List of first overall NBA draft picks
The National Basketball Association's first overall pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft. The first pick is awarded to the team that wins the NBA Draft Lottery; in most cases, that team had a losing record in the previous season. The team with the first pick attracts plenty of media attention,[2] as does the player who is selected with that pick.
Ten first picks have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (record six-time winner), Bill Walton, Magic Johnson (three-time winner), Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan (two-time winner), and LeBron James.
China's Yao Ming (2002) and Italy's Andrea Bargnani (2006) are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Five other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall—Mychal Thompson (Bahamas) in 1978, Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) in 1984, Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1997, Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) in 1998, and Andrew Bogut (Australia) in 2005. Duncan is an American citizen, but is considered an "international" player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or Washington, D.C.[3]
Note that the drafts between 1947 and 1949 were held by the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The Basketball Association of America became the National Basketball Association after absorbing teams from the National Basketball League in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBA's draft history.
Key
All-Star | |
^ | Hall of Famer |
Player (in bold text) |
Rookie of the Year |
PPG | Points per game[a] |
APG | Assists per game[a] |
RPG | Rebounds per game[a] |
List of first overall picks
Notes
- a All statistics are taken from the players' respective rookie season unless otherwise noted.
- b Clifton McNeely never played professional basketball. Instead, he became a basketball coach for Pampa High School in Texas.[65][66]
- c Howie Shannon was the first overall pick, although Ed Macauley and Vern Mikkelsen had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[67]
- d Charlie Share did not play in the 1950–51 season. His rookie statistics are from the 1951–52 season.[6] Share was the first overall pick, although Paul Arizin had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.[68]
- e Gene Melchiorre never played in the NBA. He was banned for life from the NBA due to his involvement in the CCNY Point Shaving Scandal.[69] Melchiorre was the first overall pick, although Myer Skoog had been taken before the draft as the Minneapolis Lakers' territorial pick.[70]
- f Mark Workman was the first overall pick, although Bill Mlkvy had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.[71]
- g Ray Felix was the first overall pick, although Ernie Beck and Walter Dukes had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[72]
- h Dick Ricketts was the first overall pick, although Dick Garmaker and Tom Gola had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[73]
- i Sihugo Green was the first overall pick, although Tom Heinsohn had been taken before the draft as the Boston Celtics' territorial pick.[74]
- j Elgin Baylor was the first overall pick, although Guy Rodgers had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.[75]
- k Bob Boozer was the first overall pick, although Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Ferry had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[76]
- l Bill McGill was the first overall pick, although Dave DeBusschere and Jerry Lucas had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[77]
- m Art Heyman was the first overall pick, although Tom Thacker had been taken before the draft as the Cincinnati Royals' territorial pick.[78]
- n Jim Barnes was the first overall pick, although Walt Hazzard and George Wilson had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[79]
- o Fred Hetzel was the first overall pick, although Bill Bradley, Bill Buntin and Gail Goodrich had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.[80]
- p Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[81]
- q Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. When he arrived in the United States, the University of Houston incorrectly spelled his first name "Akeem". Olajuwon used that spelling until March 9, 1991, when he announced that he would add an H.[82][83]
- r Patrick Ewing was born in Jamaica, but had become a naturalized United States citizen while at Georgetown.[84] He represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics.[85]
- s David Robinson did not play in the NBA until 1989 due to commitments to the United States Navy.[86] His rookie statistics are from the 1989–90 season.[42]
- t Tim Duncan is a United States citizen by birth, as are all natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Because of this citizenship arrangement, Duncan has played for the U.S. internationally.[87]
- u Greg Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee before the 2007–08 season, and missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the 2008–09 season.[88]
References
- General
- "Draft Index". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- Specific
- ^ "Most anticipated No. 1 draft picks". CBC Sports. 2005-07-27. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Ronald Tillery (2008-06-18). "Landing the top draft pick can lift NBA team to new heights, and also fill arena". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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(help) - ^ "Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick". People's Daily Online. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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(help) - ^ "Andy Tonkovich". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Howie Shannon". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Mark Workman". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Ray Felix". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Frank Selvy". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Dick Ricketts". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Sihugo Green". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Rod Hundley". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Elgin Baylor". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Bob Boozer". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Oscar Robertson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Walt Bellamy". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Bill McGill". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Art Heyman". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Jim Barnes". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Fred Hetzel". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Cazzie Russell". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Jimmy Walker". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Elvin Hayes". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Bob Lanier". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Austin Carr". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "LaRue Martin". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Doug Collins". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Bill Walton". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "David Thompson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "John Lucas". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Kent Benson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Mychal Thompson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Earvin Johnson (Magic Johnson)". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Joe Barry Carroll". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Mark Aguirre". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "James Worthy". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Ralph Sampson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Hakeem Olajuwon". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Patrick Ewing". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Brad Daugherty". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ a b "David Robinson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Danny Manning". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Pervis Ellison". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Derrick Coleman". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Larry Johnson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Shaquille O'Neal". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Chris Webber". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Glenn Robinson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Joe Smith". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Allen Iverson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Tim Duncan". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Michael Olowokandi". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Elton Brand". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Kenyon Martin". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Kwame Brown". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Yao Ming". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "LeBron James". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Dwight Howard". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Andrew Bogut". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Andrea Bargnani". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Greg Oden". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "Derrick Rose". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
- ^ "Griffin top pick in NBA draft". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ Bob Cook (2007-09-13). ""Oden's injury a cruel blow for cursed Blazers"". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Obituaries: Clifton McNeely 12/29/03". amarillo.com. 2003-12-29. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1949 BAA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "1950 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ Wright Thompson (2007-08-09). "For the 1951 point-shavers, a life lived in infamy". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "1951 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "1952 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "1953 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "1955 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1956 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1958 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1959 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1962 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1963 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1964 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "1965 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ "Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992-93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ Dufresne, Chris (1991-03-11). "Hakeem Still Can Be Called 'the Dream'". Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Ralph Wiley (1985-01-07). "The Master Of The Key: After years of relying on others to unlock doors for him, Georgetown's center Patrick Ewing will soon go off on his own". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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(help) - ^ "All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: E". USA Basketball. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ Dave Anderson (1987-05-18). "Sports of the Times; The Robinson Plot Thickens". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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(help) - ^ "All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: D". USA Basketball. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "Oden's recovery from surgery likely in range of 6-12 months". ESPN.com. 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2008-06-16.