List of first overall NBA draft picks - wikipedia List of first overall NBA draft picks This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 16 August 2018. LeBron James, drafted out of high school, was one of the most anticipated first overall draft picks. The National Basketball Association 's first overall pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual National Basketball Association ( NBA ) draft. The first pick is awarded to the team that wins the NBA draft lottery ; in most cases, that team had a losing record in the previous season. The team with the first pick attracts significant media attention, as does the player who is selected with that 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 ). Since the advent of the draft lottery in 1985, seven number one overall picks have won an NBA title. They are David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Glenn Robinson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Andrew Bogut, and Kyrie Irving. China 's Yao Ming ( 2002 ) and Italy 's Andrea Bargnani ( 2006 ) are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Eleven other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall -- Mychal Thompson ( Bahamas ) in 1978, Hakeem Olajuwon ( Nigeria ) in 1984, Patrick Ewing ( Jamaica ) in 1985, Tim Duncan ( U.S. Virgin Islands ) in 1997, Michael Olowokandi ( Nigeria ) in 1998, Andrew Bogut ( Australia ) in 2005, Kyrie Irving ( Australia ) in 2011, 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 fifty states or the District of Columbia. Ewing had dual Jamaican - American citizenship when he was drafted and Irving and Simmons 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 in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBA 's draft history. Contents 1 Key 2 List of first overall picks 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References Key Denotes players who have been selected to the All - Star Game or All - NBA Team ^ * Denotes Hall of Famers PPG Points per game APG Assists per game RPG Rebounds per game Player ( in italic text ) Rookie of the Year List of first overall picks Draft Selected by Player Nationality Position College / high school / former club NBA rookie statistics Ref. PPG RPG APG 1947 Pittsburgh Ironmen Clifton McNeely USA Guard Texas Wesleyan -- -- -- 1948 Providence Steamrollers Andy Tonkovich USA Guard / Forward Marshall 7000260000000000000 ♠ 2.6 -- 6999600000000000000 ♠ 0.6 1949 Providence Steamrollers Howie Shannon USA Center Kansas State 7001134000000000000 ♠ 13.4 -- 7000230000000099999 ♠ 2.3 1950 Boston Celtics Charlie Share USA Center Bowling Green 7000390000000000000 ♠ 3.9 7000530000000000000 ♠ 5.3 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1.0 1951 Baltimore Bullets Gene Melchiorre USA Guard Bradley -- -- -- 1952 Milwaukee Hawks Mark Workman USA Center West Virginia 7000510000000099999 ♠ 5.1 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3.0 6999600000000000000 ♠ 0.6 1953 Baltimore Bullets Ray Felix ^ USA Guard / Forward Long Island 7001176000000000000 ♠ 17.6 7001133000000000000 ♠ 13.3 7000110000000000000 ♠ 1.1 1954 Baltimore Bullets Frank Selvy ^ USA Forward / Center Furman 7001190000000000000 ♠ 19.0 7000550000000000000 ♠ 5.5 7000350000000000000 ♠ 3.5 1955 Milwaukee Hawks Dick Ricketts USA Guard / Forward Duquesne 7000890000000000000 ♠ 8.9 7000720000000000000 ♠ 7.2 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3.0 1956 Rochester Royals Sihugo Green USA Guard / Forward Duquesne 7001115000000000000 ♠ 11.5 7000520000000000000 ♠ 5.2 7000360000000000000 ♠ 3.6 1957 Cincinnati Royals Rod Hundley ^ USA Guard West Virginia 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7.0 7000290000000000000 ♠ 2.9 7000190000000000000 ♠ 1.9 1958 Minneapolis Lakers Elgin Baylor ^ * USA Forward Seattle 7001249000000000000 ♠ 24.9 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15.0 7000410009999999999 ♠ 4.1 1959 Cincinnati Royals Bob Boozer ^ USA Forward Kansas State 7000840000000000000 ♠ 8.4 7000620000000000000 ♠ 6.2 7000140000000099999 ♠ 1.4 1960 Cincinnati Royals Oscar Robertson ^ * USA Guard / Forward Cincinnati 7001305000000000000 ♠ 30.5 7001101000000000000 ♠ 10.1 7000970000000099999 ♠ 9.7 1961 Chicago Packers Walt Bellamy ^ * USA Center Indiana 7001316000000000000 ♠ 31.6 7001190000000000000 ♠ 19.0 7000270000000000000 ♠ 2.7 1962 Chicago Zephyrs Bill McGill USA Forward / Center Utah 7000740000000000000 ♠ 7.4 7000270000000000000 ♠ 2.7 6999600000000000000 ♠ 0.6 1963 New York Knicks Art Heyman USA Forward / Guard Duke 7001154000000000000 ♠ 15.4 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4.0 7000340000000000000 ♠ 3.4 1964 New York Knicks Jim Barnes USA Center / Forward Texas Western 7001155000000000000 ♠ 15.5 7000970000000099999 ♠ 9.7 7000120000000000000 ♠ 1.2 1965 San Francisco Warriors Fred Hetzel USA Forward / Center Davidson 7000680000000000000 ♠ 6.8 7000520000000000000 ♠ 5.2 