Ever since the dawn of the NBA, the Indiana Pacers have been one of the least successful teams in terms of silverware as they’ve never won a Championship after winning 3 ABA titles.
The Pacers have had some great players on their rosters throughout the course of history, but still, it’s always felt like they need something else.
Honestly, the lack of talent may be one of the reasons why the Pacers have never won a Championship. Actually, the Redditor nonumbersjustletters pointed out that they’re the only team on NBA history that has never had a first overall pick playing for them.
Crazy as it may seem, it’s actually true, and we’ll break it down in the following paragraphs but first, we’ll share some interesting facts about NBA franchises and their 1st overall picks:
– The 76ers have had the most #1 overall picks play for them with nine.
– Despite having had eight #1 overall picks play for them, the Pistons have never drafted the #1 overall player.
– 1995 #1 overall pick Joe Smith has played for the most teams (12) of any #1 pick. He is the only #1 overall pick to play for Thunder and he only played 36 games for them.
– Teams with only one #1 pick to play for them – Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, and Sonics
– Teams to have never drafted a #1 overall player – Pacers, Hawks, Celtics, Heat, Mavs, Nuggets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Thunder, Jazz and Sonics
– The Pacers have had the #2 overall pick twice. They drafted Wayman Tisdale in 1985 and Rik Smits in 1988. Both played games for the Pacers.
– Kenny Anderson, Evan Turner and currently Victor Oladipo are all former #2 overall picks to play for the Pacers.
Now, we’ll list the former 1st overall picks that played for every NBA Franchise. Note, we’ll only take picks from the lottery era (so we won’t count Hakeem Olajuwon for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors).
Teams And Their #1 Overall Players (Lottery Era Only)
**Notes team drafted player
Atlanta Hawks: Danny Manning, Glen Robinson, Joe Smith, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard
Boston Celtics: Pervis Ellison, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Olowokandi, Kyrie Irving
Brooklyn Nets: **Derrick Coleman (1990), Joe Smith, **Kenyon Martin (2000), Andrea Bargnani, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett
Charlotte Hornets: Derrick Coleman, **Larry Johnson (1991), Kwame Brown, Dwight Howard
Chicago Bulls: Joe Smith, **Elton Brand (1999), **Derrick Rose (2008)
Cleveland Cavaliers: **Brad Daugherty (1986), Shaquille O’Neal, Joe Smith, **LeBron (2003), Andrew Bogut, Derrick Rose, **Kyrie Irving (2011), Anthony Bennett (2013)
Dallas Mavericks: Danny Manning, Elton Brand, Andrew Bogut
Denver Nuggets: Joe Smith, Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin
Detroit Pistons: Danny Manning, Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber, Joe Smith, Allen Iverson, Kwame Brown, Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin
Golden State Warriors: ** Chris Webber (drafted by Magic but traded on draft night 1993), **Joe Smith (1995), Kwame Brown, Andrew Bogut
Houston Rockets: **Yao Ming (2002), Dwight Howard
Indiana Pacers: N/A
Los Angeles Clippers: **Danny Manning (1988), **Michael Olowokandi (1998), Elton Brand, Kenyon Martin, **Blake Griffin (2009)
Los Angeles Lakers: Shaquille O’Neal, Joe Smith, Kwame Brown, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Andrew Bogut, Anthony Davis
Memphis Grizzlies: Allen Iverson, Kwame Brown
Miami Heat: Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Greg Oden
Milwaukee Bucks: Danny Manning, **Glen Robinson (1994), Joe Smith, Kenyon Martin, **Andrew Bogut (2005)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Joe Smith, Michael Olowokandi, Derrick Rose, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, **Karl-Anthony Towns (2016)
New Orleans Pelicans: **Anthony Davis (2012), **Zion Williamson (2019)
New York Knicks: **Patrick Ewing (1985), Larry Johnson, Kenyon Martin, Andrea Bargnani, Derrick Rose
Oklahoma City Thunder: Joe Smith
Orlando Magic: **Shaq (1992), **Dwight Howard (2004), Markelle Fultz
Philadelphia 76ers: Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber, Glen Robinson, Joe Smith, **Allen Iverson (1996), Elton Brand, Kwame Brown, **Ben Simmons(2016), **Markelle Fultz (2017)
Phoenix Suns: Danny Manning, Shaquille O’Neal, **Deandre Ayton (2018)
Portland Trail Blazers: **Greg Oden (2007)
Sacramento Kings: **Pervis Ellison (1989), Chris Webber
San Antonio Spurs: **David Robinson (1987), Glen Robinson, **Tim Duncan (1997)
Seattle SuperSonics: Pervis Ellison
Toronto Raptors: **Andrea Bargnani (2006), Anthony Bennett
Utah Jazz: Danny Manning
Washington Wizards: Pervis Ellison, Chris Webber, **Kwame Brown (2001), Dwight Howard, **John Wall (2010)
Next
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