List of first overall NBA draft picks explained

The first overall pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the league's annual draft. The first pick is awarded to the team that wins the NBA draft lottery; in most cases, that team had a losing record in the previous season. The NBA team that garners the top overall draft pick selection generates significant media attention,[1] as does the respective player who eventually gets selected with that first pick.

Eleven first picks have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (record six-time winner), Bill Walton, Magic Johnson (three-time winner), Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan (two-time winner), LeBron James (four-time winner), and Derrick Rose (youngest winner).

China's Yao Ming (2002), Italy's Andrea Bargnani (2006), France's Victor Wembanyama (2023) and Zaccharie Risacher (2024) are the only players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Eleven other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall—Mychal Thompson (Bahamas) in 1978, Olajuwon (Nigeria) in 1984, Patrick Ewing (Jamaica) in 1985, Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1997, Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) in 1998, Andrew Bogut (Australia) in 2005, Kyrie Irving (Australia) in 2011, Anthony Bennett (Canada) in 2013, Andrew Wiggins (Canada) in 2014, Ben Simmons (Australia) in 2016, and Deandre Ayton (Bahamas) in 2018. Duncan is an American citizen, but is considered an "international" player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or the District of Columbia.[2] Ewing[3] had dual Jamaican-American citizenship when he was drafted, and Irving[4] and Simmons[5] had dual Australian-American citizenship when they were drafted.

Note that the drafts between 1947 and 1949 were held by the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The Basketball Association of America became the National Basketball Association after absorbing teams from the National Basketball League in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBA's draft history.

Key

^Denotes players who have been selected to the All-Star Game or All-NBA Team-Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame -->
^*Denotes Hall of Famers
PPGPoints per game[6]
APGAssists per game
RPGRebounds per game
Player
(in italic text)		Rookie of the Year
Player
(in bold text)		Denotes a player who is currently active in the NBA

List of first overall picks

DraftSelected byPlayerNationalityPositionCollege/
high school/
former club		NBA rookie statisticsRef.
PPGRPGAPG
1947Pittsburgh Ironmen United StatesTexas Wesleyan———
1948Providence SteamrollersMarshall—[7]
1949Providence SteamrollersCenterKansas State—[8]
1950Boston CelticsCenterBowling Green[9]
1951Baltimore BulletsGuardBradley———
1952Milwaukee HawksCenterWest Virginia[10]
1953Baltimore Bullets^Manchester British-Americans (ABL)[11]
1954Baltimore Bullets^Furman[12]
1955Milwaukee HawksDuquesne[13]
