The 1982 NBA draft took place on June 29, 1982, at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
The #1 selection from this year's draft, future Hall of Fame small forward James Worthy, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers despite them winning the NBA championship the previous season. Their #1 selection in 1982 came from a 1979 trade the team had made with the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which Cleveland had traded their first-round pick for journeyman power forward Don Ford. Worthy would help turn LA into the Showtime Lakers dynasty of the 1980s. Meanwhile, what proved to be reckless trades of first round draft picks by then Cavaliers' owner Ted Stepien led to the NBA creating the "Ted Stepien Rule" forbidding teams from trading first round draft picks in back-to-back years unless they had a different first-round pick that they kept during that time.
Draft
{|class=wikitable
|-
| PG || Point guard
| SG || Shooting guard
| SF || Small forward
| PF || Power forward
| C || Center
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="16%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| Team
! width="20%"| School/club team
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| SF
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
| North Carolina
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|2
|bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| *~
| PF
|
| San Diego Clippers
| DePaul
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|3
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| SF
|
| Utah Jazz
| Georgia
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|4
|
| SF
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| Wyoming
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|5
|
| C/PF
|
| Kansas City Kings
| Texas
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|6
|
| SG
|
| New York Knicks
| Minnesota
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|7
|
| SG
|
| Chicago Bulls
| San Francisco
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|8
|Clark Kellogg
| PF || || Indiana Pacers || Ohio State
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|9
|
| PF
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Wichita State
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|10
|
| SG
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| Purdue
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|11
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| Fat Lever*
| PG
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Arizona State
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|12
|
| PG
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers || Boston College
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|13
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
| SG
|
| New Jersey Nets
| Georgetown
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|14
|
| PG
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Oregon State
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|15
|
| SF
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Bradley
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|16
|
| SG
|
| Houston Rockets
| Baylor
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|17
|
| SG
|
| Kansas City Kings
| Georgia Tech
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|18
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
|SF
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Rice
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|19
|
| PG
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Houston<!--This article is specific to the University of Houston men's basketball team of that era.-->
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|20
|
| SF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| Tulsa
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|21
|
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets
| Alabama
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|22
|
| C
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| California
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center|23
|
| C
|
| Boston Celtics
| Cleveland State
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|24
|
| SG
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| UAB
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|25
|
| SG
|
| Washington Bullets
| Saint Joseph's
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|26
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| Chicago Bulls
| Missouri
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|27
|
| PF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| BYU
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|28
|
| PF
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Kansas
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|29
|
| F/C
|
| New York Knicks
| Arkansas
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|30
|
| C
|
| Chicago Bulls
| San Francisco
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|31
|
| F
|
| Chicago Bulls
| Fresno State
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|32
|
| PF
| || San Diego Clippers || UC Santa Barbara
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|33
|
| SF
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| James Madison
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|34
|
| SF
|
| New York Knicks
| Duke
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|35
|
| SG
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Louisville
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|36
|
| SF
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Bradley
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|37
|
| C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Jackson State
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|38
| Wayne Sappleton
| F
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Loyola (IL)
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|39
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Phoenix Suns
| UC Irvine
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|40
|
| G
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Wake Forest
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|41
|
| G
|
| Washington Bullets
| USC
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|42
|
| SG
|
| Houston Rockets
| Texas Tech
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|43
|
| SG
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Portland
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|44
|
| F
|
| Washington Bullets
| USC Upstate
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|45
|
| F/C
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Chattanooga
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|46
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Boston Celtics
| Kansas
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|47
|
|G
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|Marquette
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|48
|
| SG
|
| San Diego Clippers
| Long Beach State
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|49
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
| F
| <br>
| Utah Jazz
| BYU
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|50
|
|PF
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Connecticut
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|51
|
|PF/C
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Wake Forest
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|52
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New York Knicks
|Washington
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|53
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Kansas State
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|54
|
|PG
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Vanderbilt
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|55
|
|PG
|
|Utah Jazz
|Louisville
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|56
|
|PF
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Detroit
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|57
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New York Knicks
|Illinois
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|58
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Washington Bullets
|Upsala
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|59
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New Jersey Nets
|North Carolina
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|60
|
|C
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Wyoming
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|61
|
|PF
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Maryland
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|62
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Denver Nuggets
|Pepperdine
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|63
|
| C
|
| Houston Rockets
| NC State
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|64
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|South Florida
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|65
|
|SF
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Oregon
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|66
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Alabama
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|67
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Jacksonville
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|68
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Virginia Tech
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|69
|
|PG
|
|Boston Celtics
|Northeastern
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|70
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|South Alabama
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|71
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Loyola Chicago
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|72
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
| C
|
| Utah Jazz
| UCLA
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|73
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Texas A&M
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|74
|
|SG
|
|Kansas City Kings
|UCLA
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|75
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|New York Knicks
|UAB
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|76
|
|C
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Connecticut
