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The Best First Overall NBA Draft Picks In History

The NBA draft is still about a season away, but fans and pundits are already setting their sights on 7-foot-4 big man Victor Wembanyama. The French standout is the projected No.1 overall pick and is highly regarded as a franchise-changing NBA talent.

Perhaps the most hyped prospect since former No.1 overall pick LeBron James, Wembanyama is currently lighting up the French League playing for the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92.

The number one overall pick in the NBA draft has always been a coveted position. While not every number one pick has become a star, or was able to live up to the hype, there have been many great number one overall picks who have gone on to have successful careers in the league over the years. Here’s a list of the best:

• LeBron James: Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, James has established himself as one of the best players in NBA history. He has won four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and has been named to the All-NBA First Team ten times.
• Magic Johnson: Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position and led the Lakers to five NBA championships. He was a three-time MVP and a 12-time NBA All-Star.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, Abdul-Jabbar became one of the greatest players in NBA history and won six NBA championships. He was a six-time MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, and a 19-time NBA All-Star
• Shaquille O’Neal: Drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992, O’Neal became one of the most dominant centers in NBA history. He won four NBA championships, was a three-time Finals MVP, and was a 15-time NBA All-Star.
• Tim Duncan: Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 1997, Duncan became the cornerstone of the Spurs franchise and led them to five NBA championships. He was a two-time MVP, a three-time Finals MVP, and a 15-time NBA All-Star.
• Oscar Robertson: Drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1960, Robertson was a pioneer of the modern game and became one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was a one-time MVP, a nine-time NBA All-Star, and won an NBA championship in 1971.
• Hakeem Olajuwon: Drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1984, Olajuwon became one of the greatest centers in NBA history and won two NBA championships. He was a two-time MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, and was named to the All-NBA First Team six times.

These players represent just a few of the many great number one overall draft picks in NBA history, but arguably are the ones who had the best careers. Each of them had a major impact on the league and left a lasting legacy on the game of basketball.