1956Rochester RoyalsDuquesne[14]
1957Cincinnati Royals^GuardWest Virginia[15]
1958Minneapolis Lakers^*ForwardSeattle[16]
1959Cincinnati Royals^ForwardKansas State[17]
1960Cincinnati Royals^*Cincinnati[18]
1961Chicago Packers^*CenterIndiana[19]
1962Chicago ZephyrsUtah[20]
1963New York KnicksForward/guardDuke[21]
1964New York KnicksCenter/forwardTexas Western[22]
1965San Francisco WarriorsDavidson[23]
1966New York Knicks^Forward/guardMichigan[24]
1967Detroit Pistons^GuardProvidence[25]
1968San Diego Rockets^*Center/forwardHouston[26]
1969Milwaukee Bucks^*CenterUCLA[27]
1970Detroit Pistons^*CenterSt. Bonaventure[28]
1971Cleveland Cavaliers^GuardNotre Dame[29]
1972Portland Trail BlazersCenterLoyola (Illinois)[30]
1973Philadelphia 76ers^Illinois State[31]
1974Portland Trail Blazers^*CenterUCLA[32]
1975Atlanta Hawks^*Forward/guardNC State[33]
1976Houston RocketsGuardMaryland[34]
1977Milwaukee BucksCenterIndiana[35]
1978Portland Trail Blazers BahamasMinnesota[36]
1979Los Angeles Lakers^*Michigan State[37]
1980Golden State Warriors^CenterPurdue[38]
1981Dallas Mavericks^ForwardDePaul[39]
1982Los Angeles Lakers^*ForwardNorth Carolina[40]
1983Houston Rockets^*CenterVirginia[41]
1984Houston Rockets^* NigeriaCenterHouston[42]
1985New York Knicks^*CenterGeorgetown[43]
1986Cleveland Cavaliers^CenterNorth Carolina[44]
1987San Antonio Spurs^*CenterNavy[45]
1988Los Angeles Clippers^ForwardKansas[46]
1989Sacramento KingsCenterLouisville[47]
1990New Jersey Nets^Syracuse[48]
1991Charlotte Hornets^ForwardUNLV[49]
1992Orlando Magic^*CenterLSU[50]
1993Orlando Magic^*ForwardMichigan[51]
1994Milwaukee Bucks^ForwardPurdue[52]
1995Golden State WarriorsForwardMaryland[53]
1996Philadelphia 76ers^*GuardGeorgetown[54]
1997San Antonio Spurs^*Wake Forest[55]
1998Los Angeles ClippersCenterPacific[56]
1999Chicago Bulls^ForwardDuke[57]
2000New Jersey Nets^ForwardCincinnati[58]
2001Washington WizardsCenterGlynn Academy HS (Brunswick, Georgia)[59]
2002Houston Rockets^* ChinaCenterShanghai Sharks (China)[60]
2003Cleveland Cavaliers^ForwardSt. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio)[61]
2004Orlando Magic^CenterSACA (Atlanta)[62]
2005Milwaukee Bucks^ AustraliaCenterUtah[63]
2006Toronto Raptors ItalyBenetton Treviso (Italy)[64]
2007Portland Trail BlazersCenterOhio State[65]
2008Chicago Bulls^GuardMemphis[66]
2009Los Angeles Clippers^ForwardOklahoma[67]
2010Washington Wizards^GuardKentucky[68]
2011Cleveland Cavaliers^GuardDuke[69]
2012^Kentucky[70]
2013Cleveland Cavaliers CanadaForwardUNLV[71]
2014Cleveland Cavaliers^Forward/guardKansas[72]
2015Minnesota Timberwolves^Kentucky[73]
2016Philadelphia 76ers^Forward/guardLSU[74]
2017Philadelphia 76ersWashington[75]
2018Phoenix SunsCenterArizona[76]
2019New Orleans Pelicans^ForwardDuke[77]
2020Minnesota Timberwolves^GuardGeorgia[78]
2021Detroit PistonsGuardOklahoma State[79]
2022Orlando Magic^ForwardDuke[80]
2023San Antonio Spurs FranceCenter/forwardMetropolitans 92 (France)[81]
2024Atlanta HawksForwardJL Bourg (France)

