About This List
The first overall pick is the highest selection in the NBA Draft and is usually
used on one of the most highly regarded prospects entering the league.
Throughout NBA history, a wide range of colleges, high schools and international
backgrounds have produced players selected No. 1 overall.
The table below organizes those first overall selections by school or background.
Schools that produced more than one No. 1 pick are grouped together so their
history can be viewed more easily.
#1 Picks by School
| School |
Player |
Year |
NBA Team |
| Arizona |
DeAndre Ayton |
2018 |
Phoenix Suns |
| Bradley |
Gene Melchiorre |
1951 |
Baltimore Bullets |
| BYU |
AJ Dybantsa |
2026 |
Washington |
| China |
Yao Ming |
2002 |
Houston |
| Cincinnati |
Kenyn Martin |
2000 |
New Jersey |
| Oscar Robertson |
1960 |
Cincinnatti |
| Davidson |
Fred Hetzel |
1965 |
San Francisco Warriors |
| Depaul |
Mark Aguire |
1981 |
Dallas |
| Duke |
Cooper Flagg |
2025 |
Dallas |
| Paolo Banchero |
2022 |
Orlando |
| Zion Williamson |
2019 |
New Orleans |
| Kyrie Irving |
2011 |
Cleveland |
| Elton Brand |
1999 |
Chicago |
| Art Heyman |
1963 |
New York |
| Duquesne |
Shiugo Green |
1956 |
Rodchester |
| Dick Ricketts |
1955 |
Milwaukee Hawks |
| France |
Zaccharie Risacher |
2023 |
Atlanta |
| Victor Wembanyama |
2024 |
San Antonio |
| Furman |
Frank Selvy |
1954 |
Baltimore Bullets |
| Georgia |
Anthony Edwards |
2020 |
Minnesota |
| Georgetown |
Patrick Ewing |
1985 |
New York |
| Allen Iverson |
1996 |
Philadelphia |
| Glenn Acadamy |
Kwame Brown |
2001 |
Washington |
| Houston |
Elvin Hayes |
1968 |
San Diego Rockets |
| Akeem Olajuwon |
1984 |
Houston |
| Illinois State |
Doug Collins |
1973 |
Philadelphia |
| Indiana |
Walt Bellamy |
1961 |
Chicago Zyphers |
| Kent Benson |
1977 |
Milwaukee |
| Italy |
Andrea Bargnani |
2006 |
Toronto |
| Kansas |
Danny Manning |
1988 |
LA Clippers |
| Andrew Wiggins |
2014 |
Cleveland |
| Kansas State |
Bob Boozer |
1959 |
Cincinatti |
| Kentucky |
John Wall |
2010 |
Washington |
| Anthony Davis |
2012 |
New Orleans |
| Karl Anthony Towns |
2015 |
Minnesota |
| Louisiana State |
Shaquille O'Neal |
1992 |
Orlando |
| Ben Simmons |
2016 |
Philadelphia |
| Louisville |
Pervis Ellison |
1989 |
Sacramento |
| Loyola(Il) |
LaRue Martin |
1972 |
Portland |
| Maryland |
John Lucus |
1976 |
Houston |
| Joe Smith |
1995 |
Golden State |
| Memphis |
Derrick Rose |
2008 |
Chicago |
| Michigan |
Cazzie Russelll |
1966 |
New York |
| Chris Webber |
1993 |
Golden State |
| Michigan State |
"Magic" Johnson |
1979 |
Los Angeles |
| Minnesota |
Mychal Thompson |
1978 |
Portland |
| Navy |
David Robinson |
1987 |
San Antonio |
| Norte Dame |
Austin Carr |
1972 |
Cleveland |
| North Carolina |
Brad Daughtery |
1986 |
Cleveland |
| James Worthy |
1982 |
Los Angeles |
| North Carolina State |
David Thompson |
1975 |
Atlanta |
| Oklahoma |
Blake Griffin |
2009 |
LA Clippers |
| Oklahoma State |
Cade Cunningham |
2021 |
Detroit |
| Ohio State |
Greg Oden |
2008 |
Portland |
| Pacific |
Michael Olowokandi |
1998 |
LA Clippers |
| Providance |
Jimmy Walker |
1967 |
Detroit |
| Purdue |
Joe Berry Carroll |
1980 |
Golden State |
| Glenn Robinson |
1994 |
Milwaukee |
| Seattle |
Elgin Baylor |
1958 |
Minneapolis |
| Southwest Christian |
Dwight Howard |
2004 |
Orlando |
| St. Bonaventure |
Bob Lanier |
1970 |
Detroit |
| St Marys/St Vincent |
LeBron James |
2003 |
Cleveland |
| Syracuse |
Derrick Coleman |
1990 |
New Jersey |
| Texas Western |
Jim Barnes |
1964 |
New York |
| UCLA |
Lew Alcindo |
1969 |
Milwaukee |
| Bill Walton |
1974 |
Portland |
| UNLV |
Larry Johnson |
1991 |
Charlotte Hornets |
| Anthony Bennett |
2013 |
Cleveland |
| Utah |
Andrew Bogut |
2005 |
Milwaukee |
| Bill McGill |
1962 |
Chicago Zyphers |
| Virginia |
Ralph Sampson |
1982 |
Houston |
| Washington |
Markelle Fultz |
2017 |
Philadelphia |
| Wake Forrest |
Tim Duncan |
1997 |
San Antonio |
| West Virginia |
Rod Hundley |
1957 |
Cincinnatii |
Notable Schools
Duke has the largest group shown on the current page, with five No. 1 overall
selections listed: Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, Elton Brand
and Art Heyman.
Kentucky is represented by three first overall selections: John Wall,
Anthony Davis and Karl Anthony Towns. Several other schools have produced
multiple No. 1 picks, including Cincinnati, Duquesne, Georgetown, Houston,
Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Purdue,
UCLA, UNLV and Utah.
The list also shows how the path to the first overall pick has changed over
time. In addition to traditional college programs, the page includes players
listed from China, Italy and high-school backgrounds.
Related NBA Draft History
