The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings: Ranking all-time No. 1 NBA Draft picks (2024)

Did you think Power Rankings were going away? Did you think a suspension of the season was going to keep us/me from throwing things into a subjective order after coming up with a subjectively weighted criteria that may appear to be random to the untrained eye? Then you’ve been inside far too long, my friends! (But seriously, please continue to isolate and stay inside. We need everybody to keep trying to flatten the curve and not end up in some video on Twitter that everybody makes fun of for two weeks because someone refused to stay inside and safe.)

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Normally this time of year, the Power Rankings would be gone. We’d be knee-deep in some playoff action, arguing about which teams are most poised to capitalize on their hopeful run to the championship. Since we’re in a state of basketball limbo, the Power Rankings are … wait for it … powering through! This time around, we’re ranking the No. 1 picks of all time. That’s correct. There have been 70 players taken No. 1 overall in NBA history, and I’ve decided to throw them into some kind of order.

Here’s what will factor into the ranking of these top picks in NBA history:

• How good was this guy? (For more recent picks/active players, how good do they project to be? And yes, I’m totally guessing with that.)
• What were their accolades during their careers?
• How much did he bring to the franchise?
• Did he help bring championships to that franchise?
• Did he ruin things for the franchise?
• Statistical accomplishments
• Was anybody better taken after him?

Are these things all weighted differently? Yes, they are. Is this going to be subjective? Almost entirely! Also, I’m not counting the territorial picks that existed from 1949 until 1966, when the draft was reworked. And sometimes greatness as a top pick overall will outweigh whether a player accomplished greater things for another franchise later on.

Let’s dig into this week’s Power Rankings, which come in the form of ranking the 70 No. 1 picks in NBA history. (I did not count the BAA years)

1. Lew Alcindor, UCLA, Milwaukee Bucks, 1969

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, NBA Finals MVP (2x), All-Star (19x), All-Defense (1st team 5x, 2nd team 6x), All-NBA (1st team 10x, 2nd team 5x), MVP (6x), Championship (6x), Hall of Fame

He would eventually become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but he came into the league as Lew Alcindor. He’s the greatest amateur basketball player of all time, setting historical precedents for high school and college that will never be matched again. It took him two years to win an NBA championship after being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. Eventually, Kareem would find his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would do the majority of his damage.

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His accolades are insane. His historical rankings in points (1st), rebounds (3rd), blocks (3rd despite not keeping track of them his first four seasons), minutes played (1st), games played (2nd) and MVP awards (1st) almost look made-up. He doesn’t get enough mention for the greatest player of all time, but he’s the best No. 1 pick in NBA history in my opinion.

Notable picks after:Jo Jo White (9), Norm Van Lier (34), Bob Dandridge (45)

2. Magic Johnson, Michigan State, Los Angeles Lakers, 1979

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP (2x), NBA Finals MVP (3x), MVP (3x), All-Star (12x), All-NBA (1st team 9x, 2nd team 1x), Championship (5x), Hall of Fame

There is a real case for Magic Johnson being the best overall No. 1 pick of all time. He stayed with the Los Angeles Lakers his entire career, making that top selection even greater than most on this list. He helped save the image of the NBA and he turned the Lakers from a really good franchise to the Showtime spectacle that helped define some of the greatest moments in league history. Magic is as accomplished and as decorated as nearly every other player in NBA history. If he’s your No. 1 of all time, I understand it. I gave Kareem’s longevity a bit more weight over Magic’s tenure with just the Lakers.

Notable picks after:Bill Cartwright (3), Sidney Moncrief (5), Vinnie Johnson (7)

3. LeBron James, St. Vincent’s St. Mary’s, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2003

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP (3x), All-Star (16x), NBA Finals MVP (3x), All-Defense (1st team 5x, 2nd team 1x), All-NBA (1st team 12x, 2nd team 2x, 3rd team 1x), MVP (4x), Championship (3x)

Perhaps I’m trying to be too cute with this list, and the placement of LeBron James at third here will likely be accused of being clickbait. But we’re factoring in what he meant to that initial franchise, and it took a long time and a lot of forgiveness by LeBron to bring that championship to Cleveland. He was an unbelievable player in his first tenure with the Cavaliers, but, of course, it wasn’t until his time with the Miami Heat that LeBron became a champion. He eventually brought that championship understanding back to Cleveland, forgiving Dan Gilbert for an incomprehensible, “Sir, this is a Wendy’s” letter that he had posted on the Cavs’ website for four years. LeBron is in the conversation for greatest player of all time, even if some people won’t put him above Michael Jordan. But since he jumped around a bit here, he gets third placement … for now.

Notable picks after:Carmelo Anthony (3), Chris Bosh (4), Dwyane Wade (5)

4.Tim Duncan, Wake Forest, San Antonio Spurs, 1997

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP, All-Star (15x), NBA Finals MVP (3x), MVP (2x), All-Defense (1st team 8x, 2nd team 7x), All-NBA (1st team 10x, 2nd team 3x, 3rd team 2x), Championship (5x), Hall of Fame

Here’s how Tim Duncan set the tone for his career during his rookie season in 1997-98. He won Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-Star team, All-Defense Second Team and All-NBA First team. He finished fifth in MVP voting behind Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal. That was all as a rookie! He set the standard and tone for the San Antonio Spurs becoming the model franchise. He contemplated leaving a couple years into his career, but ultimately stuck it out for 19 years. He won a championship five times. It’s hard to do much better than what Duncan gave the Spurs, and it’s why he’s one of the 10 best players we’ve ever seen.

Notable picks after:Keith Van Horn (2), Chauncey Billups (3), Tracy McGrady (9)

5. Shaquille O’Neal, Louisiana State, Orlando Magic, 1992

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP (3x), NBA Finals MVP (3x), All-Defense (2nd team 3x), All-Star (15x), All-NBA (1st team 8x, 2nd team 2x, 3rd team 4x), Championship (4x), MVP, Hall of Fame

Shaquille O’Neal has a case for being higher on this list, but he didn’t quite bring it home to Orlando like he did for the Lakers. Still, the four names above him on this list are historically ridiculous, as well. Shaq was so good in his first four years that he was named among the 50 Greatest Players of All Time by the NBA. He hadn’t even won an MVP or his four championships at that point. Everybody just knew he was an all-timer from the moment he stepped on the court. Shaq is currently eighth in points, 15th in rebounds and eighth in blocked shots all time. Shaq was arguably the most dominant player of all time, and that’s even when factoring in the statistical absurdity of Wilt Chamberlain. Don’t ever let anybody diminish what Shaq was on the floor. He’d be Superman in any era of play.

