The 1969 NBA Draft, held on April 7 and May 7, 1969, was a transformative event that altered the trajectory of the league for decades. Most famous for the high-stakes coin flip between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns to determine the first overall pick, it resulted in the selection of Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), who would become the NBA's all-time leading scorer for nearly 40 years.
The Landscape of Professional Basketball in 1969
To understand the significance of the 1969 NBA Draft, one must look at the state of professional basketball at the time. The NBA was in a period of expansion and intense competition, not just within its own ranks, but against the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA, known for its red, white, and blue ball and the three-point line, was aggressively pursuing collegiate talent to establish legitimacy.
In 1969, the NBA consisted of 14 teams divided into two divisions: the Eastern and the Western. The draft was the primary mechanism for these teams to acquire talent, but the process was vastly different from the modern era. There were no lottery balls or weighted percentages; instead, the draft utilized a system where the bottom-ranked teams in each division participated in a coin flip to determine who would pick first overall.
The Coin Flip of the Century
The most legendary moment of the 1969 NBA Draft occurred before a single player was selected. The Milwaukee Bucks (who finished last in the Eastern Division) and the Phoenix Suns (who finished last in the Western Division) were both 27-55 during the 1968-69 season. Because they were both at the bottom of their respective divisions, they were eligible for the No. 1 pick.
The prize was Lew Alcindor, the 7'2" center from UCLA who had just led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships. He was widely regarded as the greatest amateur prospect in history. On March 19, 1969, NBA Commissioner J. Walter Kennedy conducted the coin flip via telephone.
Phoenix Suns fans had high hopes, but the coin landed on heads, favoring the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns were relegated to the second pick, where they selected Neal Walk. This single toss of a coin is often cited as the most impactful "what-if" in sports history. Had the coin landed on tails, the Suns likely would have enjoyed the decade of dominance that the Bucks eventually secured.
Lew Alcindor: The Generational Prospect
When the Milwaukee Bucks officially selected Lew Alcindor with the first pick, they weren't just drafting a center; they were drafting a revolution. Alcindor’s collegiate career under John Wooden is the stuff of legend, featuring an 88-2 record and three National Player of the Year awards.
Alcindor’s impact was immediate. In his rookie season (1969-70), he led the Bucks to a 56-26 record—a 29-win improvement from the previous year. He won the Rookie of the Year award and established himself as a dominant force at both ends of the floor. By 1971, after the team added Oscar Robertson, Alcindor (having converted to Islam and taken the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) led the Bucks to their first NBA Championship.
Round 1: Top Picks and Notable Selections
While Alcindor was the undisputed star, the 1969 draft featured several other players who would go on to have significant careers. The first round consisted of 15 picks.
| Pick | Player | Team | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lew Alcindor | Milwaukee Bucks | UCLA |
| 2 | Neal Walk | Phoenix Suns | Florida |
| 3 | Lucius Allen | Seattle SuperSonics | UCLA |
| 4 | Terry Driscoll | Detroit Pistons | Boston College |
| 5 | Larry Cannon | Chicago Bulls | La Salle |
| 6 | Bingo Smith | San Diego Rockets | Tulsa |
| 7 | Bob Portman | San Francisco Warriors | Creighton |
| 8 | Herm Gilliam | Cincinnati Royals | Purdue |
| 9 | Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics | Kansas |
| 10 | Butch Beard | Atlanta Hawks | Louisville |
| 11 | John Warren | New York Knicks | St. John's |
| 12 | Willie McCarter | Los Angeles Lakers | Drake |
| 13 | Bud Ogden | Philadelphia 76ers | Santa Clara |
| 14 | Mike Davis | Baltimore Bullets | Virginia Union |
| 15 | Rick Roberson | Los Angeles Lakers | Cincinnati |
The "Other" Top Picks
Neal Walk (No. 2): Often unfairly remembered only as the man picked after Kareem, Walk was a highly productive player. He averaged 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds during the 1972-73 season for the Suns. However, his career never reached the Hall of Fame heights of his draft-mate.
Lucius Allen (No. 3): A college teammate of Alcindor at UCLA, Allen had a long and successful NBA career. He eventually reunited with Kareem in Milwaukee and later played for the Lakers. He was a steady playmaker and a key contributor to several playoff teams.
Jo Jo White (No. 9): The Boston Celtics found a diamond at the ninth spot. Jo Jo White became a cornerstone of the post-Bill Russell Celtics, winning two NBA championships (1974, 1976) and being named the 1976 NBA Finals MVP. His jersey (No. 10) was eventually retired by the franchise.
