Top 8 #1 Draft Picks of all Time

Meh, first it started out as top 10 and I had Dean Hollis @ #10 then was putting Manu at #9.Then I started doing more and more research and while statistically he's been pretty phenomenal(Hollis) he doesn't come near top 10, not yet. Then I decided perhaps Manu doesn't deserve a nod and put Iverson over him, then I saw Manu had championships and playoff MVP and regular season MVP status and made this list to top 8. This is really a fucking hard thing to do, this article originally started over 2 seasons ago and it was going to be rating the worst and best #1 picks of all time but geeze was that incredible work. If anyone needs to know at the time of that writing Fab Melo was the "worst" #1 pick of all time.



#8 Afernee Hardaway - Drafted by Orlando Magic in 1993

Rookie RatingsAnfernee Hardaway SG 6'7'' 195 22 B C+ C+ C C A

Ratings in Prime: 290 Anfernee Hardaway PG 29 6'7'' 195 B B A B- C C

Career Stats Estimate:

25ppg, 10apg, 7rpg, 47%FG 80%FT, 40%3pt

Individual Awards:
Playoff MVP
Rookie of the Year
All-League First Team(2x)
All-League Third Team(2x)
Sixth man of the Year

Championships: 2

Now hear me out on this. Penny Hardaway is easily the most underrated player of all-time. He didn't get alot of awards, he didn't have overly impressive stats but there is tough to find a player who was so vital to a team's success. Hardaway won Playoff MVP in his only championship season with the Bulls in impressive fashion having such players like Shaquille O'Neal and Glenn Robinson(putting up over 30) on the team. That was probably one of the sickest teams put together in BBS on paper.


#7 John Wall - Drafted by Indiana Pacers in 2010

Rookie Ratings:John Wall PG 6'4'' 195 20 B+ C+ B- B- C+ A

Ratings in Prime: 553 John Wall PG 37 6'4'' 202 A- A A A C C

Career Stats: 1289 38.1 11459 24304 .471 4834 6434 .751 2266 5762 .393 6.4 10.0 1.9 0.2 2.9 19 23.3

Individual Awards:
2010 - Rookie of the Year
2010 - All-Rookie Team
2015 - Most Valuable Player
2015 - All-League First Team
2016 - All-League First Team
2017 - All-Star Game MVP
2020 - Playoff MVP
2022 - All-League Second Team
2024 - All-League Third Team
2024 - All-Defensive Second Team

Championships: 1

There really have been two PGs who have been more dominant than John Wall but really one can make an arguement for John Wall. It really is a mystery how John Wall has only 1 championship as he always has been on incredibly competitive teams for the entirety of his career which makes his career stats and performances even that more amazing. It's crazy to think the stats he would put up on a perenially poor team.

#6 -Manu Ginoboli - Drafted by Los Angeles Clippers in 1999

Rookie RatingsManu Ginobili SG 6'6'' 210 22 B- B- C+ C+ D+ A

Ratings in Prime:480 Manu Ginobili PG 34 6'6'' 216 A- A- A A- D- D

Career Stats: Estimate:25ppg, 11apg, 2spg, 50%FG, 94%FT, 45%3pt

Individual Awards:
Playoff MVP
Regular Season MVP
Rookie of the Year
All-Rookie First Team
All-League 1st team
All-League 3rd Team(2x)

Championships:2

Manu was heading towards biggest bust of all-time but much like wine he aged incredibly well. Manu played some of the best ball the league has ever seen in his 30-34 years. Pretty much single handedly leading the Bucks to their first championship in 2011 and winning the playoff MVP at 34 years of age. Really incredible how he went to average to amazing around the time he hit 28-29.

#5 Chris Paul - Drafted by New Jersey Nets in 2005

Rookie Ratings Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 20 B+ C B+ C+ D+ A

Ratings in Prime: 506 Chris Paul PG 26 6'0'' 182 A- A- A+ C+ D+ C

Career Stats: Estimate: 24ppg, 12apg, 2spg 48%FG, 90%FT, 40%3pt

Individual Awards:
Rookie of the Year
All-Rookie First Team
All-League Third Team(2x)
Regular Season MVP(3x)
All-League First team (3x)
All-League Second Team
Playoff MVP

Championships: 1

Chris Paul had one of the most dominant stretches for a PG of all time winning 3 consecutive MVP awards, and a championship in the process. Chris Paul would be higher on this list if the stretch weren't for only a period of 3-4 seasons. I'm not quite sure whatever derailed Pauls career has he was absolutely on fire for a short period of his career.