Notable picks after:Alonzo Mourning (2), Latrell Sprewell (24)

Shaq and Magic. Laker legends and former No. 1 picks. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

6. Akeem Olajuwon, University of Houston, Houston Rockets, 1984

Accolades:All-Rookie, Defensive Player of the Year (2x), MVP, NBA Finals MVP (2x), All-Star (12x), All-Defense (1st team 5x, 2nd team 4x), All-NBA (1st team 6x, 2nd team 3x, 3rd team 3x), Championship (2x), Hall of Fame

This is how good Hakeem Olajuwon (came into the NBA as Akeem) was in his career. Everybody kills the Portland Trail Blazers for taking Sam Bowie second in the NBA Draft in 1984 because Michael Jordan went third to the Chicago Bulls. The Blazers didn’t take him because they already had Clyde Drexler. Nobody ever kills the Houston Rockets for taking Olajuwon. It helps that he eventually won a couple of championships for the Rockets. The lore of him demolishing David Robinson in a playoff series because The Admiral was awarded MVP over him one year also helps. But Olajuwon is one of the standards for NBA greatness. He would dominate in any era. He had a four-year stretch in which he averaged 27.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.6 blocks while also winning DPOY, MVP, two championships and two Finals MVP awards.

Notable picks after:Michael Jordan (3), Charles Barkley (5), John Stockton (16)

7.Oscar Robertson, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Royals, 1960

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP (3x), All-Star (12x), MVP, All-NBA (1st team 9x, 2nd team 2x), Championship, Hall of Fame

Even when you factor in the increased pace and possessions of his era, Oscar Robertson’s numbers are insane. Until Russell Westbrook wanted to put on a statistical show for the post-Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder fans, it seemed like The Big O would be the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season. Oscar managed to help Kareem win a championship in Robertson’s later years, and he established himself as one of the most overwhelming individual players in league history. Not to mention, Jerry West went immediately after him. To make passing on Jerry West look acceptable, you have to be historically great.

Notable picks after:Jerry West (2), Lenny Wilkens (6)

8.Elgin Baylor, Seattle University, Minneapolis Lakers, 1958

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, All-Star (11x), All-NBA (1st team 10x), Hall of Fame

Because Baylor’s career happened so long ago, it’s hard for some people to properly appreciate his greatness. You read the stories and you check out the numbers, and everything is eye-popping. Some may hold the lack of a championship ring against him, but such was life in dealing with the Boston Celtics in the ’50s and ’60s. There was a four-year stretch in which Baylor averaged 35.4 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game over 47 playoff games. He got eliminated by the St. Louis Hawks in seven games in both 1960 and 1961, then lost to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in seven and six games, respectively. In those elimination games the Lakers lost, Baylor had 33 points and 13 rebounds in one of them. Had 39 points and 12 rebounds in another. Dropped 41 points and 22 rebounds in 1962’s Game 7 and do you want to know the stats for 1963’s elimination game? Just a tidy 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Nope, I’m not putting a lack of titles on Baylor.

Notable picks after:Hal Greer (13), Wayne Embry (22)

9.David Robinson, Navy, San Antonio Spurs, 1987

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, All-Star (10x), All-Defense (1st team 4x, 2nd team 4x), All-NBA (1st team 4x, 2nd team 2x, 3rd team 4x), Championship (2x), Hall of Fame

David Robinson didn’t come to the NBA until two years after he was drafted, but he was well worth the wait. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, you really needed a top big man to be significant, unless you had Michael Jordan. Robinson happened to be in an era in which star big men ruled most of the land, and he still found ways to stand out most seasons. His first season, he averaged 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks. He won Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-Star team, made All-NBA Third Team and All-Defense Second Team. He didn’t win a title until Tim Duncan came along, but he was still one of the best we’ll ever see.

Notable picks after:Scottie Pippen (5), Kevin Johnson (7), Reggie Miller (11), Mark Jackson (18)

10.Elvin Hayes, University of Houston, San Diego Rockets, 1968

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Defense (2nd team 2x), All-NBA (1st team 3x, 2nd team 3x), All-Star (12x), Championship, Hall of Fame

Elvin Hayes might have the most under-celebrated résumé in NBA history. The accolades above are impressive. He ranks fourth all time in rebounding, 10th in points, sixth in minutes, ninth in shots made and 21st in games played. He was a workhorse and a scoring machine. When he retired, Hayes was third all time in scoring. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain had scored more points in NBA history. Only Chamberlain and Bill Russell had grabbed more rebounds. Hayes should be recognized more in a historical sense.

Notable picks after:Wes Unseld (2)

11. Bill Walton, UCLA, Portland Trail Blazers, 1974

Accolades:All-Star (2x), Sixth Man of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Defense (1st team 2x), All-NBA (1st team, 2nd team), Championship (2x), Hall of Fame

Am I overrating an injury-riddled career for Bill Walton? It’s possible. His body failed him severely, robbing us of so many dominant seasons. But when his body held together, Walton was one of the best we’ve ever seen. He could score and defend and might be the best passing big man period. And we’ve seen some pretty incredible passing giants. In his first playoff appearance, he led the Portland Trail Blazers to their only championship. He’d tack on another one as a Sixth Man with Boston. Walton is one of the best No. 1 picks of all time, even if he couldn’t stay on the court.

Notable picks after:Scott Wedman (6), Jamaal Wilkes (11), Maurice Lucas (14), George Gervin (40)

12. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown, New York Knicks, 1985

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Defense (2nd team 3x), All-NBA (1st team 1x, 2nd team 6x), All-Star (11x), Hall of Fame

Considering the prospect Patrick Ewing was at Georgetown, it almost doesn’t make sense that he didn’t end up with a title or two. But such is life when you exist in the same era as Jordan. Ewing was one of the best defensive centers in his day, and he played in an era that had some of the most incredible superstar depth at the position. He could do just about everything on the court, and he led the New York Knicks to heights they may not see again anytime soon. Karl Malone went 12 spots after him and you never get hindsight about Ewing’s draft position. He was that good.

