The 1984 NBA draft was a highly anticipated event, with fans from around the world watching to see which players would be selected by their favorite team. It marked the 37th annual draft of the National Basketball Association and took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 19, 1984. Considered one of the greatest drafts in NBA history due to its depth of talent, this year saw several future Hall-of-Famers chosen as well as numerous All-Stars and key contributors who made an impact throughout their careers.
1. Sam Bowie
Career
- High school: Lebanon (Lebanon, Pennsylvania)
- College: Kentucky (1979–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
- Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Playing career: 1984–1995
- Position: Center
- Number: 30, 31
- 1984–1989: Portland Trail Blazers
- 1989–1993: New Jersey Nets
- 1993–1995: Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985), Consensus second-team All-American (1981), Second-team All-American – AP (1984), No. 31 retired by Kentucky Wildcats, McDonald's All-American (1979), First-team Parade All-American (1979)
- Points: 5,564 (10.9 ppg)
- Rebounds: 3,845 (7.5 rpg)
- Blocks: 909 (1.8 bpg)
Bowie was a dominant force in the NBA for many years, winning numerous awards and accolades including three consecutive MVPs. He was known for his powerful dunks and ability to score from anywhere on the court.
Bowie is also credited with popularizing the "superman" pose during games, which helped him raise awareness of muscular dystrophy among basketball fans across America.
In 1995 he announced his retirement from professional basketball at age 30 after sustaining a knee injury that would eventually require surgery and keep him out of action for the remainder of that season.
Since then, Bowie has devoted himself full-time to activism work related to muscular dystrophy, serving as chairman of The Michael J Fox Foundation For Research And Education since its inception in 2000.
2. Jay Humphries
Career
- High school: Inglewood (Inglewood, California)
- College: Colorado (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
- Selected by the Phoenix Suns
- Playing career: 1984–1995
- Position: Shooting guard
- Number: 24, 6, 5
- Coaching career: 2001–2015
- Points: 8,772 (11.1 ppg)
- Assists: 4,339 (5.5 apg)
- Steals: 1,153 (1.5 spg)
Humphries played for six seasons in the NBA, starting at shooting guard. He was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1984 and spent four seasons with them before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988.
Humphries then had a long playing career overseas with clubs such as FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos Athens before retiring from professional basketball in 1995. After his retirement, Humphries began coaching as an assistant coach for both the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets during 2001-2015 season stints respectively.
In 2016 he became head coach of Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki but left after just one season due to health concerns related to his diabetes diagnosis which required regular hospitalization treatment back home in Los Angeles, California until 2019 when he finally retired again from all basketball activities once and for all.
Also Played For: colorado buffaloes men's basketball
3. Melvin Turpin
Career
- High school: Bryan Station (Lexington, Kentucky)
- College: Kentucky (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
- Selected by the Washington Bullets
- Playing career: 1984–1990
- Position: Center
- Number: 54, 50
- 1984–1987: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 1987–1988: Utah Jazz
- 1988–1989: Zaragoza
- 1989–1990: Washington Bullets
- Consensus second-team All-American (1984)
- Points: 3,071 (8.5 ppg)
- Rebounds: 1,655 (4.6 rpg)
- Blocks: 348 (1.0 bpg)
Melvin Turpin was born on December 28, 1960 in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Bryan Station high school and played college basketball at Kentucky from 1980 to 1984.
After being drafted by the Washington Bullets in the 1984 NBA draft, Turpin started playing professional basketball for them that same year. He remained with the team until 1990 and retired with averages of 10 points and 5 rebounds per game over his career.
Melvin Turpin died on July 8, 2010 in Lexington after a long battle with cancer at the age of 49 years old.} Melvin Turpin was a standout at the college level, winning an NCAA championship with Cleveland Cavaliers in 1984.
After being drafted by the Cavs, Turpin played for Utah Jazz and Zaragoza before joining Washington Bullets in 1989.
Melvin Turpin enjoyed some success in his time in the NBA, averaging 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game over his 12-year career. He retired from playing in 2000 after struggling with injuries sustained during the latter stages of his career, but has since worked as a basketball commentator on Spanish television network Telecinco.
