The Day Indiana had theIR First Two Players Drafted

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Written by: Bill Murphy (@Williamindiana2)

The year was 1968, the NBA season was completed and going into the 1968-1969 season the NBA was expanding with two new teams. 

The cities of Phoenix and Milwaukee were awarded the new franchises and the NBA was having an expansion draft. The existing NBA teams were allowed to protect 5 players, allowing the Suns and Bucks to select from a pool of 70 NBA players. 

 Phoenix would select first and take a starter from the New York Knicks former Hoosier Dick VanArsdale. Dick had averaged 12.8 points in 3 seasons with the Knicks as well as 2.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds. By virtue of being the first player taken in the expansion draft, Dick was referred to as the "Original Sun". 

Now it was the Bucks turn for their first pick Milwaukee would also select a former Hoosier Jon McGlocklin from the San Diego Rockets as their #1 pick. Jon had just come off a season with the Rockets in which he averaged 12.1 points in 65 games. It was in 1968 the Indiana Hoosiers had the first two players selected in the expansion draft. Dick and Jon had been teammates for three seasons at IU from 1963 to 1965.

Both Dick and Jon became the first Suns and Bucks to appear in an NBA All-Star game.

During Dicks career with the Suns he would be named an NBA All-Star 3 times - 1969 to 1971. Named to the NBA All-Defensive second team in 1974, he would have his #5 jersey retired by the Phoenix Suns as well as being added to the their Ring of Honor.  He would average 21, 21.3, 21.9, and 19.7 points in his first four years. In 1976, he played in the NBA Finals.  After his playing career, he worked as a TV and radio color commentator for the Suns, as well as, coaching Phoenix in 1987 for 16 games. He would later become the their general manager and the team's senior vice president of player personnel. 

Jon would score 19.6, 17.6, and 15.8 in his first 3 seasons with the Bucks. He started alongside Oscar Robertson in the Bucks backcourt in 1971 as the Bucks became NBA CHAMPIONS. He would, upon his retirement from playing, be a member of the Bucks Television broadcasting team.  Called Mr. BUCK by many by virtue of being the Bucks first ever player. Like Dick, Jon had his #14 jersey retired by the Bucks.