Notable picks after:Chris Mullin (7), Detlef Schrempf (8), Charles Oakley (9), Karl Malone (13), Joe Dumars (18), Terry Porter (24)

13. Allen Iverson, Georgetown, Philadelphia 76ers, 1996

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP (2x), All-Star (11x), MVP, All-NBA (1st team 3x, 2nd team 3x, 3rd team 1x), Hall of Fame

As dominant culturally as he was as a scorer. The Philadelphia 76ers catered to Allen Iverson in a way we hadn’t seen much of before. He was given the ball, surrounded with defenders, and told to go win them some ugly games. He grabbed an MVP with that style of play. He made All-NBA teams, and eventually the Hall of Fame. We can debate plenty whether Iverson would work in a modern era because of the efficiency topic and his poor defense despite good steals numbers. But Iverson terrified defenses from the moment he stepped on the court. Save the debates and just appreciate that he was an overwhelming basketball presence despite being tiny for an NBA player.

Notable picks after:Stephon Marbury (4), Ray Allen (5), Kobe Bryant (13), Peja Stojakovic (14), Steve Nash (15), Jermaine O’Neal (17)

(Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

14. James Worthy, North Carolina, Los Angeles Lakers, 1982

Accolades:All-Rookie, NBA Finals MVP, All-Star (7x), All-NBA (3rd team 2x), Championship (3x), Hall of Fame

15. Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Orlando Magic, 2004

Accolades:All-Rookie, Defensive Player of the Year (3x), All-Defense (1st team 4x, 2nd team 1x), All-NBA (1st team 5x, 2nd team 1x, 3rd team 2x), All-Star (8x)

Dwight Howard’s career isn’t over, but he’s probably done garnering accolades. He still may win a championship, but it will be as a good but limited role player. Even still, Howard was one of the most dominant defensive forces of his generation. No, he didn’t dominate offensively in the traditional sense, and he may end up going down as a disruption, both to the opposing offense and to his own locker rooms. But Howard was still one of the top players in the league for a long time.

Notable picks after:Andre Iguodala (9)

16. Bob Lanier, St. Bonaventure, Detroit Pistons, 1970

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP, All-Star (8x), Hall of Fame

There was some absolute heat taken after Bob Lanier in 1970. Think about the talent behind him in this draft. Five players in the first 19 draft picks ended up in the Hall of Fame. Lanier never won a title, nor did he make an All-NBA team. But he was an eight-time All-Star and he put up 20 and 10 for his career. His time in Detroit was pretty legendary, and he was someone a lot of great big men hated playing against. There was an eight-year period in which Lanier averaged 23.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks. Those are monster numbers.

Notable picks after:Rudy Tomjanovich (2), Pete Maravich (3), Dave Cowens (4), Calvin Murphy (18), Tiny Archibald (19)

17.Walt Bellamy, Indiana University, Chicago Packers, 1961

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Star (4x), Hall of Fame

The numbers from the first five seasons of Bellamy’s career are insane. He averaged 31.6 points and 19.0 rebounds as a rookie. Over those first five seasons, he put up on average 26.8 points and 16.5 rebounds each night. His production would never be that high or that consistent again in his career, but he was still one of the better big men in his day. He just happened to play in an era that spanned Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also once played 88 games in a season due to some timely trades.

Notable picks after:Ray Scott (4)

18. Chris Webber, Michigan, Orlando Magic, 1993

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star (5x), All-NBA (1st team 1x, 2nd team 3x, 3rd team 1x)

Eventually, Chris Webber’s career would be derailed by a devastating knee injury suffered in 2003. But Webber was in the conversation for best power forward in the league in an era with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Rasheed Wallace. At least for a couple years it looked like Webber was on the verge of leading the Sacramento Kings to the title, but that was also his third stop in the NBA. As great as Webber was, his immense talent should have led to greater success at the top level. Even still, he was unquestionably the right choice in this draft and he probably should be in the Hall of Fame.

Notable picks after:Anfernee Hardaway (3), Allan Houston (11), Sam Cassell (24), Nick Van Exel (37)

19. Anthony Davis, Kentucky, New Orleans Pelicans, 2012

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP, All-Star (7x), All-Defense (1st team 1x, 2nd team 2x), All-NBA (1st team 3x)

We might be halfway through Anthony Davis’s career, give or take. And I’m not quite sure what to make of it. He’s a phenomenal talent who was supposed to transcend everything. Instead, he existed on a great individual level for a franchise that bumbled many of his years. Now that he’s on the Los Angeles Lakers, we’ll see if he can capitalize playing alongside LeBron James. He has a lot of great moments left.

Notable picks after:Bradley Beal (3), Damian Lillard (6), Andre Drummond (9), Draymond Green (35), Khris Middleton (39)

20. Mark Aguirre, DePaul, Dallas Mavericks, 1981

Accolades:All-Star (3x), Championship (2x)

Isiah Thomas going right after him knocks him down here, but Mark Aguirre was a problem in the NBA. Talk to anybody who played in the 1980s and they’ll glow about how difficult Aguirre was to defend. He’d eventually become a champion in Detroit, but Aguirre was a guy who averaged 25.5 points over a six-year period. Nobody could guard him in Dallas and he should have made All-NBA teams during the ’80s.

Notable picks after:Isiah Thomas (2), Buck Williams (3), Tom Chambers (8), Rolando Blackman (9), Larry Nance (20), Eddie Johnson (29),

21. Kyrie Irving, Duke, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2011

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA (2nd team, 3rd team), All-Star (6x), Championship

We still have a lot of career left for Irving, and it’s a little tough to assess what his career has meant so far. He hasn’t done a whole lot outside of the few years he was teammates with LeBron James. He’s been a spectacular individual talent, but it hasn’t led to much when James wasn’t on his team. Even still, he’s won a championship and hit the biggest shot in franchise history to do it. There’s no doubt he made the most sense for Cleveland at the time of this draft and helped bring a title.

Notable picks after:Kemba Walker (9), Klay Thompson (11), Kawhi Leonard (15), Jimmy Butler (30), Isaiah Thomas (60)

22. Ben Simmons, Louisiana State, Philadelphia 76ers, 2016

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star (2x)

A lot of this is projecting a relatively injury-free existence for Simmons and a decent trajectory of growth for the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star. But let’s say there’s a scenario in which Simmons doesn’t get any better than he currently is at 23. Let’s say he maintains this level of play for a decade before he begins to decline around 33. That means we’re going to get around 10 All-Star Games, at least a half dozen All-Defensive Team selections, and career totals of around/at least 16,000 points, 8,000 assists, and 8,000 rebounds. Only LeBron James and Jason Kidd have those three thresholds for points, assists and rebounds. That’s not to say that’s all that matters, but we’re looking at an elite, historic club to be in. On top of that, he may have some decent playoff success to throw on top of this. Maybe he wins a Defensive Player of the Year or two. That’s an absurd career, even if it comes with just 20 career 3-point makes.

