Grading the Number One Overall Picks Since 1970
- May 16
- 21 min read
Updated: May 20
How did these GMs do? In this article, I will be going back in time and taking a look at all the top picks since 1970 and grading how their careers went. This will be based on statistics, accolades, and players drafted after them.
1970 – Detroit Pistons: Bob Lanier (Center): A-
Stats: 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG
Accolades: All-Rookie Team, 8x NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP
Playoff Games: 67
Lanier is one of the more underrated centers in NBA history. However, the lack of playoff success and Dave Cowens, Tiny Archibald, and others being drafted after him doesn't help his case.
1971 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Austin Carr (Shooting Guard): C-
Stats: 15.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.8 RPG
Accolades: All-Rookie Team, 1x NBA All-Star
Playoff Games: 18
Austin Carr was a solid SG in his time, averaging over 20 in his first three seasons. After those seasons, he became just a solid role player and didn't do much, barely making any noise in the playoffs. Some players drafted after him were HOFers Artis Gilmore and Spencer Haywood.
1972 – Portland Trail Blazers: LaRue Martin (Center): F
Stats: 5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.7 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: None
Martin had a very short career, only playing 4 seasons with subpar shooting percentages for a center. This pick looks even worse when you see who went after him, one being one of the best SFs in NBA history, Julius Erving, and the other being Bob McAdoo, an eventual MVP in the NBA.
1973 – Philadelphia 76ers: Doug Collins (Shooting Guard): B-
Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.3 APG
Accolades: 4x NBA All-Star
Playoff Games: 32
Collins was a very solid SG during his eight-year career, helping lead the 76ers to his only finals appearance, where they would eventually lose to the Trailblazers. This draft was relatively weaker, but some very notable players that went after him were George McGinnis and Larry Kenon, two of the better ABA players of all time.
1974 – Portland Trail Blazers: Bill Walton (Center): A
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG
Accolades: 1x NBA BLK Champ, 1x NBA TRB Champ, 2x NBA All-Star, 1x NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 2x All-Defensive, 2x All-NBA, 1x NBA MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP
Playoff Games: 49
Bill was one of the great players of the 70s. Sadly, his superstar career would be cut short due to many injuries, limiting him to being more of a role player. Some notable players taken after Bill were George Gervin, Bobby Jones, and Jamaal Wilkes.
1975 – Atlanta Hawks: David Thompson (Shooting Guard): A+
Stats: 22.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.3 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA/ABA All-Star, 2× NBA/ABA All-Star Game MVP, 3× All-NBA/ABA, ABA Rookie of the Year, ABA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 40
Thompson was one of the more talented SGs in the 70s and 80s who probably could have hit his full potential if he could have stayed away from drugs, which was a very common thing that players were doing during this time and ruined many players' careers. While his career may not have been the greatest of all time, he is still the best player in this draft, which gives him the A+ pretty easily. Some notable players drafted later were Dan Roundfield and Gus Williams.
1976 – Houston Rockets: John Lucas (Point Guard): D-
Stats: 10.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 7.0 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 45
John Lucas is another example of a player's career being ruined due to drug addiction, but he still had a decent 14-year career, being one of the better playmakers during this time. Some notable players drafted after him are Adrian Dantley, Alex English, Dennis Johnson, and Robert Parish, all HOFers.
1977 – Milwaukee Bucks: Kent Benson (Center): D-
Stats: 9.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.8 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: 29
If Kent Benson was drafted in the 15-20 range this would've been an okay pick because Benson was a solid starting center for a handful of seasons during his 11 years. This pick starts to look really bad once you look at how much better talent went after him including Jack Sikma, Bernard King, Marques Johnson, Norm Nixon, and Walter Davis.
1978 – Portland Trail Blazers: Mychal Thompson (Center/Power Forward): C-
Stats: 13.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.3 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA Champion, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 104
While Thompson was a pretty good center helping the Lakers win two championships he never really hit his true potential as a true superstar. What also doesn't help is Larry Bird, Maurice Cheeks, and Michael Ray Richardson went after him. Who knows how different the Blazers organization would've looked if they had took Larry Bird instead.
1979 – Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson (Point Guard): A+
Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA Champion, 3× NBA Finals MVP, 3× NBA Most Valuable Player, 12× NBA All-Star, 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP, 10× All-NBA, 4× NBA Assists Leader, 2× NBA Steals Leader, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 190
This is pretty self explanatory Magic is the greatest PG in NBA history and probably a top 5 player all time, and this draft wasn't very deep. Some notable players drafted after Magic were Sidney Moncrief, Bill Laimbeer.
