Hoops Habit
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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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48. 1988: Danny Manning, Los Angeles Clippers

Another Clippers first round pick that didn’t work out? Who would’ve guessed?

It’s easy to rag on the Clippers, but in the case of Manning, injuries ultimately kept him from reaching his full potential.

The trouble began when he tore his ACL just 26 games into his rookie season. He would return and become a solid scoring threat for Los Angeles, as he averages no fewer than 15.9 points through parts of six seasons with the team and even earned a couple of All-Star appearances in 1993 and 1994.

Unfortunately, continuous knee problems sapped away a lot of his athleticism and left him a shell of his former self. He was a solid player for the Clippers and the Pheonix Suns, but fans will always wonder how Manning’s pro career would’ve turned out if he stayed healthy.

47. 2005: Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks

Before entering the league, Andrew Bogut portrayed himself as some sort of “Great White Hope”; a man who tried to present himself as the polar opposite of what many pearl-clutching fans perceived NBA players to be around that time.

Skimming through only a few quotes, and it was clear that Bogut’s act was going to be insufferable, especially if he lived up to his status as the 2005 number one overall pick.

Thankfully, he didn’t. To be fair, he struggled with injuries throughout his NBA career, as he played at least 70 games only three times in 13 seasons. When he was healthy, Bogut managed to carve out a nice niche for himself as a defensive stalwart, making the All-Defensive team in 2014-15 with the Golden State Warriors.

But he never developed into a franchise player. He was simply a solid role player with bad takes.

46: 1950: Chuck Share, Boston Celtics

If you look at Chuck Share’s similarity score on Basketball Reference, you’ll see that his career lines up with names like Rik Smits, Darryl Dawkins, and DEMARCUS COUSINS! Needless to say, Share is not as good as DeMarcus Cousins. Through nine NBA seasons, Share averaged 8.3 points and finished with a 17.1 PER and 40.9 win shares.

45. 1963: Art Heyman, New York Knicks

Art Heyman is proof that Duke players underachieving once they reach the NBA isn’t a new phenomenon.

Heyman averaged 25.1 points in three years with the Blue Devils before the Knicks took him first overall in the 1963 draft. It seemed as though Heyman would have a solid career, as he averaged 15.4 points per game in his rookie season.

But he also lived up to his nickname “The Pest”, as his constant outbursts led to a decrease in playing time. He played two more seasons in the NBA before jumping to the Eastern Professional Basketball League and later the ABA for the next eight years.