View source for List of first overall NBA draft picks

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{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
[[File:LebronFT (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[LeBron James]], a [[NBA high school draftees|high school draftee]], was one of the most anticipated first overall draft picks.]]
The first overall pick in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during [[NBA draft|the league's annual 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 [[National Basketball Association#Regular season|season]]. The NBA team that garners the top overall draft pick selection generates significant media attention,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ronald Tillery |date=June 18, 2008 |title=Landing the top draft pick can lift NBA team to new heights, and also fill arena |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/May/18/playing-the-odds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212221616/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/May/18/playing-the-odds/ |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=[[The Commercial Appeal]]}}</ref> as does the respective player who eventually gets selected with that first pick.

Eleven 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), [[LeBron James]] (four-time winner), and [[Derrick Rose]] (youngest winner).

China's [[Yao Ming]] (2002), Italy's [[Andrea Bargnani]] (2006), France's [[Victor Wembanyama]] (2023) and [[Zaccharie Risacher]] (2024) are the only players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Eleven other [[List of foreign NBA players|international players]] with U.S. [[college basketball|college]] experience have been drafted first overall—[[Mychal Thompson]] ([[The Bahamas|Bahamas]]) in 1978, Olajuwon ([[Nigeria]]) in 1984, [[Patrick Ewing]] ([[Jamaica]]) in 1985, Duncan ([[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]]) in 1997, [[Michael Olowokandi]] (Nigeria) in 1998, [[Andrew Bogut]] (Australia) in 2005, [[Kyrie Irving]] (Australia) in 2011, [[Anthony Bennett (basketball)|Anthony Bennett]] (Canada) in 2013, [[Andrew Wiggins]] (Canada) in 2014, [[Ben Simmons]] (Australia) in 2016, and [[Deandre Ayton]] (Bahamas) in 2018. Duncan is an American citizen, but is considered an "international" player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the [[U.S. state|fifty states]] or [[Washington, D.C.|the District of Columbia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2006 |title=Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200606/29/eng20060629_278441.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222015506/http://english.people.com.cn/200606/29/eng20060629_278441.html |archive-date=February 22, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=People's Daily}}</ref> Ewing<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vecsey |first=George |date=December 3, 1993 |title=Basketball Surviving Quite Nicely |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-basketball-surviving-quite-nicely.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051822/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-basketball-surviving-quite-nicely.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> had [[dual citizenship|dual Jamaican—American citizenship]] when he was drafted, and Irving<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2010 |title=Kyrie Irving is Committed to the Red, White and Blue |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/u18/10_mu18_q_a_irving.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824195739/http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/u18/10_mu18_q_a_irving.html |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |publisher=USA Basketball}}</ref> and Simmons<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borzello |first=Jeff |date=June 8, 2012 |title=Australian prospect Ben Simmons makes great first impression |url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/recruiting/eye-on-college-basketball-recruiting/19302626/australian-prospect-ben-simmons-makes-great-first-impression |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727043330/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/recruiting/eye-on-college-basketball-recruiting/19302626/australian-prospect-ben-simmons-makes-great-first-impression |archive-date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=May 18, 2017 |website=CBSSports.com}}</ref> had dual Australian—American citizenship when they were drafted.

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 (United States)|National Basketball League]] in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBA's draft history.

