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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8. 1987: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

Now comes the real challenge: writing about Hall of Fame center David Robinson without succumbing to boredom. Don’t get me wrong, Robinson is one of the greatest centers of all-time, but I’d rather stare at a blank wall than watch a Robinson highlight reel.

Here it goes — Robinson was drafted first overall by the Spurs in 1987 but the team had to wait a couple of seasons to get him on the court due to his service obligations to the U.S. Navy. When he finally made his way to the team in 1989, the Spurs went from a middling team to a budding Western Conference powerhouse.

The team’s record improved by 35 games in the 1989-90 season, largely thanks to Robinson’s efforts, and thus began a streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances between 1990-96. During that run, Robinson averaged 25.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks and won league MVP honors in 1995. Of course, that was the same year that Hakeem Olajuwon took his lunch money in the Western Conference Finals, bet we’ll get to that in a few.

It would take the Spurs literally lucking into Tim Duncan for Robinson to finally capture that elusive NBA championship and cement his legacy as one of the game’s finest big men. Just don’t try to convince me that he was one of the most exciting to watch.