Since 1947, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft has been one of the most coveted prizes of the NBA off-season. Awarded to the draft lottery winner, the number 1 pick could mean changing the course of an entire franchise in just one night. However, as we have seen throughout history, the pick could also be a crapshoot and not work out resulting in a “draft bust” and delaying the improvement of that team.
- Guard – Magic Johnson
- Guard – Allen Iverson
- Forward – LeBron James
- Forward – Tim Duncan
- Center – Kareem Abdul Jabbar
- Bench
- Guard – Oscar Robertson
- Guard – Kyrie Irving
- Forward – Elgin Baylor
- Forward – Elvin Hayes
- Center – Shaquille O’Neal
- ’82-0′ Superteam
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Of all 75 No. 1 overall picks in history, just 11 have been named league MVP. Only 2 picks have been drafted No. 1 without having any previous American basketball experience (Yao Ming and Andrea Bargnani). Only 13.5% of No. 1 overall picks have gone on to win an NBA Championship with the team that drafted them and just 1 has won a championship and Finals MVP in the same year they were drafted (Magic Johnson). But, what if we were to create an All-Time lineup of solely No. 1 picks? How would it look? How would they perform as a team? Let’s take a deeper look.
Guard – Magic Johnson
Championships: 5
Career Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 52.0 FG%
Achievements: 3x NBA MVP, 3x Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Star Game MVP, Hall Of Fame
Drafted No. 1 overall out of Michigan State in 1979, no one made a more immediate impact on his team than Magic Johnson. After losing out on Rookie of the Year to Larry Bird, Magic set his sights on the ultimate prize in one of the most legendary performances of all-time. Magic would lead his team to the NBA Finals and in Game 6, with his starting Center sidelined, Magic stepped in for Kareem-Abdul Jabbar and score 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists. He would claim Finals MVP for his performance.
With a flashy personality and infectious smile, Magic would go down as the best playmaker in NBA history. No one could run a fastbreak offense like Magic. Hell, no one could run an offense like Magic, period. As the backbone and leader of the Showtime Lakers, Magic would claim 4 more NBA titles and 3 League MVP awards. As the greatest Point Guard to ever lace them up, Magic’s spot in this lineup is undeniable.
Guard – Allen Iverson
Championships: 0
Career Stats: 26.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.7 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 42.5 FG%
Achievements: 1x NBA MVP, Rookie Of The Year, 7x All-NBA Team Selection, 11x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, Hall O Fame
One of the most polarizing figures to ever step on the hardwood, our starting Shooting Guard is “The Answer”, Allen Iverson. Listed at just 6’0, Iverson defied all the odds and became one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history. With his agility, speed, and incredible handles, Iverson was able to get wherever he wanted to with the ball, picking apart defenses with seemingly zero effort. Often the smallest man on the court, Iverson still managed to win the NBA scoring title 4 times.
Who can forget what he did with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001? Iverson won league MVP with averages of 31.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 2.5 SPG winning himself the league’s steals title as well. What was even more remarkable about this year for Iverson is what he was able to do in the playoffs. Iverson led the Sixers to the Finals with his second-best player being a 34-year-old Dikembe Mutombo, who happened to win Defensive Player of the Year that season. Iverson was even able to at least steal a game from LA in the finals as well, something no team had accomplished in those playoffs. Iverson’s scoring abilities along with his heart and tenacity easily land him here in our starting lineup.
Forward – LeBron James
Championships: 4
Career Stats: 27.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 50.5 FG%
Achievements: 4x NBA MVP, 4x Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year, 18x All-Star, 17x All-NBA Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection, 3x All-Star Game MVP
What more can be said about the kid from Akron? In 2003 at just 18 years old, LeBron James was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. From that moment on James has had the expectations piled on as the league’s next superstar. He has met and convincingly exceeded those expectations. Despite constant criticism and ridicule from media and fans alike, LeBron has risen to the occasion time and time again.