== Key ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background-color:#CCFFCC; width:6em"|^
|Denotes players who have been selected to the [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] or [[All-NBA Team]]
<!-- |-
|style="background-color:#FFFF99; width:6em"|*
|Elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] -->
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD; width:6em"|^*
|Denotes [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]]
|-
|PPG
|Points per game<ref name="note_a" group="lower-alpha">All statistics are taken from the players' respective rookie season unless otherwise noted.</ref>
|-
|APG
|Assists per game<ref name="note_a" group="lower-alpha" />
|-
|RPG
|Rebounds per game<ref name="note_a" group="lower-alpha" />
|-
|''Player''<br /><small>(in italic text)</small>
|[[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]]
|-
|'''Player'''<br /><small>(in bold text)</small>
|Denotes a player who is currently active in the NBA
|}

== List of first overall picks ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" summary="Draft (sortable), Selected by (sortable), Player (sortable), Nationality (sortable), College/high school/former club (sortable), PPG (sortable), RPG (sortable), APG (sortable) and References"
|- style="background-color:#c5c5c5"
!rowspan=2 scope="col"|Draft
!rowspan=2 scope="col" width=150|Selected by
!rowspan=2 scope="col" width=150|Player
!rowspan=2 scope="col"|Nationality
!rowspan=2 scope="col"|Position
!rowspan=2 scope="col" width=250|College/<br />high school/<br />former club
!colspan=3|NBA rookie statistics
!rowspan=2 scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|-
!scope="col"|PPG
!scope="col"|RPG
!scope="col"|APG
|-
|[[1947 BAA draft|1947]]
|[[Pittsburgh Ironmen]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Clifton|McNeely}}{{#tag:ref|Clifton McNeely never played professional basketball. Instead, he became a basketball coach for [[Pampa High School]] in Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bob Cook |date=September 13, 2007 |title=Oden's injury a cruel blow for cursed Blazers |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/20763763/site/21683474/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213145849/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/20763763/site/21683474/ |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |publisher=[[NBC Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 29, 2003 |title=Obituaries: Clifton McNeely 12/29/03 |url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/122903/obi_mcneely.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604001429/http://amarillo.com/stories/122903/obi_mcneely.shtml |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |publisher=amarillo.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_b}}
|{{flag|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]}}
|[[Texas Wesleyan University|Texas Wesleyan]]
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_b />
|-
|[[1948 BAA draft|1948]]
|[[Providence Steamrollers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Andy|Tonkovich}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball|Marshall]]
|{{nts|2.6}}
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|{{nts|0.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=t/tonkoan01|name=Andy Tonkovich|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1949 BAA draft|1949]]
|[[Providence Steamrollers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Howie|Shannon}}{{#tag:ref|Howie Shannon was the first overall pick, although [[Ed Macauley]] and [[Vern Mikkelsen]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' [[NBA territorial pick|territorial picks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1949 BAA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/BAA_1949.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210134009/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/BAA_1949.html |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State]]
|{{nts|13.4}}
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|{{nts|2.3}}
|align=center|<ref name="shannon">{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/shannho01|name=Howie Shannon|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1950 NBA draft|1950]]
|[[Boston Celtics]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Charlie|Share|Chuck Share}}{{#tag:ref|Charlie Share did not play in the {{nbay|1950|app=season}}. His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|1951|app=season}}.<ref name="share" /> Share was the first overall pick, although [[Paul Arizin]] had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1950 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1950.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308163827/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1950.html |archive-date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball|Bowling Green]]
|{{nts|3.9}}
|{{nts|5.3}}
|{{nts|1.0}}
|align=center|<ref name="share">{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/sharech01|name=Chuck Share|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1951 NBA draft|1951]]
|[[Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954)|Baltimore Bullets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Gene|Melchiorre}}{{#tag:ref|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright Thompson |date=August 9, 2007 |title=For the 1951 point-shavers, a life lived in infamy |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/cheat/news/story?id=2958786 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133545/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/cheat/news/story?id=2958786 |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Melchiorre was the first overall pick, although [[Myer Skoog]] had been taken before the draft as the Minneapolis Lakers' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1951 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1951.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018232556/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1951.html |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_e}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Bradley Braves men's basketball|Bradley]]
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|{{ntsh|0}}—
|align=center|<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_e />
|-
|[[1952 NBA draft|1952]]