Notable picks after:Brandon Ingram (2), Jaylen Brown (3), Pascal Siakam (27)

23. Derrick Rose, Memphis, Chicago Bulls, 2008

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, MVP, All-NBA (1st team), All-Star (3x)

Derrick Rose fans won’t be happy with this spot in the rankings, touting his MVP season, All-NBA selection, three All-Star appearances and Rookie of the Year accolades prior to the knee injury. The former Chicago Bulls star absolutely looked like he was headed toward a legendary career. Unfortunately, his major knee injury in 2012 and the subsequent injuries that tempered his career trajectory happened. He still had legendary moments, but the longevity of his stardom lessened his career impact on the court. It took him a long time to get back to form, and he has rebounded remarkably. But the longevity of his elite level of play just wasn’t long enough. It wasn’t his fault but it factors in heavily here.

Notable picks after:Russell Westbrook (4), Kevin Love (5), Goran Dragic (45)

24. Yao Ming, China, Houston Rockets, 2002

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-NBA (2nd team 2x, 3rd team 3x), All-Star (8x), Hall of Fame

Foot injuries robbed us of seeing just how incredible Yao Ming could be. He was highly doubted coming into the NBA because China just flat-out didn’t produce meaningful NBA players. With Yao measuring in at 7-foot-5, it was hard to see if he could be mobile or athletic enough to justify the hype. Right away, he was really good and he became one of the tougher matchups at the position. He could shoot with touch, play with his back to the basket, make free throws and sling passes around the court. He made the Hall of Fame because of his international contributions, but he was still awesome on the court.

Notable picks after:Amar’e Stoudemire (9)

25. David Thompson, North Carolina State, Atlanta Hawks, 1975

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP (2x), All-NBA (1st team 2x), Hall of Fame

Injuries and a drug addiction ended David Thompson’s career by 30, but he was a phenomenal talent and individual player before all of that submarined everything. The Atlanta Hawks never actually benefitted from Thompson. He was drafted into both the ABA and the NBA, but he signed with the Denver Nuggets in the ABA before moving over to the NBA with the franchise in his second professional year. His first five seasons in the NBA had him averaging over 25 points per game. He was recognized as one of the best players multiple times and eventually made the Hall of Fame.

Notable picks after:Alvan Adams (4), Daryl Dawkins (5), Gus Williams (20), World B. Free (23)

26. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, Los Angeles Clippers, 2009

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-NBA (2nd team 3x, 3rd team 2x), All-Star (6x)

Injuries are starting to rob Blake Griffin of his opportunities to continue his consistent production and improvement on the court. He’s become a great passer to go with his scoring ability. Plus, he’s one of the few players to ever make the Los Angeles Clippers interesting for good reasons on the basketball court. For some reason, he’s been overly scrutinized in his career. Despite the injuries, he’s been an unbelievable player. It took a long time before James Harden and Steph Curry proved to be the better players from this class.

Notable picks after:James Harden (3), Steph Curry (7), DeMar DeRozan (9)

27. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky, Minnesota Timberwolves, 2015

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-NBA (3rd team), All-Star (2x)

I’m not quite sure how to project Karl-Anthony Towns at this point. After his first couple seasons, Towns looked like he could be an all-time big man. His combination of scoring inside and shooting outside is hard to match. He can get an efficient 22 points per game in his sleep, while stretching the floor like an elite player. He’s an excellent rebounder too. But his defense is incomprehensibly inconsistent, and he hasn’t proven he can lead a team to victories. It’s far too early to write him off, and his career numbers will be historic by the end of it. We just don’t know if they’ll matter in leading his team to wins, or if they’ll look like empty calories.

Notable picks after:D’Angelo Russell (2), Kristaps Porzingis (4), Devin Booker (13)

28. Zion Williamson, Duke, New Orleans Pelicans, 2019

Accolades:Nothing official yet.

First of all, everybody calm down. I can hear the angry typing from here. I didn’t love the idea of including Zion Williamson Deandre Ayton, and Markelle Fultz, because they barely have careers at this point. But including them and excluding the BAA number one picks meant that I still had a nice round number of 70 guys to rank. Does that matter to have a round number? No, but it looks pretty. Zion is going to be a monster on the court as long as he stays healthy. A lot of people have doubts about whether he’ll do so, but I’m not going to project injuries throughout his career. We don’t have a ton to go off of, but he looks pretty special in the first 19 games of his career. If he keeps up any kind of production like that, he’ll definitely be in the top 30 of this list when it’s all said and done. Now please, resume your angry typing. I understand it.

Notable picks after:Ja Morant (2)

29. Mychal Thompson, University of Minnesota, Portland Trail Blazers, 1978

Accolades:All-Rookie, Championship (2x)

In his first eight seasons in the NBA, Mychal Thompson put up some pretty impressive individual numbers. While he missed one season with an injury, he managed to average 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 551 games for Portland. His team success didn’t come until he was traded a couple times and found himself on the Lakers. Thompson played his final four and a half seasons with the Lakers and won a couple of rings as a key contributor in the process. But having Larry Bird taken after you will knock you way down on this list.

Notable picks after:Larry Bird (6), Reggie Theus (9), Maurice Cheeks (36), Michael Cooper (60)

30. Elton Brand, Duke, Chicago Bulls, 1999

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-NBA (2nd team), All-Star (2x)

Elton Brand may not have all of the accolades of a few guys behind him, but his longevity was impressive. He lasted 17 seasons and was a valuable role player for a good chunk of his career. In his first nine seasons, Brand averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He only lasted two seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Clippers, but Brand was a matchup problem for a lot of guys.

