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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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72. 1951: Gene Melchiorre, Baltimore Bullets

To put it lightly, the 1951 NBA draft did not have the feature the strongest pool of talent. Of the 87 players selected that year, only 25 played in an NBA game. Of that group, only one averaged more than 10 points per game. Suffice to say, none of these teams found any game changers in this draft.

With that in mind, the Baltimore Bullets managed to find the least value of everyone. With the number one pick in hand, the team selected Gene Melchiorre out of Bradley University. Though he was one of the best offensive players in the country at the time, Melchiorre was part of the 1951 CCNY point shaving scandal. Then-NBA president Maurice Polodoff would ban all the players implicated in the scandal from the league for life, which meant Melchiorre would never play a single game for the Bullets.

71. 1947: Clifton McNeely, Pittsburgh Ironmen

Clifton McNeely has the honor of being the first player selected in the first draft in league history — which was known as the BAA at the time. However, much like Melchiorre, McNeely never played one game in the league.

Instead, McNeely decided to forego the pros — and a spot on a 15-win team — to become the head basketball coach at Pampa High School in Pampa, Texas. He spent 13 years at the school, accruing a 320-43 record and four state championships before retiring in 1960.

70. 1948: Andy Tonkovich, Providence Steamrollers

Now to some players that have actually, you know, played in professional games. The Steamrollers took Tonkovich first overall in 1948, ahead of solid players like Dolph Schayes and Bobby Wanzer.

Much like a lot of these early drafts, there weren’t any game changers in this class with the number one pick giving his team very little value. Tonkovich played exactly one season and averaged a paltry 2.6 points and shot a dismal 26.8 percent from the field.

Sure, there were plenty of players in this pool that didn’t play a single game, but with minus-0.4 career win shares, Tonkovich managed to be even less productive than them.

69. 1972: LaRue Martin, Portland Trail Blazers

In the 1972 draft, the Portland Trail Blazers had the opportunity to select the likes of Bob McAdoo or Julius Erving with the number one overall pick. Instead, they took Loyola University center LaRue Martin.

While McAdoo and Erving would go on to have Hall of Fame careers — although Erving spent five years in the ABA before coming to the NBA — Martin was regarded as one of the biggest busts in NBA history.

In four seasons — all with Portland — Martin averaged 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists with a 45.2 true shooting percentage.

They would ultimately trade him to Seattle SuperSonics in 1976, but Martin retired before he played a single game for them.