|[[Milwaukee Hawks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Mark|Workman}}{{#tag:ref|Mark Workman was the first overall pick, although [[Bill Mlkvy]] had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1952 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1952.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309155213/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1952.html |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball|West Virginia]]
|{{nts|5.1}}
|{{nts|3.0}}
|{{nts|0.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/workmma01|name=Mark Workman|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1953 NBA draft|1953]]
|[[Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954)|Baltimore Bullets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Ray|Felix}}''^{{#tag:ref|Ray Felix was the first overall pick, although [[Ernie Beck]] and [[Walter Dukes]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1953 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1953.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210000832/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1953.html |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]}}
|[[Manchester British-Americans]] ([[American Basketball League (1925–1955)|ABL]])
|{{nts|17.6}}
|{{nts|13.3}}
|{{nts|1.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=f/felixra01|name=Ray Felix|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1954 NBA draft|1954]]
|[[Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954)|Baltimore Bullets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Frank|Selvy}}^
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Furman Paladins men's basketball|Furman]]
|{{nts|19.0}}
|{{nts|5.5}}
|{{nts|3.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/selvyfr01|name=Frank Selvy|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1955 NBA draft|1955]]
|[[Milwaukee Hawks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Dick|Ricketts}}{{#tag:ref|Dick Ricketts was the first overall pick, although [[Dick Garmaker]] and [[Tom Gola]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1955 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1955.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309150325/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1955.html |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Duquesne Dukes men's basketball|Duquesne]]
|{{nts|8.9}}
|{{nts|7.2}}
|{{nts|3.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/rickedi01|name=Dick Ricketts|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1956 NBA draft|1956]]
|[[Rochester Royals]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Sihugo|Green}}{{#tag:ref|Sihugo Green was the first overall pick, although [[Tom Heinsohn]] had been taken before the draft as the Boston Celtics' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1956 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1956.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514042246/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1956.html |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Duquesne Dukes men's basketball|Duquesne]]
|{{nts|11.5}}
|{{nts|5.2}}
|{{nts|3.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=g/greensi01|name=Sihugo Green|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1957 NBA draft|1957]]
|[[Cincinnati Royals]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Rod|Hundley}}^
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball|West Virginia]]
|{{nts|7.0}}
|{{nts|2.9}}
|{{nts|1.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=h/hundlho01|name=Rod Hundley|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1958 NBA draft|1958]]
|[[Minneapolis Lakers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Elgin|Baylor}}''^*{{#tag:ref|Elgin Baylor was the first overall pick, although [[Guy Rodgers]] had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1958 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1958.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018231130/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1958.html |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Seattle Redhawks|Seattle]]
|{{nts|24.9}}
|{{nts|15.0}}
|{{nts|4.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bayloel01|name=Elgin Baylor|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1959 NBA draft|1959]]
|[[Cincinnati Royals]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Bob|Boozer}}^{{#tag:ref|Bob Boozer was the first overall pick, although [[Wilt Chamberlain]] and [[Bob Ferry]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1959 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1959.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805084635/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1959.html |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1912}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State]]
|{{nts|8.4}}
|{{nts|6.2}}
|{{nts|1.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/boozebo01|name=Bob Boozer|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1960 NBA draft|1960]]
|[[Cincinnati Royals]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Oscar|Robertson}}''^*{{#tag:ref|Although Oscar Robertson was drafted as a territorial pick by the [[Cincinnati Royals]], he was also recognized as the first pick in the first round of the draft as the Royals also held the first overall draft pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oscar Robertson Bio |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/robertson_bio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509142914/http://www.nba.com/history/players/robertson_bio.html |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |access-date=September 10, 2009 |website=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Mike |date=June 29, 2000 |title=Clippers Go to High School to Get Miles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-clippers-go-to-high-school-to-get-miles.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302213238/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-clippers-go-to-high-school-to-get-miles.html |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |access-date=September 10, 2009 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States|1959}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball|Cincinnati]]
|{{nts|30.5}}
|{{nts|10.1}}
|{{nts|9.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/roberos01|name=Oscar Robertson|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1961 NBA draft|1961]]
|[[Chicago Packers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Walt|Bellamy}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana]]
