Hoops Habit
Fansided

Ranking every first overall pick in NBA history

By Christopher Jeter

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat on November 18, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat on November 18, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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29. 1999: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls

It’s easy to forget — mainly because he did most of his best work on some bad Bulls and Clippers teams — but Elton Brand was a problem in his prime.

The Bulls drafted him first overall in 1999, as they hoped that he would push the team into the next great run of success following the Michael Jordan era. After two seasons, the Bulls gave up on those plans and traded Brand to the Clippers for a package that brought a young Tyson Chandler to Chicago (spoiler: that move didn’t work out well for the Bulls either).

Brand spent seven seasons in L.A., where he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds, made the All-Star team twice and helped the franchise win their first playoff series since they were the Buffalo Braves.