1965 NBA draft

Teams that finished last in each division, the San Francisco Warriors and the New York Knicks, were awarded the first four picks in the draft.

The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season.

Rick Barry from the University of Miami, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was drafted second by the Warriors.

[5] Four players from this draft, Barry, Bradley, Goodrich and fifth pick Billy Cunningham, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

[6] Barry and Cunningham were also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996.

[7] The Los Angeles Lakers had intended on selecting Wayne Estes, a Montana native who played for the Utah State Aggies, in the first round.

However, Estes died on February 8, 1965, aged 21, when he was electrocuted by a downed wire at the scene of an auto accident he and teammates were visiting.

[13] Bradley, who spent all of his 10-year playing career with the Knicks, won the NBA championships twice in 1970 and 1973 and was also selected to one All-Star Game.

[16] Jerry Sloan, the 4th pick, was selected to two All-Star Games during his playing career before becoming a head coach.

He joined Israel I club Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1966 and played there until his retirement in 1980, winning several Israeli league titles and a European Cup Championship in 1977.

^ 1: Jerry Sloan was selected as an eligible junior in the 3rd round of the 1964 draft by the Baltimore Bullets but decided to stay in college.

A basketball player, wearing a jersey with a word "PRINCETON" and the number "42", is jumping in front of another basketball player who is wearing a jersey with the number "24".
Bill Bradley was the New York Knicks ' territorial pick.
An older man wearing a purple and yellow jacket is holding a basketball.
Gail Goodrich was the Los Angeles Lakers ' territorial pick.
A man wearing a basketball uniform stands with his legs facing his right and holds a basketball aligned with his legs.
Rick Barry was the 2nd pick, selected by the San Francisco Warriors .
A man wearing a basketball jersey with "Bulls 4".
Jerry Sloan was the 4th pick and selected by the Baltimore Bullets .