1957 NBA Draft

The 1957 NBA Draft featured one future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer in Boston Celtics guard Sam Jones, who developed into one of the most accomplished championship players in NBA history. Boston selected Jones eighth overall out of North Carolina College, now known as North Carolina Central University.

Cincinnati selected West Virginia star Rod Hundley with the first overall pick but immediately traded his draft rights to the Minneapolis Lakers. Hundley became a two-time NBA All-Star and remained with the Lakers when the franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1960.

One of the draft's greatest surprises came in the eighth round. Philadelphia selected Texas Southern forward Woody Sauldsberry with the 60th overall pick. Sauldsberry immediately became an NBA All-Star caliber player and won the 1958 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

The 14-round draft produced 83 numbered selections, with two additional supplemental selections bringing the broader draft total to 85. Nineteen members of the class eventually appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game.

83 numbered picks: The 1957 NBA Draft lasted 14 rounds and produced 83 numbered selections. Philadelphia and Boston also made one supplemental selection apiece, bringing the broader draft database total to 85 selections.

Rod Hundley: Cincinnati selected West Virginia guard Rod "Hot Rod" Hundley with the first overall pick. Hundley was a two-time NBA All-Star and played his entire six-season NBA career with the Lakers franchise.

Immediate trade: Hundley never played for Cincinnati. On draft day, the Royals traded his rights to the Minneapolis Lakers as part of a major deal that sent Hundley, Bob Burrow, Ed Fleming, Don Meineke and Art Spoelstra to Minneapolis for Clyde Lovellette and Jim Paxson.

Sam Jones: Boston selected North Carolina College guard Sam Jones with the eighth overall pick. Jones became one of the greatest selections in Celtics history, spending his entire 12-year NBA career with Boston.

Ten championships: Jones won 10 NBA championships with the Celtics, was selected to five NBA All-Star Games and earned All-NBA Second Team honors three times.

Hall of Fame: Sam Jones was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 and was later selected to the NBA's 25th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Woody Sauldsberry: Philadelphia selected Texas Southern forward Woody Sauldsberry with the 60th overall pick in the eighth round. Despite being selected so late, Sauldsberry became an NBA All-Star and won the 1958 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Three NBA All-Stars: Rod Hundley, Sam Jones and Woody Sauldsberry all became NBA All-Stars.

Jim Brown: Syracuse selected Syracuse University star Jim Brown with the 68th overall pick in the ninth round. Brown chose professional football instead of basketball and became one of the greatest players in NFL history.

Ron Kramer: Detroit selected Michigan's Ron Kramer in the fifth round. Kramer also chose professional football and played 10 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

Steve Hamilton: Philadelphia selected Morehead State's Steve Hamilton in the ninth round. Hamilton later became a rare two-sport professional athlete, playing in the NBA before pitching in Major League Baseball.

Franchise changes: The 1957 draft marked the first draft using the Cincinnati Royals and Detroit Pistons names. The Rochester Royals relocated to Cincinnati, while the Fort Wayne Pistons moved to Detroit before the 1957-58 NBA season.

Passed selections: New York stopped drafting after the sixth round. As additional teams passed in later rounds, the number of selections steadily declined. Only St. Louis made numbered selections in both the 13th and 14th rounds.

Final numbered selection: The St. Louis Hawks selected Northwestern State center Lavelle Langston with the 83rd and final numbered selection.

Supplemental selections: Philadelphia selected J.C. Gipson of the Harlem Globetrotters and Boston selected Don Tobin of Florida Southern as supplemental picks. These selections are separate from the 83 numbered draft choices.