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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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Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns, Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

NBA Draft: 30 greatest No. 1 overall picks in league history: 29. Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns is the first of a few recent first overall picks that are difficult to place on a historical list alongside players who completed their careers. After four incredibly healthy seasons to start his career, injuries have plagued Towns the past two seasons and he is at just 394 games played for his career, and only five postseason games. Yet when he has played, Towns has been one of the most brilliant offensive centers to ever play the game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves played their part in forming LeBron James’ latest superteam in 2014, trading All-Star big man Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return they received two previous first overall picks, Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, and bottomed out so drastically the following season they earned the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

The Timberwolves took Kentucky big man Karl-Anthony Towns with that first overall pick, the first of four Wildcats to go in the lottery that year. He immediately showed his scoring ability in averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He would never average less than those numbers again.

Through six seasons and the aforementioned 394 games, Towns has redefined what a center can do on offense in the NBA. Not only does he average 22.9 points per game for his career, but he does so from all three levels. He is a career 39.6 percent 3-point shooter, has increased his assists to average 4.6 per game in his most recent season, and his career offensive rating of 119.3 is 13th all-time in league history.

Towns has barely had a chance to play postseason games, and with the collection of one-way players the Minnesota front office keeps putting around him it isn’t looking like he will play in many more anytime soon. He is not a perfect player, between his recent injuries and his defensive limitations. Yet he scores like a wing, a special skill for a player 6’11” tall. With two All-Star appearances, one All-NBA selection and plenty of career in front of him, Towns deserves the nod among the best first overall picks of all time.