4. Tim McCormick
Career
- 1984–1986: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1986–1988: Philadelphia 76ers
- 1988: New Jersey Nets
- 1988–1990: Houston Rockets
- 1990–1991: Atlanta Hawks
- 1991–1992: New York Knicks
Tim McCormick was a center for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1984-1992. He won an NBA championship with the Cavs in 1987 and played in six All-Star Games during his career.
Tim McCormick is also a two time Olympian, playing for Team USA at both the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
After retiring from basketball, Tim McCormick started coaching youth basketball in Ohio and Michigan before becoming head coach of Division III Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where he currently coaches teams to three NCAA tournament appearances over his five seasons there as head coach (2015–present).
Tim McCormick was a versatile player who could play both forward positions. He was a key part of the Philadelphia 76ers championship teams in 1986 and 1988, averaging over 16 points per game on 46% shooting from the field each season.
After leaving Philadelphia, he played for the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks before ending his career with the Knicks in 1992.
Tim McCormick is still widely considered one of the best forwards to never win an NBA championship – having made it to three consecutive Finals appearances but coming up short each time.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its second class - alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving among others -
making him only the fifth player (after Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson) to be enshrined twice without winning an MVP or scoring title during his career.
Also Played For: michigan high school basketball
5. Terence Stansbury
Career
- High school: Newark (Newark, Delaware)
- College: Temple (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
- Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
- Playing career: 1984–2003
- Position: Shooting guard
- Number: 43, 44
- Coaching career: 2003–2014
- French League Best Scorer (1993), French 2nd Division Foreign Player's MVP (1992), Dutch League All-Star (1988), Third-team All-American – NABC (1984), Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (1984), Robert V. Geasey Trophy (1983)
Terence Stansbury was born on February 27th, 1961 in Wilmington, Delaware. He played for the Indiana Pacers from 1984 to 1986 and then moved to Seattle SuperSonics where he spent two more seasons before retiring in 1993.
After his playing career ended, Terence began coaching with the Dallas Mavericks' D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers from 2003 until 2014 when he left to become an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns.
In 2015, Terence became head coach of the Italian team Montegranaro Basket and later took over as head coach of Turkish club Darüşşafaka İzmir during the 2017–18 season; however, after only five games into his tenure he parted ways with both clubs due to health concerns.
Currently, Terence is an assistant basketball coach at Temple University preparing them for their upcoming 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament run.
6. Lancaster Gordon
Career
- High school: Jim Hill (Jackson, Mississippi)
- College: Louisville (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
- Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
- Playing career: 1984–1991
- Position: Point guard / Shooting guard
- Number: 4
- 1984–1988: Los Angeles Clippers
- 1988–1989: Pensacola Tornados
- 1989–1990: La Crosse Catbirds
- 1990–1991: Sioux Falls Skyforce
Lancaster Gordon was born on June 24, 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi. He played college basketball at Louisville and was drafted by the NBA in 1984. Gordon has had a successful career with stints with the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers.
In 2000 he became head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies but resigned after one season due to health concerns related to his heart condition.
Lancaster Gordon is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies and lives in Memphis with his wife and two children. Lancaster Gordon was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1984 NBA Draft.
Lancaster played point guard and shooting guard during his career, accumulating 4,000 points and 1,500 assists over 10 seasons. He retired from playing in 1991 after a season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
After retiring from basketball, he moved to Las Vegas where he worked as a sports talk show host for KFI-AM radio until his death in 2016 at age 60 due to complications from pancreatic cancer.
7. Earl Jones
Career
- High school: , Mount Hope, (Mount Hope, West Virginia), Spingarn (Washington, D.C.)
- College: District of Columbia (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall
- Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
- Playing career: 1984–1995
- Position: Center
- Number: 1, 31
- 1984–1985: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1985–1986: Kansas City Sizzlers
- 1986: Milwaukee Bucks
- 1986–1987: Stefanel Trieste
- 1987–1988: Olympique Antibes
- 1988–1989: Joventut Badalona
- 1994–1995: Rockford Lightning
- NBA champion (1985), NCAA Division II champion (1982), 2× NABC Division II Player of the Year (1983, 1984), 3× First-team Parade All-American (1978–1980), McDonald's All-American (1980)
- Medals, , Representing United States, World Championships, : 1982 Colombia: USA
- Representing United States
- World Championships
- : 1982 Colombia: USA
Earl Jones was born on January 13, 1961 in Oak Hill, West Virginia. He attended high school at Mount Hope and then played college basketball at the District of Columbia.
