Heavy is the Crown: Best Number 1 picks of the last 25 years

Now that the season is over and the Miami Heat have been crowned the 2013 NBA Champions, we can shift our focus to complete Draft Coverage. This past years NBA Finals highlighted a very important part of the NBA draft, the number 1 pick. Both the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs were led by past number 1 picks, LeBron James and Tim Duncan. Whether the player being drafted number 1 wins with the team that selected him or another team, its expected that at one point he will lead his team to an NBA Championship. Presumably he will also be in the conversation for MVP at some point; play in multiple All-Star games, get an Olympic invite and have a major endorsement deal with one of the big 3 shoe companies.

Number 1 picks inherit an unnatural amount of scrutiny. They have to carry the mantle of the other great number 1 picks and handle immense pressure. There are tons of great players that were not Number 1 picks, so this isn't the measuring stick for greatness. In the last 25 years Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler and many more were selected with picks beyond the first and no one doubts their greatness. Who were the top picks in their drafts? Greg Oden, Andrew Bogut and Kwame Brown. Two of these picks Oden and Bogut have had careers plagued with injuries. When both have played they have been productive, but neither has lived up to the lofty expectations of the number 1 pick. Kwame Brown is in the Hall of Shame as one of the worst picks in NBA history, let alone top picks. Thanks Michael Jordan.

All players have promise and some have the desire to match that promise, but not all can string it together for a 12-15 year span. It takes a lot to shoulder the burden of the Number 1 pick and as James and Duncan have proved, its not impossible. Lets take a look at some of the better careers that began by being selected Number 1 overall.

List is in Chronological order: Top 10

1. 1988 Clippers: Danny Manning, Kansas:  Already a known star, Danny Manning had just delivered a National title and won National Player of the Year. He averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds during his rookie season.

Career: 15 seasons, 14 ppg and 5 rebounds
Milestones: 2x All Star, 1998 Sixth Man of the Year



2. 1991 Hornets: Larry Johnson, UNLV: Like Manning, Johnson was a stud in College. He led is Running Rebels to two consecutive national title games, winning in 1990. He was a consensus player of the year and essentially a guaranteed number 1 pick. He averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds as a rookie.

Career: 10 seasons, 16 ppg and 7 rebounds
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 2x All Star




3. 1992 Magic: Shaquille O'Neal, LSU: Like a force of nature, Shaq took the world by storm. He won the Adolph Rupp player of the year award and led LSU to the NCAA tourney. As a rookie he was nothing short of amazing, averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds.



Career: 19 seasons, 24 ppg, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 15x All Star, NBA MVP (2000), 4x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP



4. 1993 Magic (Traded to GSW): Chris Webber, Michigan: Webber was the centerpiece of the Famed Fab Five. His skill and aggressive nature helped lead a young Michigan team to back to back NCAA Finals appearances. He averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks a game during his rookie season.

Career: 15 seasons, 21 ppg, 11 rebounds and 1 block
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 5x All Star

5. 1996 76ers: Allen Iverson, Georgetown: The lightening quick scoring guard from Virginia had a handle and game that were larger than life. He led the storied Hoyas program to the Big East title in his sophomore year and became the first player to leave school early under John Thompson. He averaged 23 points, 7 assists and 2 steals his rookie year.


Career: 14 seasons, 27 ppg, 6 assists and 2 steals
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, MVP (2001), 11x All Star



6. 1997 Spurs: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest: "The Big Fundamental" was destined to be the top pick. While his team experienced success early on during his college career and then faded, he himself improved every year. He was constantly urged to leave school early with the promise of being the top pick in the draft, however he remained in school and built his legend. His rookie season he averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks a game.


Career: 16 seasons, 20 ppg, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 2x MVP (02-03), 4x NBA Champion, 14x All Star


7. 2003 Cavs: LeBron James, St. Vincent/St. Mary's High School: LeBron James was hailed as the next big thing during his Junior year of high school. He became the first Junior to ever win the Gatorade NPOY award and was a 3x Mr. Basketball. He was dubbed "The Most Hyped Prospect Ever". Fate would have it that his Native state Cavaliers would draft him number 1. He averaged 21 points, 6 assist and 5 rebounds during his rookie year.


Career: 10 seasons, 28 ppg, 7 rebounds and 7 assists
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 4x MVP (09,10,12,13), 2x NBA Champion, 9x All Star


8. 2004 Magic: Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy: Dwight Howard came of age playing AAU basketball during the summers against the best young players in the country. He was named Consensus NPOY in high school and became a sure thing to be a top pick in the draft. He averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks his rookie season.



Career: 9 seasons, 18 ppg, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks
Milestones: 3x Defensive Player of the Year (09-11), 7x All Star


9. 2008 Bulls: Derrick Rose, Memphis: Rose was a powerful point guard, with unnatural speed and athleticism. He led the Memphis Tigers to a 33-1 record and the the brink of glory in the 2008 National Championship game. Derrick Rose declared for the NBA draft after losing the game to Kansas and worked his way towards the lottery. He averaged 17 points and six assists as a rookie.



Career: 5 seasons, 21 ppg and 7 assists
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, MVP (2011), 3x All Star

10. 2009 Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma: Griffin earned a reputation as a "Human Highlight Reel". He appeared to be the second coming of Shawn Kemp, the way he rose above defenders or blew past them in the open court. He was a consensus college NPOY and a virtual lock for the number 1 pick in the draft. He averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds during his rookie year.



Career: 3 seasons, 20 ppg and 10 rebounds
Milestones: Rookie of the Year, 3x All Star

The Draft Fanatic