|{{nts|31.6}}
|{{nts|19.0}}
|{{nts|2.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bellawa01|name=Walt Bellamy|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1962 NBA draft|1962]]
|[[Chicago Zephyrs]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Bill|McGill}}{{#tag:ref|Bill McGill was the first overall pick, although [[Dave DeBusschere]] and [[Jerry Lucas]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1962 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1962.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307154516/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1962.html |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
|{{nts|7.4}}
|{{nts|2.7}}
|{{nts|0.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=m/mcgilbi01|name=Bill McGill|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1963 NBA draft|1963]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Art|Heyman}}{{#tag:ref|Art Heyman was the first overall pick, although [[Tom Thacker (basketball)|Tom Thacker]] had been taken before the draft as the Cincinnati Royals' territorial pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1963.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018232402/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1963.html |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Guard (basketball)|guard]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]]
|{{nts|15.4}}
|{{nts|4.0}}
|{{nts|3.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=h/heymaar01|name=Art Heyman|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1964 NBA draft|1964]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Jim|Barnes|dab=basketball}}{{#tag:ref|Jim Barnes was the first overall pick, although [[Walt Hazzard]] and [[George Wilson (basketball, born 1942)|George Wilson]] had been taken before the draft as their teams' territorial picks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1964.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225061602/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1964.html |archive-date=December 25, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]
|[[UTEP Miners men's basketball|Texas Western]]
|{{nts|15.5}}
|{{nts|9.7}}
|{{nts|1.2}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/barneji01|name=Jim Barnes|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1965 NBA draft|1965]]
|[[San Francisco Warriors]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Fred|Hetzel}}{{#tag:ref|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1965.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018232923/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1965.html |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Davidson Wildcats men's basketball|Davidson]]
|{{nts|6.8}}
|{{nts|5.2}}
|{{nts|0.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=h/hetzefr01|name=Fred Hetzel|date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1966 NBA draft|1966]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Cazzie|Russell}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Guard (basketball)|guard]]
|[[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]
|{{nts|11.3}}
|{{nts|3.3}}
|{{nts|2.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/russeca01|name=Cazzie Russell|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1967 NBA draft|1967]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Jimmy|Walker|dab=basketball, born 1944}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Providence Friars men's basketball|Providence]]
|{{nts|8.8}}
|{{nts|1.7}}
|{{nts|2.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/walkeji01|name=Jimmy Walker|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1968 NBA draft|1968]]
|[[San Diego Rockets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Elvin|Hayes}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]
|[[Houston Cougars men's basketball|Houston]]
|{{nts|28.4}}
|{{nts|17.1}}
|{{nts|1.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=h/hayesel01|name=Elvin Hayes|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1969 NBA draft|1969]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Lew|Alcindor|Kareem Abdul-Jabbar}}''^*{{#tag:ref|Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224224523/http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html |archive-date=February 24, 2016 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |website=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]]
|{{nts|28.8}}
|{{nts|14.5}}
|{{nts|4.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=a/abdulka01|name=Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1970 NBA draft|1970]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Bob|Lanier}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball|St. Bonaventure]]
|{{nts|15.6}}
|{{nts|8.1}}
|{{nts|1.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=l/laniebo01|name=Bob Lanier|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1971 NBA draft|1971]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Austin|Carr}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]]
|{{nts|21.2}}
|{{nts|3.5}}
|{{nts|3.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/carrau01|name=Austin Carr|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1972 NBA draft|1972]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|LaRue|Martin}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Loyola Ramblers men's basketball|Loyola (Illinois)]]
|{{nts|4.4}}
|{{nts|4.6}}
|{{nts|0.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=m/martila01|name=LaRue Martin|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1973 NBA draft|1973]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Doug|Collins|Doug Collins (basketball)}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball|Illinois State]]
|{{nts|8.0}}
|{{nts|1.8}}
|{{nts|1.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/collido01|name=Doug Collins|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1974 NBA draft|1974]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Bill|Walton}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]]
|{{nts|12.8}}
|{{nts|12.6}}
|{{nts|4.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/waltobi01|name=Bill Walton|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1975 NBA draft|1975]]
|[[Atlanta Hawks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|David|Thompson|dab=basketball}}^*{{#tag:ref|David Thompson played in the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) in the 1975–76 season and did not play in the NBA until 1976. His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|1976|app=season}}.<ref name="thompson" />|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Guard (basketball)|guard]]
