Number one overall picks in the NBA Draft can make or break a franchise. While it is a lofty expectation, the goal for all first-overall selections is that they will become megastars who even have Hall of Fame-caliber careers. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way, and some of the biggest draft busts ever were given that label because they didn't succeed after being drafted at the top of the draft. There have been plenty of first-overall picks who truly were the best players in their draft class, though, and those players went on to lead their respective teams for years.
The last few years have added some interesting dialogue to number one pick talks. Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg, the 2023 and 2025 first overall picks, respectively, both entered the league among the most highly touted prospects ever. They've both lived up to the hype so far, too. Meanwhile, Zaccharie Risacher, the number one pick between those two, has already been traded and looks like one of the worst No. 1 picks ever. He was taken at the top of a disaster of a draft class. The disparity between recent 1-1s makes it worthwhile to update this list of the best first overall picks since the NBA-ABA merger.
Of course, players who have already completed their careers will have an advantage on this list, as their resumes are already complete. Even if a recent first overall pick has sky-high potential, they might rank lower on this list than some already retired players because their resumes are incomplete, even if they are on a trajectory to have better careers than the players drafted years before them.
For example, players like Wembanyama, Flagg, Paolo Banchero, and Cade Cunningham have already gotten off to magnificent starts to their careers, but they were drafted at the top of drafts within the last half-decade. Therefore, they haven't had much of a chance to rack up career stats and accolades. In contrast, a player like Kenyon Martin was more of a role player than a superstar, but he ranks higher than Banchero, Flagg, and Cunningham because he was able to find a good amount of success in the NBA over a long period of time. The youngsters will likely pass Martin one day, but we can't say that will happen for certain, considering anything can happen in the NBA.
With that said, here is our ranking of all 51 No. 1 overall picks selected since the NBA's first draft post-merger in 1976.
51. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards, 2026
AJ Dybantsa was the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, meaning he only ranks last here because he hasn't played a single minute of NBA basketball yet. The rookie who made waves by thriving at BYU is projected to have a great career, though. Dybantsa is a freak athlete who just led college basketball in scoring (25.5 points per game).
He now joins a Washington Wizards team that wants to compete sooner rather than later. Trae Young and Anthony Davis, a player who will appear much later on this list, were traded for by the team last year. Dybantsa still needs to be the franchise player, though. Expect the rookie to soar up this list.
50. Anthony Bennett: Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013
Anthony Bennett is the biggest draft bust in NBA history. The 2013 NBA Draft class was one of the worst ever overall, and Bennett was the cherry on top. In his defense, he was never supposed to be drafted at the top of the draft. It shocked the world when the Cavaliers made the UNLV product the first overall pick and, therefore, put the lofty expectations onto his shoulders that he was never going to be able to carry.
Bennett was a tweener who didn't have a great positional fit at the NBA level, nor did he have a clear translatable skill that he could rely on in professional basketball. Bennett was such a failure that he was traded from the team that invested heavily into him after only his rookie season, and he was out of the league after four seasons, each of which was spent with a different franchise.
The fact that Bennett wasn't even able to become a decent role player anywhere despite being given four different chances in the NBA illustrates just how bad a pick he was. Some players fail because of a lack of team/schematic fit or because they weren't given the proper resources to thrive, and a lot of draft busts failed because of injury issues. None of that was the case for Bennett, though. He simply wasn't an NBA-level player.
[who was drafted after him? Oladipo was no. 2. Otto Porter Jr. was no. 3. Giannis was pick no. 15.]
49. Greg Oden: Portland Trail Blazers, 2007
The Trail Blazers have made a lot of poor draft choices. Mychal Thompson is coming up soon on this list; LaRue Martin is one of the worst number one picks who was taken before the ABA-NBA merger; Sam Bowie was taken at pick number two ahead of Michael Jordan. The worst of all of Portland's picks is Greg Oden, the number one pick in 2007, who was taken directly before Kevin Durant.
