The Top 5 Number One Overall Draft Picks in NBA History

The NBA draft is just around the corner and the whichever team ends up with the first overall pick has a decision that can make or break how their team will perform for the next 10 years or longer. Similar to the NHL draft, there have been plenty of busts with the first overall pick (Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi and Joe Smith to name a few). Unlike the NHL draft however where there have been just a few great number one picks however(check out my article on the Top 5 number one overall picks of all time here), there have been countless All-Stars, MVPs and Hall of Fame players taken first overall. The draft is slated for June so with that in mind, let's touch on the top ten number one overall picks in the history of the NBA. Remember, these picks are based on my opinions, so feel free to let me know what you think! This is part one with my rankings 6-10. Check out my next article for 1-5.

Number 10

David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs) - 1987

The Spurs drafted Robinson in 1987 but he didn't make his debut until 1989-90 as he finished out his commitment to the naval services as part of his enrollment at Navy. His much hyped debut was worth the wait as he won Rookie of the Year and led the Spurs to one of the greatest improvements the NBA had ever seen. The Spurs had a 35 win improvement over the previous year. He was named the MVP in 1995, won two NBA titles in 1999 and 2003 (albeit with help from Tim Duncan) and was named to the NBA's 50^th Anniversary All-Time team. He also has two gold medals from playing on the U.S. Olympic basketball team so his hardware case is plenty full. The Spurs took a risk by waiting for him to debut, but it's obvious they made the right choice.

Number 9

LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) - 2003

King James has yet to win that elusive first title which is why he is low on this list. However, there is no other top pick that has lived up to the hype and dominated the game as he has since he made the leap from high school to the NBA. Playing in a NFL defensive lineman's body, his vision, athleticism and wow-factor are reason enough to have him on this list. His mantle is already full (MVP, Gold Medal, Rookie of the Year to name a few awards he's won) but he still lacks that championship ring. His free agency this summer is one of the most anticipated in history, so just by signing his name he will ultimately change the landscape of professional basketball. Once he wins a championship he will begin his rapid ascension to what will ultimately culminate as the greatest first overall pick ever.

Number 8

Bill Walton (Portland Trailblazers) - 1974

When the Trailblazers drafter Walton in 1974 they were hoping that his uncanny ability to win would rub off on their team. In college, Walton was a part of a UCLA team that won a record 88 consecutive games. He battled injuries throughout most of his career, but still was able to lead the upstart Trailblazers to an improbable NBA title in 1977 and followed it up with a MVP campaign in 1978. You could argue that other number one picks have had more heralded careers, but Walton turned the Portland franchise around singlehandedly and had it not been for some unfortunate injuries he would have undoubtedly been one of the greatest players ever. This is evident as the NBA included him on its 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team and he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Although his career could have been so much more, Walton definitely was the right choice for the first pick in 1974.

Number 7

Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) - 1997

A decade after the Spurs drafted David Robinson, they complemented him nicely by picking Duncan first overall. The choice paid immediate dividends as the Spurs would win the NBA title in 1999. After completing his four years of college at Wake Forest, Duncan was pegged as a surefire future hall of famer and he hasn't disappointed. With help from his mentor Robinson, Duncan has become one of the most fundamentally sound players the league has ever seen. He racked up back to back MVP awards in 2002 and 2003 and has led the Spurs to four NBA championships in the 13 years he has been in the league. With the exception of the Lakers run in the early 2000's, the league has not seen a dynasty quite like this and the Spurs can thank their lucky stars that they chose Duncan to build it around. I've ranked him higher than Robinson mainly because it was Duncan's presence that helped Robinson finally win a title. He will be a sure fire first ballot hall of famer when the time comes.

Number 6

Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) - 1984

Dubbed "Hakeem the Dream" the Rockets could not have dreamed (pun intended) of choosing a better player when they selected Olajuwon in 1984. Olajuwon would go on to become one of the most dominating defensive presences ever as he retired as the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots as well as a two-time defensive player of the year award winner. In 1993-94, he became the first and only player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, the defensive player of the year, and the NBA finals MVP in the same year. He capped the remarkable 1993-94 season by leading the Rockets to the NBA championship then repeated the next year with another title. Olajuwon revolutionized the way that centers played the game and the NBA has seen the effects of his defensive prowess ever since. Much like the other members on this list he was also named to the NBA's 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2008. Olajuwon changed the way that the game was played and the Rockets and the other big men on this list can thank him for that.

Works Cited:

All data and stats collected from www.basketball-reference.com