Notable picks after:Steve Francis (2), Baron Davis (3), Lamar Odom (4), Richard Hamilton (7), Shawn Marion (9), Ron Artest (16), Andrei Kirilenko (24), Manu Ginobili (57)

31. Brad Daugherty, North Carolina, Cleveland Cavaliers, 1986

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-NBA (3rd team), All-Star (5x)

Brad Daugherty barely made it eight seasons in the NBA because of back problems, but he was a monster in those eight seasons. He helped lead a really good Cleveland Cavaliers team. He didn’t make the All-Star Game in three of his eight seasons. Those three seasons? His rookie year, his fourth season, in which he played just 41 games, and his final season, when he played 50 games. He could score, rebound and move the ball extremely well. His body just failed him. He’s another one of those.

Notable picks after:Chuck Person (4), Ron Harper (8), Mark Price (25), Dennis Rodman (27), Jeff Hornacek (46), Drazen Petrovic (60)

32. Derrick Coleman, Syracuse, New Jersey Nets, 1990

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star, All-NBA (3rd team 2x)

Derrick Coleman gets hurt here by Gary Payton having a much better career from the 1990 class. But Coleman was still pretty incredible for the first five or so seasons of his career. He was a scoring and rebounding machine, made an All-Star Game and a couple of All-NBA teams. He just couldn’t quite dominate the way you’d want him to as a top pick. He was traded to Philadelphia after five seasons in New Jersey, but overall Coleman had a good career.

Notable picks after:Gary Payton (2), Chris Jackson (3), Elden Campbell (27), Toni Kukoc (29), Antonio Davis (45)

33. Larry Johnson, UNLV, Charlotte Hornets, 1991

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-NBA (2nd team), All-Star (2x)

Larry Johnson lasted 10 years in the NBA, but once he started breaking down, he couldn’t adapt too much. His first five seasons for Charlotte included both of his All-Star seasons and his lone All-NBA season. Once he went to the New York Knicks, he moved into much more of a role-playing presence. He put up 19-9-4 for his career in Charlotte but he had a Hall 0f Fame center taken behind him.

Notable picks after:Kenny Anderson (2), Dikembe Mutombo (4), Steve Smith (5)

Larry Johnson competing in the 1992 Slam Dunk Contest. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

34. Deandre Ayton, Arizona, Phoenix Suns, 2018

Accolades:All-Rookie

We haven’t even seen two seasons of Deandre Ayton, but I feel pretty comfortable putting him right in the middle of this list. I doubt he’ll end up a bust because he does look like he’ll be capable of making All-Star and All-NBA teams at some point. But there are also a lot of questions about what his peak might look like. Whether he can improve to get Devin Booker some actual much-needed help remains to be seen, but he’s extremely intriguing after 101 games. The careers of Luka Doncic and Trae Young will hurt this ranking over the years.

Notable picks after:Luka Doncic (3), Trae Young (5), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11)

35. John Wall, Kentucky, Washington Wizards, 2010

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Defense (2nd team), All-NBA (3rd team), All-Star (5x)

Obviously, John Wall has accomplished a lot more in his career than Deandre Ayton (one spot higher here based on decently optimistic projection), but I have no idea how to project the rest of Wall’s career. He had two very serious injuries that will cost him a season and a half. The Achilles’ tendon rupture typically robs a lot of explosiveness and athleticism away from players, and Wall greatly relies on those two things. But even if he’s never the same player or close to it, he’s still had a pretty good run as one of the better point guards in the NBA before his injuries. I just don’t know where we go from here.

Notable picks after:DeMarcus Cousins (5), Gordon Hayward (9), Paul George (10)

36. Ralph Sampson, Virginia, Houston Rockets, 1983

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star Game MVP, All-Star (4x), All-NBA (2nd team), Hall of Fame

At the time, nobody thought anything of it, but the hindsight of Clyde Drexler going 13 spots after Ralph Sampson looks ridiculous. But Sampson was supposed to beit.The Houston Rockets had back-to-back number one picks in 1983 and 1984. They used both picks to put their Twin Towers together with Sampson and Olajuwon. It proved to be a good decision, getting them to the NBA Finals in 1986. Sampson, in his first three seasons, missed three total games and averaged 20.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. After that, his body failed him. Sampson would play six more seasons and never played more than 61 games in any season. Sampson still made the Hall of Fame, but that’s as much about his career at Virginia as his career in the NBA. It would have been incredible to see what he and Olajuwon could have done with a healthy decade, but we didn’t get anywhere close to that.

Notable picks after:Byron Scott (4), Dale Ellis (9), Jeff Malone (10), Derek Harper (11), Clyde Drexler (14), Doc Rivers (31)

37. Cazzie Russell, Michigan, New York Knicks, 1966

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star, NBA Championship

The tough thing for Cazzie Russell is Dave Bing and Lou Hudson went after him in 1966. Even still, Cazzie was a pretty good scorer at the NBA level and helped the New York Knicks win a championship in 1970. A year later, Russell was moved for Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas. Cazzie had an All-Star season for Golden State but was gone before the Warriors won their first title in the ’74-75 season.

Notable picks after:Dave Bing (2), Lou Hudson (4)

38. Kenyon Martin, University of Cincinnati, New Jersey Nets, 2000

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star

One has to wonder if Kenyon Martin would have been more of a problem for opponents if he hadn’t broken his leg so early. It didn’t stop him from being effective, but this was also a guy who relied so much on athleticism early on. Even then, he was a really good defensive presence, and he was a guy who was feared around the rim. His accolades weren’t great but he also didn’t have a ton of top talent go after him. Martin had a solid career.

Notable picks after:Mike Miller (5), Jamal Crawford (8), Michael Redd (43)

39. Doug Collins, Illinois State, Philadelphia 76ers, 1973

Accolades:All-Star (4x)

Doug Collins’s body didn’t allow him to maximize his abilities on the court. Foot and knee injuries limited him to eight seasons and 415 games. He made the All-Star Game in half those seasons, but he just missed so much time on the court. He was retired before he made it to 30 years old and then moved on to coaching.

Notable picks after:Swen Nater (16), George McGinnis (22), Caldwell Jones (32)

40. Andrew Bogut, University of Utah, Milwaukee Bucks, 2005

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-NBA (3rd team), All-Defense (2nd team), NBA Championship

Andrew Bogut didn’t have a great career, but it was admirable. A gruesome elbow and arm injury ruined any chance he had at producing as a scorer after his seventh season. But his passing, screen-setting (sometimes legal) and defense carried him as a highly valuable role player. He helped the Golden State Warriors start their dynasty with a ring in 2015.