|[[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]]
|{{nts|26.0}}
|{{nts|6.3}}
|{{nts|3.7}}
|align=center|<ref name="thompson">{{cite basketball-reference|id=t/thompda01|name=David Thompson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1976 NBA draft|1976]]
|[[Houston Rockets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|John|Lucas|John Lucas II}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]]
|{{nts|11.1}}
|{{nts|2.7}}
|{{nts|5.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=l/lucasjo01|name=John Lucas|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1977 NBA draft|1977]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Kent|Benson}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana]]
|{{nts|7.7}}
|{{nts|4.3}}
|{{nts|1.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bensoke01|name=Kent Benson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1978 NBA draft|1978]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Mychal|Thompson}}
|{{flag|Bahamas}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]]
|{{nts|14.7}}
|{{nts|8.3}}
|{{nts|2.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=t/thompmy01|name=Mychal Thompson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1979 NBA draft|1979]]
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Magic|Johnson}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|guaa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]/[[Forward (basketball)|forward]]}}
|[[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State]]
|{{nts|18.0}}
|{{nts|7.7}}
|{{nts|7.3}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=j/johnsma02|name=Earvin Johnson (Magic Johnson)|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1980 NBA draft|1980]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Joe Barry|Carroll}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]]
|{{nts|18.9}}
|{{nts|9.3}}
|{{nts|1.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/carrojo01|name=Joe Barry Carroll|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1981 NBA draft|1981]]
|[[Dallas Mavericks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Mark|Aguirre}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball|DePaul]]
|{{nts|18.7}}
|{{nts|4.9}}
|{{nts|3.2}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=a/aguirma01|name=Mark Aguirre|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1982 NBA draft|1982]]
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|James|Worthy}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]]
|{{nts|13.4}}
|{{nts|5.2}}
|{{nts|1.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/worthja01|name=James Worthy|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1983 NBA draft|1983]]
|[[Houston Rockets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Ralph|Sampson}}^*''
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|Virginia]]
|{{nts|21.0}}
|{{nts|11.1}}
|{{nts|2.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/sampsra01|name=Ralph Sampson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-<!-- Please don't change to "Hakeem" since his name was "Akeem" at the time. See note q. -->
|[[1984 NBA draft|1984]]
|[[Houston Rockets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Akeem|Olajuwon|Hakeem Olajuwon}}^*{{#tag:ref|Hakeem Olajuwon was born in [[Nigeria]], but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. When he arrived to 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, saying, "I'm not changing the spelling of my name, I'm correcting it."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93 |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516203041/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |website=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dufresne |first=Chris |date=March 11, 1991 |title=Hakeem Still Can Be Called 'the Dream' |page=2 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_s}}
|{{flag|Nigeria}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_s />
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Houston Cougars men's basketball|Houston]]
|{{nts|20.6}}
|{{nts|11.9}}
|{{nts|1.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=o/olajuha01|name=Hakeem Olajuwon|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1985 NBA draft|1985]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Patrick|Ewing}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}{{#tag:ref|Patrick Ewing was born in [[Jamaica]], but had become a naturalized United States citizen while at Georgetown.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ralph Wiley |date=January 7, 1985 |title=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 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/01/07/the-master-of-the-key/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908114241/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119034/3/index.htm |archive-date=September 8, 2008 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> He represented the United States at the [[Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: E |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=men_alpha_E |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804114835/http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=men_alpha_E |archive-date=August 4, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |publisher=USA Basketball}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown]]
|{{nts|20.0}}
|{{nts|9.0}}
|{{nts|2.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=e/ewingpa01|name=Patrick Ewing|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1986 NBA draft|1986]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Brad|Daugherty|dab=basketball}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]]
|{{nts|15.7}}
|{{nts|8.1}}
|{{nts|3.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=d/daughbr01|name=Brad Daugherty|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1987 NBA draft|1987]]
|[[San Antonio Spurs]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|David|Robinson}}''^*{{#tag:ref|David Robinson did not play in the NBA until 1989 due to commitments to the [[United States Navy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dave Anderson |date=May 18, 1987 |title=Sports of the Times; The Robinson Plot Thickens |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFDF133EF93BA25756C0A961948260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223232447/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFDF133EF93BA25756C0A961948260 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|1989|app=season}}.<ref name="robinson" />|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Navy Midshipmen men's basketball|Navy]]
