Lead Story - 6/19/2026

1989: “Nothing But Net” Draft Order

ROUND 1
1. Seattle SuperSonics (6 Balls) +4
2. Phoenix Suns (9 Balls) Even
3. Chicago Bulls (10 Balls) -2
4. Atlanta Hawks (8 Balls) -1
5. Philadelphia 76ers (7 Balls) -1
6. Boston Celtics (5 Balls) Even
7. San Antonio Spurs (4 Balls) Even
8. Washington Bullets (3 Balls) Even
9. Kansas City Kings (2 Balls) Even
10. Portland Trail Blazers (1 Ball) Even
11. New York Nets (33-49)
12. New York Knicks (36-46)
13. Buffalo Braves (45-37)
14. Detroit Pistons (46-36)
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
16. Milwaukee Bucks (50-32)
17. Vancouver Grizzlies (53-29) – Traded to Phoenix Suns
18. Golden State Warriors (54-28) – Traded to Atlanta Hawks
19. Houston Rockets (59-23)
20. Los Angeles Lakers (66-16)
21. New Orleans Jazz (71-11) - Traded to Atlanta Hawks
22. Indiana Pacers (75-7)

ROUND 2
1. Chicago Bulls (8-74)
2. Phoenix Suns (13-69)
3. Atlanta Hawks (16-66)
4. Philadelphia 76ers (25-57)
5. Seattle SuperSonics (28-54)
6. Boston Celtics (30-52)
7. San Antonio Spurs (30-52)
8. Washington Bullets (33-49)
9. New York Nets (33-49)
10. New York Knicks (36-46)
11. Kansas City Kings (40-42)
12. Portland Trail Blazers (41-41)
13. Buffalo Braves (45-37)
14. Detroit Pistons (46-36)
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
16. Milwaukee Bucks (50-32)
17. Vancouver Grizzlies (53-29)
18. Golden State Warriors (54-28)
19. Houston Rockets (59-23)
20. Los Angeles Lakers (66-16)
21. New Orleans Jazz (71-11)
22. Indiana Pacers (75-7)

6/16/2026

1989 Draft Lottery Results

The Draft Lottery determines the order of selection for the first three teams only or the teams who originally held the rights if they were traded. The remaining non-playoff teams are selected in inverse order of the win–loss record for the remaining teams, or the teams who originally held the rights if they were traded. Therefore, the team with the worst record in the league is assured of a selection no worse than fourth, the team with the second worst record no worse than fifth and so on.

1. Seattle SuperSonics (6 Balls) +4
2. Phoenix Suns (9 Balls) Even
3. Chicago Bulls (10 Balls) -2
4. Atlanta Hawks (8 Balls) -1
5. Philadelphia 76ers (7 Balls) -1
6. Boston Celtics (5 Balls) Even
7. San Antonio Spurs (4 Balls) Even
8. Washington Bullets (3 Balls) Even
9. Kansas City Kings (2 Balls) Even
10. Portland Trail Blazers (1 Ball) Even

1989 “Nothing But Net” Draft Lottery Results

6/13/2026

1989: "Nothing But Net" Playoff Schedule

Playoff Schedule
Monday June 15th: First Round
Tuesday June 16th: Conference Semifinals
Wednesday June 17th: Conference Finals
Thursday June 18th: 1989 NBN Championship Finals

First Round
(Best-of-5 in the 2-2-1 format)
* (Division Winner)
# (Set by Tie Breaker Rules)

Simulation Times (Pacific Standard Time)
8 AM – Game 1
10 AM – Game 2
12 PM – Game 3
2 PM – Game 4 (If Necessary)
4 PM – Game 5 (If Necessary)

Eastern Conference
(1) *New Orleans Jazz (Bye – Central Division Champion)
(2) *Buffalo Braves (Bye – Atlantic Division Champion)
(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) #New York Nets (Rockets advance 3-0)
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) New York Knicks (Cavaliers advance 3-0)

Western Conference
(1) *Indiana Pacers (Bye – Midwest Division Champion)
(2) *Los Angeles Lakers (Bye – Pacific Division Champion)
(3) Golden State Warriors (6) Detroit Pistons (Warriors advance 3-1)
(4) Vancouver Grizzlies vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks (Bucks advance 3-2)

Semifinals, Finals, Championship
(Best-of-7 in the 2-3-2 format)
* (Division Winner)

Simulation Times (Pacific Standard Time)
6 AM – Game 1
8 AM – Game 2
10 AM – Game 3
12 PM – Game 4
2 PM – Game 5 (If Necessary)
4 PM – Game 6 (If Necessary)
6 PM – Game 7 (If Necessary)

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference
(1) *New Orleans Jazz vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers (Jazz advance 4-0)
(2) *Buffalo Braves vs. (3) Houston Rockets (Rockets advance 4-0)

Western Conference
(1) *Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks (Pacers advance 4-0)
(2) *Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Golden State Warriors (Lakers advance 4-1)

