Ranking the last 10 1st overall picks in the NBA draft
Consensus No. 1 Cooper Flagg is widely viewed as one of the most prized prospects in recent years entering the 2025 NBA Draft. Whether he fulfills this potential remains to be seen.
Here's a look at the last 10 first overall selections in the draft, how much hype they had, and how they've fared in the NBA so far.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 255 | 47 | 28 | 73.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 10.4 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- School/club: Washington
- NBA awards: None
Although he played for an underwhelming Washington team that missed the NCAA tourney - an ominous sign for players on this list - front offices were still excited about the 6-foot-4 scoring guard.
The Philadelphia 76ers traded the third pick, which became Jayson Tatum, for the No. 1 selection and drafted Fultz. That decision was immediately regrettable, as a bizarre shoulder injury led to Fultz developing the shooting yips. He has the grim distinction of being the only first overall pick from the last 10 seasons without an NBA award.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 45.8 | 35.5 | 71.1 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 12.6 |
- Hype factor: ⭐
- School/club: JL Bourg (France)
- NBA awards: All-Rookie first team (2025)
Risacher didn't enter the draft with an iota of the same hype as a fellow Frenchman selected with the first pick a year prior. Some of that was because some had countryman Alexandre Sarr as the top pick, and some of it was because Risacher wasn't viewed as a franchise-altering prospect.
Fast forward a year, and Risacher overcame a slow start marred by spotty shooting to become the only rookie to average 10-plus points with .450/.350/.700 splits. Risacher led all rookies in field-goal percentage while ranking third in points per game and fourth in 3-point percentage. He also finished second among rookies in total points (942) and field goals (357). Early days, but the signs are promising.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 398 | 59 | 23 | 75.5 | 10.5 | 1.6 | 16.4 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐
- School/club: Arizona
- NBA awards: All-Rookie first team (2018)
Ayton's name has become the answer to the trivia question: Who was drafted first overall ahead of Luka Doncic? The 7-footer was an intriguing prospect out of Arizona, possessing physical attributes that'd make a scout in the 1990s fall out of their chair. The fact that he was a local product was also particularly appealing to then-owner Robert Sarver, who was notoriously infatuated with selling tickets over fielding a competitive roster.
A promising rookie season saw the Bahamian earn his only NBA award, an All-Rookie nomination, after averaging a double-double in 71 games. He was a key piece in Phoenix's NBA Finals run in 2021 but failed to show much improvement in subsequent years. The Suns traded the former Wildcat to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023, where his production remained underwhelming. Ayton hasn't reached the 70-game mark since his rookie season and played the fewest minutes of his career in 2024-25.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 383 | 55.8 | 13.9 | 59.2 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 13.1 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: LSU
- NBA awards: All-Star (3) (2019-21), Rookie of the Year (2018), All-NBA third team (2020), All-Defensive first team (2020, 2021), All-Rookie first team (2018)
It's easy to forget how good Simmons was. He became the third Melbourne-born player picked first in an 11-year span (Andrew Bogut, Kyrie Irving), and the hype surrounding the 6-foot-10 point forward was earned after he nabbed consensus first-team All-American honors in his lone year at LSU. There were concerns about apathy on the defensive end, but his elite playmaking and size were enough to convince the 76ers.
For the first half of his career, Simmons was a bona fide star who fulfilled even his loftiest draft projections. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2018, he made three All-Star and two All-Defensive first teams, becoming the second fastest player in league history behind Oscar Robertson to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Sadly, this standard wasn't maintained.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | 44.5 | 32 | 73 | 7.1 | 4.6 | 22.4 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Duke
- NBA awards: All-Star (2024), Rookie of the Year (2023), All-Rookie first team
Banchero is the first Duke player to show up on our list. He was admired by NBA scouts but was far from a unanimous choice to go No. 1. Most of those issues seemed to revolve around philosophical team building. Should front offices opt for the defensive stud Chet Holmgren, the pure shooter Jabari Smith Jr., or the iso-heavy battering ram Banchero?