6999500000000000000 ♠ 0.5 1966 New York Knicks Cazzie Russell ^ USA Forward / Guard Michigan 7001113000000000000 ♠ 11.3 7000330000000000000 ♠ 3.3 7000240000000000000 ♠ 2.4 1967 Detroit Pistons Jimmy Walker ^ USA Guard Providence 7000880000000000000 ♠ 8.8 7000170000000000000 ♠ 1.7 7000280000000099999 ♠ 2.8 1968 San Diego Rockets Elvin Hayes ^ * USA Center / Forward Houston 7001284000000000000 ♠ 28.4 7001171000000000000 ♠ 17.1 7000140000000099999 ♠ 1.4 1969 Milwaukee Bucks Lew Alcindor ^ * USA Center UCLA 7001288000000000000 ♠ 28.8 7001145000000000000 ♠ 14.5 7000410009999999999 ♠ 4.1 1970 Detroit Pistons Bob Lanier ^ * USA Center St. Bonaventure 7001156000000000000 ♠ 15.6 7000810000000000000 ♠ 8.1 7000180000000000000 ♠ 1.8 1971 Cleveland Cavaliers Austin Carr ^ USA Guard Notre Dame 7001212000000000000 ♠ 21.2 7000350000000000000 ♠ 3.5 7000340000000000000 ♠ 3.4 1972 Portland Trail Blazers LaRue Martin USA Center Loyola ( Illinois ) 7000440000000000000 ♠ 4.4 7000460000000099999 ♠ 4.6 6999500000000000000 ♠ 0.5 1973 Philadelphia 76ers Doug Collins ^ USA Guard / Forward Illinois State 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8.0 7000180000000000000 ♠ 1.8 7000160000000000000 ♠ 1.6 Portland Trail Blazers Bill Walton ^ * USA Center UCLA 7001128000000000000 ♠ 12.8 7001126000000000000 ♠ 12.6 7000480000000000000 ♠ 4.8 Atlanta Hawks David Thompson ^ * USA Forward / Guard NC State 7001260000000000000 ♠ 26.0 7000630000000000000 ♠ 6.3 7000370000000000000 ♠ 3.7 1976 Houston Rockets John Lucas USA Guard Maryland 7001111000000000000 ♠ 11.1 7000270000000000000 ♠ 2.7 7000560000000099999 ♠ 5.6 1977 Milwaukee Bucks Kent Benson USA Center Indiana 7000770000000000000 ♠ 7.7 7000430000000000000 ♠ 4.3 7000140000000099999 ♠ 1.4 1978 Portland Trail Blazers Mychal Thompson BAH Forward / Center Minnesota 7001147000000000000 ♠ 14.7 7000830000000000000 ♠ 8.3 7000240000000000000 ♠ 2.4 1979 Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson ^ * USA Guard / Forward Michigan State 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18.0 7000770000000000000 ♠ 7.7 7000730000000000000 ♠ 7.3 1980 Golden State Warriors Joe Barry Carroll ^ USA Center Purdue 7001189009999900000 ♠ 18.9 7000930000000000000 ♠ 9.3 7000140000000099999 ♠ 1.4 1981 Dallas Mavericks Mark Aguirre ^ USA Forward DePaul 7001187000000000000 ♠ 18.7 7000490000000000000 ♠ 4.9 7000320000000000000 ♠ 3.2 1982 Los Angeles Lakers James Worthy ^ * USA Forward North Carolina 7001134000000000000 ♠ 13.4 7000520000000000000 ♠ 5.2 7000170000000000000 ♠ 1.7 Houston Rockets Ralph Sampson ^ * USA Center Virginia 7001210000000000000 ♠ 21.0 7001111000000000000 ♠ 11.1 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2.0 1984 Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon ^ * NGA Center Houston 7001206000000000000 ♠ 20.6 7001119000000000000 ♠ 11.9 7000140000000099999 ♠ 1.4 1985 New York Knicks Patrick Ewing ^ * USA Center Georgetown 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20.0 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9.0 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2.0 1986 Cleveland Cavaliers Brad Daugherty ^ USA Center North Carolina 7001157000000000000 ♠ 15.7 7000810000000000000 ♠ 8.1 7000380000000000000 ♠ 3.8 San Antonio Spurs David Robinson ^ * USA Center Navy 7001243000000000000 ♠ 24.3 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12.0 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2.0 1988 Los Angeles Clippers Danny Manning ^ USA Forward Kansas 7001167000000000000 ♠ 16.7 7000660000000000000 ♠ 6.6 7000310000000000000 ♠ 3.1 1989 Sacramento Kings Pervis Ellison USA Center Louisville 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8.0 7000580000000000000 ♠ 5.8 7000190000000000000 ♠ 1.9 1990 New Jersey Nets Derrick Coleman ^ USA Forward / Center Syracuse 7001184009999900000 ♠ 18.4 7001103000000000000 ♠ 10.3 7000220000000000000 ♠ 2.2 1991 Charlotte Hornets Larry Johnson ^ USA Forward UNLV 7001192000000000000 ♠ 19.2 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11.0 7000360000000000000 ♠ 3.6 1992 Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal ^ * USA Center LSU 7001234000000000000 ♠ 23.4 7001139000000000000 ♠ 13.9 7000190000000000000 ♠ 1.9 1993 Orlando Magic Chris Webber ^ USA Forward Michigan 7001175000000000000 ♠ 17.5 7000910000000000000 ♠ 9.1 7000360000000000000 ♠ 3.6 1994 Milwaukee Bucks Glenn Robinson ^ USA Forward Purdue 7001219000000000000 ♠ 21.9 7000640000000000000 ♠ 6.4 7000250000000000000 ♠ 2.5 1995 Golden State Warriors Joe Smith USA Forward Maryland 7001153000000000000 ♠ 15.3 7000870000000099999 ♠ 8.7 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1.0 Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson ^ * USA Guard Georgetown 7001235000000000000 ♠ 23.5 7000410009999999999 ♠ 4.1 7000750000000000000 ♠ 7.5 1997 San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan ^ USA Forward / Center Wake Forest 7001211000000000000 ♠ 21.1 7001119000000000000 ♠ 11.9 7000270000000000000 ♠ 2.7 1998 Los Angeles Clippers Michael Olowokandi NGA Center Pacific 7000890000000000000 ♠ 8.9 7000790000000000000 ♠ 7.9 6999600000000000000 ♠ 0.6 1999 Chicago Bulls Elton Brand ^ USA Forward Duke 7001201000000000000 ♠ 20.1 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10.0 7000190000000000000 ♠ 1.9 2000 New Jersey Nets Kenyon Martin ^ USA Forward Cincinnati 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12.0 7000740000000000000 ♠ 7.4 7000190000000000000 ♠ 1.9 2001 Washington Wizards Kwame Brown USA Center Glynn Academy HS ( Brunswick, Georgia ) 7000450000000000000 ♠ 4.5 7000350000000000000 ♠ 3.5 6999800000000000000 ♠ 0.8 2002 Houston Rockets Yao Ming ^ * CHN Center Shanghai Sharks ( China ) 7001135000000000000 ♠ 13.5 7000820009999999999 ♠ 8.2 7000170000000000000 ♠ 1.7 2003 Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James ^ USA Forward St. Vincent - St. Mary HS ( Akron, Ohio ) 7001209009999900000 ♠ 20.9 7000550000000000000 ♠ 5.5 7000590000000000000 ♠ 5.9 Orlando Magic Dwight Howard ^ USA Center SACA ( Atlanta ) 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12.0 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10.0 6999900000000000000 ♠ 0.9 2005 Milwaukee Bucks Andrew Bogut ^ AUS Center Utah 7000940000000000000 ♠ 9.4 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7.0 7000230000000099999 ♠ 2.3 2006 Toronto Raptors Andrea Bargnani ITA Forward / Center Benetton Treviso ( Italy ) 7001116000000000000 ♠ 11.6 7000390000000000000 ♠ 3.9 6999800000000000000 ♠ 0.8 2007 Portland Trail Blazers Greg Oden USA Center Ohio State 7000890000000000000 ♠ 8.9 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7.0 6999500000000000000 ♠ 0.5 2008 Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose ^ USA Guard Memphis 7001168000000000000 ♠ 16.8 7000390000000000000 ♠ 3.9 7000630000000000000 ♠ 6.3 2009 Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin ^ USA Forward Oklahoma 7001225000000000000 ♠ 22.5 7001121000000000000 ♠ 12.1 7000380000000000000 ♠ 3.8 Washington Wizards John Wall ^ USA Guard Kentucky 7001164009999900000 ♠ 16.4 7000460000000099999 ♠ 4.6 7000830000000000000 ♠ 8.3 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving ^ USA Guard Duke 7001185000000000000 ♠ 18.5 7000370000000000000 ♠ 3.7 7000540000000000000 ♠ 5.4 2012 New Orleans Hornets Anthony Davis ^ USA Forward / Center Kentucky 7001135000000000000 ♠ 13.5 7000820009999999999 ♠ 8.2 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1.0 2013 Cleveland Cavaliers Anthony Bennett CAN Forward UNLV 7000420000000000000 ♠ 4.2 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3.0 6999300000000000000 ♠ 0.3 2014 Cleveland Cavaliers Andrew Wiggins CAN Forward / Guard Kansas 7001169009999900000 ♠ 16.9 7000460000000099999 ♠ 4.6 7000210000000000000 ♠ 2.1 2015 Minnesota Timberwolves Karl - Anthony Towns DOM Center Kentucky 7001183000000000000 ♠ 18.3 7001104000000000000 ♠ 10.4 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2.0 2016 Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons ^ AUS Forward / Guard LSU 15.8 8.1 8.2 2017 Philadelphia 76ers Markelle Fultz USA Guard Washington 7.1 3.1 3.8 2018 Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton BAH Forward / Center Arizona -- -- -- See also List of first overall NBA Development League draft picks List of first overall WNBA draft picks Notes ^ Jump up to : All statistics are taken from the players ' respective rookie season unless otherwise noted. ^ Jump up to : Clifton McNeely never played professional basketball. Instead, he became a basketball coach for Pampa High School in Texas. Jump up ^ Howie Shannon was the first overall pick, although Ed Macauley and Vern Mikkelsen had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ Charlie Share did not play in the 1950 -- 51 season. His rookie statistics are from the 1951 -- 52 season. Share was the first overall pick, although Paul Arizin had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors ' territorial pick. ^ Jump up to : 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. Melchiorre was the first overall pick, although Myer Skoog had been taken before the draft as the Minneapolis Lakers ' territorial pick. Jump up ^ Mark Workman was the first overall pick, although Bill Mlkvy had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors ' territorial pick. Jump up ^ Ray Felix was the first overall pick, although Ernie Beck and Walter Dukes had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ Dick Ricketts was the first overall pick, although Dick Garmaker and Tom Gola had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ Sihugo Green was the first overall pick, although Tom Heinsohn had been taken before the draft as the Boston Celtics ' territorial pick. Jump up ^ Elgin my guy Baylor was the first overall pick, although Guy Rodgers had been taken before the draft as the Philadelphia Warriors ' territorial pick. Jump up ^ Bob Boozer was the first overall pick, although Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Ferry had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Bill McGill was the first overall pick, although Dave DeBusschere and Jerry Lucas had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ Art Heyman was the first overall pick, although Tom Thacker had been taken before the draft as the Cincinnati Royals ' territorial pick. Jump up ^ Jim Barnes was the first overall pick, although Walt Hazzard and George Wilson had been taken before the draft as their teams ' territorial picks. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Before the 1971 -- 72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul - Jabbar. Jump up ^ 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 1976 -- 77 season. ^ Jump up to : Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. When he arrived in the United States, the University of Houston incorrectly spelled his first name `` Akeem ''. Olajuwon used that spelling until March 9, 1991, when he announced that he would add an H, saying, `` I 'm not changing the spelling of my name, I 'm correcting it. '' Jump up ^ Patrick Ewing was born in Jamaica, but had become a naturalized United States citizen while at Georgetown. He represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Jump up ^ David Robinson did not play in the NBA until 1989 due to commitments to the United States Navy. His rookie statistics are from the 1989 -- 90 season. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Elton Brand shared Rookie of the Year honors with Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets. Jump up ^ Greg Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee before the 2007 -- 08 season, and missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the 2008 -- 09 season. Jump up ^ Blake Griffin injured his left kneecap in a pre-season game before the 2009 -- 10 season. He underwent a surgery in January 2010 and missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the 2010 -- 11 season. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ 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 Jump up ^ Ben Simmons injured his right foot during training camp before the 2016 -- 17 season. He missed the entire season. His rookie statistics are from the 2017 -- 18 season. References General `` Draft Index ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2008. Specific Jump up ^ `` Most anticipated No. 1 draft picks ''. CBC Sports. July 27, 2005. Archived from the original on October 25, 2005. Retrieved September 29, 2016. Jump up ^ Ronald Tillery ( June 18, 2008 ). `` Landing the top draft pick can lift NBA team to new heights, and also fill arena ''. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick ''. People 's Daily Online. June 29, 2006. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ Vecsey, George ( December 3, 1993 ). `` Basketball Surviving Quite Nicely ''. New York Times. Jump up ^ `` Kyrie Irving is Committed to the Red, White and Blue ''. USA Basketball. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Jump up ^ Borzello, Jeff ( June 8, 2012 ). `` Australian prospect Ben Simmons makes great first impression ''. CBSSports.com. Jump up ^ Bob Cook ( September 13, 2007 ). `` Oden 's injury a cruel blow for cursed Blazers ''. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Obituaries : Clifton McNeely 12 / 29 / 03 ''. amarillo.com. December 29, 2003. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Andy Tonkovich Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1949 BAA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Howie Shannon Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Chuck Share Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1950 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ Wright Thompson ( August 9, 2007 ). `` For the 1951 point - shavers, a life lived in infamy ''. ESPN. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1951 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1952 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Mark Workman Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1953 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Ray Felix Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Frank Selvy Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1955 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Dick Ricketts Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1956 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Sihugo Green Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Rod Hundley Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1958 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Elgin Baylor Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1959 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bob Boozer Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Oscar Robertson Bio ''. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Wise, Mike ( June 29, 2000 ). `` Clippers Go to High School to Get Miles ''. The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Oscar Robertson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Walt Bellamy Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1962 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bill McGill Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1963 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Art Heyman Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1964 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Jim Barnes Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 1965 NBA Draft ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Fred Hetzel Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Cazzie Russell Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Jimmy Walker Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Elvin Hayes Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Kareem Abdul - Jabbar Bio ''. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved August 4, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Lew Alcindor ( Kareem Abdul - Jabbar ) Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bob Lanier Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Austin Carr Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` LaRue Martin Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Doug Collins Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bill Walton Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` David Thompson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` John Lucas Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Kent Benson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Mychal Thompson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Earvin Johnson ( Magic Johnson ) Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Joe Barry Carroll Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Mark Aguirre Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` James Worthy Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Ralph Sampson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Hakeem Olajuwon Bio : 1992 - 93 ''. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Jump up ^ Dufresne, Chris ( March 11, 1991 ). `` Hakeem Still Can Be Called ' the Dream ' ''. Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Jump up ^ `` Hakeem Olajuwon Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ Ralph Wiley ( January 7, 1985 ). `` The Master Of The Key : After years of relying on others to unlock doors for him, Georgetown 's center Patrick Ewing will soon go off on his own ''. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ `` All - Time USA Basketball Men 's Roster : E ''. USA Basketball. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Patrick Ewing Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Brad Daugherty Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ Dave Anderson ( May 18, 1987 ). `` Sports of the Times ; The Robinson Plot Thickens ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` David Robinson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Danny Manning Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Pervis Ellison Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Derrick Coleman Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Larry Johnson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Shaquille O'Neal Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Chris Webber Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Glenn Robinson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Joe Smith Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Allen Iverson Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` All - Time USA Basketball Men 's Roster : D ''. USA Basketball. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Tim Duncan Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Michael Olowokandi Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Rookie of the Year Award Winners ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Elton Brand Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Kenyon Martin Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Kwame Brown Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Yao Ming Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` LeBron James Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Dwight Howard Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Andrew Bogut Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Andrea Bargnani Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Oden 's recovery from surgery likely in range of 6 - 12 months ''. ESPN.com. September 14, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Greg Oden Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Derrick Rose Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Griffin 's rookie season lost to injury ''. ESPN.com. January 13, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Blake Griffin Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` John Wall Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011. Jump up ^ Bednall, Jai ( May 15, 2011 ). `` Boomers miss their shot at courting US star Kyrie Irving ''. Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved June 13, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Irving named MVP of 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, headlines All - Star Five '' ( Press release ). FIBA. September 14, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Kyrie Irving Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Anthony Davis Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Anthony Bennett Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Andrew Wiggins Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Karl - Anthony Towns Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ben Simmons Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 23, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ben Simmons Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 23, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Markelle Fultz Stats ''. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018. NBA first overall draft picks 1947 : McNeely 1948 : Tonkovich 1949 : Shannon 1950 : Share 1951 : Melchiorre 1952 : Workman 1953 : Felix 1954 : Selvy 1955 : Ricketts 1956 : Green 1957 : Hundley 1958 : Baylor 1959 : Boozer 1960 : Robertson 1961 : Bellamy 1962 : McGill 1963 : Heyman 1964 : Barnes 1965 : Hetzel 1966 : Russell 1967 : Walker 1968 : Hayes 1969 : Alcindor 1970 : Lanier 1971 : Carr 1972 : L. Martin 1973 : Collins 1974 : Walton 1975 : D. Thompson 1976 : Lucas 1977 : Benson 1978 : M. Thompson 1979 : E. Johnson 1980 : Carroll 1981 : Aguirre 1982 : Worthy 1983 : Sampson 1984 : Olajuwon 1985 : Ewing 1986 : Daugherty 1987 : D. Robinson 1988 : Manning 1989 : Ellison 1990 : Coleman 1991 : L. Johnson 1992 : O'Neal 1993 : Webber 1994 : G. Robinson 1995 : Smith 1996 : Iverson 1997 : Duncan 1998 : Olowokandi 1999 : Brand 2000 : K. Martin 2001 : Brown 2002 : Yao 2003 : James 2004 : Howard 2005 : Bogut 2006 : Bargnani 2007 : Oden 2008 : Rose 2009 : Griffin 2010 : Wall 2011 : Irving 2012 : Davis 2013 : Bennett 2014 : Wiggins 2015 : Towns 2016 : Simmons 2017 : Fultz 2018 : Ayton NBA drafts Draft lottery Draft Combine Eligibility Territorial picks First overall picks High school draftees Undrafted players Supreme Court case WNBA draft 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft 1940s 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Expansion drafts 1961 1966 1967 1968 1970 1980 1988 1989 1995 National Basketball Association Eastern Conference Atlantic Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors Central Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks Southeast Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards Western Conference Northwest Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz Pacific Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings Southwest Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs Annual events Draft Eligibility Summer League Christmas Day All - Star Weekend Game Global Games Africa 2015 Africa 2017 Africa 2018 Playoffs List Finals Champions History Predecessors BAA NBL ABA Merger Criticisms and controversies 2007 Tim Donaghy betting scandal Lockouts Seasons Records regular season post-season All - Star Game Win - loss records Personalities Players Current rosters Foreign players Race and ethnicity First overall draft picks Highest paid Retired numbers Banned or suspended NBPA Head coaches Current Player - coaches Champions Foreign coaches NBCA Owners Referees Awards and honors Larry O'Brien Trophy NBA Awards NBA MVP Finals MVP All - Star Game MVP Hall of Fame Members NBA Silver Anniversary Team NBA 35th Anniversary Team 50 Greatest Players Others Arenas Business Collective bargaining agreement Salary cap NBA Store Culture Cheerleading Mascots Dress code G League Midwest Division Media TV NBA TV Rivalries Teams Defunct Expansion Relocated Timeline WNBA Basketball in the United States Portal 2018 -- 19 season Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_first_overall_NBA_draft_picks&oldid=855216666 '' Categories : National Basketball Association draft National Basketball Association lists Hidden categories : Wikipedia pending changes protected pages Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Eesti Français Հայերեն Latviešu Português Русский Türkçe Українська 中文 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 16 August 2018, at 18 : 46 ( UTC ). 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Question: who was picked number 1 in the nba draft
Answer: Deandre Ayton