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|77
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Virginia
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|78
|
|SG
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Western Michigan
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|79
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Georgetown
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|80
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Illinois
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|81
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Washington Bullets
|Long Beach State
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|82
|
|SF/SG
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Arkansas
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|83
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Golden State Warriors
|VCU
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|84
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Denver Nuggets
|Southwestern Louisiana
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|85
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Houston Rockets
|George Mason
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|86
|
|PF
|
|Phoenix Suns
|South Alabama
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|87
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|South Florida
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|88
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Idaho
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|89
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Middle Tennessee
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|90
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Western Kentucky
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|91
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Duquesne
|-
|align=center|4
|align=center|92
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Boston Celtics
|Tulsa
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|93
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|UTEP
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|94
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Tennessee
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|95
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Utah Jazz
|Connecticut
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|96
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Iowa
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|97
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Grambling State
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|98
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New York Knicks
|Villanova
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|99
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Oklahoma City
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|100
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Wisconsin–Eau Claire
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|101
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Florida Southern
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|102
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Minnesota
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|103
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Centenary
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|104
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Washington Bullets
|Hawaii
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|105
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New Jersey Nets
|UAB
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|106
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Alcorn State
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|107
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Houston Rockets
|Virginia Tech
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|108
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Missouri
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|109
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Denver Nuggets
|Santa Clara
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|110
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|Texas Tech
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|111
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Southern Illinois
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|112
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Washington Bullets
|Detroit Mercy
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|113
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Seton Hall
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|114
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Fresno State
|-
|align=center|5
|align=center|115
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Boston Celtics
|Saint Peter's
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|116
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|South Florida
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|117
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Georgia
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|118
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Utah Jazz
|Southern
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|119
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Northwestern State
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|120
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Louisville
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|121
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|New York Knicks
|Dayton
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|122
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Nevada
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|123
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Saint Joseph's
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|124
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Minnesota
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|125
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Utah State
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|126
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Mount St. Mary's
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|127
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Washington Bullets
|Idaho State
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|128
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Furman
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|129
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Saint Mary's
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|130
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Hardin–Simmons
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|131
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Denver Nuggets
|North Carolina
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|132
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Houston Rockets
|Louisiana–Monroe
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|133
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|New Mexico State
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|134
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Charlotte
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|135
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Wisconsin–Eau Claire
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|136
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Houston
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|137
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Iowa
|-
|align=center|6
|align=center|138
|
|SG
|
|Boston Celtics
|Richmond
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|139
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|Kansas State
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|140
|
|PG
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Colorado State
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|141
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Utah Jazz
|Michigan
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|142
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Northwestern
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|143
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Illinois
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|144
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New York Knicks
|Canisius
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|145
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Kentucky
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|146
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|<br>
|Indiana Pacers
|Evansville
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|147
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Marquette
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|148
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Clemson
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|149
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Lamar
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|150
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Washington Bullets
|USC Upstate
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|151
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New Jersey Nets
|UCLA
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|152
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Pacific
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|153
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Denver Nuggets
|North Carolina
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|154
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Houston Rockets
|Wake Forest
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|155
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Charlotte
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|156
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|North Texas
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|157
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Northern Illinois
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|158
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Cincinnati
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|159
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|USC
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|160