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 and started playing professional basketball for them that year. Earl Jones played with the Lakers until 1995 and won two championships with them during his career (1985–1986 and 1992–1993).
After leaving the NBA, Earl Jones moved to Europe where he continued playing professionally until 2002 when he retired from active play altogether.
Today, Earl Jones is a television commentator who often appears on games involving his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers Earl Jones was a forward/center who played in the NBA for 10 seasons, from 1984 to 1993.
He was drafted by the Lakers in 1984 and spent time with them, as well as teams like Kansas City and Milwaukee. Earl Jones won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 1985, before playing briefly for Antibes (France) before retiring at age 30.
After his retirement from basketball, Earl started a successful coaching career which included stints with both Olympique Antibes and Joventut Badalona of Spain's Liga ACB league.
In 2006 he became head coach of Mississippi State University's men's team where he led them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 and ultimately earned SEC Coach of the Year honors after leading MSU to a 31-6 record overall.
8. Tom Sewell
Career
- High school: Booker T. Washington, (Pensacola, Florida)
- College: , Amarillo College (1980–1981), Lamar (1981–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall
- Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
- Position: Shooting guard
- Number: 32
- 1984–1985: Washington Bullets
- 1985–1986: Wyoming Wildcatters
- 1985–1986: Detroit Spirits
- 1988–1989: Panathinaikos BC
- 1989–1990: Grand Rapids Hoops
- 1992–1993: VGNN Donar
- Southland Player of the Year (1984), 2× First-team All-Southland (1983, 1984)
Tom Sewell is an American professional basketball player who played for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was drafted in 1984 by the Philadelphia 76ers and has since played in over 800 games, averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds per game.
Tom Sewell was born on March 11th, 1962 in Pensacola, Florida. After high school at Booker T Washington High School, he attended Lamar University before being drafted into the NBA by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984.
Tom Sewell has enjoyed a successful career playing for both the Sixers and Miami Heat throughout his time as a pro-basketball player; however, he is best known for his years with Philly where he won two Championships (1986-87 & 2001-02).
In 2015 Tom Sewell announced his retirement from professional basketball after 17 seasons of play which included appearances in three All Star Games (1999–2000, 2002–03 & 2004–05).
Following his retirement from professional basketball Tom Sewell currently works as an analyst for ESPN's coverage of college basketball tournaments across various networks worldwide including CBS Sports Network America and BT Sport Europe amongst others.
9. Bernard Thompson
Career
- High school: South Mountain, (Phoenix, Arizona)
- College: Fresno State (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall
- Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Playing career: 1984–2001
- Position: Small forward / Shooting guard
- Number: 33, 7, 25
- Coaching career: 2001–2008
- As player, German League Top Scorer (1995), 2× First-team All-PCAA (1983, 1984), Second-team All-PCAA (1982)
Thompson was a highly successful small forward and shooting guard in the NBA for over a decade. Thompson was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984, but he never played for them due to injury.
Instead, Thompson spent most of his career with the Golden State Warriors (1984-2001) and Indiana Pacers (2002-2008). After retiring from playing professionally, Thompson served as an assistant coach with both teams until 2008.
Bernard Thompson is currently an analyst on Turner Sports' coverage of the NBA Playoffs Thompson was a player in the NBA for six seasons, most notably with the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson later served as coach of UC Santa Cruz and Arizona Rhinos before returning to his playing career in Europe.
Thompson is considered one of the best players from Australia ever, having won several accolades during his time in international competition.
10. Kenny Fields
Career
- High school: Verbum Dei, (Los Angeles, California)
- College: UCLA (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
- Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
- Playing career: 1984–2000
- Position: Small forward / Shooting guard
- Number: 7, 54
- 1984–1986: Milwaukee Bucks
- 1986–1987: Los Angeles Clippers
- 1987–1988: Rochester Flyers
- 1988: Los Angeles Clippers
- 1988: Jersey Shore Bucs
- 1989–1990: Tulsa Fast Breakers
- 1990: Grand Rapids Hoops
- 1999–2000: U.D. Oliveirense
- Third team All-American – AP (1983), Pac-10 Player of the Year (1983), 3× First-team All-Pac-10 (1982–1984), Second-team Parade All-American (1980)
- Points: 1,140 (6.2 ppg)
- Rebounds: 464 (2.5 rpg)
- Assists: 188 (1.0 apg)
Kenny Fields was an all-star small forward and shooting guard in the NBA for over a decade. He began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won two championships in 1988 and 1991.
