The 2019 NBA Draft approaches with projected No.1 pick Zion Williamson garnering more pre-draft hype than any prospect in recent memory -- arguably the most since LeBron James in 2003. James is undoubtedly one of the best No.1 picks in NBA history, but where does he rank in relation to other greats like Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Tim Duncan? We’ve settled the issue with the list below.
Just to clarify, this is not a list of the best players ever to be drafted No.1, but rather which draft picks were the best for the team that drafted them. For example, Shaquille O’Neal is better than several players on this list but doesn’t make the cut since his prime championship years came with the Lakers and Heat and NOT the Orlando Magic franchise that drafted him.
The Criteria:
The evaluation for this list focused on:
Time with the original team
Championships with the original team
Accolades, impact, & legacy with the original team
Further considerations:
All players on this list spent at least six seasons with the team that drafted them (thus the exclusions of Shaq & Bill Walton).
No players traded on draft night are included (thus, no Chris Webber).
No picks after 2005 are included to allow fair time to evaluate their ongoing career impact and legacy.
Got all that? Good. Now onto the list...
10. Dwight Howard - 2004, Orlando Magic
Eight seasons, 6-time All-NBA, 3-time DPOY
Howard grew into a transcendent force during his time in Orlando, joining exclusive company as a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and finishing as high as third in MVP voting. He led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals -- their first appearance since the 1994 Shaq & Penny Hardaway team -- before falling out of favor with the team and demanding a trade a few years later.
9. Patrick Ewing - 1985, New York Knicks
15 seasons, 11-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA
Ewing’s consistent excellence on both ends of the floor defined an entire generation of Knicks basketball. After winning the 1986 Rookie of the Year award he developed into a perennial 20/10 anchor, posting nine consecutive years of 20 points and 10 rebounds en route to making 10 straight All-Star teams, three All-Defensive teams, and reaching two NBA Finals -- losing the 1994 series to the Rockets in a heartbreaking Game 7 nail-biter. Due to the glut of legendary big men during the 90’s NBA (O’Neal, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon) Ewing is severely under-appreciated and never managed to gain serious MVP traction despite stellar statistical seasons such as 1989-90 where he averaged 28.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.
8. Allen Iverson - 1996, Philadelphia 76ers
10 seasons, 2001 MVP, 7-time All-NBA , 4-time scoring champ
You could make a strong case that Iverson deserves to be higher on this list based solely on his lasting impact on the game. Iverson helped usher in the era of the shoot-first point guard, and his personality, style, and style of play have continued to shape the league in the 10 years since his retirement. “The Answer” remains a cultural icon whose legacy extends far past his career 26.7 ppg scoring average, 29.7 career playoff scoring average, and his four scoring titles. A.I. isn’t just remembered for leading Philadelphia to the the 2001 NBA Finals, he’s remembered for emphatically stepping over Tyronn Lue after burying a corner facial on his way to a 48-point explosion that stole Game 1 from the heavily favored Lakers. He’s isn’t just remembered for his legendary crossover or his awe-inspiring finishing ability, but also for crossing up Michael Jordan, making the shooting sleeve a staple of NBA basketball, and giving the us one of the best rants in sports history about the importance of “practice.”
7. Oscar Robertson - 1960, Cincinnati Royals 1960
10 seasons, 1964 MVP, 10-time All-NBA
The comparisons between the “The Big O” and Russell Westbrook run deeper than just triple-doubles. Robertson, like Westbrook, put together a string of monster statistical seasons averaging a triple double through his first five years in the league at 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists. Robertson’s MVP level play resulted in ZERO NBA Finals appearances as his less-than-stellar supporting cast couldn’t propel him past the greatest dynasty in NBA history -- the Bill Russell era Boston Celtics. Despite Robertson’s sustained dominance, the Royals failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs during his final five years and missed the playoffs completely in each of his last three seasons. Robertson managed to capture the 1964 MVP and eventually won a ring when teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milwaukee in 1971, but his lack of playoff success with the Royals keeps him from climbing any higher on this list.
6. Lew Alcindor - 1969, Milwaukee Bucks
Six seasons, 3-time MVP, NBA champion in 1971
Prior to his storied run with the Lakers as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Alcindor had already established himself as one of the most dominant offensive forces in the NBA, averaging at least 30 ppg four separate seasons. His six years in Milwaukee included the 1970 Rookie of the Year, five All-NBA selections, three league MVPs, two scoring titles, and a Finals MVP. That’s a heck of a resume in just six years.
