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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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Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing, Photo by KIMBERLY BARTH/AFP via Getty Images /

NBA Draft: 30 greatest No. 1 overall picks in league history: 10. Patrick Ewing

Back-to-back Georgetown Hoyas on our ranking of first overall picks, as former Hoyas center Patrick Ewing begins the top 10. Ewing played four seasons under John Thompson at Georgetown, accruing as many accolades as is reasonably possible for a college player. He was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times, was a three-time All-American, won National Player of the Year and in 1985 he led the Hoyas to the NCAA championship, winning Final Four Most Outstanding Player in the process.

All of that was the context to Patrick Ewing going first overall in the 1985 NBA Draft to the New York Knicks, who won the pick during the infamous “frozen envelope” draft lottery. The seven-footer was an instant star, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds as a rookie and winning Rookie of the Year over Karl Malone and Joe Dumars.

While Ewing would continue to grow as an offensive force, it was his defense that developed and propelled him to superstardom. As the backline anchor of the New York Knicks’ defense, he propelled them to thirteen straight seasons as a positive defensive team, which corresponded with thirteen playoff appearances. Twice Ewing and the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals, losing each time.

Ewing is one of the greatest rim protectors and shot blockers of all time, although his defensive peak came alongside Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Dikembe Mutombo so he never captured the blocks title. Even so, he ranks eighth in NBA history in career blocks and 11th in blocks per game.

Ewing would make 11 All-Star Games and was a seven-time All-NBA selection. Six times he was a top-5 MVP finisher, and he made three All-Defensive teams despite the competition at his position. His 81.4 career Defensive Win Shares ranks ninth all-time, and in overall win shares, his 126.4 mark is in the top-50 all-time. Despite never winning a title, Ewing’s extended dominance inside grants him a place in the Hall of Fame and just inside the top-10 on this list.