|{{nts|24.3}}
|{{nts|12.0}}
|{{nts|2.0}}
|align=center|<ref name="robinson">{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/robinda01|name=David Robinson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1988 NBA draft|1988]]
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Danny|Manning}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]]
|{{nts|16.7}}
|{{nts|6.6}}
|{{nts|3.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=m/mannida01|name=Danny Manning|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1989 NBA draft|1989]]
|[[Sacramento Kings]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Pervis|Ellison}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville]]
|{{nts|8.0}}
|{{nts|5.8}}
|{{nts|1.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=e/ellispe01|name=Pervis Ellison|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1990 NBA draft|1990]]
|[[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Derrick|Coleman}}''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]
|{{nts|18.4}}
|{{nts|10.3}}
|{{nts|2.2}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/colemde01|name=Derrick Coleman|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1991 NBA draft|1991]]
|[[Charlotte Hornets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Larry|Johnson|dab=basketball, born 1969}}''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball|UNLV]]
|{{nts|19.2}}
|{{nts|11.0}}
|{{nts|3.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=j/johnsla02|name=Larry Johnson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1992 NBA draft|1992]]
|[[Orlando Magic]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Shaquille|O'Neal||Oneal, Shaquille}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU]]
|{{nts|23.4}}
|{{nts|13.9}}
|{{nts|1.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=o/onealsh01|name=Shaquille O'Neal|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1993 NBA draft|1993]]
|[[Orlando Magic]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Chris|Webber}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]
|{{nts|17.5}}
|{{nts|9.1}}
|{{nts|3.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/webbech01|name=Chris Webber|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1994 NBA draft|1994]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Glenn|Robinson}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]]
|{{nts|21.9}}
|{{nts|6.4}}
|{{nts|2.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/robingl01|name=Glenn Robinson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1995 NBA draft|1995]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Joe|Smith|dab=basketball}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]]
|{{nts|15.3}}
|{{nts|8.7}}
|{{nts|1.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/smithjo02|name=Joe Smith|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1996 NBA draft|1996]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Allen|Iverson}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown]]
|{{nts|23.5}}
|{{nts|4.1}}
|{{nts|7.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=i/iversal01|name=Allen Iverson|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1997 NBA draft|1997]]
|[[San Antonio Spurs]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|''{{sortname|Tim|Duncan}}''^*
|{{flagu|United States}}{{#tag:ref|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: D |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=men_alpha_D |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828040318/http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=men_alpha_D |archive-date=August 28, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |publisher=USA Basketball}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball|Wake Forest]]
|{{nts|21.1}}
|{{nts|11.9}}
|{{nts|2.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=d/duncati01|name=Tim Duncan|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1998 NBA draft|1998]]
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Michael|Olowokandi}}
|{{flagu|Nigeria}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Pacific Tigers men's basketball|Pacific]]
|{{nts|8.9}}
|{{nts|7.9}}
|{{nts|0.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=o/olowomi01|name=Michael Olowokandi|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[1999 NBA draft|1999]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Elton|Brand}}''^{{#tag:ref|Elton Brand shared Rookie of the Year honors with [[Steve Francis]] of the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rookie of the Year Award Winners |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307060322/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/roy.html |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=July 7, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]]
|{{nts|20.1}}
|{{nts|10.0}}
|{{nts|1.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/brandel01|name=Elton Brand|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2000 NBA draft|2000]]
|[[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Kenyon|Martin}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball|Cincinnati]]
|{{nts|12.0}}
|{{nts|7.4}}
|{{nts|1.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=m/martike01|name=Kenyon Martin|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2001 NBA draft|2001]]
|[[Washington Wizards]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Kwame|Brown}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Glynn Academy]] HS ([[Brunswick, Georgia]])
|{{nts|4.5}}
|{{nts|3.5}}
|{{nts|0.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/brownkw01|name=Kwame Brown|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2002 NBA draft|2002]]
|[[Houston Rockets]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname||Yao Ming}}^*
|{{flag|China}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Shanghai Sharks]] ([[Chinese Basketball Association|China]])
|{{nts|13.5}}
|{{nts|8.2}}
|{{nts|1.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=m/mingya01|name=Yao Ming|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2003 NBA draft|2003]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|'''''{{sortname|LeBron|James}}'''''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[St. Vincent–St. Mary High School|St. Vincent–St. Mary HS]] ([[Akron, Ohio]])