While Durant has had a career that gives him a case as a top 10 all-time player, Oden only suited up for 105 total games. Injury issues forced him to miss the entirety of his rookie season, as well as three straight years from 2010 to 2013. He was a good player when he was on the court, but he was given minutes restrictions when he was able to play, and the times he saw court time were few and far between.
48. Zaccharie Risacher: Atlanta Hawks, 2024
While Dybantsa only ranks as low as he does because he was just drafted, Zaccharie Risacher is here because he may just be a genuine bust. Theoretically, there is time for Risacher to turn things around, especially considering he will have a change of scenery for next season.
Being traded just two years after being drafted number one overall isn't a good sign, though, especially considering the Hawks made the move for a defensive specialist, not a superstar [the Hawks wound up with Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard]. Everyone knew Risacher was drafted atop his draft class because the 2024 class was one of the worst ever, but that still doesn't justify operating as a mere role player. Risacher is somewhat of a jack of all trades, master of none. He can shoot a little, defend a little, and play make a little, but he doesn't do any one thing at an elite level.
The Frenchman averaged just 9.6 points per game last season. Now on the Mavericks, he will be playing alongside a couple of other number one picks, but it seems unlikely that Risacher will break through and reach the expectations of a No. 1 pick.
47. Michael Olowokandi: Los Angeles Clippers, 1998
The draft is always a big risk, and Michael Olowokandi is a prime example of that. He was one of the biggest high-risk, high-reward players the draft has ever seen because he had off-the-chart measurable and athletic abilities, but a raw skill set that was going to need development.
Gambles have paid off in the draft before, but this one didn't for the Clippers. Olowokandi struggled to produce at the NBA level, as he was incredibly inefficient for a center who was over 7 feet tall. The Kandi Man only twice averaged double-digit scoring figures for a season, and he is one of many reasons the Clippers were the league's bottom-dwellers for decades.
[who was second? Mike Bibby. Vince Carter was fifth. Dirk was ninth. Paul Pierce was tenth.]
46. Kwame Brown: Washington Wizards, 2001
Drafting a high school player can pay off in dividends, but there are plenty of risks involved. Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard are success stories of players drafted straight out of high school, the latter two of whom were number-one draft picks.
When you draft a young player who will likely need more development than a college prospect and one who hasn't faced competition greater than that of a high school player, though, there is also a high chance of that player busting out. Kwame Brown, who was drafted out of high school first overall in 2001, is one of the biggest NBA Draft busts ever. The big man had some raw talent, but he didn't have the drive required to succeed against professionals.
[Tyson Chandler was second. Pau Gasol was third. Eddy Curry was fourth.]
45. Pervis Ellison: Sacramento Kings, 1989
Pervis Ellison is one of many Kings' draft mistakes, as the team gave up on him after only one season. Ellison was nicknamed “Out of Service Pervis” because he dealt with a number of injury issues throughout his career, and they were a big reason why he didn't become a great player.
He basically had one complete and successful season, the 1991-92 season, in which he averaged 20 points per game and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. Besides that, Ellison accomplished little in the NBA. He didn't average more than seven points per game in any of his final seven seasons.
[After Ellison was Danny Ferry, Sean Elliott, Glen Rice, J.R. Reid. Tim Hardaway was 14. Shawn Kemp was 17. Vlade was 26.]
44. Markelle Fultz: Philadelphia 76ers, 2017
The 76ers' mid-2010s rebuild had the potential to be something special, but Philadelphia made a number of poor decisions, some of which were their own fault and some of which were out of their control. Markelle Fultz is an example of the latter, as the start of his career is among the weirdest situations in league history.
Fultz was an excellent scorer in college whose jump shot landed him some James Harden comparisons. In the NBA, he completely lost the ability to shoot. Bizarre health issues and perhaps some mental blocks turned the promising young guard into a complete non-factor when it came to shot-making, and he hasn't been able to shake that problem that has haunted him since his rookie season. His struggles forced the team that took him first overall to trade him after only 33 games.
