The Top 5 Number One NBA Draft Picks of All Time

The NBA Draft is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, and has helped launch a barrage of world-class basketball players into stellar careers whilst etching their names in the history books forever. However, with the tag of the number one pick comes great expectation, and the pressure has certainly got the better of more than one player throughout history.

On the other hand, there has been an overwhelming number of number one picks that have dazzled and entertained us on the court over the years, and many will go down as some of the greatest to have ever played the game. Let's take a look at the top five number one draft picks of all time.

1. LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers, 2003

James has had an incredible career ever since he started playing and it's easy to see why he is now being compared to Michael Jordon, who is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. Selecting him as the number one pick was an easy decision for the Cavs, even though he was straight out of high school, and he definitely returned the favor for the organization winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2004.

He stayed with Cleveland till 2010 before making a move to the San Antonio Spurs where he won back to back championships. James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and helped the team to their first NBA championship in 2016. The small forward has three NBA Finals MVP awards as well four NBA Most Valuable Player trophies. This year he is looking to help Cleveland to their second championship as they push for a place in the finals. The team has a solid chance at lifting the trophy once again, and is currently +1000 to win the title according to the latest NBA betting odds.

2. Earvin 'Magic' Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers, 1979

Magic Johnson was an instant success for the Lakers and helped guide them to a championship in his first season with the team. He later helped them win another four titles, making a total of nine trips to the finals during his prestigious career. He won three NBA Finals MVPs and NBA Most Valuable Player awards, and is arguably the greatest player in the franchise's history to date.

3. Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs, 1997

Selecting Tim Duncan at number one was the beginning of the incredible Spurs team of the 2000s that would go on to clinch a staggering five championships. Duncan won the NBA Finals MVP for three of those finals and was named an NBA All-Star an incredible 15 times. He was a huge signing for San Antonio, winning Rookie of the Year during his first season and guiding the side to their first championship the year after.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Milwaukee Bucks, 1969

Another Rookie of the Year winner, Kareem stayed with the Bucks for six years helping them to their only NBA Championship in the organization's history. He then moved to the Los Angeles Lakers where he created what can only be labeled as an absolute dynasty. During the 1980s, he helped the Lakers to five titles and remained there until his retirement in 1989. By the end of his career, he had amassed countless awards as well as inventing his signature move, the skyhook, which has been used by players ever since. He scored 38,387 points during his time in the NBA, and is still the all-time leading points scorer to this day.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets, 1994

Hakeem came from one of the greatest draft classes of all time and was picked ahead of Michael Jordon, who was famously picked in the number three slot. He took the Rockets to consecutive titles in 1994 and 95, winning the Finals MVP in both. In 2008 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and is the only player to win the Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA MVP in the same season.

So there are the top five number one picks in NBA history. Now we look to the future to see who will be the next young talent to crack into this elite group of legendary players.

The Top 5 Number One NBA Draft Picks of All Time to History of the NBA