Every NBA team’s best draft pick ever

May is usually a time when general managers spend sleepless nights watching and re-watching footage of top prospects, and NBA owners prepare for the league's annual Draft Lottery by dusting off their lucky rabbit’s foot. However, there’s been nothing usual about this May, as the COVID-19 pandemic has put all plans on hold.

As we await news about when the Draft Lottery and Draft Combine will take place, let’s look back at the top draft pick for every NBA franchise over the past 73 years.

Atlanta Hawks: Bob Pettit

The Hawks’ draft history is more than a little spotty (we’re looking at you, Shelden Williams), but management made the right decision in 1954 when they selected Bob Pettit with the second pick in the NBA Draft. The LSU star flourished with the franchise, becoming an 11-time All-Star, two-time MVP, and two-time scoring champion who averaged 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over 792 games.

Boston Celtics: Larry Bird

Red Auebach pulled off the biggest coup of his career in 1978 when he selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft, a full year before he finished college. Many questioned Red’s rationale, but "The Hick from French Lick" proved he was more than worth the wait when he won Rookie of the Year honors and led Boston to a 32-game improvement in his first season. Three MVP awards and three championships followed as Larry became a legend in Beantown.

Charlotte Hornets: Alonzo Mourning

Technically speaking, Charlotte’s best draft pick was Kobe Bryant in 1996, but the franchise pulled off one of the biggest blunders of the century when they dealt the future Hall of Famer to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. Charlotte’s next best pick was Alonzo Mourning, whom they snagged with the second pick in the 1992 draft. The no-nonsense center was a seven time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 21.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game during his three-year stint in the Queen City.

Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan

You were expecting Eddy Curry? Jordan transformed Chicago into a basketball town by delivering six championships to the Windy City from 1991 to 1998. He remains the standard by which all other great players are measured.

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James

"The Chosen One" is an easy choice at No. 1. LeBron James leads the Cavs in more than 25 statistical categories and will forever be remember for bringing Cleveland it’s first pro sports championship in 52 years.

Dallas Mavericks: Rolando Blackman

Surprised not to see Dirk Nowitzki’s name? The German big man was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks and later traded to Dallas in a three-player deal. We’ll go instead with silky smooth shooting guard Rolando Blackman. The Kansas State product was a four-time All-Star who averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game during his 11 seasons in the Big D.

Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony never brought a title to the Mile High City, but he sure did score a heap of points. The 10-time All-Star and four-time Olympian ranks third all-time on the franchise’s scoring list despite spending just eight seasons in Denver. The two players ahead of him (Alex English and Dan Issel) were both drafted by other teams.

Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas

Sorry Michael Jordan, but we’re giving serious props to Isiah Thomas. Zeke was a 12-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP who led the Pistons to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. He may have been left off the Dream Team, but there’s no way we’re leaving him off our list.

Golden State Warriors: Steph Curry

Few players have had a bigger impact on the NBA than Steph Curry, whose accuracy from beyond the arc has changed the geometry of the game. His ability to can contested threes has led to six All-Star appearances, back-to-back MVP awards, and five straight NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019.

Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem was a dream of a selection in 1984 when the Houston Rockets chose the Nigerian center first overall. The dominant big man went on to earn 12 All-Star nods and two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and brought a pair of championships to Houston during Michael Jordan’s baseball sabbatical.

Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller

Spike Lee’s favorite foil was a deadeye shooter who made five All-Star teams and nailed 39% of his three-point attempts. Miller never won a title, but he certainly made things interesting during his 18 years in Indy.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

It’s easy to forget now, but the Clippers were one of the league’s most inept franchises back in 2009 when they selected Blake Griffin with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The high-flying forward powered L.A. to the Western Conference Semifinals in just his second season and turned the Clippers into perennial playoff contenders over the next six years.

Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson

Springfield is bursting at the seams with legendary Lakers, but most of them, like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal, were drafted by other teams. The exception is Magic Johnson, whom L.A. chose first overall in 1979. The 12-time All-Star went on to redefine the point guard position while bringing five more banners to the Forum.

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley Jr.

Ja Morant may eventually claim this honor, but for now at least, it belongs to Mike Conley Jr., whom the Grizzlies selected with the fourth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The fleet-footed Ohio State guard led Memphis to the playoffs seven straight time from 2011 to 2017 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games, points, steals, and assists.

Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade

Miami officially became Wade County on June 26, 2003 when the Heat selected Marquette guard Dwyane Wade with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft. The future Hall of Famer delivered the franchise’s first title three years later and delivered two more championships in 2012 and 2013 after convincing his BFFs to bring their talents to South Beach.

