1986 NBA draft
The 1986 NBA Draft was held on June 17, 1986.
Overview and aftermath
Drug issues involving drafted players
There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His death was ruled an overdose that resulted from the abuse of the drug cocaine. Other problems involving drugs hampered the careers of Chris Washburn, Roy Tarpley, and William Bedford.
Some of these problems opened the door for lesser-known, second-round draft choices such as Mark Price, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Duckworth, and Jeff Hornacek, who all went on to have all-star careers.
Players who became coaches
Following their retirements, a few players from this draft have moved on to become coaches in the NBA. Nate McMillan currently coaches the Portland Trail Blazers. Terry Porter coached the Phoenix Suns as well as a stint with the Milwaukee Bucks. Scott Skiles has coached for the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and currently the Milwaukee Bucks, where he succeeded another member of the draft class, Larry Krystkowiak. Johnny Dawkins also entered the coaching profession at the college ranks, serving as an assistant at Duke University for many years before becoming the head coach at Stanford University.
International draftees
This draft contained two exceptional international players, both of whom had shortened careers for unusual reasons. Third-round selection Dražen Petrović was coming off an all-star caliber fourth season when he was killed in an automobile accident in 1993. He has since been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The other, Arvydas Sabonis, was not permitted to play in the United States because of the dangerous political climate in the Soviet Union. He won gold and bronze Olympic medals in 1988 (USSR), and in 1992 (Lithuania). After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, Sabonis had a very successful career in Europe before finally joining the Portland Trail Blazers in 1995. Arvydas Sabonis had lost much of his mobility by the time he joined the team because of a string of knee and Achilles tendon injuries. He finished second in both the Sixth Man Award, and Rookie of the Year voting. He played seven seasons with Portland before returning to his homeland of Lithuania where he finished his career.
Other draftee contributions to the game
This draft is known for the number of players who made important contributions to the sport of basketball outside of the court. For example, Nate McMillan had a highly successful run with the Sonics as head coach before taking his current job with the Portland Trail Blazers, Scott Skiles is the current coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and also the first coach to lead the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs in the post-Jordan era.
Round one
| = All-Star | |
| = Hall of Fame |
* compensation for draft choices traded away by Ted Stepien
