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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9. 1960: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals

The original Russell Westbrook, Oscar Roberson was a walking triple-double from the second he stepped foot on an NBA court. At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Robertson resided on the bigger end of the point guard spectrum, and that aided him in terms of rebounding and seeing over the defense to find open players.

Obviously, Robertson is best known for becoming the first player to average a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62. Want to hear something crazy though? That wasn’t even his best season!

If you go by PER, win shares, and win shares per 48 minutes,  Robertson’s played his best basketball during the 1963-64 season, where he averaged 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 9.5 assists and shot a career-best 51.8 percent from the field and 4.4 defensive win shares.

It would take a trade to the Milwaukee Bucks and a team up with the future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Roberston to win an NBA Title, after spending most of his career carrying an otherwise mediocre Royals team for most of his career, but above the stats and the rings, Robertson’s greatest achievement occurred  off the court.

As the president of the Players Association, Robertson sued the NBA in 1970, he and the rest of the players union sought to end the option clause that essentially kept one player on the same team for the entirety of their careers, which essentially set the stage for the free agency rules that are in place today. So any player that freely moves from one team to another owes a great deal of gratitude to Robertson.