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History of the Number 29 Draft Pick in the NBA

The NBA draft is a player’s best opportunity to be drafted into the league.  Since 1947, the NBA has drafted eligible players, typically from college to the league.  Below, we are going to review the history of the number 29 draft pick in the NBA.

What is the NBA Draft?

The NBA draft is an annual ceremony, in which NBA teams, through a lottery system, select eligible players from college and the international stage to join their teams.  College players who have completed all four years of their education are automatically eligible for the draft.

However, college players who have not completed all four years of their education, but are one-year removed from high school, must declare their eligibility for the draft.  In declaring their eligibility, these underclassmen will effectively give up their remaining college eligibility.

For international players, any player older than 22 years old are automatically eligible for the draft.  However, any international player younger than 22 years old must declare their eligibility.

How Does the Lottery System Work?

The NBA draft lottery system was revamped for the 2018 season.  Looking at these new rules, the 14 NBA teams which did not make the playoffs will be eligible for the first 14 picks in the draft.  Under the new system, the NBA Draft Lottery will ensure that the team with the worst overall record in the league will receive no worse than the fifth overall pick.

Similarly, in the new system, the three NBA teams with the worst regular-season records will each have a 14% chance of winning the lottery and the first overall pick.  Once the first four teams with the worst records have been selected, the remaining ten teams will continue to pick in inverse order of their regular-season record.

How Does the NBA Draft Work?

Going a bit deeper, and speaking only of the new system, the NBA draft will be televised on ESPN, who will air the results live.  Drawings will be conducted to determine the first four picks, with the remaining ten picks being doled out in inverse order of an NBA teams regular-season record.

The actual lottery procedure, however, takes place in a separate room before ESPN announces the results.  In this room, a member of the media, an NBA official, and a representative of the accounting firm Ernst & Young are present to ensure no foul play or tampering with the machine.

In this separate room, fourteen ping-pong balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in the lottery machine.  The lottery machine used by the NBA is manufactured by Smart Play Company.  This company also weighs, measures, and certifies the ping-pong balls before the drawing.

There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection.  Before the lottery, 1,000 of those 1,001 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating NBA teams.

Once all 14 balls have been placed into the machine, they will be mixed for 20-seconds before the first ball is removed.  Similarly, the balls will be mixed for another 10-seconds before the second ball is drawn.  Again, the machine will be mixed for another 10-seconds for both the third and fourth picks.

Full History of all 29th Overall NBA Draft Picks

PLAYERTEAMAFFILIATIONYEAR 
Day’Ron SharpePhoenix SunsNorth Carolina2021
Malachi FlynnToronto RaptorsSan Diego State2020
Keldon JohnsonSan Antonio SpursKentucky2019
Dzanan MusaBrooklyn NetsKK Cedevita (Croatia)2018
Derrick WhiteSan Antonio SpursColorado2017
Dejounte MurraySan Antonio SpursWashington2016
Chris McCulloughBrooklyn NetsSyracuse2015
Josh HuestisOklahoma City ThunderStanford2014
Archie GoodwinOklahoma City ThunderKentucky2013
Marquis TeagueChicago BullsKentucky2012
Cory JosephSan Antonio SpursTexas2011
Daniel OrtonOrlando MagicKentucky2010
Toney DouglasLos Angeles LakersFlorida State2009
DJ WhiteDetroit PistonsIndiana2008
Alando TuckerPhoenix SunsWisconsin2007
Mardy CollinsNew York KnicksTemple2006
Wayne SimienMiami HeatKansas2005
David HarrisonIndiana PacersColorado2004
Josh HowardDallas MavericksWake Forest2003
Steve LoganGolden State WarriorsCincinnati2002
Trenton HassellChicago BullsAustin Peay2001
Mark MadsenLos Angeles LakersStanford2000
Leon SmithSan Antonio SpursMartin Luther King1999
Nazr MohammedUtah JazzKentucky1998
Serge ZwikkerHouston RocketsNorth Carolina1997
Travis KnightChicago BullsConnecticut1996
Cory AlexanderSan Antonio SpursVirginia1995
Antonio LangPhoenix SunsDuke1994
Sherron MillsMinnesota TimberwolvesVirginia Commonwealth1993
P.J. BrownNew Jersey NetsLouisiana Tech1992
George AcklesMiami HeatNevada-Las Vegas1991
Toni KukocChicago BullsUniverso Treviso Basket (Italy)1990
Dyron NixCharlotte HornetsTennessee1989
Vinny Del NegroSacramento KingsNorth Carolina State1988
Lester FonvillePortland Trail BlazersJackson State1987
Johnny NewmanCleveland CavaliersRichmond1986
Mike BrittainSan Antonio SpursSouth Carolina1985
Stuart GrayIndiana PacersCalifornia-Los Angeles1984
Larry MicheauxChicago BullsHouston1983
Scott HastingsNew York KnicksArkansas1982
Eddie JohnsonKansas City KingsIllinois1981
Louis OrrIndiana PacersSyracuse1980
Tony PriceDetroit PistonsPennsylvania1979
John LongDetroit PistonsDetroit Mercy1978
Alonzo BradleyIndiana PacersTexas Southern1977
Dennis JohnsonSeattle SuperSonicsPepperdine1976
Jim BlanksHouston RocketsGardner-Webb1975
Phil SmithGolden State WarriorsSan Francisco1974
Derrek DickeyGolden State WarriorsCincinnati1973
Chuck TerryMilwaukee BucksLong Beach State1972
Isaiah WilsonDetroit PistonsBaltimore1971
Joe DePrePhoenix SunsSt. John’s (NY)1970
Willie ScottBaltimore BulletsAlabama State1969
Donald SidleSan Francisco WarriorsOklahoma1968
Richard MooreSan Diego RocketsHiram Scott1967
Donnie FreemanPhiladelphia 76ersIllinois1966
Jim KingDetroit PistonsOklahoma State1965
Frank CoracePhiladelphia 76ersLa Salle1964
Dave DowneySan Francisco WarriorsIllinois1963
Reggie HardingDetroit PistonsEastern1962
Jack EganPhiladelphia WarriorsSaint Joseph’s1961
Carl ColeSyracuse NationalsEastern Kentucky1960
Lee HarmanSt. Louis HawksOregon State1959
Tommy KearnsSyracuse NationalsNorth Carolina1958
Rayford WellsNew York KnicksLenoir-Rhyne1957
Dick HowardFt. Wayne Zollner PistonsCase Western1955
Phil MartinMilwaukee HawksToledo1954
Bob PayneMinneapolis LakersOregon State1951