Ranking Every No. 1 NBA Draft Pick of the Past 15 Years

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Career stats: 4.3 PPG | 3.1 RPG | 0.5 APG
Accolades: N/A

It was a surprise to everyone watching the Cleveland Cavaliers take Anthony Bennett as the No. 1 pick. He was a dominant force at UNLV but no one had him projected as the first overall pick of the draft. Who can forget Bill Simmons yelling "WHOA" on live television after the pick was announced. Bennett will unfortunately go down maybe the most disappointing No. 1 pick in NBA history but to be fair to Bennett, the 2013 draft class is one of the worst classes of all-time as a whole with the best two players in Giannis Antetokounmpo (15) and Rudy Gobert (27) going outside the lottery. Besides the Magic with Victor Oladipo and the Blazers with CJ McCollum, if you had a top 10 pick in the 2013 draft, your selection didn't pan out for you longterm.

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Career stats: 10.2 PPG | 3.1 APG | 4.3 APG
Accolades: N/A

We may never truly find out what happened to Markelle Fultz's right shooting shoulder that hindered him from being one of the most complete guard prospects in recent years, but the injury didn’t stop him from being a productive pro for a few seasons. After being traded to Orlando in 2019, Fultz carved out a role as a legitimate starting point guard in the NBA, coming off a career-year in 2022 where he averaged 14 points, 5.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals, all career-highs. He may not have become the superstar that he seemed destined to be coming out of the University of Washington, but he bounced back from multiple injuries and adversity to establish himself as a quality NBA starter. He is now an unsigned free agent.

Team: Atlanta Hawks
Career Stats: 11.1 PPG | 3.7 RPG | 1.2 APG
Accolades: All-Rookie Team (2025)

The 2024 NBA Draft completed the French takeover of the league. A year after Victor Wembanyama was selected first overall, Zaccharie Risacher became the second Frenchman to be the first pick in the draft. Unlike Wemby though, Risacher was not a franchise altering selection. The thinking was that in a weak draft Risacher could develop into a fringe All-Star as a 3-and-D wing. It didn’t work out that way. Risacher posted middling shooting numbers and the Hawks gave up on him after two seasons. Last summer, Risacher was part of a three-team deal that sent him to Dallas with Luguentz Dort going to Atlanta in return. —TG

Team: Phoenix Suns
Career stats: 15.8 PPG | 10.1 RPG | 1.5 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019)

Despite having a strong start to his career, Ayton has fallen victim to the success of his peers in his 2018 class. Players such as Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have all become All-Star and All-NBA level performers, with others such as Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Mikal Bridges also becoming star level guys. That isn’t to say Ayton wasn’t a worthy selection for the Suns. He anchored the middle for them durng a franchise turnaround that included a berth to the Finals in 2021. But he’s now a journeyman center who offers little in defense and rim protection and is on his third team in as many seasons.

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Career stats: 23.8 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 4.1 APG
Accolades: 2x NBA All-Star (2021, 2023), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2020)

Zion Williamson is without a doubt one of the most talented player on this list. Nobody can question what he does on the floor. There's no formula to slow him down and if you decide to double him, he'll still elevate above it and score or dribble out of it and find his angle to the basket. He's shooting close to 60 percent from his career and that's standing at 6-foot-6. The issue with Zion is his inability to stay on the floor. By the end of the 2025-26 season, Zion had played in 277 out of a possible 555 regular season games. The Pelicans have been unable to reach their potential because of Zion's consistent absence. Calling him a bust might be unfair but his career has been disappointing to this point.

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Career stats: 13.1 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 7.2 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018), Rookie of the Year (2018), 3x NBA All-Star (2019-2021), All-NBA Third Team (2020), 2x All-Defensive First Team (2020, 2021). NBA Steals Leader (2020)

Reading off Ben Simmons’ list of accomplishments, you would expect him to be near the top of this list. But after injury issues and shooting issues crept into his game, Simmons slid further and further down this list. He was out of the league and then attempted a comeback this season in Sacramento, which ended when he tore his Achilles on the eve of the regular season. But he was a two-way savant from 2018-2021—a perfect blend of size, athleticism and skill with the ability to seemingly guard every position on the floor. Nowadays, it’s fair to wonder if he will ever play another game in the NBA.

Team: Orlando Magic
Career stats: 22.3PPG | 7.4 RPG | 4.8 APG
Accolades: NBA Rookie of the Year (2022), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2022) NBA All-Star (2023)

Banchero seemed destined to be in the top 3 on this list following his impressive rookie season. It's not easy to come in to the league and immediately assert yourself as a 20-point scorer. But inefficiency crept into his game, he never developed into a 3-point threat, and despite his ideal size, is not a capable, motivated defender. Nonetheless, Paolo is a special talent and still has room to grow.

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Career stats: 18.2 PPG | 4.5 RPG | 2.3 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2015), Rookie of the Year (2015), NBA All-Star (2022), NBA Champion (2022)

Andrew Wiggins went from one of the most maligned no. 1 overall picks in recent history, with people questioning his motor and desire to maximize his talent and ability, to an indispensable part of the Warriors 2022 title team and legitimate All-Star level wing. The tools and ability were always there, but Wiggins is the ultimate case study for what putting a player in the proper environment can do for their careers. Playing alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thomspon and Draymond Green allowed his strengths on both ends to be highlighted without him having to carry the burden of being the guy. What you saw was one of the elite two-way players in the NBA, changing the negative perception that followed him in Minnesota.

