The 1988 NBA draft took place on June 28, 1988, in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds. This was also the first draft for the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, prior to their inaugural season.
Danny Manning was picked first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and later became a two-time All-Star and a Sixth Man of the Year winner. However, injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential, despite playing 15 seasons. Mitch Richmond, the fifth pick, went on to earn six All-Star and five All-NBA team selections, while also winning Rookie of the Year. Other notable selections include All-Stars Rik Smits, Hersey Hawkins and Dan Majerle, as well as nine-time NBA champion Steve Kerr, who achieved championship success as a player (five championships) and as a coach (four championships).
Draft
right|thumb|150px|[[Rik Smits, the 2nd pick]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Rod Strickland, the 19th pick]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Brian Shaw (basketball)|Brian Shaw, the 24th pick]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Keith Smart, the 41st pick]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Steve Kerr, the 50th pick]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Craig Neal, the 71st pick]]
{|class=wikitable
|-
| PG || Point guard
| SG || Shooting guard
| SF || Small forward
| PF || Power forward
| C || Center
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! style="width:1%;"| Round
! style="width:1%;"| Pick
! style="width:19%;"| Player
! style="width:1%;"| Position
! style="width:16%;"| Nationality
! style="width:35%;"| Team
! style="width:20%;"| School/club team
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
|PF
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Kansas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
|C
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Marist <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3
|
| PF
|
| Philadelphia 76ers <small>(traded to L.A. Clippers)</small>
| Pittsburgh <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4
|
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets
| Auburn <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 5
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^~
| SG
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Kansas State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 6
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
| SG
|
| Los Angeles Clippers <small>(from Sacramento, traded to Philadelphia)</small>
| Bradley <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 7
|
| F
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Temple <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 8
|
| SG
|
| Charlotte Hornets
| Kentucky <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 9
|
| C
|
| Miami Heat
| Syracuse <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 10
|
| SG
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| Georgia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 11
|
| C
|
| Chicago Bulls <small>(from New York)</small>
| Vanderbilt <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12
|
| SF
|
| Washington Bullets
| Oklahoma <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 13
|
| SG/SF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| Iowa State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 14
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
| SF
|
| Phoenix Suns <small>(from Cleveland)</small>
| Central Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 15
|
| PG
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 16
|
| SG
|
| Houston Rockets
| Missouri <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 17
|
| C
|
| Utah Jazz
| Wyoming <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 18
|
| SG
|
| Sacramento Kings <small>(from Atlanta)</small>
| San Jose State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 19
| bgcolor="CCFFCC"| <sup>x</sup>
| PG
|
| New York Knicks <small>(from Chicago)</small>
| DePaul <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 20
|
| SG
|
| Miami Heat <small>(from Dallas)</small>
| DePaul <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 21
|
| PF
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Seton Hall <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 22
|
| SF
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers <small>(from Detroit via Phoenix)</small>
| Southern Miss <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 23
|
| PF
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Pittsburgh <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|1
|align=center| 24
|
| SG
|
| Boston Celtics
| UC Santa Barbara <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 25
|
| PG
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
| Notre Dame <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 26
|
| C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Houston <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 27
|
| F
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| St. John's <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 28
|
| C
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Arkansas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 29
|
| SG
|
| Sacramento Kings
| NC State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 30
|
| PF
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Wyoming <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 31
|
| G
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Purdue <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 32
|
| F/C
|
| New Jersey Nets
| NC State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 33
|
| F
|
| Miami Heat
| Eastern Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 34
|
| F/C
|
| Charlotte Hornets
| Arizona <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 35
|
| F
|
| Miami Heat <small>(from New York via Chicago, Seattle, and Boston)</small>
| Memphis State <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 36
|
| G/F
|
| Washington Bullets
| New Orleans <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 37
|
| C
|
| New York Knicks
| Stanford <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 38
|
| C
|
| Phoenix Suns <small>(from Cleveland)</small>
| Indiana <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 39
|
| C
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| Miami (FL) <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center|2
|align=center|40
|
| F
|
| Miami Heat <small>(from Seattle)</small>
| Auburn-Montgomery <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 41
|
| G
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Indiana <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 42
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| Utah Jazz
| Iowa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 43
|
| F
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Purdue <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 44
|
| G
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| Oregon (Sr)
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 45
|
| G
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Rhode Island <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 46
|
| G
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| Long Beach State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 47
|
| SG
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Florida <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 48
|
| G
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Baylor <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 49
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| C/PF
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| LSU <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 50
|
| PG
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Arizona <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|51
|
| F
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 52
