20 Greatest No. 1 Overall Draft Picks In NBA History

When a team lands the No. 1 overall pick, the team is hoping that the player they draft will change the course of the franchise. After all, the only reason a team has the No. 1 overall pick is that they are coming off of a season where they were among the league’s worst teams. The No. 1 overall pick is safe because it means that you could land the best player in the draft. We have seen plenty of times where a player could bust, but make no mistake that the No. 1 overall pick does hold some sacred ground.

Eleven players have won the MVP Award when drafted as the No. 1 overall player. Between 2003 and 2009, 12 of the No. 1 overall picks have made an All-Star Game. That number could grow once we let the players between 2020 and 2022 mature. This draft selection goes back to 1947. There have been a lot of great No. 1 overall picks. Some players like Wilt Chamberlain (territorial), Bill Russell (No. 2), and Michael Jordan (No. 3) were not selected at the top. Other players were and we rank the greatest No. 1 overall picks right now.

These are the 20 greatest players to be picked No. 1 overall.

Honorable Mentions

Derrick Rose (2008 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 17.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Honors: MVP Award, 3x All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team

Rose deserves an honorable mention for what he accomplished before he was injured. Had Rose never torn his ACL in 2012, the Chicago Bulls might have made a run to the NBA Finals. Rose was that good during the years between 2009 and 2012. That included winning the MVP Award in 2011.

When Rose won the MVP Award, he led the Bulls to 62 wins, which was the first 60-win season since the 1997-98 season with Michael Jordan. Rose finished with 2,000 points and 600 assists, which was the third time ever since 1972-73 season. At 22 years old and six months, he was the youngest MVP winner to ever win the award. As of now, Rose is the last No. 1 overall pick to win the MVP Award.

Yao Ming (2002 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG

Honors: 8x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-Third Team, All-Rookie First Team, No. 11 retired by Rockets

One of the most popular athletes in China, Ming was pressured to join the NBA Draft in 2002. He quickly grew to fame after getting drafted No. 1 overall pick. Ming played in the NBA for eight seasons and was voted to the All-Star Game in every season, including the seasons that saw him limited by injuries.

Ming finished with two seasons of double-doubles and had three seasons with at least 2.0 blocks per game. Similarly to Rose, if Ming was not hurt by injuries for the amount of his career, his accomplishments might have been superior.

20. Chris Webber (1993 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 20.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Honors: 5x All-Star, All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Rebounding Leader, No. 4 retired by Kings

Webber had the chance of playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal but the Orlando Magic traded Webber to the Warriors in exchange for Penny Hardaway. Webber didn’t spend a lot of time before he joined the Washington Bullets franchise. It wasn’t until he joined the Sacramento Kings that he enjoyed his most successful seasons.

To this day, the 1998 to 2005 seasons remain the most relevant seasons for the Kings franchise in 2022. With Webber leading the way, the Kings nearly made the NBA Finals in 2002. It remains a highly controversial series that some believed to be fixed. Regardless, Webber made five consecutive All-Star appearances back in the day.

19. David Thompson (1975 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 22.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Honors: 4x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, ABA All-Star, ABA All-Star Game MVP, ABA All-Second Team, ABA Rookie of the Year, ABA All-Rookie First Team, ABA All-Time Team, No. 33 retired by Nuggets

Thompson was the No. 1 overall pick to both the ABA and NBA in 1975 but he elected to join the Denver Nuggets instead of the Atlanta Hawks. He finished runner-up to Julius Erving in the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest. Thompson led the Nuggets to the ABA Finals before losing to the New York Nets. After the league converged, Thompson grew into a four-time All-Star.

Thompson’s greatest claim to fame was when he scored 73 points against the Pistons to win the 1977-78 scoring title. Thompson lost by a percentage point to George Gervin, who scored 63 points to keep the pace. Thompson’s career was cut short in 1984 after a knee injury forced him into retirement.