Success Stories and Deep Draft Sleepers
The 1969 draft was not top-heavy. Several players selected in later rounds outperformed their draft positions, demonstrating the scouting challenges of the era.
- Bob Dandridge (No. 45): Selected in the fourth round by the Milwaukee Bucks, Dandridge is one of the most underrated players in NBA history. He was an integral part of championship teams in both Milwaukee (1971) and Washington (1978). A four-time All-Star, Dandridge's ability to defend and score made him the perfect complement to superstars like Kareem and Elvin Hayes.
- Norm Van Lier (No. 34): Picked in the third round by the Chicago Bulls, "Stormin' Norman" became one of the fiercest defenders in league history. He was a three-time All-Star and an eight-time All-Defensive Team selection.
- Steve Mix (No. 61): A fifth-round pick by the Detroit Pistons, Mix eventually found his footing with the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming an All-Star in 1975 and a key veteran presence on several deep playoff runs.
The ABA Factor and the Bidding Wars
One of the unique aspects of the 1969 draft was the territorial and financial battle with the ABA. Many of the players selected in the NBA draft were also drafted by ABA teams. Lew Alcindor himself was drafted by the New York Nets of the ABA.
The Nets reportedly offered Alcindor a massive contract and shares in the team, but Alcindor told both leagues he would accept only one offer from each and make a final decision. When the ABA’s initial offer was lower than the NBA’s, he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. The ABA attempted to raise their offer afterward, but Alcindor famously refused to entertain a "bidding war," sticking to his word.
Other players, like Larry Cannon (No. 5 overall), chose to sign with the ABA instead of the NBA. This competition forced NBA owners to significantly increase player salaries, a trend that continued until the two leagues eventually merged in 1976.
Drafting in 20 Rounds: A Different Era
Modern fans are accustomed to a two-round draft, but in 1969, the process was a marathon. The draft lasted for 20 rounds, with teams selecting a total of 218 players. Most of these players never saw a minute of NBA action.
The reason for such a long draft was the lack of sophisticated scouting and the need for teams to "claim" rights to as many players as possible to keep them away from the ABA. Teams would often draft players based on newspaper reports or hearsay from college coaches. By the later rounds, teams were essentially guessing, sometimes picking players who had no intention of playing professional basketball or who had already committed to other careers.
The Long-Term Impact on the NBA
Looking back from the perspective of 2026, the 1969 NBA Draft remains a pivotal moment in sports history. It established the Milwaukee Bucks as a powerhouse and provided the league with its most dominant individual force of the 1970s.
The draft also highlighted the flaws in the coin-flip system, which eventually led to the creation of the NBA Draft Lottery in 1985 to discourage "tanking" and provide a more balanced approach to talent distribution. Furthermore, the 1969 draft solidified the NBA's dominance over the ABA by securing the era's greatest prospect, Lew Alcindor.
The 1969 draft class produced:
- Two Hall of Famers (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jo Jo White).
- Multiple All-Stars and All-Defensive stalwarts.
- The foundation for championship teams in Milwaukee, Boston, and Washington.
FAQs About the 1969 NBA Draft
Who was the first pick in the 1969 NBA draft?
Lew Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was the first overall pick. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks after they won a coin flip against the Phoenix Suns.
How did the coin flip work in the 1969 draft?
In 1969, the teams with the worst records in each of the two divisions (Eastern and Western) participated in a coin flip to determine the first pick. The Milwaukee Bucks (East) and Phoenix Suns (West) both had the worst records, and Commissioner J. Walter Kennedy flipped the coin. Milwaukee called "heads" and won.
Were there any Hall of Famers in the 1969 NBA Draft?
Yes. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor) and Jo Jo White are the two primary Hall of Famers from this draft class. Additionally, several other players had long, distinguished careers that contributed to the Hall of Fame success of their respective teams.
How many rounds were in the 1969 NBA draft?
The 1969 draft consisted of 20 rounds. This was common for the era, as teams wanted to secure the rights to as many players as possible to prevent them from signing with the rival ABA league.
Why did Lew Alcindor change his name?
Lew Alcindor converted to Islam in 1968 while still at UCLA but did not publicly use his new name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, until 1971, the day after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship. The name means "noble servant of the Almighty."
Final Considerations for Sports Historians
For those researching the evolution of the NBA, the 1969 draft serves as a masterclass in how a single event—or even a single coin toss—can dictate the fortunes of multiple franchises. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it resulted in a championship and a decade of relevance. For the Phoenix Suns, it became a "what if" that lasted for generations. As we evaluate the history of the league, the 1969 draft stands as the moment the NBA truly entered its modern era of superstar-driven success.
