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Most No. 1 overall picks in NBA Draft history? Wizards set to break tie

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Follow along for live rumors and news from around the league on NBA draft day.

Getting the first overall pick in the NBA draft is supposed to be a game-changing occurrence for an NBA franchise, with the team in position to land a generational talent. So long as they don’t mess that pick up, they could be set for years, competing for championships.

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Unfortunately, fortune doesn’t favor teams equally.

As awesome as it might feel to get the No. 1 overall pick, some teams have been destined to return to the top of the draft board time and time again. While that often inspires hope in their respective fanbases, it also leads to utter devastation when it doesn’t work out … again.

So, whether it be by luck of the lottery or continual basement-dwelling, the No. pick has known many teams, but some far more than others.

Here are the teams that have made the most No. 1 selections in NBA draft history:

1 / 26

NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg

2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Teams with the most No. 1 picks in NBA draft history

Since the inception of the draft in 1947, the team to make the most No. 1 picks in NBA draft history is currently a tie between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards. Although with the Wizards earning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, that will not be the case for long.

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The Wizards have not had the No. 1 overall pick since 2010 when they drafted John Wall. Here is a full list of the Wizards’ history with No. 1 draft picks:

*If the team was previously known by a different name, that name is listed in parentheses next to the selection

  • 1951: Gene Melchiorre (Baltimore Bullets)

  • 1954: Frank Selvy (Baltimore Bullets)

  • 1961: Walt Bellamy (Chicago Packers)

  • 1962: Bill McGill (Chicago Zephyrs)

Here are the Cleveland Cavaliers’ selections at No. 1 overall:

How many teams have made five No. 1 picks?

Only two franchises, the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings have made exactly five No. 1 overall picks.

Houston Rockets

  • 1968: Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets)

Sacramento Kings

  • 1956: Si Green (Rochester Royals)

  • 1957: Hot Rod Hundley (Cincinnati Royals)

  • 1959: Bob Boozer (Cincinnati Royals)

  • 1960: Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)

Are there any teams to never make a No. 1 pick?

Six franchises have never had the No. 1 pick in the draft:

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  • Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teams with most top overall picks in NBA draft: Where do Wizards rank?

Read the full article here

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