Best of the Best
The NBA Draft is a time where teams who are terrible during the season have the chance to rebuild around a franchise changing prospect, and teams with the first overall pick are the ones with the best opportunity to get that franchise-altering player. Some players turn out as expected, but then some are complete dumpster fires. Here’s my top ten #1 overall picks since the turn of the century.
#10 Yao Ming (2002)
I wish I could put Yao higher up on this list, but I just can’t, here’s why. Yao Ming easily justified his selection at #1 overall, but it was just all of the injuries. I can’t put a player who’s last season of playing more than 41 games, being at 28 years old, and retiring at 30. He did make 8 All-Star games, but most of his appearances were because of name recognition, Ming should’ve played in about three of those.
#9 Andrew Wiggins (2014)
I really do not know why, but I am not a big fan of the 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year. Wiggins has a very high ceiling and has already won a ROTY and averaged 20 points a game this season. I am still confused whether the Timberwolves are the right system for him to thrive in.
#8 Derrick Rose (2008)
It still hurts me to the day thinking about just how good Rose could’ve been if he hadn’t gotten hurt. The 2011 NBA MVP had such a high ceiling after averaging 25 points and 7.7 assists in the memorable 2011 season. Now we are just left to see how he can succeed in the New York environment.
#7 John Wall (2010)
Wall getting picked #1 in a draft class that featured the likes of Demarcus Cousins, Paul George, and Greg Monroe is an accomplishment on it’s own. Wall is a transcendent point guard in the league and has definitely warranted his selection at #1. Wall has averaged 18 points and 9 assists in his career.
#6 Blake Griffin (2009)
Griffin has reached 5 All-Star games, 4 All-NBA teams, and has helped lead the Clippers to playoff appearances that the fans couldn’t have dreamed of. Blake Griffin has averaged 21.5 points and 9.6 rebounds for his career.
#5 Dwight Howard (2004)
People tend to forget just how good Dwight Howard was. He is an 8 time All Star and led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. Howard has averaged 17.8 points and 12.7 rebounds for his career.
#4 Karl-Anthony Towns (2015)
When you talk about Karl-Anthony Towns, you are talking about a player who not only could be the best big man in the league, but he could even be the best player in the entire NBA. KAT averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in what was one of the best (if not the best) rookie season of all time.
#3 Kyrie Irving (2011)
This is the man who ripped the heart out of every Warriors fan in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Kyrie is an NBA Champion, who some can argue deserved the Finals MVP, and he’s a three time All-Star (he won the 2014 All-Star MVP). Kyrie Irving has career averages of 20.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds.
#2 Anthony Davis (2012)
AD is one of the best building blocks for a franchise in the NBA. Anthony Davis is a transcendent talent that can do everything for the Pelicans. Shoot? Yep. Pass? Yep. Defense? Yep. Every facet of the game? Yep. Anthony Davis, like Karl-Anthony Towns could be the best player in the NBA in a few years. Davis has career averages of 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks.
#1 LeBron James (2003)
Did you expect anyone else here? LeBron has people arguing if he’s better than Jordan, so that's just a token of how good this man is.