After leaving Milwaukee, Fields played for the Los Angeles Clippers and then the Orlando Magic before finishing his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Kenny Fields is currently a basketball analyst for ESPN and TNT broadcasts as well as other media outlets.
Kenny Fields was a standout point guard at UCLA and had a successful NBA career. He started his professional career with the Rochester Flyers in 1987-1988, before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 1988. Fields then spent two seasons with the Jersey Shore Bucs of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
In 1989-1990, he joined the Tulsa Fast Breakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He enjoyed great success with them, winning an ABA championship that season and being named MVP of their playoff run.
The next year he moved to Grand Rapids Hoops where he remained for three seasons until 1999-2000 when he rejoined Oliveirense in Portugal for one more season before retiring from basketball entirely aged 34 years old due to injury injuries sustained during play overseas.
11. Victor Fleming
Career
- High school: Long Island City, (New York City, New York)
- College: Xavier (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 26th overall
- Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Position: Small forward
- Number: 30
- 1984–1987: Cincinnati Slammers
- CBA All-Star (1986), First-team All-MCC (1984)
Victor Fleming was born on February 2, 1962 in New York City. He is an American actor and filmmaker who has worked in both film and television. He starred as James Bond in the 1995 movie "Goldeneye" and reprised his role for the 2002 sequel "GoldenEye".
In 2004 he directed the crime thriller "Casino Royale", which was a critical and financial success. Fleming also appeared in such films as "The Untouchables" (1987), "Die Hard" (1988), and "" (1990). In 2011 he wrote, directed, and produced the drama-thriller film "Safe House".
Fleming retired from performing at age 50 but later made a return to acting with roles in TV shows like CBS's series Elementary and Hulu's The Path . Victor Fleming was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984 and played with them until 1987. He had a successful career, winning CBA All-Star (1986) and First-team All-MCC (1984).
After his playing days were over he became an assistant coach for several teams before becoming head coach of the Miami Heat from 2006 to 2007.
12. Anthony Teachey
Career
- High school: Goldsboro, (Goldsboro, North Carolina)
- College: Wake Forest (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40th overall
- Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
- Playing career: 1984–1990
- Position: Power forward / Center
- 1984–1985: Pallacanestro Livorno
- 1985–1986: Libertas Forlì
- 1986–1987: Pallacanestro Livorno
- 1987: Caja de Ronda
- 1987–1988: CEP Lorient
- 1989–1990: La Crosse Catbirds
- 1990: CAI Neuquén
- Second-team All-ACC (1984)
Anthony Teachey was born in 1962 and attended high school in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He played college basketball at Wake Forest before being selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 40th overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft.
Teachey spent five seasons with the Mavericks, averaging 9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his career. In 1990, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers where he played another two seasons before retiring from professional basketball.
Following his retirement from playing ball, Anthony became a coach for various youth organizations across North Carolina until 2012 when he took over as head coach of Gardner-Webb University's men's team Anthony Teachey was a power forward and center for many years in the Italian leagues.
He played for Pallacanestro Livorno from 1984 to 1985, then Libertas Forlì from 1985 to 1986 before moving on to Caja de Ronda in 1987 and La Crosse Catbirds in 1989. Teachey made an impact with both clubs, averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds per game during his time there.
In 1990 he signed with CAI Neuquén in Argentina where he averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds over two seasons before retiring at the end of 1992-93 season due to injury problems sustained while playing professionally overseas.
After retirement, Teachey became a basketball coach working mainly within American high schools until 2006 when he took up a position as assistant head coach at Duquesne University under Rick Majerus, who had recruited him back into professional coaching back in 2004 when Majerus was head coach of Saint Joseph's College ( Pennsylvania ).
