There’s still a debate about the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Will the Washington Wizards select AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, or maybe Cameron Boozer? The weeks since the NBA Draft lottery haven’t settled much, with rumors and speculation seizing control as NBA executives and agents try to shape the narrative to their benefit.
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There’s a long legacy of Hall of Famers produced from the No. 1 spot atop the draft order, with players like Elgin Baylor (1958), Oscar Robertson (1960), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), Magic Johnson (1979), Shaquille O’Neal (1992) and Tim Duncan (1997) among those who thrived under the spotlight.
Recent history shows the right No. 1 pick can change the direction of a franchise. The wrong one can set a team back for years. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in 2025 and the reigning NBA rookie of the year, was a relative slam dunk compared to the decision facing the Wizards front office this time around.
Here’s a ranking of every No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft since 2000:
NBA MOCK DRAFT: What we’re hearing, updates, rumors about all 60 picks
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Cleveland Cavaliers
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Career: 4 seasons, 151 games (regular season + playoffs)
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Stats: 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists
What’s worse for a team than a No. 1 pick who didn’t live up to the billing because of injury? A No. 1 pick who didn’t live up to the billing because the team completely bungled the evaluation process. That’s the fate of Anthony Bennett after the Cavaliers shocked everyone when it chose the UNLV forward with the No. 1 pick only for him to be discarded by the team the next year. Bennett ended up playing four NBA seasons with four different franchises and has since carved out a lengthy career in the G League and overseas.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Career: 3 seasons, 114 games
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Stats: 8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
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Oden missed more NBA seasons than he played after being drafted No. 1 in 2007 as a one-and-done star from Ohio State. He played in 61 games in his 2008-09 rookie season (after sitting out his first season following the draft), and then appeared in just 44 games the rest of his career due to foot and knee injuries.
Atlanta Hawks
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Career: 2 seasons, 145 games
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Stats: 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 12.0 PER (Player Efficiency Rating)
It’s tough to judge the Hawks’ top pick based on his first two seasons in the league, but 2025-26 was a step back. After making the all-rookie team, Risacher fell out of the rotation this past season as the Hawks surged into the playoffs. There are questions about his long-term future in Atlanta, and he could be an intriguing trade piece this offseason.
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Career: 9 seasons, 275 games
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Stats: 10.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 14.2 PER
A mysterious shoulder ailment that affected Fultz’s shooting motion fundamentally altered the trajectory of his career and led to a failed stint with the Sixers after Philadelphia used the No. 1 pick on him. Fultz forged a rotation role with the Orlando Magic two years ago and played 21 games with the Sacramento Kings in 2024-25. He appeared in five games for the Toronto Raptors at the end of this past regular season.
22. Kwame Brown, 2001
Washington Wizards
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Career: 12 seasons, 625 games
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Stats: 6.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Michael Jordan’s notorious No. 1 pick with the Wizards wound up playing for seven teams in the NBA after coming to the league straight from high school. His best statistical season came playing alongside Jordan with the Wizards, and he was later a rotation player on Lakers’ playoff teams starring Kobe Bryant.
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Toronto Raptors
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Career: 10 seasons, 561 games
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Stats: 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Bargnani settled in as more of a role player after the Raptors used the No. 1 pick on him. The Italian 7-footer had three-straight seasons in which he averaged at least 15 points per game while shooting better than 34.5% from 3-point range.
Phoenix Suns
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Career: 8 seasons, 525 games
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Stats: 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 19.7 PER
Ayton is on his third team and got a fresh start with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season. He made the NBA Finals with Phoenix in 2020, but this 7-footer with a wealth of offensive tools has seen his production decline in recent seasons and appears better-suited as a role player at this point.
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New Jersey Nets
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Career: 15 seasons, 869 games
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Stats: 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks, 15.0 PER
Martin was a one-time All-Star and a key starter on a Nets team that went to the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons. He carved out a 15-year career as a role player coveted for his interior defense, rebounding and toughness.
18. Cooper Flagg, 2026
Dallas Mavericks
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Career: 1 season, 70 games
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Stats: 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 17.9 PER
Flagg is poised to move up this list quickly after being named the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. He shined with the Mavericks after a slow start, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He became the youngest player in NBA history to log three straight 30-point games and set an NBA record for points by a teenager in a single game (51). He’s also the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Career: 8 seasons, 422 games
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Stats: 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.5 steals
The toll Simmons’ injury issues, outside shooting woes and attitude concerns have taken on his reputation has overshadowed some of the productive seasons he had after being selected No. 1 by the Sixers. The 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year earned one All-NBA nod, led the league in steals in 2020 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive teams twice. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season.
Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to Minnesota Timberwolves)
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Career: 12 seasons, 878 games
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Stats: 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 14.8 PER
Drafted No. 1 by Cleveland and then included in the trade that sent LeBron James back to the Cavaliers, Wiggins is now on his third team (the Miami Heat) since starting his career with the Timberwolves. The 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year was a key starter on the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 championship team and shot better than 40% from 3-point range for the first time in his career this past season.
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New Orleans Pelicans
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Career: 7 seasons, 276 games
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Stats: 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 24.6 PER
Williamson ranks lower than some of his relative peers on this list, as the two-time All-Star has yet to make an All-NBA team with the Pelicans because of his injury and availability issues. The 25-year-old proved more durable this past season while playing 60 games, but his production dipped from previous All-Star campaigns and New Orleans had another unsuccessful season.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Career: 14 seasons, 783 games
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Stats: 9.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, 16.4 PER
The Australian center once led the league in blocks (2011) and eventually earned a third-team All-NBA nod and a spot on the All-Defensive team after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Bucks. He was also a prominent role player on the Golden State Warriors when they won the 2015 NBA championship.
