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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Michelle R. Martinelli

Every NBA team’s last No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft

With the 2022-23 NBA season winding down, that means it’s almost NBA Draft time.

So ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft lottery and, of course, the 2023 NBA Draft — set for June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn — we’re looking back at the last time every NBA team had the No. 1 overall pick.

However, we don’t actually have that for all 30 teams because haven’t selected first. Six teams in NBA history have never had a No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick: the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz.

So beyond them, here’s a look back at the last time the remaining 24 teams had (and used) the No. 1 overall pick and who they went with.

Boston Celtics: Chuck Share, 1950

Atlanta Hawks: David Thompson, 1975

North Carolina State guard (44) David Thompson during the 1973-74 season. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

Dallas Mavericks: Mark Aguirre, 1981

Mark Aguirre #24 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a free throw during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in 1987. (Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers: James Worthy, 1982

Los Angeles Lakers’ James Worthy goes up for a basket against the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals at The Forum in Inglewood, Ca. on  June 3, 1987. (AP Photo/Lennox Mclendon)

New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, 1985

New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing (33) celebrates a slam-dunk in the first period against the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1997, in New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

Sacramento Kings: Pervis Ellison, 1989

Louisville Cardinals center Pervis Ellison (43) puts up a shot in front of Duke Blue Devils center Jay Bilas (21) during the 1986 NCAA Men’s Final Four at Reunion Arena in 1986. Louisville defeated Duke 72-69. (Ben Van Hook/The Courier-Journal-USA TODAY Sports)

Golden State Warriors: Joe Smith, 1995

Golden State Warriors’ Joe Smith, right, goes up for a shot over the out-stretched arm of Milwaukee Bucks’ Vin Baker during the second quarter Sunday, Jan. 12, 1997, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Slosiarek)

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, 1997

San Antonio Spurs’ forward Tim Duncan (21) prepares to shoot against the Vancouver Grizzlies in first half NBA action at GM Place in Vancouver, Canada, Dec. 30, 1997. (AP Photo/Nick Procaylo)

Brooklyn Nets: Kenyon Martin, 2000 (then the New Jersey Nets)

Chicago Bulls’ Ron Artest (15) reaches for the ball held by New Jersey Nets’ Kenyon Martin (6) during the second half Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, in Chicago. The Bulls won 86-77. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Carrera)

Houston Rockets: Yao Ming, 2002

Los Angeles Lakers’ Robert Horry, right, and Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming battle for the ball during the second half, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut, 2005

Milwaukee Bucks’ Andrew Bogut, left, tries to stop Orlando Magic’s Grant Hill from stealing the ball in their NBA Basketball game in Orlando, Fla. on Monday, Dec. 26, 2005. Orlando won, 108-93.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, 2006

Toronto Raptors Andrea Bargnani, center, dunks as Milwaukee Bucks Andrew Bogut, left, and teammate Maurice Williams look on during first half basketball action in Toronto, Friday, March 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Aaron Harris, CP)

Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Oden, 2007

The Portland Trail Blazers Greg Oden (52) pulls down a rebound as Sacramento Kings Spencer Hawes, left, and Brad Miller look on in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, at the Rose Garden, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, 2008

Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls stands on the court during the game with the Los Angeles Lakers on November 18, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 116-109. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

LA Clippers: Blake Griffin, 2009

Clippers forward Blake Griffin shoots over Golden State’s Corey Maggette (left) and Kelenna Azubuike at Staples Center in 2009.(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff)

Washington Wizards: John Wall, 2010

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) drives to the basket against the Houston Rockets during the first half at the Verizon Center in 2010. (Rafael Suanes-US PRESSWIRE)

Charlotte Hornets: Anthony Davis, 2012 (then the New Orleans Hornets)

New Orleans Hornets power forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden in 2012. (Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins, 2014

Andrew Wiggins #21 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2014 NBA rookie photo shoot at MSG Training Center on August 3, 2014 in Tarrytown, New York. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, 2017

Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz controls the ball during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston in 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, 2018

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) loos to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (2) defends during the second quarter at Staples Center in 2018. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, 2019

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) brings the ball up the court during the preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in 2019. (Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, 2020

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards plays against the Detroit Pistons during an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, 2021

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots over the defense of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, 2022

Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on October 19, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Six teams in NBA history have never had a No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick:

  • Denver Nuggets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Utah Jazz
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