1990 NBA draft

[2][3] He became a nine-time All-Star, achieved the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996, won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, holds many statistical records during his tenure with the since rebranded and relocated Seattle SuperSonics, and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2013.

The top pick of the draft was Syracuse's Derrick Coleman who was selected by the New Jersey Nets.

One player who had been projected to be a lottery pick as well as possibly the number one by media outlets and draft analysts was Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers, who died of a heart condition in March 1990 after collapsing during a game.

Not only that, but this would be the fifth year in a row where a player that qualified for the status of a "college underclassman" would be playing professional basketball overseas, with former Grambling State University player Jesse Spinner going to Austria to play professionally for the Sefra Tyrolia.

Including him, that expands the number of underclassmen for this year out to fourteen total players.

Derrick Coleman was selected 1st overall by the New Jersey Nets .
Gary Payton was selected 2nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics .
Chris Jackson (later Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) was selected 3rd overall by the Denver Nuggets .
Kendall Gill was selected 5th overall by the Charlotte Hornets .
Antonio Davis was selected 45th overall by the Indiana Pacers .