#4 Perry Jones - Drafted by Chicago Bulls in 2011

Rookie Ratings:Perry Jones SF 6'11'' 230 20 B C+ C B C+ A

Ratings in Prime: 573 Perry Jones SF 36 7'0'' 230 B A- A- A+ A- D

Career Stats: : 38.2 12736 26503 .481 6153 7053 .872 2602 6177 .421 9.4 4.7 1.7 1.0 2.2 28 27.8

Individual Awards:
2011 - Rookie Game MVP
2011 - All-Rookie Team
2014 - All-League Third Team
2015 - All-League Third Team
2016 - All-Star Game MVP
2017 - All-League Third Team
2017 - Playoff MVP
2019 - All-League Second Team
2020 - All-League First Team
2020 - All-Defensive Second Team
2021 - Most Valuable Player
2021 - All-League First Team
2021 - All-Defensive Team
2022 - All-League First Team
2023 - All-League Third Team
2024 - All-League First Team
2025 - Sixth Man of the Year
2025 - All-League Second Team
2025 - All-Defensive Second Team
2026 - All-League First Team

Championships: 1

Statistically, there is no one better than Perry Jones imho. Averaging 30ppg, over 10rpg, almost 50% from the field there just isn't a better scorer imho in the history of BBS. His awards are mind boggling as well but even more mind boggling his is one championship. He was amazing for the Bulls but after he left the Bulls his chances of another championship were slim after going to perenially mediocre to average teams. He'd be top 3 on this list if he has more than two championships.


#3 Allen Iverson - Drafted by Memphis Grizzlies in 1995.

Rookie Ratings -Allen Iverson SG 6'0'' 165 20 A- C+ C+ B- C- A

Ratings in Prime:637 Allen Iverson PG 30 6'0'' 174 A- A B A C- C

Career Stats: Estimate: 30ppg, 9apg, 2spg 48%FG, 80%FT, 44%3pt,

Individual Awards:
Playoff MVP (2x)
Regular Season MVP(3x)
All-Rookie First Team
All-League First Team (4x)
All-League Second Team(4x)
All-League Third Team (2x)
All-Defensive First Team
All-Defensive Second Team (2x)

Championships: 2

I mean, just look at his individual awards. Playoff MVP twice, Regular season MVP 3 times, 2 championships. Numerous scoring titles. Iverson was easily one of the best PGs to play in BBS. It's pretty incredible and he was fantastic defensively as well. The most dominat Point Guard in BBS history, yes you heard me right.

#2 Harrison Barnes - Drafted by Memphis Grizzlies in 2014

Rookie Ratings Harrison Barnes SG 6'8'' 215 22 B+ B C B+ C+ A

Ratings in Prime: 388 Harrison Barnes SG 35 6'8'' 215 B A- D+ A- C+ C

Career Stats: : 37.3 9284 20351 .456 5388 6095 .884 1524 4038 .377 7.9 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.8 21 25.6

Individual Awards:
2014 - Rookie Game MVP
2014 - Rookie of the Year
2014 - All-Rookie Team
2018 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2019 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2022 - All-League Third Team

Championships: 4

Look say what you will about Barnes. He's a winner. Insane never wins those championships without Harrison Barnes. He doesn't have the individual awards, his career statistical averages aren't even in top 10 discussion but if you wouldn't like to have a Harrison Barnes in your prime you are only fooling yourself.


#1 - Shaquille O'Neal - Drafted by Portland Trailblazers in 1990

Rookie Ratings(For some reason unavailable)

Ratings in Prime: 1 Shaquille O'Neal C 28 7'2'' 329 A- D C- A- A C

Career Stats Estimate:

28ppg 13rpg 3.5bpg 50%FG

Individual Awards:
Rookie of the Year
All-Rookie Team
All-League 3rd Team(2x)
All-League 2nd Team(5x)
All-Defensive 1st Team
All-Defensive 2nd Team
Defensive Player of the Year
Playoff MVP (3x)

Championships:4

If you wanted to win a championship, Shaquille O'Neal is who you wanted. Shaq won a championship with three different teams, Blazers, Bulls, and Magic(Twice). His individual awards are less than stellar always seemingly playing second or even third fiddle to Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon or David Robinson but only Duncan rivaled Shaq in championships. Timmy would probably be #1 or #2 on this list but shockingly he wasn't the #1 pick when he came out.