Ultimately, the Magic chose the 6-foot-10 forward, who was an immediate hit. Banchero is one of just three players to average at least 20 points in their inaugural season since 2015. Banchero has been particularly mesmerizing in the postseason, upping his averages to 28 points and eight rebounds while shooting 41.8% from deep in 12 playoff games.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 214 | 58.9 | 32.7 | 68.9 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 24.7 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Duke
- NBA awards: All-Star (2) (2021, 2023), All-Rookie first team (2020)
Apart from a certain Frenchman who's lower down this list, Williamson was the most hyped prospect of the previous decade. His jaw-dropping dunks, constant rim pressure, and moments of flashy passing had scouts salivating, and he was universally acclaimed as the best prospect since LeBron James. Williamson was considered a can't-miss guy who would not only replace Anthony Davis in New Orleans but surpass him.
The Duke product has had moments of brilliance, but he hasn't reached the face-of-the-league heights that were expected coming out of college. Injuries and weight issues have plagued the 24-year-old during his six-year career; Williamson has appeared in 214 games but has missed a staggering 278, including the entire 2021-22 season. His sophomore campaign remains his best, as he averaged 27 points, 3.7 assists, and 7.2 rebounds in 60 contests.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 645 | 52.4 | 40 | 83.7 | 11.1 | 3.2 | 23.1 |
- Hype factor:⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Kentucky
- NBA awards: Rookie of the Year (2016), All-Star (5) (2018-19, 2022, 2024-25), All-NBA third team (3) (2018, 2022, 2025), All-Rookie first team (2016)
It was either going to be Towns or Duke's Jahlil Okafor going to the T-Wolves with the first pick. Ultimately, Minnesota opted for an adaptable big over a traditional one. That'd prove to be a savvy decision, though Towns was far from a glamorous pick despite a standout freshman season at Kentucky where he displayed both his expertise in the post and as a jump shooter.
Towns started his rookie campaign like a man possessed, averaging 16 points and 10.4 boards across his first 16 outings before surpassing Christian Laettner for the franchise's rookie scoring mark. He then went on to earn unanimous Rookie of the Year honors. A decade into his pro career, Bodega KAT has solidified himself as one of the NBA's most versatile and polished centers.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 44.6 | 33.9 | 85.3 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 22.1 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Oklahoma State
- NBA awards: All-Star (2025), All-NBA third team (2025), All-Rookie first team (2022)
Cunningham was compared to Luka Doncic after his impressive freshman season at Oklahoma State. Despite a loaded draft class that included Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Suggs, Cunningham was always considered the top player.
It took a few years for Cunningham to pop - he was weighed down by a broken tibia in Year 2, as well as a horrible roster - but the big point guard has taken his first step toward stardom. Now 23, Cunningham was third in the NBA in assists (8.7) and 12th in points (25). He also led the Pistons to their first postseason since 2019, helping them win a playoff game for the first time since 2008.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 381 | 44.6 | 36.4 | 80.4 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 23.9 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Georgia
- NBA awards: All-Star (3) (2023-25), All-NBA second team (2) (2024, 2025), All-Rookie first team (2021)
Despite fitting the mould of an NBA-ready player with otherworldy physical attributes, Edwards wasn't viewed as a sure thing by some pundits after a mercurial lone season at Georgia. A selection of mock drafts even had LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman going off the board before the former McDonald's All-American. There were concerns that Edwards too often relied on pull-up jumpers over attacking the rim.
Those doubts have been dispelled. Edwards has become one of the young faces of the league and the offensive focal point of a T-Wolves side that made successive appearances in the Western Conference finals. He's also arguably the best dunker in the league and one of the most entertaining players to watch. Not bad for a guy who admitted before the draft that he prefers football to basketball. He's got all of the aura, as the kids say.
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 46.9 | 33.9 | 80.9 | 10.8 | 3.7 | 22.5 |
- Hype factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- School/club: Metropolitans 92 (France)
- NBA awards: Rookie of the Year (2024), All-Star (2025), All-Defensive first team (2024) All-Rookie first team (2024)
Many experts viewed Wembanyama as the best prospect since LeBron James, and for good reason. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman with an unquantifiable ceiling equated to something the league had never seen before: an obscenely towering defensive menace with a refined offensive game and the potential to become one of the game's all-time greats. The hype surrounding Wembanyama was unlike anything previously witnessed in the internet age.
Is it possible that Wembanyama has exceeded even the loftiest expectations? There are too many records to mention for a unicorn talent who's the first player since Shaquille O'Neal to average 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds before turning 21. He's also first in league history (regardless of age) to post 300-plus points, 100-plus rebounds, 50-plus assists, 50-plus blocks, and 40-plus made 3-pointers in a single month. That's ridiculous, and he's just begun to scratch the surface.