|{{nts|20.9}}
|{{nts|5.5}}
|{{nts|5.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=j/jamesle01|name=LeBron James|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2004 NBA draft|2004]]
|[[Orlando Magic]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Dwight|Howard}}^*
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy|SACA]] ([[Atlanta]])
|{{nts|12.0}}
|{{nts|10.0}}
|{{nts|0.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=h/howardw01|name=Dwight Howard|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2005 NBA draft|2005]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color: #CCFFCC"|{{sortname|Andrew|Bogut}}''^''
|{{flag|Australia}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
|{{nts|9.4}}
|{{nts|7.0}}
|{{nts|2.3}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bogutan01|name=Andrew Bogut|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2006 NBA draft|2006]]
|[[Toronto Raptors]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Andrea|Bargnani}}
|{{flag|Italy}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]] ([[Lega Basket Serie A|Italy]])
|{{nts|11.6}}
|{{nts|3.9}}
|{{nts|0.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bargnan01|name=Andrea Bargnani|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2007 NBA draft|2007]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Greg|Oden}}{{#tag:ref|Greg Oden underwent [[microfracture surgery]] on his right knee before the {{nbay|2007|app=season}}, and missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|2008|app=season}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2007 |title=Oden's recovery from surgery likely in range of 6–12 months |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3017538 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118074735/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3017538 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2008 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball|Ohio State]]
|{{nts|8.9}}
|{{nts|7.0}}
|{{nts|0.5}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=o/odengr01|name=Greg Oden|date=June 20, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2008 NBA draft|2008]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Derrick|Rose}}''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Memphis Tigers men's basketball|Memphis]]
|{{nts|16.8}}
|{{nts|3.9}}
|{{nts|6.3}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/rosede01|name=Derrick Rose|date=December 26, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|[[2009 NBA draft|2009]]
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC"|''{{sortname|Blake|Griffin}}''^{{#tag:ref|Blake Griffin injured his left kneecap in a pre-season game before the {{nbay|2009|app=season}}. He underwent a surgery in January 2010 and missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|2010|app=season}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2010 |title=Griffin's rookie season lost to injury |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4823032 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120051132/http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4823032 |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=January 13, 2010 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]]
|{{nts|22.5}}
|{{nts|12.1}}
|{{nts|3.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=g/griffbl01|name=Blake Griffin|date=April 17, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|[[2010 NBA draft|2010]]
|[[Washington Wizards]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|{{sortname|John|Wall}}^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]
|{{nts|16.4}}
|{{nts|4.6}}
|{{nts|8.3}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/walljo01|name=John Wall|date=April 17, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|[[2011 NBA draft|2011]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Kyrie|Irving}}'''''^
|{{flagu|United States}}{{refn|Kyrie Irving was born in Australia to American parents who returned to the U.S. when he was two years old. He has played for the U.S. internationally at both youth and senior level.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bednall |first=Jai |date=May 15, 2011 |title=Boomers miss their shot at courting US star Kyrie Irving |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/boomers-miss-their-shot-at-courting-us-star-kyrie-irving/story-e6frfglf-1226055994725 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629185317/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sport/boomers-miss-their-shot-at-courting-us-star-kyrie-irving/story-e6frfglf-1226055994725 |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2011 |website=Herald Sun |publisher=Herald and Weekly Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Irving named MVP of 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, headlines All-Star Five |date=September 14, 2014 |publisher=FIBA |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/news/irving-named-mvp-of-2014-fiba-basketball-world-cup-headlines-all-star-five |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914212717/http://www.fiba.com/news/irving-named-mvp-of-2014-fiba-basketball-world-cup-headlines-all-star-five |url-status=live |archive-date=September 14, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]]
|{{nts|18.5}}
|{{nts|3.7}}
|{{nts|5.4}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=i/irvinky01|name=Kyrie Irving|date=June 11, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|[[2012 NBA draft|2012]]
|[[New Orleans Pelicans|New Orleans Hornets]] <!-- New Orleans didn't change its name from Hornets to Pelicans until 2013. -->
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''{{sortname|Anthony|Davis}}'''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|center]]}}
|[[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]
|{{nts|13.5}}
|{{nts|8.2}}
|{{nts|1.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=d/davisan02|name=Anthony Davis|date=June 11, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|[[2013 NBA draft|2013]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|{{sortname|Anthony|Bennett|dab=basketball}}
|{{flag|Canada}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball|UNLV]]
|{{nts|4.2}}
|{{nts|3.0}}
|{{nts|0.3}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=b/bennean01|name=Anthony Bennett|date=May 28, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[2014 NBA draft|2014]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Andrew|Wiggins}}'''''^