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference
(1) *New Orleans Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets (Jazz advance 4-0)

Western Conference
(1) *Indiana Pacers vs. (2) *Los Angeles Lakers (Pacers advance 4-0)

1989: “Nothing But Net” Championship
(E1) *New Orleans Jazz vs. (W1) *Indiana Pacers (Jazz take championship 4-3)

1989: “Nothing But Net” Champion – New Orleans Jazz

6/13/2026

1989: "Nothing But Net" Final Season Standings

1. *Indiana Pacers (75-7) W1 - Midwest Division & Western Conference Champions
2. *New Orleans Jazz (71-11) E1- Central Division, Eastern Conference, & World Champions
3. *Los Angeles Lakers (66-16) W2 – Pacific Division Champion
4. Houston Rockets (59-23) E3
5. Golden State Warriors (54-28) W3
6. Vancouver Grizzlies (53-29) W4
7. #Milwaukee Bucks (50-32) W5
8. #Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32) E4
9. Detroit Pistons (46-36) W6
10. *Buffalo Braves (45-37) E2 – Atlantic Division Champion
11. Portland Trail Blazers (41-41) 1 LB (1.8%)
12. Kansas City Kings (40-42) 2 LB (3.6%)
13. New York Knicks (36-46) E5
14. #New York Nets (33-49) E6
15. #Washington Bullets (33-49) 3 LB (5.5%)
16. #San Antonio Spurs (30-52) 4 LB (7.3%)
17. #Boston Celtics (30-52) 5 LB (9.1%)
18. Seattle SuperSonics (28-54) 6 LB (10.9%)
19. Philadelphia 76ers (25-57) 7 LB (12.7%)
20. Atlanta Hawks (16-66) 8 LB (14.5%)
21. Phoenix Suns (13-69) 9 LB (16.4%)
22. Chicago Bulls (8-74) 10 LB (18.2%)

*Division Winners
#Tied Records

NOTES: (Tiebreakers Rules: 1. Head-to-Head 2. Points For 3. Points Against)
#Milwaukee Bucks (3-1) over #Cleveland Cavaliers (1-3) H2H
#New York Nets (8813) over #Washington Bullets (8476) PF
#San Antonio Spurs (3-1) over #Boston Celtics (1-3) H2H

6/6/2026

1989: “Nothing But Net” All-Star Game

The East defeated the West 113 - 104 with Michael Jordan of the New Orleans Jazz taking home the Most Valuable Player Award. Jordan led the East with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal. Charles Barkley of the New York Knicks followed up with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

Clyde Drexler of the Indiana Pacers led the West with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and added 3 steals. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Golden State Warriors followed up with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, and a steal in the loss.

1989: "Nothing But Net" All-Star Game

2/21/2025

1989: “Nothing But Net” Awards

MVP – Michael Jordan (New Orleans Jazz)
Defensive POY – Hakeem Olajuwon (Golden State Warriors)
Sixth Man – Alvin Robertson (Boston Celtics)
Rookie of the Year – Mitch Richmond (Cleveland Cavaliers)
All-Star MVP – Michael Jordan (New Orleans Jazz)
Finals MVP – Michael Jordan (New Orleans Jazz)

ALL-NBA Team (MVP Points)
PG Magic Johnson (Houston Rockets)
SG Michael Jordan (New Orleans Jazz)
SF Chris Mullin (Milwaukee Bucks)
PF Charles Barkley (New York Knicks)
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Golden State Warriors)

ALL-Defensive Team (DOY Points)
PG John Stockton (Indiana Pacers)
SG Michael Jordan (New Orleans Jazz)
SF Chris Mullin (Milwaukee Bucks)
PF Karl Malone (Washington Bullets)
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Golden State Warriors)

ALL – Rookie Team
PG Kenny Smith (Philadelphia 76ers)
SG Mitch Richmond (Cleveland Cavaliers)
SF Reggie Lewis (Los Angeles Lakers)
PF Charles Smith (Philadelphia 76ers)
C Benoit Benjamin (New York Knicks)

Division Winners
Atlantic Division Champion – Buffalo Braves
Central Division Champion – New Orleans Jazz
Midwest Division Champion – Indiana Pacers
Pacific Division Champion – Los Angeles Lakers

Conference Winners
Eastern Conference Champs – New Orleans Jazz
Western Conference Champs – Indiana Pacers

1989: “Nothing But Net” Champions – New Orleans Jazz

"Nothing But Net" League History

2/8/2025

Traded Picks

1977
Phoenix Suns take Boston Celtics 1977 1st Round Pick (Thompson/Wicks)

1978
Atlanta Hawks take Houston Rockets 1978 1st Round Pick (Nater/Landsburger)
Indiana Pacers take Portland Trail Blazers 1978 1st Round Pick (Dave Cowens)
Kansas City Kings take Indiana Pacers 1978 1st Round Pick (Silas_Heard)
Kansas City Kings take Indiana Pacers 1978 2nd Round Pick (Silas_Heard)