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets
| Southern Miss <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|53
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| *
| SF/PF
|
| Portland Trail Blazers <small>(from Golden State)</small>
| Tennessee State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|54
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Atlanta Hawks <small>(from Sacramento)</small>
| Sport Club de Cañada de Gómez <small>(Argentina) 1966</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center| 55
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PG
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Grand Canyon <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|56
|
| F/C
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| Austin Peay <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|57
| style="background:silver"|<sup>#</sup>
| PF/C
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Olimpo <small>(Argentina)</small>
|-
| align=center|3
|align=center|58
|style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Charlotte Hornets
| Auburn <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|59
|
| F
|
| Miami Heat
| Tampa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|60
|style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PG
|
| Washington Bullets
| Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center|3
|align=center|61
|style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF/SG
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Louisville <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 62
|style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Chicago Bulls <small>(from New York)</small>
| Maryland <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 63
|style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
|PF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| Auburn <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 64
|
| F
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 65
|
| G
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Loyola Marymount <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 66
| style="background:silver"|<sup>#</sup>
|SG
|
| Denver Nuggets <small>(from Houston)</small>
| Memphis State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 67
|
| G
|
| Utah Jazz
| Oklahoma <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 68
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| Baylor <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 69
| style="background:silver"|<sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| New York Knicks <small>(from Chicago)</small>
| VCU <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 70
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| PG
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| Florida Southern <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 71
|
| G
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Georgia Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 72
|
| PF
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Norfolk State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 73
|
| G
|
| Indiana Pacers <small>(from Denver via L.A. Clippers)</small>
| Drexel <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 74
|
| F/G
|
| Boston Celtics
| UNLV <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 75
| style="background:silver"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| San Antonio Spurs <small>(from L.A. Lakers)</small>
| Kansas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Notable undrafted players
This section is for players who were eligible for the 1988 NBA draft, did not get selected, but still later appeared in at least one NBA regular season or postseason game.
thumb|upright|150px|John Starks was undrafted but had a successful career, including an appearance in the [[1994 NBA All-Star Game.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%" | Position
! width="20%"| Nationality
! width="25%"| School/Club team
|-
|
|SG
|
|Waitemata Dolphins <small>(New Zealand)</small>
|-
|
|PF
|
|UC Irvine <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SF
|
|Georgia Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C
|
|Georgetown <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|PF/SF
|
|St. Mary's (TX) <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|PG
|
|Southern <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|PF
|
|Iowa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG
|
|La Salle <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG
|
|SMU <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG/SF
|
|Tulsa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|PG
|
|Cal State Fullerton <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SF
|
|KK Partizan <small>(Yugoslavia)</small>
|-
|
|C
|
|Temple <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|<sup>+</sup>
|SG
|
|Oklahoma State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG/SF
|
|Cal State Fullerton <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PF
|
| C.A. Monte Líbano <small>(Brazil)</small>
|-
|
|PF
|
|Notre Dame <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Notes
- On June 23, 1988, the Heat received the 1988 NBA Draft first-round draft pick from the Dallas Mavericks for not picking centers Bill Wennington and Uwe Blab or guard Steve Alford in the 1988 NBA expansion draft.
- On June 23, 1988, the Heat received the 1988 NBA Draft second-round draft pick from the Seattle SuperSonics for not selecting guard Danny Young in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft.
- Marvin Alexander – F, Memphis (junior)
- Rex Chapman – G, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Sylvester Gray – F, Memphis (sophomore)
- Tito Horford – C, Miami (Florida) (sophomore)
- Mike Jones – F, Auburn (junior)
- Jerome Lane – F, Pittsburgh (junior)
- Dwayne Lewis – G, Marshall (junior)
- Charles Shackleford – F/C, NC State (junior)
- Rod Strickland – G, DePaul (junior)
Other eligible players
This would be the third year in a row with at least one player that previously played in college entering the NBA draft as an underclassman. However, it would be the second year in a row where multiple players would qualify for such a feat and the first where none of the underclassmen players would play in Italy after the previous two drafts had a player go to Italy first before being drafted. It was also the second year where a foreign-born player would qualify as an underclassman while also playing for an international team and the first time it happened while said player was playing for what would be considered his home nation.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%"
! Player !! !!class=unsortable| Note !!class=unsortable| Ref.
|-
!scope="row"| Lloyd Daniels
| Waitemata Dolphins (New Zealand) || Left Mt. San Antonio College in 1987; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season ||align=center|
|-
!scope="row"| Hernán Montenegro
| Olimpo de Bahía Blanca (Argentina) || Left LSU in 1987; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season ||align=center|
|-
!scope="row"| Eddie Pope
| Saint-Étienne Basket (France) || Left Southern Miss in 1986; playing professionally since the 1987–88 season ||align=center|
|}
Invited attendees
The 1988 NBA draft is considered to be the eleventh 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, being positioned in the Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum for the seventh year in a row), 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. 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 David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time. 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 17 prospects at the time. Despite the large amount of invites, two notable absences from this group include Dan Majerle from Central Michigan University and Anthony Mason from Tennessee State University, with Shelton Jones waiting into the second round himself. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.