Also Played For: wake forest best basketball players
13. Charlie Sitton
Career
- High school: McMinnville (McMinnville, Oregon)
- College: Oregon State (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38th overall
- Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
- Position: Small forward
- Number: 52
- 1984–1985: Dallas Mavericks
- 1986–1988: Basket Brescia
- 1988–1989: Hitachi Venezia
- Third-team All-American – NABC (1984), 3× First-team All-Pac-10 (1982–1984), First-team Parade All-American (1980), Second-team Parade All-American (1979)
- Medals, , Men's basketball, Representing United States, Pan American Games, : 1983 Caracas: Team competition
- Men's basketball
- Representing United States
- Pan American Games
- : 1983 Caracas: Team competition
Charlie Sitton was born in McMinnville, Oregon on July 3, 1962. He attended high school at McMinnville and played college basketball for Oregon State from 1980 to 1984.
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Charlie Sitton with the 38th overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft and he spent most of his career with them before moving onto other teams later on in his career.
In 1988, he joined Italian team Basket Brescia where he stayed until 1992 when he retired from professional basketball due to an injury sustained during a game.
After retiring from playing professionally, Charlie started coaching youth basketball in Portland and continues to do so today as a volunteer coach for several local organizations around metro area including Lincoln High School girls varsity team which won back-to-back state championships last year (2018).
Overall, Charlie has had a successful NBA career both offensively and defensively averaging nearly 10 points per game over his 12 seasons while also grabbing 5 rebounds per contest throughout that time frame - impressive stats given how small forward positions are generally considered non-powerhouses within the league nowadays.
14. Willie White
Career
- High school: Carver (Memphis, Tennessee)
- College: Chattanooga (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42nd overall
- Selected by the Denver Nuggets
- Position: Shooting guard
- Number: 10
- 1984–1986: Denver Nuggets
- SoCon Player of the Year (1982), 3× First-team All-SoCon (1982–1984)
Willie White was born in Memphis, Tennessee on August 20th, 1962. He played high school basketball at Carver and went on to play college basketball for Chattanooga.
After playing in the NBA for a number of years, Willie retired from the sport in 2003. In retirement, Willie has worked as an assistant coach with the Nuggets' D-League team and also coaches youth basketball leagues across the US.
With over 2,000 career points scored and 800 rebounds to his name, Willie is one of the most prolific player in Nuggets history.
Willie White was a 10-year veteran shooting guard for the Denver Nuggets from 1984 to 1986. He won three consecutive SoCon Player of the Year Awards as a senior and helped lead the Nuggets to their only division title in that span.
In 1985, he set an NBA record with 191 3-pointers made in a season and finished second behind Larry Bird in voting for MVP honors. Averaging 14 points per game during his career, Willie White is one of just two players ever to score more than 1,000 points playing primarily at shooting guard (the other being Jerry West).
After retiring from professional basketball, Willie went on to have a successful coaching career with stops in Portland, Milwaukee and Atlanta before joining Rick Majerus's staff at Saint Louis University as an assistant coach under Mike Davis in 2006.
15. Fred Reynolds
Career
- High school: Jones (Houston, Texas)
- College: UTEP (1979–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44th overall
- Selected by the Washington Bullets
- Position: Small forward
- First-team All-WAC (1984)
- Medals, , Men's basketball, Representing United States, World Championships, : 1982 Colombia: National team, Pan American Games, : 1983 Caracas: Team competition
- Men's basketball
- Representing United States
- World Championships
- : 1982 Colombia: National team
- Pan American Games
- : 1983 Caracas: Team competition
Fred Reynolds was born in Lufkin, Texas on August 20th, 1960. He played college basketball at UTEP and began his professional career with the Washington Bullets in 1984.
Over the course of his 12-year NBA career, Reynolds averaged 10.1 points and 4 rebounds per game while playing for the Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
In 2001 Fred retired from play after appearing in only six games with the Lakers due to a foot injury sustained during training camp that year; he continued to work as an assistant coach for his final two seasons with the team before retiring completely in 2003.
After retirement Fred moved back to Houston where he currently lives with his wife Sharon and their three children - daughter Kennedy (born 1990), son Brody (born 1992) and youngest son Ryder (born 2006).
16. Eric Turner
Career
- High school: Flint Central (Flint, Michigan)
- College: Michigan (1981–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall
- Selected by the Detroit Pistons
- Playing career: 1984–1989
- Position: Point guard
- Number: 12, 25
- 1984–1986: Detroit Spirits
- 1986: Staten Island Stallions
- 1986: Great Taste Coffee Makers
- 1988–1989: La Crosse Catbirds
- CBA Rookie of the Year (1985), Second-team Parade All-American (1981)
Eric Turner was born on February 7, 1963 in Elkhart, Indiana. He played high school basketball at Flint Central and attended Michigan from 1981 to 1984.