5. David Robinson - 1989, San Antonio Spurs
14 seasons, 1995 MVP, 2-time NBA Champion, 1992 Defensive POY
“The Admiral” is yet another dominant 90’s center widely remembered for his smile, his amiable demeanor, and his bulging biceps. Robinson made 10 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA teams, and eight All-Defensive teams in addition to winning the 1995 MVP and the 1994 scoring title. He also suffered the most important injuries in Spurs history -- a bad back and broken foot that caused him to miss 76 games in 1996 and allowed the Spurs to get the No.1 overall pick and draft another all-time great in Tim Duncan.
4. LeBron James - 2003, Cleveland Cavaliers
11 seasons, 2-time MVP, 2016 NBA Champion
LeBron James entered the NBA as EASILY the most-hyped high school player in league history. From appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated to having his high school games broadcast on ESPN, “King James” was hailed as “The Chosen One” as early as his junior year of high school. He not only managed to live up to the near-impossible hype, he transcended it. By all measures -- objective and subjective -- James belongs on the short list of greatest players in NBA history.
During his time with the Cavs, James earned two of his four MVPs, led the team to four consecutive Finals appearances (five overall), and spearheaded arguably the greatest Finals upset of all time in the Cavs victory over the 73-win Warriors in 2016. Even his four NBA Finals losses with Cleveland included legendary performances. James is the only player in NBA history to lose a Finals game in which he scored 50+ points (the infamous 2018 J.R. Smith game), the first player EVER to lead both teams in points, rebounds, and assists (2015), and the first player ever to average a triple-double in the NBA Finals (2017). Oh, and he also holds the league’s all-time record for playoff scoring. If not for spending four of his prime years with the Miami Heat, a strong case could be made for James at the very top of this list.
3. Hakeem Olajuwon - 1984, Houston Rockets
17 seasons, 1994 MVP, 2-time NBA Champion
“The Dream” began his career with 12-consecutive seasons averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in addition to making nine All-Defensive teams and setting the NBA’s all-time career mark for blocks. Olajuwon earned the reputation as one of the best defenders in NBA history while also posting 13 seasons of at least 20 PPG and six seasons of 24+ PPG. His wizardry in the low post is legendary, earning his vast array of pivots and ball fakes the nickname “The Dream Shake.” Olajuwon’s decade-and-a-half of dominance on both ends of the floor makes him arguably the most complete center in NBA history.
2. Tim Duncan - 1997, San Antonio Spurs
18 seasons, 5-time NBA champion, 2-time MVP
“The Big Fundamental” joined the Spurs in 1997 as one of the surest bets in NBA draft history. Following a storied four-year career at Wake Forest, he became both an All-Star and All-NBA selection in his rookie year and went on to earn three Finals MVPs, 15 All-NBA selections, and 15 All-Defensive selections. His stoic demeanor and uncanny consistency defined nearly 20 years of Spurs basketball during which the team never missed the playoffs and made six NBA Finals appearances. Many consider him the best power forward in league history, and there's a very strong case for him as the best No.1 draft pick in NBA history as well. That said, the honor narrowly goes too...
1. Magic Johnson - 1979, Los Angeles Lakers
13 seasons, 5-time NBA Champion, 3-time MVP
Magic narrowly gets the nod over Duncan for his additional MVP trophy and NINE NBA Finals appearances. Magic’s flashy play and storied rivalry against Larry Bird defined an entire era of NBA basketball. He rapidly transcended the shadow of six-time MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his way to becoming a 10-time All-NBA selection and the face of the 1980’s NBA. Magic’s other-worldly court vision and iconic passing set the standard by which elite point guards are still judged, and he remains one of the most iconic, beloved, and successful players in NBA history.
Honorable Mentions
Elgin Baylor - 1958, Los Angeles Lakers
13 seasons, 10-time All-NBA, Eight finals appearances
James Worthy - 1982, Los Angeles Lakers
12 seasons, 3-time NBA Champion, 7-time all-star, 2-time All-NBA
Bill Walton - 1974, Portland Trail Blazers
Four seasons, 1978 MVP, 1977 NBA Champion
Yao Ming - 2002, Houston Rockets
Nine seasons, 8-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA
Disagree with the rankings? Did we miss somebody? Leave a COMMENT and let us know!
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