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Orlando Magic
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Career: 4 seasons, 210 games
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Stats: 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 17.2 PER
The 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year had his second season shortened by injury and went through some more growing pains as the Magic attempted to elevate into contenders this past season. But Banchero remains a promising inside-outside threat who has been the leading scorer of a postseason team every season since being drafted No. 1 by Orlando.
Washington Wizards
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Career: 11 seasons, 684 games
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Stats: 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals
Wall led the Wizards past the first round of the playoffs three times in four years during his prime after the franchise had accomplished the feat just once in the previous 30 years. The athletic point guard, who last played in an NBA game in January 2023, earned All-NBA and All-Defense honors one time apiece during his career.
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11. Yao Ming, 2002
Houston Rockets
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Career: 8 seasons, 514 games
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Stats: 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.6 assists, 23.0 PER
The 7-foot-6 Chinese center became one of the best centers in the NBA with the Rockets but had his run as an elite player cut short due to injury. Ming earned All-NBA honors five times but only once did his teams in Houston advance past the first round of the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
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Career: 5 seasons, 292 games
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Stats: 22.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 18.0 PER
Cunningham earned first-team All-NBA honors for the first time this past season after leading the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He enjoyed a breakthrough in Detroit in 2025, earning third-team All-NBA honors while leading the franchise to a playoff win for the first time since 2008.
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Chicago Bulls
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Career: 15 seasons, 775 games
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Stats: 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 18.0 PER
Rose would be ranked higher based on his brief rise and peak as an NBA player, when he won the 2009 Rookie of the Year award and the 2011 MVP award in his third season after the Bulls took him No. 1 overall. Injuries derailed Rose’s time in Chicago after a run to the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, though he did carve out a lengthy career as a role player. His only All-NBA honor came during his MVP season.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Career: 13 seasons, 833 games
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Stats: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 21.0 PER
Griffin didn’t play during his first year in the NBA due to injury, but he won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011 as part of a strong run of seasons during the first portion of his career with the “Lob City” Clippers. Griffin was a five-time All-NBA selection, including one nod later with the Detroit Pistons.
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Minnesota Timberwolves
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Career: 11 seasons, 789 games
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Stats: 22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 23.6 PER
The 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year was a versatile two-way force for the Knicks as they won their first NBA championship since 1973 this season. Towns also earned third-team All-NBA honors for the third time in his career last year. One of the best 3-point shooting big men in league history, Towns previously led the Timberwolves to a playoff series win for the first time in 20 years.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Career: 6th season, 494 games
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Stats: 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 18.2 PER
Edwards could be poised to climb even higher based on the potential shown during his first six years in the NBA. He’s already a two-time All-NBA selection (and fell just shy of the 65-game threshold to achieve the feat a third time this past season). The two-way threat averaged a career-best 28.8 points this season while also setting new career highs for field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
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San Antonio Spurs
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Career: 3 seasons, 203 games
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Stats: 23.4 points, 11 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks, 25.7 PER
Wembanyama has quickly leaped into the top-5 of this list after leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals, earning first team all-NBA honors and winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award during his third season in the NBA. He finished third in MVP voting this year and appears poised to be the best big man in the league for a generation.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Career: 15 seasons, 875 games
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Stats: 23.7 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 22.2 PER
Irving was the 2012 Rookie of the Year after the Cavaliers chose him with the No. 1 overall pick and then won an NBA championship alongside LeBron James in 2016. He’s a three-time All-NBA selection (and did so with three different teams) and made the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Irving did not play for the Mavericks during the 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in March 2025.
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New Orleans Hornets
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Career: 14 seasons, 867 games
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Stats: 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 blocks, 26.7 PER
Davis ranks behind Dwight Howard on this list even though he was the NBA Finals MVP on the team Howard won a championship with because of how Davis’ tenure with the team that took him No. 1 went. He had one playoff run with New Orleans before demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis nonetheless became arguably the best two-way big man of his generation, and the argument is only due to the injuries that sidelined him over the years. Davis is a five-time All-NBA selection (including four first-team nods), a five-time All-Defensive pick and led the NBA in blocks three times.
2. Dwight Howard, 2004
Orlando Magic
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Career: 18 seasons, 1,367 games
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Stats: 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.3 assists, 21.3 PER
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His career numbers don’t do justice to his run as one of the league’s most dominating players during his prime years after being picked No. 1 by the Magic. The recent Hall of Fame inductee was an 8-time All-NBA selection (including five first-team nods), named Defensive Player of the Year three times, led the league in rebounding five times and led the NBA in blocks twice. Howard won an NBA championship as a role player with LeBron James and the Lakers in 2020 after leading Orlando past James and into the NBA Finals as a star 11 years earlier.
1. LeBron James, 2003
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Career: 23 seasons, 1,924 games
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Stats: 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 26.9 PER
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is a no-brainer No. 1 choice for the best No. 1 pick since 2000. The four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP and four-time NBA champion just completed his record-breaking 23rd season in the league and still seems to have more left in the tank. He’s only one season removed from earning second team All-NBA honors with the Los Angeles Lakers as a 40-year-old. Though his initial run in Cleveland as its No. 1 pick ended in his controversial “decision” to leave for Miami, James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals and then returned to Cleveland to win an NBA championship in 2016. He also won consecutive championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and guided the Lakers to the 2020 championship.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft 2026: No. 1 picks ranked since 2000
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