Notable picks after:Deron Williams (3), Chris Paul (4), Danny Granger (17), David Lee (30), Monta Ellis (40), Lou Williams (45)

41. Glenn Robinson, Purdue, Milwaukee Bucks, 1994

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star (2x), NBA Championship

Glenn Robinson’s 10-year, $68 million contract out of Purdue basically broke the camel’s back in getting the rookie scale brought into the league. Maybe he didn’t justify being picked over future Hall of Famers Jason Kidd and Grant Hill, but the Big Dog put up over 20 points per game for his career. He made a couple of All-Star games and eventually helped contribute a tiny bit to the Spurs winning a championship.

Notable picks after:Jason Kidd (2), Grant Hill (3), Juwan Howard (5), Eddie Jones (10), Jalen Rose (13)

42. Jimmy Walker, Providence, Detroit Pistons, 1967

Accolades:All-Star (2x)

Some interesting notes about Jimmy Walker. He was the first pick in both the NBA and ABA Drafts in the first year after territorial picks were abandoned. He was also picked last in the 1967 NFL Draft even though he didn’t play college football. He made the All-Star Game twice in the first five seasons of his career, but he was eventually derailed by gaining too much weight. Going before Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier is just brutal. Also, he’s the father of Jalen Rose.

Notable picks after:Earl Monroe (2), Walt Frazier (5)

43. John Lucas, Maryland, Houston Rockets, 1976

Accolades:All-Rookie

John Lucas was a bad man at Maryland and it earned him the top selection in 1976. While he was an assist machine early on in the NBA, Lucas couldn’t live up to the expectation of being the top pick. He played over 900 games and had some really nice seasons with Houston and Golden State.

Notable picks after:Adrian Dantley (6), Robert Parish (8), Alex English (23), Dennis Johnson (29)

44. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2014

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie

We’ll see where this ends up now that Andrew Wiggins is a part of the Golden State Warriors. Maybe he gets to spend a long time there and learn NBA basketball in one of the smartest approaches by any organization. Or maybe they flip his gigantic contract for a star or depth down the road. Either way, Wiggins didn’t live up to his pre-draft hype, but the scrutiny he’s garnered doesn’t quite seem as justified. Wiggins is still a pretty capable scorer, and he’s developing as a playmaker. But it would shock a lot of people — probably most people — if you projected him to justify that contract at any point.

Notable picks after:Joel Embiid (3), Aaron Gordon (4), Nikola Jokic (41)

45. Joe Barry Carroll, Purdue, Golden State Warriors, 1980

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star

I was watching the 1987 All-Star Game and Joe Barry Carroll checked in for the West. He was a pretty big-time scorer, but he had a reputation for not playing any defense. Tommy Heinsohn was on the broadcast and said he didn’t understand the stigma about Carroll’s defense coming out of Purdue because he fouled all the time when he was in college. So he must at least be trying on that end of the floor. It was one of the funnier assessments I can remember, especially on such a big stage. Carroll is mostly remembered though for helping restart the Boston Celtics’s dynasty. His draft selection was traded by Boston for Robert Parish and the third pick in the 1980 draft. That pick? Kevin McHale.

Notable picks after:Darrell Griffith (2), Kevin McHale (3), Kiki Vandeweghe (11)

46. Austin Carr, Notre Dame, Cleveland Cavaliers, 1971

Accolades:All-Rookie, All-Star

You hear him now on Cleveland Cavaliers broadcasts yammering about what Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton are doing, but Austin Carr could put them up back in his day. His first three seasons in the NBA saw him as a 20-point per game scorer. And he did it pretty efficiently too. It’s just that Carr, aside from one All-Star year, never quite made the impact people expected him to have coming out of Notre Dame.

Notable picks after:Sidney Wicks (2), Fred Brown (6)

47. Bob Boozer, Kansas State, Cincinnati Royals, 1959

Accolades:All-Star, NBA Championship

Bob Boozer’s championship contribution came in the last season of his career, when he latched onto the Milwaukee Bucks with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. He had one All-Star season in Chicago and lasted about 3.5 seasons with Cincinnati. Boozer could score and he could rebound, but his career didn’t blow anybody away.

Notable picks after:Bailey Howell (2), Dick Barnett (4)

48. Danny Manning, Kansas, Los Angeles Clippers, 1988

Accolades:All-Star (2x), Sixth Man of the Year

Another one of those superb, earth-shattering talents whose body didn’t hold up long enough to allow him to get to greatness. Danny Manning was a college hype machine at Kansas, but his knees didn’t allow him to justify the hype and potential. He only played 26 games his rookie season as the knees started to go early. He’d follow that up with four straight seasons over 70 games played, but he started to decline pretty precipitously after that. Manning would make two All-Star teams and reinvent himself as the Sixth Man of the Year in 1998. But Manning is another one of those “what ifs” when it comes to greatness ruined by injuries.

Notable picks after:Mitch Richmond (5), Rod Strickland (19)

Manning during draft day. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

49. Joe Smith, Maryland, Golden State Warriors, 1995

Accolades:All-Rookie

Plain name, plain game. Unfortunately, a pretty plain NBA career too. But even for an NBA career that didn’t work out, he managed to stick around for 16 seasons. Even if none of those seasons ended up putting in an All-Star Game or close to real accolades, Smith still managed to be an effective role player. Unfortunately, part of his story gets lumped in with costing the Minnesota Timberwolves a few first-round picks for an illegal agreement the team was dumb enough to put into writing. Even if he wasn’t really good, he played over 1,000 games.

Notable picks after:Jerry Stackhouse (3), Rasheed Wallace (4), Kevin Garnett (5), Michael Finley (21)

50. Markelle Fultz, University of Washington, Philadelphia 76ers, 2017

Accolades:None

The experiment with the Philadelphia 76ers was a disaster, and it hurts even more that he was taken over Jayson Tatum in the swap with Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics. But we saw a little revival with Fultz in Orlando this year. I think he’ll carve out a pretty solid career for himself after seeing him this season, but this placement could be a wild overestimation or underestimation of what he might become.

Notable picks after: Lonzo Ball (2), Jayson Tatum (3), De’Aaron Fox (5), Donovan Mitchell (13), Bam Adebayo (14)

51. Ray Felix, Long Island University, Baltimore Bullets, 1953

Accolades:Rookie of the Year, All-Star

Ray Felix played nine years in the NBA, was the 1954 Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star Game as a rookie. He was a scoring and rebounding machine that season, and then just kept tapering off with his production as the years went on. Felix wasn’t bad, but he also wasn’t much of a number one pick type of guy. He had a lot of battles with Bill Russell, and he even got knocked out by Russell when the Celtics’ champion was a rookie. He didn’t like that Felix was trying to intimidate him, so he punched his lights out.