18. Bob Lanier (1970 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Honors: 8x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-Rookie First Team, No. 16 retired by Pistons, No. 16 retired by Bucks

Lanier was a territorial pick by the New York Nets of the ABA but he decided to join the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. Some didn’t believe that Lanier would play for the Pistons after recovering from knee surgery but he played through the rehabilitation process to make the All-Rookie First Team. After that, Lanier quickly became a star.

The Pistons constantly were in flux. The team went through eight coaches in 10 seasons but Lanier was the one consistent piece. In 10 seasons with the Pistons, Lanier averaged 22.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. Despite playing in the league for 14 seasons, Lanier never made the NBA Finals. He played in 67 career playoff games.

17. Kyrie Irving (2011 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 23.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Honors: NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 50-40-90 Club, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Three-Point Contest Champion

When Irving came into the league, he was tasked with the job of becoming the new face of the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James had left the team for the Miami Heat a year prior and had played in the NBA Finals. Irving was an All-Star by 2013 after being drafted in 2011. When Irving won the All-Star Game MVP and made another All-Star Game, it was an influential part of LeBron coming back to the Cavaliers to help the team win the 2016 championship.

Irving might have been the “number two” on that team but he has been a steady superstar in the league for a decade. Irving’s shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals was the go-ahead shot. He later made the 50-40-90 Club while playing for the Nets and has made All-Star appearances with three different franchises. Irving is 30 years old and has a long career ahead of him if he chooses to stick around.

16. James Worthy (1982 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Honors: 3x NBA Champion, Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Third Team, All-Rookie First Team, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 42 retired by Lakers

Being the No. 1 overall pick is a pretty cool moment. Getting a greater nickname to add to it is even better. Worthy was coined “Big Game James” by his Laker teammates. He led the Lakers in playoff scoring in their championship runs in 1987 and 1988. Based on the numbers, he averaged about 3.5 points more per game compared to the regular season. Worthy averaged 17.6 points per game in the regular season and then saw that number jump to 21.1 points in 143 playoff games.

Worthy played in 34 games in the NBA Finals. He averaged 22.2 points and 53% shooting for those appearances. Worthy played in four Game 7s as well and averaged 27.0 points and 8.2 rebounds in that time. Worthy won the Finals MVP Award when he averaged 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in the 1988 Finals. Altogether, Worthy was considered the third-best player to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson on those Laker teams but he was easily a true one on many other franchises.

15. Anthony Davis (2012 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 24.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Honors: NBA Champion, 8x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-Defensive First Team, 2x All-Defensive Second Team, 3x Blocks Leader, All-Rookie First Team, NBA Anniversary Team (75th)

After leading the Kentucky Wildcats to a national championship, Davis was the no-doubt pick at No. 1 overall in 2012. Davis rose to the scene quickly in New Orleans where he was an All-Star selection each season from 2014 to 2019. Davis also set the All-Star Game scoring record with 52 points. After years of coming up short in New Orleans, Davis was traded to the Lakers for multiple players and draft picks.

With the Lakers, Davis helped the team win the 2020 championship in his first season. Davis nearly won the Defensive Player of the Year Award but he anchored a top defensive team in the league. With LeBron James running the point guard position, the tandem was unstoppable. Davis is 29 years old and has the potential to grow up this list in the future.

14. Elvin Hayes (1968 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Honors: NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-Defensive Second Team, All-Rookie First Team, Scoring Champion, 2x Rebounding Leader, No. 11 retired by Wizards, No. 44 retired by Rockets, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th)

The greatest defensive power forward is on this list somewhere but the greatest offensive power forward might be right here. Hayes was a durable player in the NBA for a long time, tallying over 50,000 career minutes and missing only nine games in 16 seasons. He never missed more than two games in a season. After being drafted by San Diego, Hayes made a splash in the league by averaging 28.4 points to lead the league in scoring.

Hayes averaged over 27.0 points per game in his first three seasons in the league before hovering around 21.0 points per game for three straight seasons. While playing for the Bullets, Hayes was paired alongside defensive standout Wes Unseld. During the team’s 1977-78 championship run, Hayes averaged 21.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. He also set an NBA record for offensive rebounds (11) in a Finals game, which has been tied by Dennis Rodman two times.