Fultz somewhat turned his career around to become a legitimate rotational piece once given a fresh start with the Orlando Magic, but his lack of scoring prowess prevented him from ever reaching his potential. Now, the slippery guard who can slash and drive is practically out of the league. He played just five games on a 10-day contract last season.
[After Fultz were Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Josh Johnson, De'Aaron Fox. Markkanen was 7. Donovan Mitchell was 13. Adebayo was 14.]
No. 43 is Kent Benson. No. 42 is John Lucas. So the rest weren't that bad. Where's Ben Simmons? No. 32.
Here's the rest of the list:
41. Cooper Flagg (will likely shoot up these rankings in the coming years. After Flagg in 2025 were Dylan Harper, Edgecombe, Kneuppel.)
40. Joe Barry Carroll (Darrell Griffith and Kevin McHale were picked right after him)
39. Andrew Bogut (CP3 was the top player in this draft, picked no. 4)
38. Joe Smith (he played 16 seasons, Kevin Garnett was pick no. 5)
37. Mychal Thompson (Larry Bird was no. 6)
36. Deandre Ayton (Drafted after Ayton in 2018 were Bagley, Luka, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young. SGA was no. 11. Three Villanova players were taken: Mikal Bridges at no. 10, DiVincenzo at no. 17, and Jalen Brunson at no. 33.)
35. Andrea Bargnani (followed by LaMarcus Aldridge and Adam Morrison)
34. Paolo Banchero (he might wind up as the best player in the draft, Holmgren was no. 2, Duren was no. 13)
33. Andrew Wiggins (Embiid was no. 3, Aaron Gordon no. 4, Jabari Parker no. 2)
32. Ben Simmons (I'm curious on his comeback. He was drafted 10 years ago. Jaylen Brown was no. 3, Jamal Murray was no. 7, Sabonis was no. 11)
31. Cade Cunningham (other notable draftees in 2021 were Evan Mobley at no. 3, Scottie Barnes at no. 4, Giddey at no. 6, Sengun at no. 16. Hey, Ziaire Williams was no. 10.)
30 Kenyon Martin (Wikipedia calls the 2000 Draft the worst in NBA history. Possibly the best player in this draft was no. 43 Michael Redd with Martin no. 2 or 1A). Also drafted were Darius Miles at no. 3, Mike Miller at no. 5, Jamal Crawford at no. 8, Turkoglu at no. 16.)
29. Elton Brand (Brand was a fantasy beast for me. Also drafted in 1999 was Steve Francis at no. 2, Baron Davis at no. 3, Lamar Odeom at no. 4, Szerbiak at no. 6, Richard Hamilton at no. 7, Andre Miller at no. 8, Shawn Marion at no. 9, Ron Artest at no. 16, Kirilenko at no. 24. Not a bad draft at all.)
28. Zion Williamson (if only he didn't get injured. Drafted after Zion in 2019 were Ja Morant and teammate RJ Barrett. Tyler Herro was no. 13.)
27. Larry Johnson (his peak years were great. After Johnson in 1991 were Kenny Anderson, Billy Owens, Mutombo, Steve Smith. )
26. Danny Manning (Rik Smits was no. 2 in 1988. Mitch Richmond was no. 5. Hersey Hawkins was no. 6. Dan Majerle was no. 14.)
25. Derrick Coleman (Gary Payton was taken second in 1990).
24. Ralph Sampson (he had a strong first three seasons, but hurt his knee in his fourth season. Stipanovic was the no. 2 pick. Also drafted in 1983 were Byron Scott at no. 4, Dale Ellis at no. 9, Clyde Drexler at no. 14, Doc Rivers at no. 31.)
23. Wemby. Many considered Victor Wembanyama the greatest prospect ever not named LeBron James, and despite the unrealistic expectations placed on him, the 2023 number one pick is already living up to the calling. Wembanyama's rookie season was special. He immediately became arguably the best defensive player in the league. (Drafted after Wemby were Brandon Miller, Scott Henderson, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson.)