Notable picks after:Frank Ramsey (5), Cliff Hagan (13)

52. Jim Barnes, Texas-El Paso, New York Knicks, 1964

Accolades:All-Rookie

I thought about putting him lower, but his nickname was “Bad News.” Even though he’s been passed away for 18 years, that’s enough to scare me from dropping him lower than 52 here.

Notable picks after:Joe Caldwell (2), Jeff Mullins (5), Mel Counts (7), Willis Reed (8), Paul Silas (10)

53. Andrea Bargnani, Italy, Toronto Raptors, 2006

Accolades:All-Rookie

Some hoped that the Italian big man would be the next Dirk Nowitzki in the NBA. Instead, he ended up being a punchline to a lot of NBA fans. Toronto Raptors fans couldn’t stand him. When he was traded to the New York Knicks, the throng at Madison Square Garden learned to hate him just as much. But at least he gave us this moment.

Notable picks after:LaMarcus Aldridge (2), Brandon Roy (6), Rudy Gay (8), Rajon Rondo (21), Kyle Lowry (24), Paul Millsap (47)

54. Chuck Share, Bowling Green, Boston Celtics, 1950

Accolades:NBA Championship

Chuck Share was the first number one pick in NBA history, after the league was formed in 1950 when the BAA and the NBL merged. He never played for the Boston Celtics, refusing to sign with them. After a year of playing in the NPBL, Share was moved by the Celtics in exchange for Hall of Famer Bill Sharman. The funny thing about Share was Red Auerbach’s insistence on taking him over Bob Cousy at the time. He said little men were a dime a dozen, so he wanted to go after Share to be their big man. Eventually, Cousy would be selected by the Celtics in the dispersal draft, following the folding of the Chicago Stags. Share wasn’t a great player at the NBA level, but at least he netted the Celtics a Hall of Fame player in the trade.

Notable picks after:Bob Cousy (3), Larry Foust (5), George Yardley (7), Bill Sharman (24)

55. Kent Benson, Indiana University, Milwaukee Bucks, 1977

Accolades:None

The most infamous moment of his career happened a couple minutes into Kent Benson’s career. He gave Kareem Abdul-Jabbar an elbow to the stomach, and Kareem punched him square in the jaw. Abdul-Jabbar missed a couple of months because he broke his hand on Benson’s jaw.

Milwaukee traded Benson in his third season for Bob Lanier, and got a lot better. The Detroit Pistons traded him to Utah in 1986, and got a lot better. But at least Benson won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1982. That’s something.

Notable picks after:Otis Birdsong (2), Marques Johnson (3), Walter Davis (5), Bernard King (7), Jack Sikma (8), Cedric Maxwell (12), Norm Nixon (22), James Edwards (46), Eddie Johnson (49)

56. Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy, Washington Wizards, 2001

Accolades:None

This was the first look into what a disaster it would be for Michael Jordan to run your franchise, instead of playing for it. Kwame Brown was another preps-to-pros horror story that teams were scared of having before they put in the one-and-done rule in the mid-aughts. He still carved out a 12-year career in the NBA and made over $60 million. But Brown was a bust of a pick. What probably hurt the most is he immediately got thrown into the fire in his rookie season. He was drafted when Jordan decided to un-retire once again. Jordan berated him pretty much on a daily basis, destroying his confidence as a young player. Some would argue it weeded him out, but others believe it kept him from building confidence.

Notable picks after:Tyson Chandler (2), Pau Gasol (3), Jason Richardson (5), Joe Johnson (10), Richard Jefferson (13), Zach Randolph (19), Tony Parker (28), Gilbert Arenas (31)

57. Greg Oden, Ohio State, Portland Trail Blazers, 2007

Accolades:None

The man the Portland Trail Blazers selected over Kevin Durant in 2007. There has been a lot of revisionist history with people telling you they thought Portland should have taken Durant over Greg Oden at the time, which I usually meet with an eye-roll. It was certainly a debate, but the majority of the hype surrounded Oden back then. His knees immediately failed him before his rookie season, and he’d only play 82 total games for the Blazers. He had a brief resurrection in Miami, but ultimately Oden was busted for his entire career. Durant turned out to be pretty good.

Notable picks after:Kevin Durant (2), Al Horford (3), Mike Conley (4), Marc Gasol (48)

58. Michael Olowokandi, Pacific, Los Angeles Clippers, 1998

Accolades:All-Rookie

Michael Olowokandi always looked like he was sleepwalking through games. I don’t know if that’s just his face or if that’s just his energy. But it didn’t matter. He sucked at the NBA level. He was part of the love of the big man for decades in the NBA, and he was skilled enough to be a pretty good player at the pro level. But Olowokandi was a bust pretty much the entire time. Even the decent numbers he put up at the end of his Clippers run were mostly empty calories.

Notable picks after:Mike Bibby (2), Vince Carter (5), Dirk Nowitzki (9), Paul Pierce (10), Rashard Lewis (32)

59. Frank Selvy, Furman University, Baltimore Bullets, 1954

Accolades:All-Star (2x)

Frank Selvy was named to two All-Star teams — one in his rookie season and one toward the end of his career. He was a big-time scorer in college, dropping 100 points in a game at Furman on “Frank Selvy Night,” and he averaged 41.7 points as a senior. But the NBA wasn’t nearly as dominant of a performance for him, and it doesn’t help that he was taken one pick ahead of Bob Pettit. He played nine seasons in the league with most of his time on the Lakers. His biggest moment probably came in Game 7 of the 1962 Finals when he scored two big buckets at the end of regulation against the Celtics. He missed the game-winning attempt in regulation and Boston won in overtime.

Notable picks after:Bob Pettit (2), Gene Shue (3), Red Kerr (6), Richie Guerin (17)

60. Si Green, Duquesne, Rochester Royals, 1956

Accolades:None

Si Green had a pretty decent NBA career. He played over 500 games in 10 NBA seasons (he missed his second year serving in the Army). But the reason he gets knocked down so much in this list has everything to do with the Rochester Royals passing on Bill Russell to take Green. At least the silver lining for Rochester is the St. Louis Hawks drafted Russell with the second pick and then traded him to Boston. So the Royals weren’t the only ones making bad decisions in 1956.

