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#1 NBA Draft Picks

How many #1 overall NBA draft picks can you name since 1979?
All-star in red, Hall of Fame in blue
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: June 23, 2023
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First submittedJune 29, 2012
Times taken149,183
Average score44.4%
Rating4.06
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Year
College
Player
2023
French club
Victor Wembanyama
2022
Duke
Paolo Banchero
2021
Oklahoma State
Cade Cunningham
2020
Georgia
Anthony Edwards
2019
Duke
Zion Williamson
2018
Arizona
Deandre Ayton
2017
Washington
Markelle Fultz
2016
LSU
Ben Simmons
2015
Kentucky
Karl-Anthony Towns
2014
Kansas
Andrew Wiggins
2013
UNLV
Anthony Bennett
2012
Kentucky
Anthony Davis
2011
Duke
Kyrie Irving
2010
Kentucky
John Wall
2009
Oklahoma
Blake Griffin
2008
Memphis
Derrick Rose
2007
Ohio State
Greg Oden
2006
Italian club
Andrea Bargnani
2005
Utah
Andrew Bogut
2004
High school
Dwight Howard
2003
High school
LeBron James
2002
Chinese club
Yao Ming
2001
High school
Kwame Brown
Year
College
Player
2000
Cincinnati
Kenyon Martin
1999
Duke
Elton Brand
1998
Pacific
Michael Olowokandi
1997
Wake Forest
Tim Duncan
1996
Georgetown
Allen Iverson
1995
Maryland
Joe Smith
1994
Purdue
Glenn Robinson
1993
Michigan
Chris Webber
1992
LSU
Shaquille O'Neal
1991
UNLV
Larry Johnson
1990
Syracuse
Derrick Coleman
1989
Louisville
Pervis Ellison
1988
Kansas
Danny Manning
1987
Navy
David Robinson
1986
North Carolina
Brad Daugherty
1985
Georgetown
Patrick Ewing
1984
Houston
Hakeem Olajuwon
1983
Virginia
Ralph Sampson
1982
North Carolina
James Worthy
1981
DePaul
Mark Aguirre
1980
Purdue
Joe Barry Carroll
1979
Michigan State
Magic Johnson
+4
Level 14
Jun 30, 2012
fun quiz
+5
Level 67
Nov 21, 2012
There are some great players on this list, but it also is a hall of fame for complete busts and head cases. Kwame Brown was a disaster, not only failing to live up to the hype but poisoning the atmosphere in the locker room. Derrick Coleman--who Charles Barkley renamed "Disturbed Child"--had more talent but was nearly as toxic. Joe Barry Carroll, nicknamed "Joe Barely Care Less" at Golden State, likewise. Joe Smith--not as bad as JBC, but another underperforming Warrior. Olowokandi--another # 1 pick by the Clippers who never amounted to much. Ralph Sampson, Pervis Ellison and Greg Oden were all brought down by injuries at the outset of their careers; Yao Ming stayed longer, but not long enough. Let's hope that John Wall and Derrick Rose don't see the same happen to them.
+5
Level 35
Apr 29, 2013
A bit hard on Carroll, no? He was an All-Star and averaged about 18 and 8 over his career. He wasn't a hall of famer, but he certainly couldn't be called a complete bust. Had he not gone to Italy for a couple years during his prime, he would probably be looked upon much more favourably. There have been much, much worse "busts" taken at #1.
+4
Level 67
Jun 27, 2014
You're right. My bad for letting the nasty nickname dreamed up by a sportswriter affect my judgment.
+4
Level 73
Jul 12, 2017
The biggest problem about Joe Barry Carroll is that he was not Kevin McHale, and the Warriors traded up with the... Celtics to get him, and surrendered Robert Parish in the process. It's less about Joe Barry Carroll being a subpar #1 pick than terrible losses to get him, which resulted in terrible value for the Warriors =X
+2
Level 32
Nov 12, 2017
I <3 PURDUE!!!!!
+2
Level 66
Mar 7, 2016
This comment is fun to read now. John Wall is legit but a year after this comment the Cavs drafted Anthony Bennett at #1. Didn't exactly work out great. Never had great success in Cleveland, was traded to Minnesota, didn't look great there either, signed with the Raptors and then a week ago he was waived. Bennett looks like he'll go down as one of the greatest busts of all time.
+2
Level 6
Apr 24, 2018
Wow rose did end up being affected by injuries
+2
Level 57
Jun 23, 2023
And Wall
+6
Level 33
Nov 23, 2012
you should put what team the were picked by
+1
Level 83
May 14, 2014
Grrrr. Typed Doherty instead of Daugherty.
+2
Level ∞
Jun 25, 2015
Doherty works now.
+1
Level 60
Jun 26, 2015
No "Weber" for "Webber" :(
+1
Level 16
Jun 22, 2016
This list is proof that getting No.1 pick isn't such a prize after all. In my opinion you are much better off trading the pick for top talent, than risking it on a top prospect. Although on the contrast, there are some absolute gems picked at No.1
+1
Level 69
Jun 25, 2016
As a fellow Raps fan, we know all about a busted #1 pick. I would agree that if there is no consensus #1 pick like a Lebron, then trading the pick would likely be best.
+1
Level 43
Nov 16, 2016
Just letting you know just "ming" doesn't work. "Yao" does though. Frustrating quiz.... I always forget someone different each time!
+2
Level 84
Jun 26, 2018
Yao is his last name.
+1
Level 78
Dec 25, 2016
Can you accept 'Ming' for Yao Ming since every other last name works?
+2
Level 55
May 11, 2022
his last/family name is Yao
+1
Level 44
Feb 26, 2017
Honestly, I kind of feel bad for the blazers. Passing up Dr. J for LaRue Martin. Greg Oden over KD. And, of course, Sam Bowie over Jordan. But, as a Bulls fan, I'm glad the Blazers ruined themselves in 1984.
+2
Level 45
Apr 23, 2018
Don't forget they offered the Rockets the 2nd pick and Clyde Drexler for Ralph Sampson that year... and the ROCKETS said no...
+1
Level 57
Jun 23, 2023
Sampson was an incredible, incredible player. He just had his career ruined by injury.
+2
Level 63
Jun 14, 2017
by my count, only 18 of the 38 went on to have number-one-pick-worthy careers.
+2
Level 58
Jun 26, 2018
@archer... You mean ''by your criteria''...
+2
Level 30
Nov 19, 2020
Update: Anthony Edwards!
+1
Level 55
Dec 4, 2020
Kwame Brown= Biggest Bust in History
+1
Level 47
Dec 4, 2020
No, not even close. Brown played 12 serviceable seasons. Definitely a bust, since teams aren't usually looking for 9th-10th men with the number one pick. Anthony Bennett gets my vote as the biggest bust.
+2
Level 55
Aug 2, 2021
I stand corrected. Anthony bennet is. He played 4 two ppg seasons and was cut from foreign teams.
+2
Level 57
Aug 21, 2021
kat should be accepted when going for karl-anthony towns
+1
Level 67
Nov 8, 2021
It's interesting how few of these players since 2003 or so became stars.