13. Bill Walton (1974 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Honors: 2x NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP Award, 2x All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-Defensive First Team, Sixth Man of the Year, Rebounding Leader, Blocks Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 32 retired by Trail Blazers

Walton is regarded as one of the greatest Trail Blazers to ever play. With Walton leading the way, the Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1977 where he was named Finals MVP. Walton averaged 18.5 points, 19.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.7 blocks in the six-game series. The following year, Walton was named the league MVP when he averaged 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.

After the Trail Blazers, Walton played for the San Diego Clippers between 1979 and 1985. He played only 69 games with the team. He eventually joined the Celtics where he grew into the league’s top sixth man. With a strong supporting cast, Walton still managed to contribute in the 1986 Finals by averaging 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 19.0 minutes to win his second championship.

12. Patrick Ewing (1985 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG

Honors: 11x All-Star, All-NBA First Team, 6x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 33 retired by Knicks

Ewing is considered by many the greatest player to play for the New York Knicks. Between 1985 and 2000, Ewing made the All-Star team 11 times. That included leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999. Both times the Knicks came up short to the Rockets and Spurs respectively, but it remains the last time that the Knicks made the NBA Finals.

To this day, Ewing owns the most points (23,665), rebounds (10,759), and blocks (2,758) with the Knicks. While he may have never won a championship, Ewing was the best of the best during an era where the center position was used at a high volume. In comparison to other players during his era, he remains considered a top 50 and top 75 player of all time.

11. Dwight Howard (2004 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 15.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG

Honors: NBA Champion, 8x All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 4x All-Defensive First Team, All-Defensive Second Team, All-Rookie First Team, 5x Rebounding Leader, 2x Blocks Leader, Slam Dunk Contest Champion

When Howard ran the table between 2004 and 2014, he was considered the best center in the league since Shaquille O’Neal. Even when O’Neal remained in the league, Howard was overtaking the role as the best offensive and defensive man in the middle. Howard was the best center in the league between 2008 and 2012, which included winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times.

What Howard has in common with Shaq is that he also led the Magic to the NBA Finals. Like O’Neal in 1995, Howard led his team to a surprising run in 2009. With a surrounding cast of Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic made it past MVP LeBron James in the playoffs. When Howard left for the Lakers, the Magic’s overall production dipped significantly and the team has been grasping for straws since. After bouncing around the league between 2013 and 2019, Howard grew into a role player that helped the Lakers win a championship in 2020.

10. Allen Iverson (1996 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Honors: MVP Award, 11x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, 4x Scoring Champion, 3x Steals Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (75th), No. 3 retired by 76ers

Not only was Iverson the shortest No. 1 overall pick in NBA history, but he is also a top-10 No. 1 overall pick ever. Some thought that there were concerns about their 6-foot-0 frame Iverson and how he would hold up in the league. Iverson was selected over some solid names like Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash, and Kobe Bryant. In the end, Iverson became a scoring legend in Philadelphia, racking up 19,931 career points.

Iverson ranks second to Hal Greer as the all-time leading scorer, averaging 27.6 points per game during his tenure. Iverson won the league MVP Award in 2001 when he led the 76ers to the NBA Finals. The 2001 appearance is the team’s last appearance in the Finals, where Iverson averaged 31.1 points. Iverson averaged at least 30.0 points per game five times in his career.

9. David Robinson (1987 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG

Honors: 2x NBA Champion, MVP Award, 10x All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 4x All-NBA Third Team, Defensive Player of the Year, 4x All-Defensive First Team, 4x All-Defensive Second Team, Scoring Champion, Rebounding Leader, Blocks Leader, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 50 retired by Spurs

When you think of the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are the first three names most common fans think of. A name that should never be left out is David Robinson. Like Duncan, Robinson played his entire career with the Spurs between 1989 and 2003. Before the Spurs were championship contenders, Robinson kept the Spurs afloat with tough competition in the Western Conference, including winning the league MVP Award in 1995.

When the Spurs were able to draft Duncan, the two transformed the Spurs into title contenders. Even when Robinson was in his later years, he was an effective player that helped the team win a championship in 2003. If it wasn’t for Duncan, a top-10 player in NBA history, Robinson would be the all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks for the Spurs.