Team: Detroit Pistons
Career stats: 22.5 PPG | 5.4 RPG | 8 APG
Accolades: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2022) NBA All-Star (2025, 2026), All-NBA First Team (2026), All-NBA Third Team (2025)

Cunningham missed 70 games in his second season in the NBA due to a stress fracture in his left shin, but he was looking the part of a franchise cornerstone with averages of 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and six assists per game in the 12 games he played. Since then, Cunningham endured a nightmarish 14 win season in 2023-24 to become one of the best players in the NBA as evidenced by his two top-ten MVP finishes. Cunningham is an excellent playmaker with elite court vision and a crafty midrange game. In 2025-26, he lead the Pistons to the best record in the East proving that he was worthy of being the top pick in a loaded 2021 draft.

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Career stats: 22.8 PPG | 11.1 RPG | 3.1 APG
Accolades: 6x NBA All-Star (2018-19, 2022, 2024-26), 3x All-NBA Third Team (2018, 2022, 2025), NBA Rookie of the Year (2016), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2016) 2026 NBA Champion

Karl-Anthony Towns got a lot of slack from NBA fans but you can't discredit his production. He's been nothing but dominant from Day 1. You may not agree with his takes that he's the big man best shooter of all time but he will absolutely go down as one of the greatest shooting bigs ever and we can't take that for granted. Other than Dirk, no one has shot the 3-ball at his size with the same efficiency and volume to go along with difficulty. KAT changed the narrative of his career during the 2026 NBA postseason when he somehow transformed from a notoriously bad defender into a version of 90s Hakeem Olajuwon and helped lead the New York Knicks to their first championship in 53 years.

Team: Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 21 PPG | 6.7 RPG | 4.5 APG
Accolades: 2026 Rookie of the Year, 2026 All-Rookie Team

Mavericks fans will never get over the stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, but Cooper Flagg is certainly easing the pain in Dallas. Flagg has a very real chance to win NBA MVP one day—perhaps multiple MVPs, and perhaps as soon as this season. Last season, Flagg became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since a guy named Michael Jordan accomplished the feat in 1984-85. —MB

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Career stats: 24.6 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 4.1 APG
Accolades: 4x NBA All-Star (2023-26), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2021) 2x NBA All-Second Team (2024, 2025)

When you have the conversation of who's going to be the next face of the NBA when the older superstars hang it up, Anthony Edwards has to be one of the names listed. He has an early case to be No. 1 on this list and could end up being the best player of the 15 mentioned here when it's all said and done. He's helped the Timberwolves make back-to-back Western Conference Finals and has become the face of the franchise. With his growth as a shooter, Ant-Man has developed into an offensive player with virtually no weakness and with the NBA being a 'wings' league', he's the perfect guy to build a team around. He’s a legit top five player in the league.

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG | 4.1 RPG | 5.6 APG
Accolades: 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2012 NBA All-Rookie Team, 9x NBA All Star (2013-15, 2017-19, 2021, 2023, 2025) 2016 NBA Champion, All-NBA Second Team (2019), 2x All-NBA Third Team (2015, 2021)

Irving, a 6-foot 2-inch point guard from New Jersey, landed in Cleveland a season after the Cavs bottomed out following LeBron James’ departure to Miami in the summer of 2010. Initially hailed as a franchise savior, Irving dazzled with his combination of athleticism, craftiness, shotmaking, and an ability to finish at the rim despite his small stature. You know the story ends: Bron eventually came home and led his hometown team to their first NBA Championship in 2016. But he doesn’t lift the trophy if not for Kyrie Irving. The Duke product averaged 27.1 points per game during the Cavs come-from-behind win over the Warriors. With the Cavs down 3 games to 1, Irving exploded for 41 points in a pivotal Game 5. He then hit one of the most clutch shots in NBA playoff history, a 3-pointer over Steph Curry that put the Cavs ahead for good in the final minute of Game 7. —TG

Team: New Orleans Hornets
Career Stats: 24 PPG | 10.7 RPG | 2.6 APG
Accolades: 10x NBA All-Star (2014-2021, 2024-25), 2020 NBA Champion, 2013 NBA All-Rookie Team, 3x Blocks Champ (2014-15, 2018), 4x All-Defense First Team (2015, 2017-18, 2020) 4x All-NBA First Team (2015, 2017-18, 2020), 2024 All-NBA Second Team

Make jokes. Call him street clothes if you want. The facts don’t change: Anthony Davis has been one of the best big men in the NBA since the Hornets drafted him first overall in 2012. The accolades and numbers don’t even begin to tell the full story of AD’s dominance. Davis is a two-way superstar with the ability to dominate a game on both ends of the court. Case in point, the 2020 Bubble in Disney World when he dominated Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference Finals and was often the best player on a Los Angeles Lakers team that also featured a still-in-his-prime LeBron James. —TG

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Career Stats: 23.4 PPG | 11 RPG | 3.5 APG
Accolades: 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2024 NBA All-Rookie Team, 2026 All-NBA First Team, 2x NBA All-Star (2025-26), 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, 2x NBA All-Defense First Team (2024, 2026), 3x NBA Block Champ (2024-26)

The NBA has never seen anyone quite like Victor Wembanyama. Yes, there have been giants in the league before—but none of the players that checked-in around 7-and-a-half feet prior could jack 3s, block shots, and move with the fluidity of Wemby. The Spurs’ superstar set a single-game playoff blocks record in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves this past spring as he recorded 12. “The Alien” is poised to have the Spurs as NBA title contenders for the rest of this decade and well into the 2030s. —MB