I count KAT, Davis, Irving, Griffin (maybe) and, obviously, LeBron so far.

+1
Level 43
Dec 1, 2021
rose was the youngest nba mvp of all time until injuries happened and howard won 3 consecutive dpoy awards
+2
Level 57
Nov 1, 2022
Counting KAT as a star but not Rose or Dwight is wild
+1
Level 57
Jan 5, 2023
Also Wiggins seems to be a star atp, and don't forget John Wall either
+2
Level 83
Nov 8, 2021
Absolute LOVE that "Big Dog" and "Grandmama" are accepted as type-ins. The creator knows their hoops!
+9
Level 76
Jun 25, 2022
Something seems off about the color coding since I'm pretty sure that Zion, who has played about one whole year in the three he's been a pro, has not been inducted into the HoF yet.
+4
Level 84
Jun 25, 2022
Yes. I'm impressed by all of these active players who are already in the Hall of Fame.
+1
Level ∞
Jul 10, 2022
Fixed
+2
Level 65
Sep 5, 2022
I don't think Andrew Bogut was ever an all star
+1
Level 57
Jun 23, 2023
It's crazy how so many of these players either were busts or had careers plagued with injury... Hopefully Wemby has a long, successful, injury-free career
+1
Level 57
Jun 23, 2023
Andrew Bogut never made an all-star team
+1
Level ∞
Jun 28, 2023
Fixed
+1
Level 59
Jun 28, 2023
Delighted to bring the average down with my score of 2 as a non-American
+1
Level 57
Jun 28, 2023
Kinda wild that out of all the drafts from 2018 down to 1979, (didn't do 2019 up because too soon to tell), the #1 pick ended up being the best/greatest player only in 2012, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1997, 1993, 1992, 1987, 1982, and 1979.