8. Elgin Baylor (1958 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

Honors: 11x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, Rookie of the Year, NBA Anniversary Team (35th, 50th, 75th), No. 22 retired by Lakers

Before the Showtime era and the Kobe Bryant 2000s, the Lakers were defined by Elgin Baylor. When Baylor left the league, he finished with 23,149 career points. That career number would be a franchise record for numerous other franchises but because it’s the Lakers, he is not the career leader. The only reason he doesn’t own the record is that he played alongside Jerry West, while the Lakers eventually had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bryant suit up for the team.

The single-game record of 71 points held for many years until Bryant reached the 80s in 2006. Regardless, Baylor was a tremendous talent. He led the Lakers to the NBA Finals 10 times but never won a championship because he played against the dynasty Boston Celtics, led by Bill Russell and Co. In any other era, Baylor might have been a championship. On any other team, he is considered the best player.

7. Oscar Robertson (1960 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BP

Honors: NBA Champion, MVP Award, 12x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 9x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, Rookie of the Year, 6x Assists Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (35th, 50th, 75th), No. 14 retired by Kings, No. 1 retired by Bucks

The Cincinnati Royals used a territorial pick to select Robertson as No. 1 overall. Robertson was selected over Jerry West and Lenny Wilkens in this draft. Robertson was a solid pick for the team, having averaged at least 30.0 points per game in six of his first seven seasons with the team. That included nearly averaging a triple-double in his rookie season. His following year, Robertson averaged a triple-double, 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists. It was the first and only time up until 2017 that a player had accomplished that.

Robertson was never able to help the Royals win a championship during the 1960s because the team often ran into a buzz saw in the Celtics in the playoffs. When Robertson left the Royals, he joined the Bucks in 1970 and helped the team win their first championship. Robertson averaged 19.4 points and 8.2 assists during the regular season and then 18.3 points and 8.9 assists in the playoffs. With nine All-NBA First Team appearances, he is regarded as one of the best guards ever.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG

Honors: 2x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, MVP Award, 12x All-Star, 6x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-NBA Third Team, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 5x All-Defensive First Team, 4x All-Defensive Second Team, All-Rookie First Team, 2x Rebounding Leader, 3x Blocks Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 34 retired by Rockets

Try being the player that was selected over Michael Jordan. Olajuwon was taken with the No. 1 overall pick while Jordan fell to No. 3. The comparison between the two all-time greats was debated for years, especially when Jordan took off in the 1990s. However, people forget that Olajuwon qualified for the NBA Finals before Jordan in 1986. Then, Olajuwon took advantage of the years Jordan left the league for the first time by surging towards MVP status and winning back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995.

While Olajuwon was a premier inside force on offense, he was also a standout on defense as well. Olajuwon is the only player to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. His defensive greatness is so superior that the league renamed the Defensive Player of the Year Award The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.

5. Shaquille O’Neal (1992 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Honors: 4x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, MVP Award, 15 All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 4x All-NBA Third Team, 3x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, 2x Scoring Champion, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 34 retired by Lakers, No. 32 retired by Heat

O’Neal might be the most overpowering post-presence in the history of the NBA. He posted career averages of 23.7 points and shot 58.2% from the field with over 10 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks. Because of his size, 7-foot-1 and 330 pounds, he was incredibly hard to guard and keep off of the class. We should have known he was destined for greatness when he shattered the steel backboard supports in his rookie season.

The post moves that O’Neal displayed led to him leading the league in scoring two times. He also led the league in field-goal percentage 10 times, which broke the record of nine set by Wilt Chamberlain. On top of that, he was a solid defender as evidenced by his shot-blocking. When the Lakers won three straight titles between 2000 and 2002, O’Neal won three consecutive Finals MVP Awards. From top to bottom, O’Neal is often mentioned in the top 10 greatest players ever.

