The Best Number 1 NBA Draft Picks of All Time
By
Richard Janvrin
Contributor Updated: 28 November 2024
Richard Janvrin Contributor
Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today.
Number 1 Draft Picks in the NBA
While a team picking No. 1 overall signals that the team did poorly the season leading up to the draft, taking a player at that spot can give teams hope for the future.
While some No. 1 overall picks were considered “busts,” some have changed the face of their respective franchises and have gone on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Through 2024, there have been 78 NBA Drafts. Of the No. 1 selections in those drafts, almost 20 have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Below, I’ll examine the best number 1 draft picks in NBA history.
Spoiler alert: One of the players on the list is still actively playing in the NBA.
Let’s dive.
- 7. David Robinson
- 6. Hakeem Olajuwon
- 5. Shaquille O’Neal
- 4. Tim Duncan
- 3. Magic Johnson
- 2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
- 1. LeBron James
- Honorable Mentions
7. David Robinson
Kicking off my list of the best number 1 draft picks in NBA history is Robinson.
After a career at Navy from 1983 to 1987, Robinson landed with the San Antonio Spurs, who played until 2003.
Robinson was a two-time NBA champion in 1999 and 2003, the NBA MVP in 1995, a 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Team, two-time All-NBA Second Team, four-time All-NBA Third Team, and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
He led the league in rebounds in 1991 and blocks in 1992, was the scoring champion in 1994, and was the Rookie of the Year in 1990.
His scoring title came by scoring 71 points in late April to beat Shaquille O’Neal by 0.5 points for the title.
Robinson had eight seasons with more than 20 points per game.
6. Hakeem Olajuwon
Olajuwon was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, going two picks ahead of the legendary Michael Jordan.
That’s right, Jordan isn’t among the number 1 picks in the NBA.
While Sam Bowie, going No. 2 overall, didn’t live up to his potential, Olajuwon certainly did.
He played at Houston from 1981 to 1984 before being drafted by the Rockets and stayed in Houston with them. He played there until 2001 before spending the last two seasons of his career with Toronto.
Olajuwon, one of the best #1 picks in NBA history, was a two-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, the 1994 league MVP, a 12-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA First Team, and led the league in rebounds twice and blocks three times.
The Rockets retired his No. 34.
5. Shaquille O’Neal
We get to the top of the top players as we head into the top five.
At No. 5, I’m going with O’Neal.
He was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and played there through 1996. He then played with the Los Angeles Lakers (1996 to 2004), Miami Heat (2004 to 2008), Phoenix Suns (2008 to 2009), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009 to 2010), and the Boston Celtics (2010 to 2011).
Shaq won as a four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, the NBA VP in 2000, went to 15 All-Star games, a three-time NBA All-Star MVP, a two-time scoring champion, was the Rookie of the Year, and the Lakers, Heat, and Magic retired his jersey number.
4. Tim Duncan
Drafted in 1997, Duncan landed with the San Antonio Spurs.
He led them to an NBA championship in his second season with the team. He then won four more with the team.
He played with them from 1997 to 2016, spanned his entire career.
Duncan was a three-time Finals MVP and a two-time league MVP. He also played in 15 All-Star games and earned 10 All-NBA First Team nods. He was the Rookie of the Year, and the Spurs retired his No. 21, among other accolades.
3. Magic Johnson
Johnson landed with the Lakers as the No. 1 pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. This pick would lead to the creation of the Showtime Lakers, as Johnson and the team went on to win five titles from 1980 to 1988.
He won three Finals MVP awards, three league MVP awards, went to 12 All-Star games, won two All-Star MVPs, led the league in assists four times, steals twice, and had his jersey number retired by the Lakers.
During the first title run, Johnson played center during Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 42 points, 15 boards, and seven assists.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Coming in at No. 2 on the list is arguably one of the greatest basketball players to ever live, and that’s Abdul-Jabbar. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him in the 1969 NBA Draft. He played there from 1969 to 1975.
He then left the Bucks for the Lakers, where he stayed through 1989.
Abdul-Jabbar won a staggering six titles, including five with the Lakers and one with the Bucks.
He was a two-time Finals MVP and a six-time league MVP, went to 19 All-Star games, was the Rookie of the Year, won two scoring titles, and led the league in blocks four times and rebounds once.
His No. 33 was retired by the Lakers and Bucks.
1. LeBron James
Of course, James is the best number 1 draft pick in NBA history.
He’s played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. He was drafted by the Cavaliers and played there from 2003 to 2010 before coming back in 2014 after five seasons with the Heat.
Over his career, he’s won four NBA titles with three teams, a four-time Finals MVP, four league MVPs, has been to 20 All-Star games with three MVPs, 13 All-NBA First Team nods, was the Rookie of the Year, won a scoring title, led the league in assists, and is a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team.
While Abdul-Jabbar currently has two more NBA championships than James, James did pass Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record during his 20th season.
James, who was drafted in 2003, is still playing today with the Lakers.
His son, Bronny Jones, is now also on the team, and you can wager on them right now at best NBA sportsbook options.
He holds dozens of NBA records and will continue to add to his resume in 2024 and beyond as a 39-year-old.
He turns 40 on December 30.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the seven plates mentioned above, other noteworthy NBA #1 draft pick choices fell just outside my list.
- Oscar Robertson: He averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists as a rookie and averaged a triple-double in his second season. He won one NBA championship, one MVP, and went to 12 All-Star games.
- Elgin Baylor: An 11-time All-Star, Baylor never won an NBA championship but had his No. 22 retired by the Lakers.
- Patrick Ewing: Playing center for the New York Knicks from 1985 to 2000, Ewing went to 11 All-Star games, was the Rookie of the Year in 1986, and had his No. 33 retired by the Knicks. He spent his final three seasons in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics and Orlando Magic.