22. Brad Daugherty. Brad Daugherty was one of the better centers in the NBA during the late '80s-early '90s, and he was an important piece to some underrated Cavaliers teams. Just as his career was truly taking off, it was ended because of back issues, and Daugherty never played again after the age of 28. [After Daugherty in 1986 were Len Bias, Chris Washburn, Chuck Person, Kenny Walker. Tarpley was no. 7. Ron Harper was no. 8. Brad Sellers was no. 9. Johnny Dawkins at no. 10. John Salley at no.11. Dell Curry at no. 15. Arvydas Sabonis at no. 24. Mark Price at no. 25. Dennis Rodman at no.
27. Nate McMillan at no. 30. Jeff Hornacek at no. 46. Drazen Petrovic at no. 60. There were 7 rounds in 1986 with some recognizable names.)
21. John Wall. John Wall was unstoppable in transition and a beast when driving to the basket, but injury issues ultimately forced him to miss two full seasons. The regression his game saw because of those ended up prematurely ending his career. At his peak, though, Wall was a force to be reckoned with. (After Wall were Evan Turner and Derrick Favors. Also drafted were DeMarcus Cousins at no. 5, Gordon Hayward at no. 9, Paul George at no. 10 (still playing), Landry Fields was drafted no. 39. Jeremy Lin and Boban were both undrafted)
20. Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose is the hardest player on this list to rank. He is a former MVP, and NBA MVPs are held to an extremely high standard. Unfortunately, he is also one of the biggest what-if situations in NBA history. He won that MVP in only his third season, and the explosive guard seemed primed to dominate the league for years to come. It didn't work out that way, as Rose tore his ACL the following year. The injury sapped him of the athleticism that made him so special and led to a number of other lower-body issues. Rose was never the same player post-injury, and he struggled to stay on the court for the rest of his career. However, he should be praised for sticking out a 15-year career which has included memorable moments even after his Chicago Bulls days. His 50-point game with the Timberwolves is one such moment that comes to mind. (After Rose in 2008 were Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo, followed by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love. Gallinari was sixth. Brook Lopez was tenth. DeAndre Jordan was no. 35. Dragic 45.)
19. Glenn Robinson. At the time that Glenn Robinson was drafted first overall, there wasn't a wage scale for rookies, so drafted players were allowed to sign contracts as big as they demanded. Robinson signed a 10-year, $68 million deal that is still the largest ever for a rookie. While he didn't quite play to the standard that you would hope for with the contract he signed, he was a very good NBA player. Robinson scored more than 20 points per game in eight of his first nine seasons before (successfully) ring-chasing at the end of his career. (After Robinson in 1994 were Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. Then Donyell Marshall and Juwan Howard. Eddie Jones was no. 10. Jalen Rose was no. 13)
18. Mark Aguirre. Mark Aguirre wasn't the most efficient player, but he could score in bunches, as evidenced by his third season in the league, where he scored 29.5 points per game. Aguirre wasn't just some shot chucker, though. He was actually the missing piece that helped the Bad Boy Pistons get over the hump. He won two rings in Detroit and finished his career as a three-time All-Star and 20 points-per-game scorer. Aguirre was one of the league's best scorers with the Mavericks, and then he sacrificed numbers to contribute to winning in Detroit. [Then, in his eighth season, he was traded for Adrian Dantley.] (After Aguirre in the 1981 draft were Isiah Thomas and Buck Williams. Danny Ainge was no. 31)
17. Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards only has six seasons under his belt, so we may be jumping to conclusions by ranking him nearly inside the top 15 of first overall picks ever. However, Edwards has quickly become one of the best players in the NBA, and he might even be the face of the league here in a couple of years. (After Edwards in 2020 were James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball who is now Edwards' teammate. Deni Avdija was no. 9. Haliburton was no. 12. Maxey was no. 21.)
16. Blake Griffin. Blake Griffin is one of the best dunkers in league history, and his high-flying ways led the Lob City Clippers to the most relevance that the franchise has ever had. As his athleticism regressed, Griffin improved as a passer and as a shooter, which allowed him to extend his career. (After Griffin in 2009 were Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry. So Minnesota had two chances to take Curry. DeRozan was no. 9. Jrue Holiday was no 17.
