NBA Coin Flip- From 1966 to 1984, the NBA used a coin flip system to determine which team would have the first pick in the draft among those with the worst records in each conference or division (in the absence of conferences).
This system was replaced in 1985 by the NBA's first lottery. Under the old system, the remaining teams would pick in inverse order of their win-loss records. In the coin flip process, the team with the worst record between the two would call out "heads" or "tails" as the NBA Commissioner flipped the coin in the air.
| Explanation of Abbreviations | |
| * | Person who made the call on what side of the coin represents team. |
| CC | Conference Call Participant |
| Proxy | Person who was the physical representation for the team in the ceremony. |
| Date | Performing Toss | Event Status | Calling Participant | Participant | Result | Winner | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/27/1966 | J. Walter Kennedy | In-Person |
Detroit |
New York |
Heads | New York | Cazzie Russell |
| 4/5/1967 | J. Walter Kennedy | Proxy/Conference Telephone |
Baltimore |
Detroit |
Heads | Detroit | Jimmy Walker |
| 3/25/1968 | Haskell Cohen | Conference Telephone |
San Diego |
Baltimore |
Heads | San Diego | Elvin Hayes |
| 3/19/1969 | J. Walter Kennedy | Conference Telephone |
Phoenix |
Milwaukee |
Tails | Milwaukee | Lew Alcindor |
| 3/18/1970 | J. Walter Kennedy | Conference Telephone |
San DIego |
Detroit |
Tails | Detroit | Bob Lanier |
| 3/15/1971 | J. Walter Kennedy | In-Person/Conference Telephone |
Portland |
Cleveland |
Tails | Cleveland | Austin Carr |
| 3/271972 | J. Walter Kennedy | In-Person/Conference Telephone |
Portland |
Buffalo |
Tails | Portland | LaRue Martin |
| 3/20/1973 | Simon Gourdine | In-Person |
Philadelphia |
Portland |
Heads | Philadelphia | Doug Collins |
| 3/27/1974 | J. Walter Kennedy | In-Person |
Philadelphia |
Portland |
Tails | Portland | Bill Walton |
| 4/9/1975 | J. Walter Kennedy | In-Person |
Atlanta |
L.A. Lakers |
Tails | Atlanta | David Thompson |
| 4/2/1976 | Larry O'Brien | In-Person |
Atlanta |
Chicago |
Heads | Atlanta | John Lucas |
| 4/15/1977 | Larry O'Brien | Conference Telephone |
Kansas City |
Milwaukee |
Tails | Milwaukee | Kent Benson |
| 4/13/1978 | Simon Gourdine | Conference Telephone |
Kansas City |
Indiana |
Tails | Portland | Mychal Thompson |
| 4/19/1979 | Larry O'Brien | Confernce Telephone |
Chicago |
L.A. Lakers |
Tails | LA Lakers | Earvin Johnson |
| 4/1/1980 | Larry O'Brien | In-Person/Conference Telephone |
Utah |
Boston |
Tails | Golden St. | Joe Carroll |
| 4/30/1981 | Larry O'Brien | In-Person |
Detroit |
Dallas |
Tails | Dallas | Mark Aguirre |
| 5/20/1982 | Larry O'Brien | Conference Telephone |
L.A. Lakers |
San Diego |
Heads | LA Lakers | James Worthy |
| 5/19/1983 | Larry O'Brien | In-Person |
Houston |
Indiana |
Heads | Houston | Ralph Sampson |
| 5/23/1984 | David Stern | In-Person |
Portland |
Houston |
Heads | Houston | Akeem Olajuwon |