1980 – Golden State Warriors: Joe Barry Carroll (Center): C+
Stats: 17.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.8 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA All-Star, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 19
Carroll was actual a pretty good player especially on the Warriors sadly though he was unable to make that little push to make the team title contenders missing the playoffs for 6 of the 7 seasons he was there. Something else that hurts is Kevin McHale was drafted after him just 2 picks later.
1981 – Dallas Mavericks: Mark Aguirre (Small Forward): B+
Stats: 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.1 APG
Accolades: 3× NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Champion
Playoff Games: 102
Aguirre is an underrated SF who was a great scorer a decent rebounder. While he wasn't able to win a ring with the Mavs he was a huge help for the Pistons helping them win 2 rings. Some of the notable players drafted after him were Isiah Thomas, Tom Chambers, Buck Williams, and Larry Nance.
1982 – Los Angeles Lakers: James Worthy (Small Forward): A
Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG
Accolades: 3× NBA Champion, 7× NBA All-Star, 2× All-NBA, 1× NBA Finals MVP, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 143
James Worthy is one of the greats of the 80s and was the perfect partner to Magic Johnson. This was a pretty good pick I imagine the Lakers don't regret their pick, but just imagine if they had drafted Dominique Wilkins a player drafted to picks later. Some other notable players drafted after Worthy were Mark Eaton, Terry Cummings, and Fat Lever.
1983 – Houston Rockets: Ralph Sampson (Center): A-
Stats: 15.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
Accolades: 4× NBA All-Star, 1× All-NBA, All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Playoff Games: 38
Ralph Sampson is apart of the group of players that are "what ifs" because Sampson had a great start to his career alongside Olajuwon to make the "Twin Towers" which was a unstoppable force until Sampson was hit with multiple injuries that ultimately destroyed his career. Some notable players drafted after Sampson were Clyde Drexler, Dale Ellis, and Derek Harper.
1984 – Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon (Center): A
Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA Champion, 12× NBA All-Star, 12× All-NBA , 2× NBA Finals MVP, 1× MVP, 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 9x NBA All-Defensive Team, 3x NBA BLK Champ, 2x NBA TRB Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 145
While Michael Jordan is the better player all time I think the Rockets still drafted a top 10 player all-time and the second best player in this draft. The notable players drafter after him were Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton.
1985 – New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing (Center): A
Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG
Accolades: 11× NBA All-Star, 7× All-NBA, 3× NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year
Playoff Games: 139
Ewing is one of the greatest center of all time and one of the best players to never win a ring unfortunately because he did everything he could for those 90s Knicks teams. Some of the notable player drafted after him were Karl Malone, Joe Dumars, and Chris Mullin.
1986 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Brad Daugherty (Center): A-
Stats: 19.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.7 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star, 1× All-NBA, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 41
Daugherty was looking at being one of the NBA's top centers until sadly after 8 years he was forced to retire due to multiple injuries that he just wasn't able to come back from. Some notable players taken after him were Dennis Rodman and Mark Price.
1987 – San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson (Center): A+
Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA Champion, 10× NBA All-Star, 10× All-NBA, 1× NBA MVP, 1× NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 8x NBA All-Defensive Team, 1x NBA Scoring Champ, 1x NBA BLK Champ, 1x NBA TRB Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Year
Playoff Games: 123
Robinson was an absolute beast there were very few players better than him during his prime, his best season he averaged nearly 30 ppg and at the same time being and absolute nightmare for offenses because you were not going to be scoring on this guy inside of the perimeter. Notable players drafted after him were Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, and Horace Grant.
1988 – Los Angeles Clippers: Danny Manning (Power Forward): B+
Stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.3 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star, 1x NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Playoff Games: 43
While Danny was a solid player for most of his career he never really became a superstar, but he was a great scorer and solid rebounder, but had very little playoff success as the number one guy on the Clippers. The notable players drafted after him were Mitch Richmond, Dan Majerle, Anthony Mason, and Hersey Hawkins.