From taking teams that had no business competing for a title to the promised land to a string of records and moments that are etched into our minds, James has become a consensus top 2 player in history. Even at 37 years old he continues to amaze us, averaging over 30 PPG this past season. The greatest player of all-time debate is for another day but there is no denying that LeBron rightfully gets the nod in our starting lineup.
Forward – Tim Duncan
Championships: 5
Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 BPG, 50.6 FG%
Achievements: 2x NBA MVP, 3x Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year, 15x All-Star, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 15x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
There has only ever been one knock on Tim Duncan’s game. He wasn’t flashy enough. However, I’m willing to bet that 30 out of 30 NBA GMs take Tim Duncan’s impact on winning over flash any day. One franchise did take Duncan No. 1 overall in 1997, the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent his entire 19-year career. Under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, Duncan went on to become the consensus greatest power forward in league history.
In just his 2nd season, Duncan led the Spurs to their first of 5 NBA titles in his era. Despite not being named an All-Star that season, Duncan took over in the playoffs averaging 23.2 PPG and 11.5 RPG en route to the ring. The overall dominance on both sides of the ball early on in his career was consistent for its entirety. His game may have not been the prettiest but “The Big Fundamental” damn sure got the job done.
Center – Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Championships: 6
Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 55.9 FG%
Achievements: 6x NBA MVP, 2x Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year, 19x All-Star, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 11x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
One of the most decorated athletes of all-time, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was drafted No. 1 overall in 1969 by the Milwaukee Bucks. From the time he was known as Lew Alcindor in high school and college until he retired as Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem dominated the basketball court with both poise and grace. At the time of his retirement, Kareem held 9 NBA records including one that may soon fall as the all-time leader in points scored.
There should be no doubt that the greatest center the league has ever seen graces our lineup as the starting center. No one controlled the low post like Kareem. Using his slender and agile frame and his famous signature move, the skyhook, Kareem tallied a 55.9 FG% for his career. This percentage made him the 8th most accurate scorer ever. He was also as clutch as they come, shooting over 50% in the clutch 18 times in his career. What else could you expect from one of the greatest to ever do it?
Bench
Guard – Oscar Robertson
Championships: 1
Career Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 46.0 FG%
Achievements: 1x NBA MVP, Rookie of the Year, 12x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
The original “Mr.Triple-Double” Oscar Robertson was drafted first overall in 1960 by the Cincinnati Royals. If you want to talk about a player who could do everything and then some from the point guard position, that player is Oscar Roberston. He was the total package. Elite playmaker, a crafty shot creator, a tenacious and pesky rebounder, and a leader. Kareem always says that Milwaukee could not have won the 1971 NBA Title without the on-court leadership of The Big O.
He was the 1st player in league history to average a triple-double for the season as we very well know. Lesser known about that historic season is that it was his rookie year! Oscar also led the league in assists per game an incredible 6 times. Robertson was also a prolific scorer, averaging 30+ PPG in 6 out of 7 seasons to begin his career and only 3 players have more 30+ PPG seasons than he does. The combination of scoring, playmaking and rebounding made Oscar the true definition of a triple threat.
Guard – Kyrie Irving
Championships: 1
Career Stats: 23.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 47.0 FG%
Achievements: Rookie of the Year, 7x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 3x All-NBA Team Selection
When it comes to pure skill on the basketball court, very few surpass the skills of Kyrie Irving. He arguably possesses the best ball-handling skills we have ever seen and his ability to find different ways to finish at the rim makes him one of the must-watch stars of today. He may get a bunch of grief for his life off the basketball court, but that should not cause us to deny and lie about his talent on it.
Perhaps one of the most underrated parts of his career came in the 2016 playoffs. Kyrie averaged 25 PPG and 4.7 APG for the entirety of those playoffs at just 23 years old. He performed even better in the Finals, going for 27 PPG, 4 APG, and 4 RPG. His performance was overshadowed by the play of his teammate Lebron James, but the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t with that title without the contributions of Kyrie Irving. Kyrie has also become one of the more efficient players in the league today, joining the highly touted 50-40-90 club in 2021 with the Brooklyn Nets.