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Missouri State
|-
|align=center|7
|align=center|161
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Boston Celtics
|West Virginia
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|162
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|VCU
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|163
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Colorado
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|164
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Utah Jazz
|Middle Tennessee
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|165
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|Arkansas
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|166
|
|PF
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Kansas State
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|167
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|New York Knicks
|Siena
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|168
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Chicago Bulls
|UNLV
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|169
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Bradley
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|170
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Marquette
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|171
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Western Oregon
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|172
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Howard
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|173
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Washington Bullets
|Delaware
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|174
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Memphis
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|175
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Florida Southern
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|176
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|<br>
|Houston Rockets
|Seton Hall
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|177
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Georgetown (Kentucky)
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|178
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Denver Nuggets
|UAB
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|179
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|McNeese State
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|180
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Seattle SuperSonics
|Washington
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|181
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Illinois
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|182
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Tulane
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|183
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Jackson State
|-
|align=center|8
|align=center|184
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Boston Celtics
|Georgetown
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|185
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|South Alabama
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|186
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Diego Clippers
|San Francisco
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|187
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Utah Jazz
|LIU
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|188
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|UT Arlington
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|189
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Nebraska
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|190
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New York Knicks
|South Carolina State
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|191
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Chicago Bulls
|DePaul
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|192
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Purdue
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|193
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Detroit Pistons
|Michigan State
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|194
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Elizabeth City State
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|195
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|Saint Joseph's
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|196
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|<br>
|Washington Bullets
|Howard
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|197
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Oral Roberts
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|198
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Golden State Warriors
|Chattanooga
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|199
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Washington
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|200
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Denver Nuggets
|UCLA
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|201
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|St. Mary's (Texas)
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|202
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Idaho State
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|203
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Los Angeles Lakers
|Rutgers
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|204
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Cheyney
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|205
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Boston Celtics
|Ionikos Nikaias
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|206
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Cleveland Cavaliers
|Marion
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|207
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Diego Clippers
|Creighton
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|208
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Utah Jazz
|New Orleans
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|209
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Dallas Mavericks
|UT Arlington
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|210
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Kansas City Kings
|Iowa State
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|211
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New York Knicks
|Manhattan
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|212
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|C
|
|Chicago Bulls
|Campbell
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|213
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Indiana Pacers
|Wisconsin–Stout
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|214
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Detroit Pistons
|York
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|215
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Portland Trail Blazers
|UC Irvine
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|216
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Atlanta Hawks
|Old Dominion
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|217
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Washington Bullets
|North Carolina Central
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|218
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|New Jersey Nets
|Ole Miss
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|219
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Golden State Warriors
|UC Irvine
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|220
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Denver Nuggets
|Niagara
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|221
|
|F
|
|Phoenix Suns
|Idaho State
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|222
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|San Antonio Spurs
|McMurry
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|223
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Milwaukee Bucks
|Wisconsin–Eau Claire
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|224
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|G
|
|Philadelphia 76ers
|Drexel
|-
|align=center|10
|align=center|225
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
|F
|
|Boston Celtics
|Indiana
|}
Early entrants
College underclassmen
For the first time since 1978, a player that had previously qualified for entry in the NBA draft as a college underclassman (in this case, a Nigerian born player from Sam Houston State University named Yommy Sangodeyi) would later withdraw his entry into the draft pool. He would become the only underclassman player to officially withdraw his name from an NBA draft during the 1980s decade, though he would appear in the draft. The following twelve college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance otherwise.
- John Bagley – G, Boston College (junior)
- Terry Cummings – F, DePaul (junior)
- Quintin Dailey – G, San Francisco (junior)
- Ollie Johnson – F, Washington State (junior)
- Clark Kellogg – F, Ohio State (junior)
- Cliff Levingston – F, Wichita State (junior)
- Michael McDuffen – G, Murray State (junior)
- LaSalle Thompson – F/C, Texas (junior)
- Dominique Wilkins – F, Georgia (junior)
- Rob Williams – G, Houston (junior)
- James Worthy – F, North Carolina (junior)
- Victor Mitchell – C, Kansas (junior)
Invited attendees
The 1982 NBA draft is considered to be the fifth NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, located in the Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum, a first at the Garden),), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with Larry O'Brien, the NBA's commissioner. The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 14 prospects at the time. However, they inexplicably did not give an invite to the actual #1 pick of the draft there, All-American, ACC Player of the Year, and NCAA Tournament MVP on the championship North Carolina Tarheels James Worthy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Scott Hastings would be the first invited green room player to stay there beyond the first round of the draft, falling into the second round and languishing to overall pick #29.
The following players were invited to attend the 1982 NBA draft festivities: