home state. During his lone pro campaign, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds across 62 appearances. Lochmueller died in 2020 at age 93.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

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