Milwaukee Bucks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Although best known for his years with the Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got his feet wet with the Bucks. Milwaukee chose the UCLA product with the first pick in the 1969 draft and was promptly rewarded when the big fella led Cream City to its first – and only - championship in franchise history in 1971. Kareem left for La La Land in 1975, but still holds 21 franchise records, including most points and rebounds.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett

The Timberwolves were the league’s laughingstock until 1995 when they selected Kevin Garnett with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft. The spindly high school kid led Minnesota to the playoffs eight straight times from 1997 to 2004 and remains the franchise leader in games, points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis

The Pelicans selected Anthony Davis with the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and he didn’t disappoint. The long-limbed Kentucky center was an All-Star in six of his seven seasons in NOLA and is the franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocks, points per game, and player efficiency rating. Not bad for a guy who can’t even figure out how to operate tweezers.

New York Knicks: Willis Reed

You may find this hard to believe, but there was a time when the Knicks were really, really good. New York’s supremacy was due in large part to Willis Reed, whom the team selected with the eighth pick of the 1964 Draft. The 6-foot-9 pivot was a seven-time All-Star and former MVP who led the Knickerbockers to a pair of championships in 1970 and 1973.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

We understand if you’re not a fan of Kevin Durant. Few stars are more petty or more polarizing. However, it’s impossible not to appreciate his talent. "The Slim Reaper" is a 10-time All-Star and four-time scoring champ whose range extends well beyond half court. He came tantalizingly close to bringing a championship to OKC in 2012 and earned NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

Orlando Magic: Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal was an absolute slam dunk at No. 1 in 1992. The larger-than-life LSU center averaged 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game in his rookie year and was an All-Star in all four of his seasons in Orlando. Shaq’s stay in the Magic Kingdom was brief, but it helped to stabilize the franchise and turn it into a legitimate contender.

Philadelphia 76ers: Charles Barkley

Philadelphia has had no shortage of top picks over the past five years, but we’re setting our time machine for 1984, when the Sixers selected Charles Barkley fifth overall. The human wrecking ball was an All-Star in six of his eight seasons in Philly and went onto earn MVP honors in 1993, one year after leaving the City of Brotherly Love. Barkley was far from a perfect player, but that’s what made him so damn entertaining. We guarantee you we’ll find a cure for the common cold before we see another 6-foot-4 dude lead the league in rebounding.

Phoenix Suns: Larry Nance

The Suns enjoyed a rare stroke of good fortune in 1981 when Larry Nance fell to the team with the 20^th pick in the NBA Draft. The Clemson alum blossomed into a three-time All-Star and dominant defender who wowed fans with his dizzying dunks and electrifying blocks.

Portland Trail Blazers: Bill Walton

A two-time NCAA champion and three-time winner of the National College Player of the Year Award, Bill Walton was the obvious choice at No. 1 in 1974. "Big Red" never fulfilled his potential in the pros due to a series of catastrophic injuries, but his staunch defense and selfless play were instrumental in securing Portland’s first – and only – championship in 1977.

Sacramento Kings: Oscar Robertson

The Kings have royally bungled many of their draft selections over the years, but they got things right in 1960 when they nabbed Oscar Robertson with the first overall pick. The Cincinnati star was a 12-time All-Star and six-time assists champ who dazzled crowds with his phenomenal versatility and playmaking.

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

It’s tempting to go with Manu Ginobili since he was such a steal as the 57^th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, but this spot belongs to Tim Duncan. “The Big Fundamental” improved San Antonio’s win total by 36 games during his rookie season, before leading the Spurs to five NBA championships.

Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh

We would have gone with Vince Carter in this spot, but he was selected by the Golden State Warriors and flipped for Antawn Jamieson in a draft night deal. That leaves us instead with the criminally underrated Bosh, an 11-time All-Star who was the Raptors’ career leader in points, rebounds, and blocks when he left Toronto for Miami in 2010.

Utah Jazz: Karl Malone

Karl Malone and John Stockton probably deserve to share this honor, just as they shared so much else during their 19 years together in Salt Lake City, but we’re giving a slight edge to the Mailman. The 13^th pick of the 1985 draft, Malone was a 14-time All-Star and two-time MVP who finished his career as the second leading scorer in NBA history.

Washington Wizards: Wes Unseld

The Baltimore Bullets received a shot in the arm in 1968 when they selected Louisville center Wes Unseld with the second pick in the NBA Draft. "The Wide U" was a five-time All-Star and former MVP who led the franchise to its first – and only – championship in 1978.

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