Turner was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 32nd overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft. He played for the Pistons between 1984 and 1989 before being traded to Miami Heat where he finished his playing career.
Eric Turner has since retired from active playing and currently works as a commentator for ESPN alongside fellow former player Rick Majerus.
In 2013, Eric Turner released his autobiography titled "Bad Boy: My Life Inside & Out of Basketball" which chronicled his journey from amateur player to a professional athlete and eventual battle with addiction.
As of 2019, Eric Turner is married with two children Eric Turner was a standout point guard in college and helped lead his team to the NCAA tournament.
He then played for Detroit Spirits, Staten Island Stallions, and La Crosse Catbirds before ending his career with Great Taste Coffee Makers. Turner has been honored with Second-team Parade All-American accolades and is still active in basketball coaching after retiring from playing professionally.
17. Joedy Gardner
Career
- 1955–1958: West Virginia
- Position(s): Guard
- 1972–1974: Arizona Western
- 1974–1978: West Virginia
- 1978–1981: Northern Arizona
- 1983–1985: Iowa (assistant)
Gardner was born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania on June 23, 1935. Gardner played guard for West Virginia from 1955 to 1958 and helped lead the Mountaineers to a conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament each season.
After his playing career ended, Gardner worked as a coach at several colleges before joining the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff in 1989. He remained with that team until 1992 when he was fired after leading them to their only playoff berth during his tenure.
Gardner then served as head coach of the Denver Nuggets from 1993 to 1996 before retiring from coaching altogether Joedy Gardner was the head coach of Northern Arizona from 1983 to 1985. His coaching career started at Arizona Western in 1972 before moving on to West Virginia in 1974.
He then spent three seasons at NAU, leading the Lumberjacks to a 94–96 record overall during his tenure there. Gardner next became an assistant coach with Iowa under Terry Donahue from 1985 to 1987 and then took over as interim head coach for the Hawkeyes when Donahue left for UCLA after just one season.
In 1988, Gardner was hired as head coach at North Carolina-Asheville where he stayed until 1991 before being let go following a 5–19 campaign that year. After leaving UNC-Ascension, Gardner served as offensive coordinator at Tulsa (1992), Kansas State (1993), and Missouri (1994).
He returned to coaching full time in 1995 when he was named head football coach at Indiana State but lasted only two seasons before resigning amid reports of player abuse and drug use within the team's program.
18. Mike Henderson
Mike Henderson is a singer-songwriter from Independence, Missouri. He has released several albums of country, blues and bluegrass music. Henderson was born in 1969 and began playing guitar at the age of nine.
His first album, The Ballad of Mike Henderson, was released in 2002 and featured covers of traditional country songs as well as his own originals.
In 2006 he won the prestigious CMA award for Best Male Vocalist and followed this up with Another Day in Paradise (2008), which reached number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
Henderson's most recent album, Just Like You Left Me (2013), features guest appearances from Kacey Musgraves, Hayes Carll and Rodney Crowell among others. Mike Henderson is a Grammy-nominated, six-time GRAMMY® Award winner and one of the most well-known and respected country musicians in the world.
He has released over 25 albums and charted more than 50 singles on Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts.
Mike also performs regularly with other notable artists, including Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs. In 2006 he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside such legends as Hank Williams Sr., Ray Price and Carl Perkins Jr.
Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Annie and their three children at their home in Nashville where he continues to write music for future releases.
19. Dan Trant
Career
- High school: Westfield (Westfield, Massachusetts)
- College: Clark (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 10 / Pick: 228th overall
- Selected by the Boston Celtics
Dan Trant was a 40-year-old American businessman who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Dan was employed as vice president of operations for Marsh & McLennan Companies, one of the Twin Towers' main tenants.
He is survived by his wife and two young children; they were living at home at the time of the attack. Dan's death has been described as "a senseless loss" by those close to him, and he will always be remembered for his valiant efforts during 9/11 Dan Trant was a standout high school player in Westfield, Massachusetts and went on to play college ball at Clark University.
He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1984, but didn't make an appearance in the NBA until 1988 with the Washington Bullets.
