1961 NBA Expansion Draft
Encyclopedia
The 1961 NBA Expansion Draft was the inaugural expansion draft
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). The draft was held on April 26, 1961, so that the newly founded Chicago Packers
could acquire players for the upcoming 1961–62 season. The Packers were the second NBA team from Chicago
, after the Chicago Stags
, which folded in 1950. The Packers later underwent several name changes and relocations before moving to Washington, D.C.
. They are currently known as the Washington Wizards
. In an NBA expansion draft, new NBA teams are allowed to acquire players from the previously established teams in the league. Not all players on a given team are available during an expansion draft, since each team can protect a certain number of players from being selected.
The Packers appointed four-times All-Star and former Minneapolis Lakers
head coach Jim Pollard as the franchise's first head coach. The Packers selected eight unprotected players, one from each of the other NBA teams. Their selections included former second overall pick Archie Dees
from the Detroit Pistons
. However, he and Barney Cable
only played briefly for the Packers before he was traded to the St. Louis Hawks
in exchange for former first overall pick Sihugo Green
, one-time All-Star Woody Sauldsberry
and Joe Graboski
. Dave Budd
, who was selected from the New York Knicks
, was traded back to the Knicks without playing any games for the Packers. He was traded in exchange for former second overall pick Charlie Tyra
and Bob McNeill
. Six players from the expansion draft joined the Packers for their inaugural season, but only two played more than one season for the team.
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). The draft was held on April 26, 1961, so that the newly founded Chicago Packers
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
could acquire players for the upcoming 1961–62 season. The Packers were the second NBA team from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, after the Chicago Stags
Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
, which folded in 1950. The Packers later underwent several name changes and relocations before moving to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. They are currently known as the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. In an NBA expansion draft, new NBA teams are allowed to acquire players from the previously established teams in the league. Not all players on a given team are available during an expansion draft, since each team can protect a certain number of players from being selected.
The Packers appointed four-times All-Star and former Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
head coach Jim Pollard as the franchise's first head coach. The Packers selected eight unprotected players, one from each of the other NBA teams. Their selections included former second overall pick Archie Dees
Archie Dees
Archie William Dees is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward/center, Dees started his basketball career at Mount Carmel High School where he was named an All American his senior year...
from the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. However, he and Barney Cable
Barney Cable
Byrum William "Barney" Cable is a retired American basketball player. The fourth most prolific rebounder in Bradley basketball history, Barney Cable, a six-foot-seven Pennsylvanian, was only the third BU player to be plucked in the NBA draft since the school went big time in 1938.He played...
only played briefly for the Packers before he was traded to the St. Louis Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in exchange for former first overall pick Sihugo Green
Sihugo Green
Sihugo "Si" Green was an American professional basketball player who was born in New York City, New York....
, one-time All-Star Woody Sauldsberry
Woody Sauldsberry
Woodrow "Woody" Sauldsberry Jr. was an American National Basketball Association player.Sauldsberry was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana and graduated from Compton Union High School where he was the star of his basketball team and then went on to attend Texas Southern University...
and Joe Graboski
Joe Graboski
Joseph W. Graboski was an American basketball player who spent 13 seasons in the NBA. He was the third player to enter the NBA without having played in college:...
. Dave Budd
Dave Budd
David L. "Dave" Budd is a retired American basketball player who used to play for the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks.-Woodbury High School:...
, who was selected from the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, was traded back to the Knicks without playing any games for the Packers. He was traded in exchange for former second overall pick Charlie Tyra
Charlie Tyra
Charles E. Tyra was an American basketball player who is best known as the first Louisville Cardinal All-American....
and Bob McNeill
Bob McNeill
Bob J. McNeill, born October 22, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association from 1960 to 1962. Bobby McNeill was born near 2nd & Allegheny in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. As a Senior at North Catholic High,...
. Six players from the expansion draft joined the Packers for their inaugural season, but only two played more than one season for the team.
Key
| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position Basketball position The three basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams are guard, forward, and center. More specifically, they can be classified into the five positions: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. The rules of basketball do not mandate them, and... |
Guard | Forward | Center |
Selections
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | Previous team | Years of NBA experience | Career with the franchise | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | New York Knicks New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
1 | — | |||
| F | Syracuse Nationals Syracuse Nationals The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in... |
3 | ; – | |||
| F/C | Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... |
4 | — | |||
| G | Cincinnati Royals Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
1 | ||||
| F/C | Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where... |
3 | ||||
| G/F | Philadelphia Warriors | 3 | ||||
| G | Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
5 | – | |||
| F/C | St. Louis Hawks | 5 |