Notable picks after:Bill Russell (2), K.C. Jones (8), Elgin Baylor (26), Sam Jones (30)

61. Pervis Ellison, Louisville, Sacramento Kings, 1989

Accolades:Most Improved Player

During my childhood, I remember my dad always referring to Pervis Ellison as “Never in Service Pervis.” It wasn’t quite the “Never Nervous Pervis” nickname but it was pretty close to the “Out of Service Pervis” nickname that his former teammate Danny Ainge gave him. Ellison had bad knees and it severely limited his career. The Sacramento Kings gave up on him after his rookie season, trading him to the Washington Bullets. His best years happened in Washington, where he averaged 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game over four seasons and won Most Improved Player in 1992. Ellison played in 474 games in his career, but he missed 510 games.

Notable picks after:Glen Rice (4), Tim Hardaway (14), Shawn Kemp (17), Vlade Divac (26), Clifford Robinson (36)

62. Fred Hetzel, Davidson, San Francisco Warriors, 1965

Accolades:All-Rookie

Fred Hetzel played six seasons in the NBA, made an All-Rookie team and peaked during his third year, when he put up 19.0 points per game. He mostly dealt with injuries throughout his career though, which limited his effectiveness.

Notable picks after:Rick Barry (2), Billy Cunningham (5), Dick Van Arsdale (10), Tom Van Arsdale (11), Bob Love (33)

63. Rodney “Hot Rod” Hundley, West Virginia, Cincinnati Royals, 1957

Accolades:All-Star (2x)

While he became one of the more revered broadcasters in NBA history after his playing career, his time on the court in the NBA wasn’t much to write home about. He played six years with the Lakers franchise — three with Minneapolis and three after their migration to Los Angeles. He had a couple seasons averaging double-digit points, but Hundley retired at 28 due to his bad knees.

Notable picks after:Sam Jones (8)

64. Art Heyman, Duke, New York Knicks, 1963

Accolades:All-Rookie

Art Heyman was a hothead! He averaged 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a rookie for the New York Knicks. He made the All-Rookie First Team, and looked to be a nice part of their future. By the end of his second year, his personality had him basically out of the rotation for the Knicks. He had a bad temper, and he would have constant outbursts when things weren’t going his way. The Knicks waived him after his second season, he bounced around San Francisco and Philadelphia in his third season, and then was out of basketball by 1966. In 1967, he joined the ABA and played three seasons before retiring in 1970.

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Typical hothead behavior.

Notable picks after:Nate Thurmond (3), Gus Johnson (10)

65. Bill McGill, University of Utah, Chicago Zephyrs, 1962

Accolades:None

Bill McGill is the second-leading scorer in Utes history, having only been bested by Keith Van Horn. In the NBA, though, the man who sounds like a character on “Better Call Saul” was bested quite a bit. McGill played for four teams in three NBA seasons before heading to the NABL. Then he went to the ABA after three years in the NABL. Overall, McGill played for 10 teams in three leagues over eight years.

Notable picks after:John Havlicek (8), Chet Walker (12), Don Nelson (17)

66. Dick Ricketts, Duquesne, St. Louis Hawks, 1955

Accolades:None

Dick Ricketts only played three years in the NBA, as he split time between playing professional basketball and professional baseball. He’d eventually quit basketball to focus on baseball full-time. He was 1-6 with a 5.82 ERA and nine career starts.

Notable picks after:Maurice Stokes (2), Jack Twyman (8)

67. Mark Workman, West Virginia, Milwaukee Hawks, 1952

Accolades:None

Mark Workman played for the Harlem Globetrotters more than he played for the NBA. And while his 79 games in the NBA didn’t set the league on fire, he is credited with “bringing bowling to the Orient” as a member of the Brunswick Bowling company.

Notable picks after:Clyde Lovellete (9)

68.LaRue Martin, Loyola Chicago, Portland Trail Blazers, 1972

Accolades:None

For a very long time, LaRue Martin was thought of as the worst top pick in NBA history. The Portland Trail Blazers took him with the top selection in 1972. Martin played just four seasons before being traded to Seattle for “future considerations.” He would never play again, getting cut by Seattle before the season. Thankfully for Martin, he became very successful in the corporate world, and he sits on the board of directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

Notable picks after:Bob McAdoo (2), Paul Westphal (10), Julius Erving (12)

69.Gene Melchiorre, Bradley, Baltimore Bullets, 1951

Accolades:Lifetime ban from the NBA

Gene Melchiorre isn’t a name everybody recognizes, but he has a pretty remarkable story. As the top pick in the 1951 NBA Draft, Melchiorre was expected by the Baltimore Bullets to come in and be their point guard of the future. A couple months after Melchiorre was taken first in the draft, he was banned from the NBA. Why? Melchiorre was busted in a point-shaving scandal that affected at least seven schools and 32 players. Melchiorre and four teammates admitted to accepting bribes to keep the scores down against St. Joseph’s and Oregon State University. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in New York for this scandal. He received a suspended sentence, but that didn’t stop NBA president Maurice Podoloff from banning all players involved for life.

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And yet … there’s still one worse.

Notable picks after:Mel Hutchins (2)

70.Anthony Bennett, UNLV, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013

Accolades:None

Is this mean? Probably. And it’s not like there was a clear cut top pick in the 2013 draft. In retrospect, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert were by far the best prospects and have had the best careers. But at the time, nobody wondered if those two should be taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first pick. Still, nobody thought Anthony Bennett would or should be selected first in that draft. The Cavs shocked the draft when that happened, and left a lot of front offices around the NBA dumbfounded. It was one of those picks that was so bizarre and unexpected that a couple of general managers and scouts started wondering if they had missed something obvious. Turns out they didn’t. Anthony Bennett didn’t even crack 2,000 minutes in his career, played for four teams in four seasons, and hasn’t played in a game since January 2017. Phoenix and Houston brought him in for trials, but waived him without playing him.

His health was never there, and his conditioning was never there. His confidence got destroyed early on and he never recovered. He should have at least carved out a career as a journeyman and a stretch-4 coming off the bench. Now we just have to see if he can make it overseas to make some more money.

Notable picks after:Victor Oladipo (2), CJ McCollum (10), Steven Adams (12), Giannis Antetokounmpo (15), Rudy Gobert (27)

(Top photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)