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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NBA Draft
(Photo by Hy Peskin/Getty Images) (Set Number: X3361) /

44. 1953: Ray Felix, Baltimore Bullets

Felix’s rookie season with the Bullets was historic, as he became the second black player after Don Barksdale to make the All-Star team. That represented the high point of his career, as his scoring averages declined every season after that. In nine NBA seasons, Felix averaged 10.9 points with a 16.9 PER.

Aside from the All-Star anecdote, Felix was something of an agitator towards Bill Russell during Russell’s rookie season. The future Hall of Famer would put an end to that by knocking Felix unconscious with a punch to the head.

43. 1959: Bob Boozer, Cincinnati Royals

Boozer was taken first overall in by the Cincinnati Royals ahead of guys like Dick Barnett, so it wasn’t like the team missed out on any big star. Yes, Wilt Chamberlain was part of this class, but he was a territorial pick that went to the Philadelphia Warriors, so the Royals had no real chance of getting him anyway.

Boozer was a decent NBA player, which constituted a win for the franchise as only 23 of the 83 drafted players stepped foot on an NBA court. Through 11 NBA seasons, Boozer averaged 14.8 points with 64.2 win shares.

42. 1967: Jimmy Walker, Detroit Pistons

The 1967 draft produced some interesting names, such as HOFers Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Walt Frazier, and Phil Jackson — who became an all-time great coach and a bone-headed executive.

But with the number one overall pick in hand, the Detroit Pistons used it to select Jimmy Walker out of Providence.

Despite his weight issues, Walker put together a solid career, averaging 16.7 points per game in nine seasons while also making the All-Star team twice.

41. 1980: Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Warriors

While many fans and media members viewed Joe Barry Carroll as a bust due to perceived laziness and indifference to the game — hence monikers like “Just Barely Carroll” and “Joe Barely Cares” — some of that was a bit unfair.

One of the issues with Carroll wasn’t so much his play on the court, but the fact that the Warriors traded away Robert Parish and the draft rights to Kevin McHale in order to acquire Carroll. Those two, along with Larry Bird and Dennis Johnson, would go on to win three NBA titles in the 1980s, while the Warriors made the playoffs twice that decade.

While Carroll wasn’t a transcendent star, he had a solid seven-year run with Golden State, averaging 20.4 points with a 53.0 true shooting percentage. He would play for four other teams in his final four seasons, but he never reached the heights that he did in the Bay.