The 1997 NBA draft took place on June 25, 1997, at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Vancouver Grizzlies had the highest probability to win the NBA draft lottery, but since they were an expansion team along with the Toronto Raptors they were not allowed to select first in this draft. Although the Boston Celtics had the second-worst record in the 1996–97 season and the best odds (36 percent) of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs lost David Robinson and Sean Elliott to injury early in the season, finished with the third-worst record, and subsequently won the lottery. Leading up to the draft, there was no doubt that Tim Duncan would be selected at No. 1 by the Spurs as he was considered to be far and away the best prospect. After Duncan, the rest of the draft was regarded with some skepticism. The Celtics had the third and sixth picks, selecting Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, both of whom were traded in the next two years.
Duncan became the Spurs' franchise player and in a 19-year career spent entirely in San Antonio, he led the Spurs to five NBA championships, winning NBA Finals MVP in three of those campaigns. In addition, Duncan was a two-time NBA MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA and 15-time All-Defensive team selection. Billups went on to earn five All-Star selections and won Finals MVP honors in with the Detroit Pistons. The ninth pick, Tracy McGrady, captured two NBA scoring titles and was named to seven All-Star and All-NBA teams.
The Washington Wizards forfeited their 1997 first-round pick in connection with the signing of Juwan Howard. (Washington would have had the 17th pick.) Thus, the draft only had 28 first-round selections and 57 selections overall.
Draft selections
right|thumb|150px|[[Tim Duncan was selected 1st overall by the San Antonio Spurs.]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Keith Van Horn was selected 2nd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Chauncey Billups was selected 3rd overall by the Boston Celtics.]]
right|thumb|150px|[[Tracy McGrady was selected 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors.]]
{|class="wikitable"
|-
| PG || Point guard
| SG || Shooting guard
| SF || Small forward
| PF || Power forward
| C || Center
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%" | Position
! width="20%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| NBA team
! width="25%"| School/Club team
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|1
| bgcolor="#FFFF99" | Tim Duncan^<sup>~</sup>
| PF/C
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| Wake Forest (Sr.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|2
|
| PF
|
| Philadelphia 76ers <small>(traded to New Jersey)</small>
| Utah (Sr.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|3
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| PG
|
| Boston Celtics
| Colorado (So.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|4
|
| PG
|
| Vancouver Grizzlies
| Bowling Green (Sr.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|5
|
| C/F
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Texas Tech (Jr.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|6
|
| SF
|
| Boston Celtics <small>(from Dallas)</small>
| Kentucky (So.)
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|7
|
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets <small>(traded to Philadelphia)</small>
| Villanova (Fr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 8
|
| C
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Colgate (Jr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 9
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| SG/SF
|
| Toronto Raptors
| Mt. Zion Christian Academy (Durham, North Carolina)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 10
|
| PF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks <small>(traded to Denver)</small>
| Cincinnati (Jr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 11
|
| SF
|
| Sacramento Kings
| San Jose State (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 12
|
| PF
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Providence (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 13
|
| SG
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Kentucky (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 14
|
| PF
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Michigan (Jr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 15
|
| C
|
| Dallas Mavericks <small>(from Minnesota)</small>
| Iowa State (Jr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 16
|
| PG
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers <small>(from Phoenix)</small>
| Stanford (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 17
|
| PF
|
| Orlando Magic
| Chattanooga (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 18
|
| PF
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| SE Melbourne Magic <small>(Australia)</small>
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 19
|
| C
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Kansas (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 20
|
| C
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves <small>(from Charlotte via Milwaukee and Portland)</small>
| Wisconsin (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 21
|
| SG
|
| New Jersey Nets <small>(from L.A. Lakers; traded to Philadelphia)</small>
| Bradley (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 22
|
| PG/SG
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| California (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 23
|
| PG
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Minnesota (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 24
|
| SG
|
| Houston Rockets
| USC (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 25
|
| C
|
| New York Knicks
| Minnesota (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 26
|
| SG
|
| Miami Heat
| New Mexico (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 27
|
| PG
|
| Utah Jazz
| Kansas (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 28
|
| SF
|
| Chicago Bulls
| Maryland (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 29
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Houston Rockets <small>(from Vancouver)</small>
| North Carolina (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 30
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF/PF
|
| Miami Heat <small>(from Boston)</small>
| Washington (Jr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 31
|
| PG
|
| Detroit Pistons <small>(from San Antonio)</small>
| UCLA (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 32
|
| SF
|
| Denver Nuggets
| Long Beach State (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 33
|
| PG/SG
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Smelt Olimpija (Slovenia)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 34
|
| SF/PF
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| Austin Peay (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 35
|
| SF/PF
|
| Philadelphia 76ers <small>(from New Jersey Nets)</small>
| Cal State Bakersfield (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 36
|
| PG/SG
|
| Philadelphia 76ers<small>(from Toronto)</small>
| Florida State (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 37
|
| SF/PF
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Temple (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 38
|
| PF
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| Tulane (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 39
|
| PG/SG
|
| Sacramento Kings
| College of Charleston (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 40
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| Seattle SuperSonics<small>(from L.A. Clippers)</small>
| Georgia Tech (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 41
|
| C
|
| Denver Nuggets<small>(from Indiana)</small>
| Villanova (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 42
|
| SG
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Butler CC (Fr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 43
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves
| West Virginia (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 44
|
| PF
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Memphis (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 45
|
| PG
|
| Washington Bullets
| Providence (So.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 46
|
| SG
|
| Orlando Magic<small>(traded to Denver)</small>
| Alabama (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 47
|
| PG
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Villanova (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 48
|
| C
|
| Washington Bullets<small> (from Charlotte)</small>
| KK Partizan (Yugoslavia)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 49
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| Atlanta Hawks<small>(from Detroit)</small>
| ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (France)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 50
|
| SF
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| Marquette (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 51
|
| PG
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
| Louisville (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 52
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| PG/SG
|
| Vancouver Grizzlies<small>(from Houston)</small>
| Indian Hills CC (So.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 53
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Los Angeles Lakers <small>(from New York)</small>
| Gonzaga (Sr.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 54
|
| C
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Pittsburgh (So.)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 55
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Boston Celtics <small>(from Miami)</small>
| Newcastle Falcons (Australia)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 56
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| Utah Jazz
| Oklahoma (Senior)
|-
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 57
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Chicago Bulls
| FC Barcelona (Spain)
|}
Notable undrafted players
These players eligible for the 1997 NBA Draft were not selected but played in the NBA.
