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NBA Draft: 30 greatest No. 1 overall picks in league history

By Josh Cornelissen

25 Jun 1997: Center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs speaks with a reporter during the NBA Draft at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport
25 Jun 1997: Center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs speaks with a reporter during the NBA Draft at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport /
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NBA Draft: 30 greatest No. 1 overall picks in league history: 12. Elvin Hayes

In the first few decades of the NBA, it was a common occurrence for four-year college players to come into the NBA and immediately make an outsized impact. Even within that context, it was impressive what Elvin Hayes did in his first two seasons in the NBA as he busted into the league and announced himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Hayes was one of college basketball’s most prolific players, leading the Houston Cougars to the Final Four twice in his three seasons. Hayes set and holds the record for most rebounds in NCAA tournament history. He was a part of three high profile games against Lew Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins, a player he would battle for NBA accolades as well throughout his career. The 6’9″ forward was drafted first overall in the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets and just kept on dominating despite the change in scenery.

As a rookie, Hayes averaged 28.4 points per game, the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring average. He also averaged 17.1 rebounds, and followed that up with 16.9 boards the following year, becoming the first player in 12 seasons not named Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain to lead the league in rebounding. Those were the names Hayes was chasing as he looked to make his mark on the league.

From his rookie year, Hayes continued a streak of All-Star appearances that lasted for 12 straight seasons. He played for two franchises but five different team names over the course of his career, as the San Diego Rockets became the Houston Rockets and the Baltimore Bullets became the Capital City Bullets before landing on the Washington Bullets.

It was there in Washington that Hayes saw the best years of his career, as he formed a devastating inside combination with Wes Unseld that resulted in three runs to the NBA Finals, including the title in 1978. Hayes was not only scoring and rebounding, but his positional defense against a number of elite big man opponents helped propel the Bullets to the top tier of contention. He would play in 96 playoff games in his career, all but nine of them coming in eight straight seasons with the Bullets.

Hayes added five All-NBA selections to his 12 All-Star appearances, as well as two All-Defensive nods and six top-10 MVP finishes, landing as high as third twice. He is 12th all-time in points scored, sixth in total rebounds and sixth in minutes played. Only seven players in NBA history have totaled more defensive win shares than Hayes. He was an easy Hall of Fame selection and one of the best power forwards in league history.