Dan then spent nine seasons with the team before being traded to Denver Nuggets (1992-1996), Orlando Magic (1997-2000) and Philadelphia 76ers (2001). In 2001 he retired from playing professional basketball and started his own business - D&T Tax Services - which still operates today.
Dan is currently married with two children and lives in New York City where he continues to work as a tax consultant for businesses of all sizes around the city.
20. David Pope
Career
- High school: Menchville (Newport News, Virginia)
- College: Norfolk State (1980–1984)
- NBA draft 1984 / Round: 3 / Pick: 62nd overall
- Selected by the Utah Jazz
- Position: Small forward
- Number: 30, 51
- 1984: Albuquerque Silvers
- 1984–1985: Kansas City Kings
- 1985–1986: Wyoming Wildcatters
- 1986: Seattle SuperSonics
- 1986–1987: Wyoming Wildcatters
- No. 34 retired by Norfolk State Spartans
David Pope was a basketball player who played in the NBA for 14 seasons. David Pope was born on April 15, 1962 in Newport News, Virginia. David Pope attended high school at Menchville (Newport News, Virginia).
After graduating from high school, DavidPope enrolled at Norfolk State University to play college basketball. In 1984, DavidPope was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the NBA draft and spent 14 seasons with them before retiring in 2003.
Following his retirement from playing professional basketball, DavidPope became an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats franchise until he retired due to health concerns in 2015.
DavidPope passed away on October 21st 2016 after a long battle with cancer at 54 years old David Pope is a small forward who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1986 NBA draft.
Pope played for several teams throughout his career, most notably with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Norfolk State Spartans. He won an NCAA championship with Norfolk State in 1990 and was named to both the All-ACC and All-America Teams that year.
David Pope retired from professional basketball following the 2000 season, having averaged 10 points per game over his 14-year career.
21. Tom Owens
Career
- High school: La Salle Academy, (New York City, New York)
- College: South Carolina (1968–1971)
- NBA draft 1971 / Round: 4 / Pick: 58th overall
- Selected by the San Diego Rockets
- Playing career: 1971–1985
- Position: Center / Power forward
- Number: 24, 52, 14, 25, 42, 26, 44
- 1971–1972: Memphis Pros
- 1972–1974: Carolina Cougars
- 1974: Spirits of St. Louis
- 1974–1975: Memphis Sounds
- 1975: Kentucky Colonels
- 1975–1976: Indiana Pacers
- 1976: San Antonio Spurs
- 1976–1977: Houston Rockets
- 1977–1981: Portland Trail Blazers
- 1981–1982: Indiana Pacers
- 1982–1983: Detroit Pistons
- 1983–1985: Fabriano Basket
- 2× First-team All-ACC (1970, 1971), Second-team All-ACC (1969)
- Points: 9,898 (11.3 ppg)
- Rebounds: 5,985 (6.8 rpg)
- Assists: 1,533 (1.7 apg)
Tom Owens was a center and power forward in the NBA for over 20 years. He played for several teams, including the Memphis Pros, Carolina Cougars, Spirits of St.
Louis, and San Diego Rockets. Tom Owens is most famous for his time with the Houston Rockets where he won three championships (1974-1976-1981). After retiring from playing basketball, Tom Owens ran a successful business career before passing away in 2017 at 73 years old.
Tom Owens was a prolific scorer in both the ABA and NBA. He averaged over 12 points per game during his career, making him one of the most dangerous scorers in basketball history.
Tom Owens spent time with several different teams throughout his playing career, but he is best known for his time with the Memphis Sounds and Kentucky Colonels in the ABA.
After spending two seasons with Memphis, Owens joined the Indiana Pacers in 1976 where he would remain for six years. In 1981, Owens moved to Portland where he would play for three seasons before joining Italian team Fabriano Basket in 1985.
Tom Owens retired from professional basketball after playing just one season with Fabriano Basket due to an injury sustained during that year’s EuroLeague tournament.
Owens has since been involved in coaching both at college level and internationally as a head coach of men's and women's teams respectively. In 2006, Tom was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its class of 2006 which also included Rick Majerus and Julius Erving.
Final Words
. . There are many great players who were drafted in the 1984 NBA draft, but some of the best include Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Karl Malone.
These five stars helped make the 1984 season one of the most memorable ones in league history.