1989 – Sacramento Kings: Pervis Ellison (Center): D
Stats: 9.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.5 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Most Improved Player
Playoff Games: 4
At some point there was going to be a bad pick sadly it happened to Pervis Ellison. While he career wasn't terrible it was certainly not great for a 1st overall pick espically when you look at some of the great talent that went after him, most notably Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Sean Elliott, Mookie Blaylock, Vlade Divac, Glen Rice, Cliff Robinson, and B.J Armstrong.
1990 – New Jersey Nets: Derrick Coleman (Power Forward): A-
Stats: 16.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 39
Had a very similar career to Joe Barry Carroll execpt it was just slightly better with a little more playoff success. Coleman was a great scorer and rebounder, but really never hit his true peak and for the most part never playing past the first round in the playoffs. He is lucky though because this draft was not very deep with really the only player that would take his spot at number one being Gary Payton. Some other players drafted after him were Toni Kukoc, Tyrone Hill, Antonio Davis, and Elden Campbell.
1991 – Charlotte Hornets: Larry Johnson (Power Forward): A
Stats: 16.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.3 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star, NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 1x All-NBA
Playoff Games: 66
Johnson was another one of those players that were good players, but never really hit there true potiental. He was very good in his early years on the Hornets alongside Alonzo Mourning making a great duo, unfortunately they didn't do much in the playoffs. He was an outstanding role player on the Knicks helping them get all the way to the finals. This is a pretty weak draft with the only notable players being Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith.
1992 – Orlando Magic: Shaquille O'Neal (Center): A+
Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG
Accolades: 4× NBA Champion, 3× NBA Finals MVP, 1× MVP, 15× NBA All-Star, 14× All-NBA, 3× NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team, 3x NBA All-Star Game MVP, 2x NBA Scoring Champ
Playoff Games: 216
This is a pretty easy decision Shaq is a top 10 player of all time and one of the greatest centers as well. He doesn't have a ton of competion, but this draft was pretty solid it's just that no one will be getting close to Shaqs pure dominance during his prime. Some notable players drafted after him were Alonzo Mourning, Latrell Sprewell, P.J. Brown, and Robert Horry.
1993 – Orlando Magic: Chris Webber (Power Forward): A+
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star, 5× All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team, 1x NBA TRB Champ
Playoff Games: 80
One of my biggest questions is what this Magic team would've looked like if they had decided to not trade this pick away for Penny Hardaway because Webber and Shaq together would've have been an absolute unstoppable force. While Penny was also really good he was hit with a lot of injuries early which stopped him from hitting his true potential otherwise who knows maybe Penny would've been the better player in this draft. The notable players drafted after Webber were Penny Hardaway, Vin Baker, Sam Cassell, and Jamal Mashburn.
1994 – Milwaukee Bucks: Glenn Robinson (Small Forward): A-
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star, 1x NBA Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 39
Talent wise Glenn is probably the second or third best player in this draft, but sadly the Bucks wasted his career with giving him no help so a lot of his stats are just empty because he played on bad teams. He only made the playoffs three times out of his eight seasons with the best of those seasons losing in seven in the Eastern Conference Finals. Some of the notable players drafted after him were Jason Kidd, Grant Hill, Eddie Jones, and Juwan Howard.
1995 – Golden State Warriors: Joe Smith (Power Forward): D
Stats: 10.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.0 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 62
While Joe wasn't a bad basketball player what kills him is how many better players went after him. Joe played sixteen seasons in the NBA and was really just a journeyman which is not what a team should be drafting for with the number one overall pick. The players that went after him were Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, and Theo Ratliff
1996 – Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson (Point Guard): A
Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG
Accolades: 1× MVP, 11× NBA All-Star, 2x NBA All-Star Game MVP, 7× All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team, 4x NBA Scoring Champ, 3x STL Champ
Playoff Games: 71
When you think of good draft classes this has to be at the top of the list the absolute depth in this draft is insane producing four HOFers and 10 different players being an All-Star. This was a great pick however there is just one player I have over AI which I feel is common knowledge. The notable players drafted after AI were Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Peja Stojakovic, Antoine Walker, and Stephon Marbury.
1997 – San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan (Power Forward/Center): A+
Stats: 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA Champion, 3× NBA Finals MVP, 2× MVP, 15× NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP, 15× All-NBA, 15× NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 251
Tim Duncan in my opinion is the greatest PF in NBA history he had very few weaknesses and just so dominate for such a long period and on top of that he has accolades for days and played in tons of playoff games. What also helps is this draft was very top heavy only producing three All-Stars being Chauncy Billups and Tracy McGrady and of course Tim Duncan.