15. Chris Webber. Chris Webber was drafted by the Orlando Magic but immediately traded to the Golden State Warriors. He was then traded from the Warriors to Washington after only one year, and Washington isn't even the team he is most known for. All of that would make one assume that the 1993 first-overall pick was a bust, but that is the furthest thing from the truth.
Webber put up big numbers even as he bounced around in his early days. He really found his groove with the Sacramento Kings, though. The power forward finished his career as a five-time All-Star and 20.7 points-per-game scorer who secured 9.8 rebounds per game. (After Webber in 1993 were Shawn Bradley, Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Isaiah Rider, Calbert Cheaney, Bobby Hurley. Sam Cassell was no. 24. Van Exel no. 37.)
14. Karl-Anthony Towns. Karl-Anthony Towns established himself as the greatest 3-point shot-making center ever during his time with the Timberwolves. The former number one pick has 1,230 makes from beyond the arc. Towns was traded to the Knicks after nine seasons in Minnesota, and the championship success that eluded him with the Timberwolves was discovered last season. (After Towns in 2025 were D'Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor, Porzingis, and Hezonja, who is back in the league. Also Kat's teammates at Kentucky: Willie Cauley-Stein at no. 6, Trey Lyles at no. 12, Devin Booker at no. 13.)
13. Yao Ming. Only five players made the All-Star Game every year of their career. The 2002 first-overall pick, Yao Ming, was one of these players. Ming stood 7-foot-6, which made him an absolute force in the paint, but he also had the touch to step outside of the paint and shoot a mid-range jump shot. Lower body issues limited Ming's time on the floor and forced him to retire after only eight seasons, but he was an unstoppable freak of nature when he was on the court. (After Yao in 2002 were Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr, Drew Gooden. Also Amare Stoudamire at no. 9, Carlos Boozer at no. 35, Scola at no 56.)
12. Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is both arguably the best ball handler and the best below-the-rim finisher the game has ever seen. Being so elite at two traits is awe-inspiring, and it has led to Irving being viewed as one of the best offensive players and one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.
Irving's post-Cleveland Cavaliers tenure has been filled with drama, but he has seemingly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks. Although Irving missed all of last season, the former number one overall pick has proven that he still has a lot left in the tank, and his pairing alongside Flagg should be a problem for the rest of the league for years to come.
(After Kyrie in 2011 were Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Tristan Thompson, Valanciunas. Also Kemba Walker at no. 9, Klay Thompson at no. 11, Kawhi Leonard at no. 15, Jimmy Butler at no. 30.)
11. James Worthy. The Showtime Lakers are one of the most memorable teams in NBA history, and James Worthy was a big part of the team. He won three NBA Finals and went to seven All-Star Games during his time with the Lakers. Worthy was a winner in college with UNC, and his winning ways continued at the professional level.
Worthy joined a Lakers team that won the Finals the year prior, as well as two years before that. With Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as his teammates, he didn't need to do too much, and that led to his statistics being lower than they probably could have been had he been drafted elsewhere.
(After Worthy in 1982 came Terry Cummings and Dominique Wilkens. Fat Lever was no. 11. Sleepy Floyd was no. 13)
10. Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard is known for his prime that included three Defensive Player of the Year nods, five seasons being top 10 in MVP voting, and a season in which he led a talent-deprived Orlando Magic team to the NBA Finals. His physicality made him a monster on the glass and one of the best shot blockers the league has ever seen.
Although his post-Magic days had their fair share of drama, people are quick to forget that carving out an 18-year-long career is incredibly rare and super impressive. Howard did just that, and while he didn't go to any All-Star Games in his last eight seasons (he went to eight straight previously), Howard contributed enough late in his career to get that coveted championship in 2020.
(After Howard in 2004 were Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Shaun Livingston, Devin Harris. Also Luol Deng at no. 7, Iguodala at no. 9, Al Jefferson at no. 15, Jameer Nelson at no. 20, Trevor Ariza at no. 43.)
9. Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis is the poster boy for a modern-day big. He has the skills to step outside and hit jump shots off the bounce, but he is also one of the league's elite defensive players. Not only can he block shots at a high level, but he is even able to guard perimeter players.
For years, it seemed Davis would take the next step and become an MVP. While he never reached the pinnacle of individual success, you can't really complain about nine All-Star appearances and a championship victory in the weird environment that was the 2020 season. Of course, injury issues have become synonymous with Davis in recent years. The second-ever freshman-winning National Player of the Year was recently traded to the Wizards, where he will be tasked with teaching a young team how to take the next step forward.
(After Davis in 2012 were Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal. Also Damian Lillard at no. 6, Harrison Barnes at no. 7, Draymond Green at no. 35. Khris Middleton at no. 39.
8. Patrick Ewing. Now we're getting up there. A lot of the NBA's biggest market teams haven't had the number one overall pick that many times, because the teams tend to rarely be bad enough to get that pick. The Knicks had the first selection in 1985, though, and they drafted a franchise staple in Patrick Ewing. The center was one of the best centers in the '80s and '90s, and he will forever be remembered by the basketball community for his post-play on the Knicks during that time.
(After Ewing in 1985 were Wyman Tisdale, Benoit Benjamin, Xavier McDaniel, Jon Koncak, Joe Kleine, Chris Mullin. I remember some of these guys from the 1984 Olympic Team. Also Detlef Schrempf at no. 8, Oakley at no 9, Karl Malone at no. 13, Joe Dumars at no. 18, AC Green at no. 23, Terry Porter at no. 24, Arvydas Sabonis at 77 (which was voided because he was under-age, then he got drafted again in 1986).
7. Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson is one of the most influential basketball players ever. He ushered in both a cultural movement for the sport as well as a new and entertaining style of play. Iverson was undersized, but he played without fear, and he could score on anybody. Iverson famously crossed up Michael Jordan before hitting a jump shot during his rookie season.
The draft pick from Georgetown was the MVP in 2001, and he won the scoring title four times. Nicknamed The Answer, Iverson is, without a doubt, one of the greatest number one overall NBA Draft picks ever.
(After Iverson in 1996 was Camby, Abdur-Rahim, Marbury, Ray Allen. Kobe was no. 13. Stojakovic was no. 14. Steve Nash was no. 15. Jermaine O'Neal was no. 17. Ilgauskas was no. 20.)
6. David Robinson. First overall picks usually come into a situation where they are playing on a very bad team, and therefore, they are usually asked to do a lot. David Robinson was in the U.S Navy for two years before he joined a really good Spurs team that had drafted him years prior.
The Admiral could do it all, as illustrated by the fact that he led the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks at one point or another. He also famously has one of four quadruple-doubles in NBA history. In Robinson's latter years, he was a key contributor to a perennial contender. The Spurs know how to draft big men, and Robinson was the first great one that they drafted.
(After Robinson in 1987 was Armen Gilliam and Dennis Hopson. Pippen was no. 5. Kenny Smith was no. 6. Kevin Johnson was no. 7. Derrick McKey was no. 9. Horace Grant was no. 10. Reggie Miller was no. 11. Mugsey Bogues was no. 12. Mark Jackson was no. 18. Reggie Lewis was no. 22.)
5. Tim Duncan. (Duncan is only no. 5?) The San Antonio Spurs found a generational player at the top of the draft in 1987, but they got an even better one in the same spot a decade later. Tim Duncan is the most common choice for the best power forward in NBA history, which makes it incredibly hard to believe he only ranks fifth for best number one overall NBA Draft choices.
Duncan was fundamentally sound, which led to him leading a Spurs dynasty that stood the test of time. His Spurs were championship contenders for the entirety of his 19-year career. The team won five championships during that time, and Duncan's success is a big reason why the Spurs have the best winning percentage in league history.
(After Duncan in 1997 were Keith Van Horn, Chauncey Billups, and Antonio Daniels. Also McGrady at no. 9.)
