Owning The Top Pick In The NBA Draft Often Pays Off
Tuesday night, with so many teams vying for the top pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves won the NBA Draft Lottery and now own the coveted first overall selection in the 2015 draft. By all accounts, the Wolves will take either Duke center Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky center Karl – Anthony Towns.
Over the years, getting the top pick has been extremely important. Recent history shows that in most cases the number one selection is usually very good. And in some cases, number ones even turn out to be transcendent players.
Below is a list of the best top picks still active in the NBA and the teams that drafted them.
1997 - Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs: five-time NBA Champion & three-time NBA Finals MVP
2003 - LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers: four-time MVP & two-time NBA Champion
2004 - Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic: eight-time All-Star & three-time Defensive Player of the Year
2008 - Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls: 2011 MVP & three-time All-Star
2009 - Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers: five-time All-Star & 2011 Rookie of the Year
2010 - John Wall – Washington Wizards: two-time All-Star
2011 - Kyrie Irving – Cleveland Cavailers: three-time All-Star & 2012 Rookie of the Year
2012 - Anthony Davis – New Orleans Pelicans: two-time All-Star
2014 - Andrew Wiggins – Minnesota Timberwolves: 2015 Rookie of the Year