1979
Kansas City Kings take Seattle SuperSonics 1979 1st Round Pick (Rick Barry)
Atlanta Hawks take Houston Rockets 1979 1st Round Pick (Williamson/Beard)
Via Atlanta Hawks: Phoenix Suns take Houston Rockets 1979 1st Round Pick (Rickey Green)
Atlanta Hawks take New Orleans Jazz 1979 1st Round Pick (Edwards/Mitchell)
Via Atlanta Hawks: Phoenix Suns take New Orleans Jazz 1979 1st Round Pick (Rickey Green)
Chicago Bulls take Atlanta Hawks 1979 2nd Round Pick (Davis/Richardson)
Chicago Bulls take Boston Celtics 1979 1st Round Pick#7 (Clifford Ray)
Boston Celtics take Chicago Bulls 1979 1st Round Pick #5 (Clifford Ray)

1980
Houston Rockets take Boston Celtics 1980 1st Round Pick (Fernsten/Nater)
Houston Rockets take Atlanta Hawks 1980 1st Round Pick (Whitehead/Hayes)
Atlanta Hawks take New Orleans Jazz 1980 1st Round Pick (Edwards/Mitchell)
Via Atlanta Hawks: Chicago Bulls take New Orleans Jazz 1980 1st Round Pick (Davis/Richardson)
New Orleans Jazz take Atlanta Hawks 1980 2nd Round Pick (Edwards/Mitchell)
Via New Orleans Jazz: Indiana Pacers take Atlanta Hawks 1980 2nd Round Pick (Issel/Edwards)
Indiana Pacers take New Orleans Jazz 1980 2nd Round Pick (Issel/Edwards)
Indiana Pacers take Portland Trail Blazers 1980 1st Round Pick (Calvin Murphy)

1981
Milwaukee Bucks take Atlanta Hawks 1981 1st Round Pick (Kramer/Jackson)
Detroit Pistons take Atlanta Hawks 1981 2nd Round Pick (Johnson/Tomjanovich)
Portland Trail Blazers take Boston Celtics 1st Round Pick (Landsberger/Johnson)
Los Angeles Lakers take Chicago Bulls 1981 1st Round Pick (Calvin Natt)
Chicago Bulls take Los Angeles Lakers 1981 1st Round Pick (Calvin Natt)
Detroit Pistons take Los Angeles Lakers (Via Chicago Bulls) 1981 1st Round Pick (Artis Gilmore)

1982
Los Angeles Lakers take Chicago Bulls 1982 1st Round Pick (Calvin Natt)
Chicago Bulls take Los Angeles Lakers 1982 1st Round Pick (Calvin Natt)
Boston Celtics take Los Angeles Lakers 1982 (Via Chicago Bulls) 1st Round Pick (Erving/Moore)
Indiana Pacers take Atlanta Hawks 1982 2nd Round Pick (Butch Carter)

1983
Boston Celtics take Portland Trail Blazers 1983 1st Round Pick (King/Pierce)

1984
New Orleans Jazz take Phoenix Suns 1984 1st Round Pick (Cedric Maxwell)

1985
Milwaukee Bucks take Phoenix Suns 1985 1st Round Pick (Marques Johnson)
Milwaukee Bucks take Phoenix Suns 1985 2nd Round Pick (Marques Johnson)
Philadelphia 76ers take Boston Celtics 1985 1st Round Pick (Carr/Williams)

1986
Philadelphia 76ers take Boston Celtics 1986 1st Round Pick (Carr/Williams)

1987
Chicago Bulls take Boston Celtics 1987 1st Round Pick (Ballard/Natt)
Atlanta Hawks take Detroit Pistons 1987 1st Round Pick (Person/Tarpley)
Atlanta Hawks take New Orleans Jazz 1987 1st Round Pick (Jones/Lucas)

1988
Atlanta Hawks take Detroit Pistons 1988 1st Round Pick (Person/Tarpley)
Chicago Bulls take Portland Trail Blazers 1988 1st Round Pick (Mark Jackson)

1989
Atlanta Hawks take Golden State Warriors 1989 1st Round Pick (A Dantley & M Thompson)
Phoenix Suns take Vancouver Grizzlies 1989 1st Round Pick (Bird/Short)

1990
Atlanta Hawks take Portland Trail Blazers 1990 1st Round Pick (Gamble/Sikma)
Atlanta Hawks take Golden State Warriors 1990 1st Round Pick (A Dantley & M Thompson)
Phoenix Suns take Vancouver Grizzlies 1990 1st Round Pick (Bird/Short)

2/28/2023

ABA-NBA Merger

The ABA-NBA merger was a major pro sports business maneuver in 1976 when the American Basketball Association combined with the National Basketball Association, after multiple attempts over several years. The NBA and ABA had entered merger talks as early as 1970, but an antitrust suit filed by the head of the NBA players union, Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n, blocked the merger until 1976. The NBA agreed to accept four of the remaining six ABA teams: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. The remaining two ABA teams, the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis, folded, with their players entering a dispersal draft.