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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mary Clarke

Every No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft since 2000

Becoming the No. 1 overall pick for a draft class has a distinct prestige to it. After all, when players like Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James are drafted first overall, there’s a clear pedigree to live up to.

The 2023 NBA Draft is nearly here, and with it, the San Antonio Spurs will — with near-certainty — select Victor Wembanyama No. 1 overall. After all, Spurs Chairman Peter Holt said he nearly fainted with excitement after learning the results of the draft lottery.

With the 2023 NBA Draft nearly upon us, let’s take a look at the most recent No. 1 overall picks in league history, starting in 2000.

MORE NBA: Our final NBA mock draft before the real thing on June 22

2000: Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

2001: Kwame Brown (Washington Wizards)

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

2002: Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

2003: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

2004: Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

2005: Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

2006: Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors)

Harry How/Getty Images

2007: Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

2008: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)

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2009: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)

Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

2010: John Wall (Washington Wizards)

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

2011: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Jason Miller/Getty Images

2012: Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets)

Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

2013: Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

2014: Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

2015: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King

2016: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

2017: Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers)

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

2018: Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

2019: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

2020: Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

2021: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

2022: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
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