See also

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ronald Tillery . June 18, 2008 . Landing the top draft pick can lift NBA team to new heights, and also fill arena . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120212221616/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/May/18/playing-the-odds/ . February 12, 2012 . June 16, 2008 . The Commercial Appeal.
  2. Web site: June 29, 2006 . Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090222015506/http://english.people.com.cn/200606/29/eng20060629_278441.html . February 22, 2009 . June 16, 2008 . People's Daily.
  3. News: Vecsey . George . December 3, 1993 . Basketball Surviving Quite Nicely . . live . May 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051822/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-basketball-surviving-quite-nicely.html?pagewanted=all . December 31, 2017.
  4. Web site: June 21, 2010 . Kyrie Irving is Committed to the Red, White and Blue . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100824195739/http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/u18/10_mu18_q_a_irving.html . August 24, 2010 . USA Basketball.
  5. Web site: Borzello . Jeff . June 8, 2012 . Australian prospect Ben Simmons makes great first impression . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160727043330/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/recruiting/eye-on-college-basketball-recruiting/19302626/australian-prospect-ben-simmons-makes-great-first-impression . July 27, 2016 . May 18, 2017 . CBSSports.com.
  6. All statistics are taken from the players' respective rookie season unless otherwise noted.
  7. t/tonkoan01. Andy Tonkovich. June 19, 2008.
  8. s/shannho01. Howie Shannon. June 19, 2008.
  9. s/sharech01. Chuck Share. June 19, 2008.
  10. w/workmma01. Mark Workman. June 19, 2008.
  11. f/felixra01. Ray Felix. June 19, 2008.
  12. s/selvyfr01. Frank Selvy. June 19, 2008.
  13. r/rickedi01. Dick Ricketts. June 19, 2008.
  14. g/greensi01. Sihugo Green. June 19, 2008.
  15. h/hundlho01. Rod Hundley. June 19, 2008.
  16. b/bayloel01. Elgin Baylor. June 19, 2008.
  17. b/boozebo01. Bob Boozer. June 19, 2008.
  18. r/roberos01. Oscar Robertson. June 19, 2008.
  19. b/bellawa01. Walt Bellamy. June 19, 2008.
  20. m/mcgilbi01. Bill McGill. June 19, 2008.
  21. h/heymaar01. Art Heyman. June 19, 2008.
  22. b/barneji01. Jim Barnes. June 19, 2008.
  23. h/hetzefr01. Fred Hetzel. June 19, 2008.
  24. r/russeca01. Cazzie Russell. June 20, 2008.
  25. w/walkeji01. Jimmy Walker. June 20, 2008.
  26. h/hayesel01. Elvin Hayes. June 20, 2008.
  27. a/abdulka01. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). June 20, 2008.
  28. l/laniebo01. Bob Lanier. June 20, 2008.
  29. c/carrau01. Austin Carr. June 20, 2008.
  30. m/martila01. LaRue Martin. June 20, 2008.
  31. c/collido01. Doug Collins. June 20, 2008.
  32. w/waltobi01. Bill Walton. June 20, 2008.
  33. t/thompda01. David Thompson. June 20, 2008.
  34. l/lucasjo01. John Lucas. June 20, 2008.
  35. b/bensoke01. Kent Benson. June 20, 2008.
  36. t/thompmy01. Mychal Thompson. June 20, 2008.
  37. j/johnsma02. Earvin Johnson (Magic Johnson). June 20, 2008.
  38. c/carrojo01. Joe Barry Carroll. June 20, 2008.
  39. a/aguirma01. Mark Aguirre. June 20, 2008.
  40. w/worthja01. James Worthy. June 20, 2008.
  41. s/sampsra01. Ralph Sampson. June 20, 2008.
  42. o/olajuha01. Hakeem Olajuwon. June 20, 2008.
  43. e/ewingpa01. Patrick Ewing. June 20, 2008.
  44. d/daughbr01. Brad Daugherty. June 20, 2008.
  45. r/robinda01. David Robinson. June 20, 2008.
  46. m/mannida01. Danny Manning. June 20, 2008.
  47. e/ellispe01. Pervis Ellison. June 20, 2008.
  48. c/colemde01. Derrick Coleman. June 20, 2008.
  49. j/johnsla02. Larry Johnson. June 20, 2008.
  50. o/onealsh01. Shaquille O'Neal. June 20, 2008.
  51. w/webbech01. Chris Webber. June 20, 2008.
  52. r/robingl01. Glenn Robinson. June 20, 2008.
  53. s/smithjo02. Joe Smith. June 20, 2008.
  54. i/iversal01. Allen Iverson. June 20, 2008.
  55. d/duncati01. Tim Duncan. June 20, 2008.
  56. o/olowomi01. Michael Olowokandi. June 20, 2008.
  57. b/brandel01. Elton Brand. June 20, 2008.
  58. m/martike01. Kenyon Martin. June 20, 2008.
  59. b/brownkw01. Kwame Brown. June 20, 2008.
  60. m/mingya01. Yao Ming. June 20, 2008.
  61. j/jamesle01. LeBron James. June 20, 2008.
  62. h/howardw01. Dwight Howard. June 20, 2008.
  63. b/bogutan01. Andrew Bogut. June 20, 2008.
  64. b/bargnan01. Andrea Bargnani. June 20, 2008.
  65. o/odengr01. Greg Oden. June 20, 2008.
  66. r/rosede01. Derrick Rose. December 26, 2008.
  67. g/griffbl01. Blake Griffin. April 17, 2011.
  68. w/walljo01. John Wall. April 17, 2011.
  69. i/irvinky01. Kyrie Irving. June 11, 2013.
  70. d/davisan02. Anthony Davis. June 11, 2013.
  71. b/bennean01. Anthony Bennett. May 28, 2014.
  72. w/wiggian01. Andrew Wiggins. April 19, 2015.
  73. t/townska01. Karl-Anthony Towns. April 16, 2016.
  74. s/simmobe01. Ben Simmons. June 23, 2016.
  75. f/fultzma01. Markelle Fultz. June 6, 2018.
  76. a/aytonde01. Deandre Ayton. June 21, 2018.
  77. w/willizi01. Zion Williamson. August 20, 2020.
  78. e/edwaran01. Anthony Edwards. May 24, 2021.
  79. c/cunnica01. Cade Cunningham. June 23, 2022.
  80. c/banchpa01. Paolo Banchero. April 24, 2023.
  81. w/wembavi01. Victor Wembanyama. November 13, 2023.

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