4. Hakeem Olajuwon. The fourth and fifth slots on this list of best number-one overall NBA Draft picks ever were incredibly hard to rank. We wouldn't be mad if you had Duncan over Hakeem Olajuwon, but we are going to give the slight edge to 1984's top pick. We ranked Olajuwon just one spot above Duncan in the greatest defensive players of all-time list, and that is a big reason why he gets the slight edge here, considering defense was both players' strong suit.
Olajuwon won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, led the league in blocks three times, was an All-Defensive player nine times, and is still the all-time blocks leader (3,830). He wasn't just all defense, though. The center is known for having the best footwork out of the post of any player ever, and it led to him scoring 26,946 total points.
During his prime, which included four straight seasons being top four in MVP voting, The Dream was consistently a player who would score close to 30 points per game. He actually scored more than 20 points per game for 13 straight seasons, and he even won back-to-back championships in the mid-'90s. On top of all of that, Olajuwon was the first overall pick in what went down as the best NBA Draft class in league history.
(After Hakeem in 1984, were, of course Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan. Sam Perkins was no. 4. Barkley was no. 5. Alvin Robertson was no. 7. Kevin Willis was no. 11. John Stockton was no. 16. Oscar Schmidt was no. 131 but never played in the NBA.)
3. Shaquille O'Neal. (WTH is no. 2?) Shaquille O'Neal is often given the label of “the most dominant player of all time.” That description is fair for O'Neal because he was so big and so strong that nobody could stop him inside. O'Neal scored 28,596 points and grabbed 13,099 rebounds. He was also a 15-time All-Star, he won four championships, and he was the league MVP in 2000, yet somehow, all of those accolades don't even do his career justice.
(After Shaq in 1992 was Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner. Robert Horry was no. 11. Doug Christie was no. 17. Sprewell was no. 24.
2. Magic Johnson. (Oh, OK.) Debates go back and forth on who is the greatest point guard ever between Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson, but it is hard to go against the 1979 No. 1 NBA Draft choice. Johnson's creativity and flashy play style brought newfound popularity to the NBA, and there may never again be a rivalry as important as Johnson's Showtime Lakers against Larry Bird's Boston Celtics.
Johnson averaged an astonishing 11.2 assists per game for his career, as he was a wizard in the fast break. Had his career not been halted for four years because of an HIV diagnosis, Johnson would probably be viewed as a consensus top-three player ever. Even with his career being stopped earlier than it should have been, Johnson went down as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Johnson was a 6-foot-9 point guard who revolutionized the game of basketball more than almost any player before or after him.
(After Magic in 1979 were David Greenwood, Bill Cartwright, Greg Kelser, Moncrief. Vinnie Johnson was no. 7. Calvin Natt was no. 8. Jim Paxon was no. 12. Laimbeer was no. 65.
1. LeBron. Nobody has had higher expectations coming into the league than LeBron James, and somehow, the 2003 first overall pick lived up to everything he was hyped up to be and so much more. James just wrapped up his 23rd season in the NBA, and after joining a stacked 76ers team, he is still looking to add to his unmatched resume. This level of longevity and durability, combined with the elite level he has played at during the entire duration of his career, is why there are plenty of supporters for The Chosen One being called the GOAT.
James has made 22 All-Star appearances, has four Finals MVPs, and is a four-time regular-season MVP. He is the league's all-time leading scorer and just became the games played leader. The list of James' accomplishments goes on and on.
You very well may consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player ever, but there is no doubt that LeBron James is the best No. 1 pick in NBA history.
(After LeBron in 2003 came Darko Milicic, Carmelo, Bosh, DWade. Then Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford. Michael Sweetney, Jarvis Hayes, Mickael Pietrus, Nick Collison. Also David West at no. 18. Boris Diaw at 21. Kendrick Perskins at 27. Barbosa at 28. Josh Howard at 29. Mo Williams at 47. Kyle Korver at 51. Carmelo, Bosh, and DWade are already in the Hall of Fame.)
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