|{{flagu|Canada}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]/[[Guard (basketball)|guard]]
|[[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]]
|{{nts|16.9}}
|{{nts|4.6}}
|{{nts|2.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/wiggian01|name=Andrew Wiggins|date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[2015 NBA draft|2015]]
|[[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Karl-Anthony|Towns}}'''''^
|{{flagu|United States}}{{refn|Karl-Anthony Towns was born and raised in the United States; his mother is Dominican. He has chosen to represent the [[Dominican Republic]] at the international level.|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]}}
|[[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]
|{{nts|18.3}}
|{{nts|10.4}}
|{{nts|2.0}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=t/townska01|name=Karl-Anthony Towns|date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[2016 NBA draft|2016]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Ben|Simmons}}'''''^{{#tag:ref|Ben Simmons injured his right foot during training camp before the {{nbay|2016|app=season}}. He missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the {{nbay|2017|app=season}}.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/simmobe01|name=Ben Simmons|date=June 23, 2016}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
|{{flagu|Australia}}{{refn|Simmons was born in Melbourne, Australia, to an American father and Australian mother. He chose to represent Australia at international level.|group=lower-alpha}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU]]
|{{nts|15.8}}
|{{nts|8.1}}
|{{nts|8.2}}
|align=center|<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite basketball-reference|id=s/simmobe01|name=Ben Simmons|date=June 23, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[2017 NBA draft|2017]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|'''{{sortname|Markelle|Fultz}}'''
|{{flagu|United States}}
|{{sort|foa|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]}}
|[[Washington Huskies men's basketball|Washington]]
|{{nts|7.1}}
|{{nts|3.1}}
|{{nts|3.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=f/fultzma01|name=Markelle Fultz|date=June 6, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[2018 NBA draft|2018]]
|[[Phoenix Suns]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|'''{{sortname|Deandre|Ayton}}'''
|{{flagu|Bahamas}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Arizona Wildcats basketball|Arizona]]
|{{nts|16.3}}
|{{nts|10.3}}
|{{nts|1.8}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=a/aytonde01|name=Deandre Ayton|date=June 21, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[2019 NBA draft|2019]]
|[[New Orleans Pelicans]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''{{sortname|Zion|Williamson}}'''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils basketball|Duke]]
|{{nts|22.5}}
|{{nts|6.3}}
|{{nts|2.1}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/willizi01|name=Zion Williamson|date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[2020 NBA draft|2020]]
|[[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''{{sortname|Anthony|Edwards|dab=basketball}}'''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Georgia Bulldogs basketball|Georgia]]
|{{nts|19.3}}
|{{nts|4.7}}
|{{nts|2.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=e/edwaran01|name=Anthony Edwards|date=May 24, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[2021 NBA draft|2021]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''{{sortname|Cade|Cunningham}}'''^
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
|[[Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball|Oklahoma State]]
|{{nts|17.4}}
|{{nts|5.5}}
|{{nts|5.6}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/cunnica01|name=Cade Cunningham|date=June 23, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|[[2022 NBA draft|2022]]
|[[Orlando Magic]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Paolo|Banchero}}'''^''
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils basketball|Duke]]
|{{nts|20.0}}
|{{nts|6.9}}
|{{nts|3.7}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=c/banchpa01|name=Paolo Banchero|date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[2023 NBA draft|2023]]
|[[San Antonio Spurs]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|'''''{{sortname|Victor|Wembanyama}}'''''^
|{{flag|France}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|[[Metropolitans 92]] ([[LNB Pro A|France]])
|{{nts|21.4}}
|{{nts|10.6}}
|{{nts|3.9}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=w/wembavi01|name=Victor Wembanyama|date=November 13, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[2024 NBA draft|2024]]
|[[Atlanta Hawks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|'''{{sortname|Zaccharie|Risacher}}'''
|{{flagu|France}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[JL Bourg]] ([[LNB Pro A|France]])
|{{nts|12.6}}
|{{nts|3.6}}
|{{nts|1.2}}
|align=center|<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|id=r/risacza01|name=Zaccharie Risacher|date=April 18, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[2025 NBA draft|2025]]
|[[Dallas Mavericks]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:transparent;"|'''{{sortname|Cooper|Flagg}}'''
|{{flagu|United States}}
|[[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
|[[Duke Blue Devils basketball|Duke]]
|
|
|
|align=center|
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[List of undrafted NBA players]]
* [[List of first overall NBA G League draft picks]]
* [[List of first overall WNBA draft picks]]
* [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks]]
* [[List of first overall NFL draft picks]]
* [[List of first overall NHL draft picks]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha|2}}

== References ==
;General
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite web |title=Draft Index |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514001512/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/ |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=June 14, 2008 |website=basketball-reference.com}}
{{refend}}
;Specific
{{reflist}}

{{NBA NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{NBA Drafts}}
{{NBA}}

{{featured list}}

[[Category:NBA draft|First overall draft pick]]
[[Category:First overall NBA draft picks| ]]
[[Category:NBA lists|First overall draft pick]]