There are obvious ones, such as LeBron, Tim Duncan, Hakeem, and Shaq (although I’ve even heard some people claim that Shaq underachieved for a #1 pick).
But I’m curious exactly how many actually have lived up to their #1 pick status. There are some legends like Iverson and Kyrie that you could even question. Curious to hear people’s opinions on this, especially with Victor now in the league.
Insanity to say question AI, Kyrie or freaking Shaq. NO SOUP FOR YOU
Shaq might’ve underachieved for what he could’ve been, but he’s one of the greatest first overall picks ever. I think you’re talking about draft day hype, not actual draft position.
Questioning Shaq or Iverson is actually insane, but I digress. Oscar, Kareem, magic, Walton, and Baylor all come to mind immediately when I think of people that lived up to the pick. I would say Dwight, Ewing, Robinson and Worthy also did and it would be insane to argue otherwise. There is probably more that lived up to the pick but those ones seem like really open and shut examples of number one picks that lived up to it.
So what, your definition of a no.1 pick that actually lived up to their draft position is what, a top 10 player of all time?
Yea, like what is this post? There’s only 10 spots in the top 10 but expects all 70ish number 1 picks in history to be top 10.
wait what?!? who the fuck questions AI and Kyrie??? Damn….
You question if the perennial all-star, MVP, 4x scoring champ who was massive cultural icon lived up to his draft position?
I dunno man, I got him just above Kerry Kittles but definitely below Jamal Mashburn.
Iverson is a top 100 player of all time. Of course he justified going #1. The Shaq claim by anyone is demented tho 😂
Lmaooo yall are killing OP 😭
What do you mean “lived up to their draft position?”
I think people tend to have unreasonable expectations of high draft picks. As I’ve mentioned before, only two players acquired via a top 10 draft pick in the 21st century have led their team to a title as the best player on that team.
I tend to think Iverson is broadly over-rated, but if you don’t think he lived up to first-pick status, your expectations of the top pick are unreasonable.
Who are the 2?
Wade and Curry.
LeBron also won a title for the Cavs to a title, but only after leaving and returning.
Then you have Jokic and Giannis and maybe Kawhi who have done it after being drafted outside the top ten.
Point being: people’s expectations for high draft picks are way too high.
Good breakdown of all the #1 picks and their achievements:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_NBA_draft_picks
If going with “if we make a redraft who would go 1 still”
1987 - David Robinson (over Reggie Miller and Pippen).
1992 - Shaq
1993 - Webber (Over Penny)
1997 - Duncan
2003 - Lebron
2004 - Dwight Howard
Close calls
1986 - Brad Daugherty vs Hornacek, Rodman, Price or Harper.
1999 - Elton Brand vs Marion or Ginobili.
2002 - Yao vs Amare
2012 - Anthony Davis vs Lillard
2013 - Anthony Bennett vs Giannis
2015 - Towns vs Booker
2020 - Ant vs Haliburton
Too early to tell
2022 - Paolo
2023 - Wemby
(although I’ve even heard some people claim that Shaq underachieved for a #1 pick).
Who says this? Lol. How can being a consesus top 10 player all time be an underachiever?
Paolo Banchero
The bar should be the best player in the draft class, whether that’s a GOAT candidate or a fringe All-Star shouldn’t be the deciding factor. So the #1 picks who lived up to their draft position are imo:
Elgin Baylor (1958), Oscar Robertson (1960), Walt Bellamy (1961), Elvin Hayes (1968), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), David Thompson (1975), Magic Johnson (1979), David Robinson (1987), Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993), Tim Duncan (1997), Yao Ming (2002), LeBron James (2003), Dwight Howard (2004), Anthony Davis (2012), Zion Williamson (2019), Anthony Edwards (2020).
There are a couple of toss-ups where the best 2-3 players in the draft are pretty much interchangable and some of the newer drafts are still up in the air but this is roughly how I’d have it.
I feel like underachievement for a number 1 pick is like anything worse than KAT. To say shaq underachieved for a number 1 pick is just fucking stupid