Forward – Elgin Baylor
Championships: 0
Career Stats: 24.7 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 43.1 FG%
Achievements: Rookie of the Year, 11x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
Elgin Baylor is one of the most underappreciated players in NBA history. Baylor was the perfect combination of finesse and strength which shined through on the floor. At 6’5 225lbs, Baylor relied on his athleticism to excel at his position, despite being a little undersized. The most notable display of this was his leaping abilities, allowing him to excel at maneuvering around defenders for a bucket or grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds at will.
Baylor’s most impressive season came in 1962. He averaged a miraculous 38.3 PPG, 18.6 RPG, and, 4.6 APG. The scoring numbers were not an anomaly. Baylor averaged 24 PPG or better in all but 3 seasons of his 14-year career. Baylor has been named to 3 different anniversary teams in his career yet is still somewhat forgotten in the conversations about all-time greats. A player the caliber of Baylor off the bench is beneficial to any lineup.
Forward – Elvin Hayes
Championships: 1
Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 46.4 FG%
Achievements: 12x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
Elvin Hayes is one of the greatest players in Washington Bullets/Wizards history. Drafted No. 1 overall in 1968, Hayes went on to lead the league in scoring once, blocks once, and rebounding 3 times. Hayes was a proficient big man in an era of all-time greats which sometimes overshadows just how good he was.
In just his second season in the league, Hayes led the league in rebounding, becoming the 1st player not named Wilt or Bill to achieve that feat in the past 12 seasons. During the only NBA championship season Washington has ever known, Hayes averaged 21.8 PPG and 12.1 RPG during the playoffs to uplift the team to glory.
Center – Shaquille O’Neal
Championships: 4
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG
Achievements: 1x NBA MVP, 3x Finals MVP, Rookie Of The Year, 15x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 14x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
From the moment Shaq step foot in the NBA, his impact rocked the league. I mean it. He was voted NBA Player of the Week his very first week as a player! His days in Orlando with the Magic electrified audiences everywhere as he flew down the court like a gazelle and rocked the backboard with superhuman strength. He even took the team alongside Penny Hardaway to the Finals in 1995 only to fall short to Hakeem and the Rockets.
It was during his time in LA, that instilled legitimate fear into opponents everywhere. Shaq took the league by storm with the Lakers. Shaq led the league in scoring with 29.2 PPG en route to a league MVP, All-Star MVP, A championship, and a Finals MVP. One of the greatest individual seasons ever and his 1st of 3 straight titles in the City Of Angels. Shaq would add one more title alongside Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2006 before calling it quits as one of the most dominant players to ever play the game.
’82-0′ Superteam
This team up and down is just outright unfair. The lineup is something straight out of pure fantasy or an NBA2K video game. The offense alone would make opposing coaches lose months of sleep trying to draw up gameplans to stop them. They have 2 of the most elite playmakers in Magic and LeBron to be the floor generals leading the pace. Alongside scorers like Iverson, Kareem, Duncan, and Baylor off the bench is a recipe for absolutely historic offensive numbers. When the starters need a break, the bench consists of the same lineup of playmakers and scorers, giving opponents no rest.
Defensively, the onslaught doesn’t slow down. Versatile and athletic defenders make up this entire lineup starters and bench. On the perimeter, Lebron and Magic would swarm teams with their length while Kareem and Duncan would shut down anything from happening in the paint. Again, no rest when the second team comes in and opponents have to deal with Shaq, Hayes, and Oscar. It may seem impossible for any team to finish a regular season 82-0, but if any team would have a legitimate shot, it is this one.
As I alluded to earlier, the No. 1 overall pick is something that can change the course of a franchise for better or for worse. Yes, mishaps do happen and teams miss slightly or just plain bad on who they chose at the top of the draft. From the lineup constructed here, you can see that the pros outweigh the cons in many exciting ways. Number 1 picks are your league MVPs, your All-Stars, your franchise cornerstones, and most importantly, your champions.
