1989 NBA draft
The 1989 NBA draft took place on June 27, 1989, at the Felt Forum inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was a two-round draft with 54 selections—the fewest in that era, a format that would stay in place through 1995. It was the first draft for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando Magic.
Pervis Ellison was chosen first by the Sacramento Kings. While the night produced many talented players, eight of the top ten picks are now widely regarded as busts, including Ellison and Danny Ferry.
The draft still yielded future stars such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick Anderson, Dana Barros, Tim Hardaway, Vlade Divac, Clifford Robinson, B. J. Armstrong, and Mookie Blaylock. Vlade Divac made history as the first international player drafted directly from overseas as an underclassman.
This draft was also the first to be televised in prime time on national TV and featured the NBA’s Green Room, where top prospects waited with their families before hearing their names called.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:05 (CET).