4. Tim Duncan (1997 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Honors: 5x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, 2x MVP Award, 15x All-Star, All-Star Game co-MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 8x All-Defensive First Team, 7x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, NBA Anniversary Team (75th), No. 21 retired by Spurs

We begin to transition into some of those players that are in the Mount Rushmore conversation in NBA greatness. Duncan was nicknamed Mr. Fundamental for his ability to do the basics so well. He averaged a double-double for his career with over 2.0 blocks as well, making him one of the league’s best interior defenders ever. As mentioned about David Robinson, Duncan is the other Spur that many think of when they hear about the franchise. With that said, he is “the Spur.” With Duncan, the Spurs made the NBA Finals six times and he won five championships.

Defensively, he is considered the greatest power forward ever. He made the All-Defensive Team a combined 15 times. With the Spurs, he owns the record for points (26,496), rebounds (15,091), and blocks (3,020). Without Duncan, the Spurs would not be a championship-winning franchise.

3. Magic Johnson (1979 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Honors: 5x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, 3x MVP Award, 12x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 9x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, All-Rookie First Team, 4x Assists Leader, 2x Steals Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th), No. 32 retired by Lakers

Magic had to leave the league at 31 years old which is seen as one of the biggest disappointments in professional sports history. Had Johnson been able to play longer, he might have matched Michael Jordan’s championship total or surpassed it. He was entering the prime of his career and was already regarded as the greatest point guard ever. Even with his abbreviated career, Johnson is one of seven players with over 10,000 career assists. His 10,141 assists rank seventh all-time and some believe that he could have been the player to pass John Stockton (15,806) for the record.

With Johnson running the show, the Showtime Lakers were the real deal. If you take Johnson off of those teams in the 80s, the Lakers would not have won five championships. While Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a masterful player, Johnson pushed the tempo and was the central component to making everything run efficiently. With three MVPs and Finals MVP Awards, Johnson has a complete resume that makes him a top-five player to ever play the game of basketball. Between Kobe and Magic, it makes for an interesting conversation in terms of the greatest Laker ever as well.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 BPG

Honors: 6x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 6x MVP Award, 19x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, 5x All-Defensive First Team, 6x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, 2x Scoring Champion, Rebounding Leader, 4x Blocks Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (35th, 50th, 75th), No. 33 retired by Bucks, No. 33 retired by Lakers

For now, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar owns the all-time scoring record with 38,387 points. That record could be passed this year but it’s a record that has stood for three decades. Seven players have ever scored over 30,000 career points and only two of those picks were No. 1 overall picks in the draft. Kareem wasn’t just a great Laker as he began his career with the Bucks. During that time, he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 1971 where he also won three MVP Awards.

After deciding to play in a larger market, he was a sensation for the Lakers from 1975 to 1989. He won three more MVP Awards and five more championships with fellow No. 1 overall picks Magic Johnson and James Worthy. Abdul-Jabbar was the creator of the “sky hook” jumper that was deemed unguardable. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in points, games played, minutes, field goals, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, and career wins. When it comes to basketball, Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best to ever do it.

1. LeBron James (2003 NBA Draft)

Career Stats: 27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Honors: 4x NBA Champion, 4x Finals MVP, 4x MVP Award, 18x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 13x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 5x All-Defensive First Team, All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Scoring Champion, Assists Leader, NBA Anniversary Team (75th)

There’s only one other No. 1 overall pick that lived up to the hype like he was projected. When LeBron James was coming out of high school, he was pegged as the next Michael Jordan. At the time, Jordan had just left the NBA and it was ready for a new face. That is a hard job for an 18-year old and he immediately became a star. This year, LeBron is going to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections in NBA history. Next year, LeBron will likely become the only player to ever make it 20 times.

This year, he is scheduled to break the record in scoring. It’s one of many individual achievements that he has accomplished in his career. He owns four championships with three different teams, including leading the Cavaliers to their first championship in team history in 2016. While his two championships in Miami are impressive, James’ ability to lead the Lakers to the championship in 2020 at the heels of icon Kobe Bryant’s death is another physical and mental challenge that he overcame. Name it and LeBron has probably done it. At the end of the day, James is the perfect model of what you hope a No. 1 draft pick brings to the NBA.

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