1998 – Los Angeles Clippers: Michael Olowokandi (Center): F
Stats: 8.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.7 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 15
While I don't feel like Michael was a terrible basketball player by any means he sure was not number one material. He was really just a okay role player that was there to just grab lots of boards which is what he was good at, but other than that he had nothing much else to be impressed by. The amount of talent that went after him is kind of insane with Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce being the headliners. Some other notable players drafted after him were Antawn Jamison, Rashard Lewis, and Cuttino Mobley.
1999 – Chicago Bulls: Elton Brand (Power Forward): B
Stats: 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 40
I do think that Brands career would look a lot better if the Clippers knew how to build a roster during this time period as they struggled mightly making a good roster around there top players pretty consistently until the "Lob City" Clippers came around. In the seven seasons he was on the Clippers they made the playoffs just once just wasting his career because Brand was actually a pretty good player offensively and defensively. The notable player drafted after him were Ron Artest (Metta World Peace), Baron Davis, Steve Francis, Manu Ginobili, Richard Hamilton, Andrei Kirilenko, and Shawn Marion.
2000 – New Jersey Nets: Kenyon Martin (Power Forward): B+
Stats: 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA All-Star, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 112
Unlike the '96 draft the 2000 draft is known as one of the weakest drafts in NBA history. Martin was a pretty good player and was very helpful for the Nets and Jason Kidd the leader of the team, but other than that he didn't do much he was just a solid role player. The other notable player in this draft were Michael Redd, Hedo Turkoglu, Mike Miller, and Jamal Crawford.
2001 – Washington Wizards: Kwame Brown (Center): F
Stats: 6.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.9 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: 18
I usually blame Michael Jordan for how Kwame Brown’s career turned out, which I think is fair. Jordan basically bullied the poor guy. Still, if Kwame was truly going to be a superstar, he would have used that treatment as motivation to improve and become a great player. While he was a decent center, his lack of playoff success, short career, and absence of major accolades make him one of the bigger busts in NBA history. Some of the notable players drafted after Brown were Gilbert Arenas, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph, and Gerald Wallace.
2002 – Houston Rockets: Yao Ming (Center): A
Stats: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG
Accolades: 8× NBA All-Star, 5× All-NBA, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 28
Yao Ming was a dominant force in the paint with elite footwork, a soft shooting touch, and the ability to alter games on both ends of the court. Unfortunately, recurring foot and leg injuries cut his career short. Notable players drafted after Yao include Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Caron Butler, and Tayshaun Prince.
2003 – Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James (Small Forward): A+
Stats: 27.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.4 APG
Accolades: 21x NBA All-Star, 3x NBA All-Star MVP, 1x NBA Scoring and AST Champ, 4x NBA Champ, 4x NBA Finals MVP, 20x All-NBA, 6x NBA All-Defensive Team, 1x NBA In-Season Tournament MVP, 4x MVP, NBA All-Rookie Team, Rookie of the Year.
Playoff Games: 292
LeBron James is one of the greatest all-around players in NBA history, known for his elite basketball IQ, versatility, and longevity at the highest level. He's had an outstanding career and while he's not my GOAT I totally understand why people have him there because he's a pretty complete player. Notable players drafted after LeBron were Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony.
2004 – Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard (Center): A+
Stats: 15.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.3 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Champion, 8× NBA All-Star, 8× All-NBA , 3× NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 5x NBA All-Defensive Team, 5x NBA TRB Champ, 2x NBA BLK Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 125
Dwight Howard was a dominant defensive anchor, elite rebounder and great scorer, leading the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009. However, his career declined earlier than expected due to injuries and struggles to adapt his game in the modern NBA. Notable players drafted after Dwight include Luol Deng, and Andre Iguodala.
2005 – Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut (Center): B
Stats: 9.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.2 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Champion, 1x All-NBA, 1x NBA All-Defensive Team, 1x NBA BLK Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 77
Andrew Bogut was a skilled big man with solid scorer ability and strong interior defense, and a key role in the Warriors’ 2015 championship run. However, injuries plagued much of his career and limited his ability to consistently live up to the expectations of a No. 1 overall pick. While he was a solid player there are just a couple I would take over him in a re-draft including Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and David Lee.
