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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NBA Draft
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. 1984: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

By virtue of their perceived tank job, the Houston Rockets won the rights to draft Hakeem Olajuwon with the number one overall pick.

Of course, this draft was historic for two reasons. First, the Rockets’ apparent indifference to losing forced the league to discard the coin flip draft system in favor of the Draft Lottery that we know and (kinda?) love today. Second, this was arguably the greatest draft in league history, as the 1984 draft pool produced all-time greats like Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and Michael Jordan.

Since the league was still centered around the big man at the time, the Rockets opted to pair “The Dream” up with 1983 first overall pick Raph Sampson to create a fearsome frontcourt. With Sampson and Olajuwon controlling the paint, the Rockets reached the NBA finals in their second season together, but they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics.

Injuries would cut Sampson’s career short, but Olajuwon would lead the Rockets to consecutive championships in 1994 and 1995, besting fellow centers Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Ewing to do so — not to mention his figurative pantsing of David Robinson in the 1995 Western Conference Finals, where he averaged 35.3 points on 56 percent shooting compared to Robinson’s 23.8 points on 44.8 percent shooting in the series. For his career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 boards, and 3.1 blocks in 18 seasons,  with the 1994 league MVP trophy on his mantle.