1979 NBA Draft

The 1979 NBA Draft became one of the most historically significant drafts in league history because the Los Angeles Lakers selected Magic Johnson first overall. Johnson immediately helped transform the Lakers into the dominant "Showtime" team of the 1980s and eventually became one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Eight members of the draft class became NBA All-Stars: Magic Johnson, Bill Cartwright, Sidney Moncrief, Calvin Natt, Jim Paxson, Bill Laimbeer, James Donaldson and Mark Eaton. Johnson and Moncrief were later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as players.

The draft also produced several exceptional values outside the first round. Bill Laimbeer went 65th overall in the third round, James Donaldson was selected 73rd in the fourth round, Jerry Sichting went 82nd, and Mark Eaton was originally selected 107th by Phoenix before eventually reaching the NBA with Utah after being drafted again in 1982.

The draft consisted of 202 official selections over 10 rounds. The first four rounds contained 22 selections each, but later rounds became progressively shorter as teams passed on selections.

Magic Johnson and the No. 1 pick: The Lakers did not earn the first selection through their own record. Los Angeles owned New Orleans' 1979 first-round pick as part of the compensation package the Lakers received when veteran guard Gail Goodrich signed with the Jazz in 1976. New Orleans finished with the NBA's worst record in 1978-79, putting the Lakers into the league's pre-lottery coin flip with Chicago.

The coin flip: On April 19, 1979, Chicago called heads in the coin flip for the first overall selection. The coin came up tails, giving Los Angeles the No. 1 pick. The Lakers selected Magic Johnson, while Chicago used the second selection on UCLA forward Dave Greenwood.

Magic Johnson: Johnson entered the NBA after leading Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship. He became a five-time NBA champion, three-time NBA MVP, three-time Finals MVP and 12-time All-Star during his career with the Lakers and was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Immediate championship: Johnson helped the Lakers win the NBA championship as a rookie in 1979-80. He was named Finals MVP after famously starting at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the deciding Game 6 against Philadelphia.

Sidney Moncrief: Milwaukee selected Arkansas guard Sidney Moncrief fifth overall. Moncrief became a five-time NBA All-Star, made five All-NBA teams and won the first two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 1983 and 1984. He was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Eight NBA All-Stars: Magic Johnson, Bill Cartwright, Sidney Moncrief, Calvin Natt, Jim Paxson, Bill Laimbeer, James Donaldson and Mark Eaton all eventually appeared in an NBA All-Star Game.

Vinnie Johnson: Seattle selected Baylor guard Vinnie Johnson seventh overall. Although he never became an All-Star, Johnson became an important member of Detroit's 1989 and 1990 championship teams and earned the nickname "The Microwave" for his ability to score quickly off the bench.

Bill Cartwright: New York selected San Francisco center Bill Cartwright third overall. Cartwright became an All-Star as a rookie and later served as the starting center on Chicago's first three championship teams from 1991 through 1993.

Jim Paxson: Portland selected Dayton guard Jim Paxson 12th overall. He became a two-time NBA All-Star and spent most of his 11-season career with the Trail Blazers.

Bill Laimbeer: Cleveland selected Notre Dame center Bill Laimbeer 65th overall in the third round. Laimbeer became one of the biggest steals of the draft, earning four All-Star selections and winning NBA championships with Detroit in 1989 and 1990.

James Donaldson: Seattle selected Washington State center James Donaldson 73rd overall in the fourth round. Donaldson played 14 NBA seasons and was selected to the 1988 NBA All-Star Game while playing for Dallas.

Jerry Sichting: Golden State selected Purdue guard Jerry Sichting 82nd overall in the fourth round. Sichting eventually played 10 NBA seasons and was part of Boston's 1986 championship team.

Nick Galis: Boston selected Seton Hall guard Nick Galis 68th overall in the fourth round. Galis did not play in an NBA regular-season game but became one of the greatest players in European basketball history, starring in Greece and later being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mark Eaton's first NBA Draft: Phoenix selected 7-foot-4 center Mark Eaton 107th overall in the fifth round after his time at Cypress Junior College. Eaton did not sign with Phoenix and later attended UCLA. Utah selected him again with the 72nd overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. Eaton went on to become an NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Jazz.

Utah Jazz: The 1979 draft was the franchise's first after relocating from New Orleans to Salt Lake City. The Utah Jazz made Tico Brown their first selection of the draft at No. 23 after their original first-round pick had previously been transferred to the Lakers.

202 selections: The 1979 NBA Draft contained 202 official selections over 10 rounds. Basketball-Reference records 55 of those players as eventually appearing in an NBA regular-season or playoff game.