right|thumb|150px|Despite going undrafted [[Pat Burke gained notability through being the NBA's first Irish player.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="20%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="20%"| Nationality
! width="25%"| School/Club team
|-
|
| C
|
| Liberty <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Beijing Ducks <small>(China)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Auburn Montgomery <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Auburn <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Norwich Neptunes <small>(Atlantic Basketball Association)</small>
|-
|
| SG
|
| Texas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PF/C
|
| Providence <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PG
|
| Memphis <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Santa Clara <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PG
|
| Illinois <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| SF
|
| Missouri <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Southern Illinois <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Central Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Houston <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| The College of Saint Rose <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PF
|
| East Carolina <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F/C
|
| Nebraska <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Miami (Ohio) <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Atenas <small>(Argentina)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| The Master's <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| SF
|
| Virginia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| SG
|
| Tulsa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| SG
|
| Louisville <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F/C
|
| California <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| PG
|
| Iowa State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Minnesota <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Early entrants
College underclassmen
This year saw a continued rise of collegiate underclassmen and other players of similar nature declaring entry into the NBA draft. This year initially saw a total of 47 eligible players enter the draft at first, but seven of these players (including Cory Carr from Texas Tech University, former DePaul University player Ronnie Fields from the St. Paul Slam! in the International Basketball Association, the Greek born Dimitrios Papanikolaou of the Olympiacos Piraeus B.C. in Greece, Larell Redic from Utah State University, Dawood Thomas from the California University of Pennsylvania, the Turkish-Yugoslavian born Mirsad Türkcan of the Efes Pilsen in Turkey, and the Argentinian-Spanish born Lucas Victoriano of the Olimpia Venado Tuerto in Argentina) would later decline their entry for this year's draft. Including the likes of high school phenom Tracy McGrady from Mount Zion Christian Academy, the Slovenian born Marko Milič of the Smelt Olimpija in Slovenia, and former Central Connecticut State University player Keith Closs of the Norwich Neptunes from the Atlantic Basketball Association minor league, the number of qualified underclassmen would increase from 37 only in college to 40 total players. Regardless, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
- Gracen Averil – G, Texas Tech (junior)
- Tony Battie – F/C, Texas Tech (junior)
- Chauncey Billups – G, Colorado (sophomore)
- Carl Blanton – F, Sinclair CC (junior)
- Mark Blount – C/F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
- C. J. Bruton – G, Indian Hills CC (sophomore)
- Dan Buie – F, Washburn (junior)
- James Cotton – G, Long Beach State (junior)
- Tony Doyle – F, Columbia (junior)
- Ian Folmar – F, Slippery Rock (junior)
- Danny Fortson – F, Cincinnati (junior)
- Adonal Foyle – C/F, Colgate (junior)
- Darryl Hardy – F, Winston–Salem State (junior)
- Antjonne Holmes – F, Central Baptist (freshman)
- Troy Hudson – G, Southern Illinois (junior)
- Marc Jackson – F/C, Temple
- Stephen Jackson – F/G, Butler CC (freshman)
- Ed Jenkins – F, Ohio State (junior)
- Marcus Johnson – F, Long Beach State (junior)
- Damon Jones – G, Houston (junior)
- Nate Langley – G, George Mason (junior)
- Keith Love – G, Rosary (junior)
- Gordon Malone – F, West Virginia (junior)
- Amere May – F, Shaw (junior)
- Elgie McCoy – F, Kutztown (junior)
- Ron Mercer – G/F, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Victor Page – G, Georgetown (sophomore)
- Shawn Ritzie – G, Norwalk CC (sophomore)
- Paul Rogers – F/C, Gonzaga (junior)
- Bryon Ruffner – F, BYU (junior)
- Olivier Saint-Jean – San Jose State (junior)
- Mark Sanford – F, Washington (junior)
- God Shammgod – G, Providence (sophomore)
- Maurice Taylor – F, Michigan (junior)
- Tim Thomas – F, Villanova (freshman)
- Mark Young – F, Kansas State (junior)
High school players
This would be the third year in a row where high school players were allowed entry into the NBA draft after previously only doing it back in 1975. However, only one player would go directly from high school to enter the NBA this year. The following high school player successfully applied for early draft entrance.
|}
Invited attendees
The 1997 NBA draft is considered to be the twentieth 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 somewhere within the Charlotte Coliseum), 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 15 prospects at the time. Surprisingly, outside of the missing inclusion of Danny Fortson being the tenth pick of the draft, this would be the most accurate green room draft invitation group yet. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.