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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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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

64. 2017: Markelle Fultz, Philadephia 76ers

I feel a little icky putting Fultz this low on the list because 1) injuries have marred his run so far and 2) at only 20 years old, he still has plenty of time to turn his career around. However, his spotty-at-best production has secured his place here.

The Sixers traded up to number one to select the former Washington Husky, and things immediately went downhill after that. Somewhere in between getting drafted and training camp that season, Fultz’s shooting form completely deteriorated, which has turned into a neverending saga that has apparently ended with a Thoracic Outlet Syndrome diagnosis.

No one will know when, or if, Fultz will recover from whatever is ailing him. Until then, all that potential that got him picked first overall in 2017 is just that.

63. 2007: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers

Stop me if you heard this before; the Blazers elected not to take a transcendent wing player to take a big man with knee problems because they had redundancy at the position. They made the mistake of passing up on Michael Jordan to take Sam Bowie in 1984 and history repeated itself again in 2007 when Portland used the number one pick on Ohio State big man Greg Oden instead of some scrawny guy named Kevin Durant.

Much like in ’84, the Blazers’ logic seemed sound; they already had a star wing in Brandon Roy and needed to fill a hole at the center spot. However, Oden’s health ensured that it wouldn’t work out. He would never play more than 61 games in a season due to his constant ailments, which also forced him to miss three seasons due to surgeries and setbacks. Whenever he was on the floor, he would flash some of what made him such a valued prospect, but he could never sustain it.

For the Blazers, this was another case of 1) a promising big man succumbing to injury and 2) passing up on a big-time star like Durant (who was 135.1 win shares and counting to Oden’s 7.3).

62. 1998: Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers

Honestly, the fact that the Clippers drafted Michael Olowokandi first overall in 1998 more or less sealed his fate as a bust. While they’re a bit more respectable now, the team has spent most of their existence botching draft picks and signings en route to becoming arguably the worst franchise in North American pro sports.

Olowokandi spent five seasons with the Clippers, averaging 9.9 points on 43.3 percent shooting. That’s right, a 7-foot center couldn’t even crack 45 percent from the field. When Olowokandi finally retired in 2007, he racked up only 2.5 win shares to go with a 10.7 PER. Injuries played a role in stunting his development, but Olowakandi is unfortunately remembered as one of the biggest busts in recent memory.

61. 1949: Howie Shannon, Providence Steamrollers

Shannon was selected with the top pick in the 1949 BAA draft by the Providence Steamrollers. Again, this was during a time where the league was still in its infancy, so this class wasn’t filled with many all-time greats outside of territorial pick Ed Macauley.

Shannon, who was a standout at Kansas State, played only one season with the Steamrollers before the franchise folded, averaging 13.4 points on 36.4 percent shooting. The Boston Celtics picked up his contract the next season and he played 67 games for them, averaging 8.8 points before retiring to become an accomplished high school and college coach.