2006 – Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani (Center/Power Forward): D-
Stats: 14.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.2 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 11
Andrea Bargnani had a smooth shooting stroke for a seven-footer and showed flashes of offensive versatility during his time with the Toronto Raptors. However, the Raptors failed to build a strong supporting roster around him and his ceiling probably wasn't as high as they originally though. Notable players drafted after Bargnani include LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyle Lowry, Paul Millsap, Rajon Rondo, and Brandon Roy.
2007 – Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Oden (Center): F
Stats: 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.5 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: 9
This grade really isn't fair because when you think of injuries ruining a career you the of Oden he missed his rookie season due to injury and then played the next two season with minor injuries and then missed three more seasons due to injuries finishing his career playing just over 100 games. When this guy was healthy he was very good sadly he just couldn't get over the massive amount of injuries that came his way. What makes this pick worse is the amount of great talent that went after him including Mike Conley, Kevin Durant, Marc Gasol, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah.
2008 – Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose (Point Guard): A
Stats: 17.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.2 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA MVP, 3× NBA All-Star, All-NBA, NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year
Playoff Games: 51
Derrick Rose was an explosive point guard with elite athleticism and was on track to becoming one of the greatest PGs of all time, unfortunately, a series of major knee injuries derailed his prime years and bascially taking away his superstat status, luckily for him he was still a great role player and was able to stick around in the NBA for a while longer. Notable players drafted after Rose include Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and DeAndre Jordan.
2009 – Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin (Power Forward): A-
Stats: 19.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.0 APG
Accolades: 6× NBA All-Star, 5× All-NBA Team, NBA Rookie of the Year
Playoff Games: 68
Blake Griffin was an electrifying athlete known for his high-flying dunks, elite scoring ability, and evolution into a skilled passer and shooter. However, injuries and declining athleticism over time prevented him from maintaining his early dominance and reaching an all time great status like some of the people drafted after him. Notable players drafted after Griffin include James Harden, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, and DeMar DeRozan.
2010 – Washington Wizards: John Wall (Point Guard): A
Stats: 18.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 8.9 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x NBA All-Defensive, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 37
A recurring theme in the last few drafts has been players whose careers started strong but were ultimately derailed by injuries, and that trend continues with John Wall. Wall was one of the best point guards in the NBA for several seasons, but major injuries severely impacted his career. While he had a somewhat decent season with the Rockets, his efficiency dropped off dramatically along with his defense not be quite as good as before the injuries. Some notable players drafted after him were Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins.
2011 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (Point Guard): A
Stats: 23.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.6 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Champion, 9× NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP, 3× All-NBA Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 96
Kyrie Irving is one of the most skilled ball-handlers and clutch scorers in NBA history, known for his creativity, finishing ability, and key role in the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship. However, inconsistent availability has often overshadowed his talent. Notable players drafted after Irving include Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler.
2012 – New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (Power Forward/Center): A+
Stats: 24.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.6 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Champion, 10× NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP, 5× All-NBA, 5× NBA All-Defensive Team, 3x NBA BLK Champ, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 60
Anthony Davis is a dominant two-way player with elite shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring ability, highlighted by his key role in the Lakers’ 2020 championship run. However, frequent injuries have kept him off the court for extended stretches, preventing him from consistently playing at an MVP level. Notable players drafted after Davis include Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Draymond Green, Andre Drummond, and Khris Middleton.
2013 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Bennett (Power Forward): F
Stats: 4.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: 0
When someone thinks of one of the biggest busts in NBA history the first name I think of is Anthony Bennett. Bennett lasted just four seasons and struggled mightly with efficency and pretty much every other aspect of basketball. Whats worse is who was taken after him being Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, Victor Oladipo, and CJ McCollum.
2014 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins (Small Forward): C+
Stats: 18.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.3 APG
Accolades: 1× NBA Champion, NBA All-Star, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 44
Andrew Wiggins is an athletic wing with strong defensive skills and scoring ability, and he played a crucial role in helping the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship. However, he didn’t live up to the expectations of a No. 1 overall pick being more of a good role player. Notable players drafted after Wiggins include Joel Embiid, Zach LaVine, Nikola Jokić, and Julius Randle.
2015 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (Center): A+
Stats: 23.1 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.2 APG
Accolades: 5× NBA All-Star, 2× All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 44
Towns is one of the best centers in the NBA right now and has been like that for a while now and his versatily helps him out a lot being one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. Towns has had some injury problems and not a whole lot of playoff success so far, but honestly that just nitpicking because I think he's had a pretty good career so far. Some notable players drafted after him were Devin Booker, Myles Turner, Kristaps Porzingis, and D'Angelo Russell.
2016 – Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons (Point Guard/Forward): B
Stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.2 APG
Accolades: 3× NBA All-Star, 2× NBA All-DefensiveTeam, 1x All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie Team, 1x NBA STL Champ.
Playoff Games: 39
Simmons had such a great start to his career showing absolute talent, but he just never developed anytype of jumpshot and lots of times just looks to afraid to score becoming just a passer and defender. He has also struggled recently with many injuries that seem to have really slowed him down. This grade will probably continue to drop as his career continues, but I think he still deserves a B because of how good he was for his first couple of seasons. Some of the players drafted after him were Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, Domantas Sabonis, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac.
2017 – Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz (Point Guard): F
Stats: 10.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.4 APG
Accolades: None
Playoff Games: 15
Markelle Fultz is a talented guard with solid playmaking instincts, and a strong mid-range game when healthy. However, a mysterious shoulder injury and shooting struggles early in his career prevented him from meeting the expectations of a No. 1 overall pick. Notable players drafted after Fultz include Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, De'Aaron Fox, Derrick White, and Lauri Markkanen.
2018 – Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton (Center): C-
Stats: 16.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.6 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 45
While Deandre Ayton has been a solid starting center, he still hasn’t shown why he was selected with the first overall pick. Ayton is a strong scorer and rebounder, but minor injuries have made it difficult for him to stay consistently on the court. I thought his trade to the Blazers would lead to a breakout season and prove he could be a franchise building block, but he’s played much the same as he did in Phoenix and could be on the trade block again as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches. Notable players drafted after him include Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jalen Brunson.
2019 – New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (Power Forward): A
Stats: 24.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 0
Zion was one of the most hyped up players pre-draft and when he plays he shows why he was talked about so much because of his crazy athletism, and amazing scoring ability. The main problem with Zion is hes had a TON of injuries which has limited him and his team success. Luckily for Zion he's only 24 so there is still plenty of time for his career to get better, but so far its a little concerning how much time he's already missed. Some players drafted after him include Ja Morant, Darius Garland, and Tyler Herro.
2020 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (Shooting Guard): A+
Stats: 23.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG
Accolades: 3x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA, NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 37
Edwards so far has had an outstanding career and already looks like a top three SG in the NBA. He is a great scorer and fearless competitor that doesn't back down from anyone. While its still early I love how his career is looking so far and can't wait to see what his peak looks like. Some notable players drafted after him include LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, and Tyrese Maxey.
2021 – Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham (Point Guard): A+
Stats: 22.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 7.4 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team, 1x NBA All-Star
Playoff Games: 6
While Cade has played great the Pistons have struggled as a team to make the playoffs until the 2024-25 season and played the Knicks in the first round. While they weren't able to defeat the Pistons they still played great and Cade showed lots of flashes of being a great playoff performer in the future. Some notable players drafted after Cade include Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, and Alperen Sengun.
2022 – Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero (Power Forward): A+
Stats: 22.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.6 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 1x NBA All-Star
Playoff Games: 12
Paolo Banchero is already looking like an absolute home run pick, emerging as one of the better power forwards in the NBA. He’s a great offensive and defensive player being an outstanding scorer, strong rebounder, and a solid playmaker for his position. As long as the Magic continue to build a strong roster around him, they have the potential to become one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Notable players drafted after him include Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
2023 – San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (Center): A+
Stats: 22.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.8 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 2x NBA BLK Champ, 1x NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Defensive Team
Playoff Games: 0
Wemby already is probably a top twenty player in the league and has only played two seasons. Wemby practically has no flaws he just has to stay healthy and he will have an outstanding career. Notable players drafted after Wemby include Amen Thompson, Brandon Miller, Keyonte George, and Ausar Thompson.
2024 – Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher (Small Forward): A
Stats: 12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie Team
Playoff Games: 0
While its very early to really tell how good this pick is I will say that his rookie year was actually pretty solid 13 PPG on good shooting is impressive for a rookie. I'm not sure what his peak will look like but if all goes well I could see him making a couple of All-Star teams and being a solid second option. Notable players drafted after him include Jaylen Wells, Alex Sarr, Jared McCain, and Stephon Castle.
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