The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is still under debate.
Will the Washington Wizards choose AJ Divanza, Darrin Peterson, or Cameron Boozer? Weeks after the NBA Draft lottery, not much has been decided, and rumors and speculation are taking over as NBA executives and agents try to shape a narrative that benefits them.
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There is a long history of Hall of Famers being born from the top of the draft order, with players such as Elgin Baylor (1958), Oscar Robertson (1960), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), Magic Johnson (1979), Shaquille O’Neal (1992), and Tim Duncan (1997) enjoying the spotlight.
Recent history shows that the right No. 1 pick can change the direction of a franchise. If you do it wrong, your team can be set back years. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 and the current NBA Rookie of the Year, was a relatively big deal compared to the decisions facing the Wizards’ front office this time around.
Here’s a ranking of every No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft since 2000.
NBA Mock Draft: What we’ve heard, updates, and rumors about all 60 pickups.
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cleveland cavaliers
career: 4 seasons, 151 games (regular season + playoffs)
statistics: 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists
What could be worse for a team than a No. 1 pick not living up to expectations due to injury? A No. 1 pick who didn’t live up to his billing because the team completely failed the evaluation process. That is Anthony Bennett’s fate. This comes after the Cavaliers shocked everyone by selecting the UNLV forward with the No. 1 pick and then being dumped by the team the following year. Bennett ultimately played four seasons in the NBA with four different franchises and went on to have a long career in the G League and overseas.
portland trail blazers
career: 3 seasons, 114 games
statistics:8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
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Auden has missed more NBA seasons than he has played since being drafted No. 1 in 2007 as a one-shot star out of Ohio State. He played in 61 games during his rookie season in 2008-09 (after missing the first season after being drafted), but was limited to just 44 games for the rest of his career due to foot and knee injuries.
atlanta hawks
career: 2 seasons, 145 games
statistics: 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 12.0 PER (player efficiency rating)
It’s hard to judge the Hawks’ top pick based on their first two seasons in the league, but the 2025-26 season is a step back. After making the All-Rookie team, Lizacher was left out of the rotation this season as the Hawks made the playoffs. There are questions about his long-term future in Atlanta, and he could be an interesting trade item this offseason.
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philadelphia 76ers
career: 9 seasons, 275 games
statistics: 10.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 14.2 PER
A mysterious shoulder illness that affected Fultz’s shooting motion fundamentally changed the trajectory of his career, and a stint with the Sixers fell through after Philadelphia used the No. 1 pick on him. Fultz carved out a rotation role with the Orlando Magic two years ago and played in 21 games with the Sacramento Kings in 2024-2025. At the end of this regular season, he had appeared in five games for the Toronto Raptors.
22. Kwame Brown, 2001
washington wizards
career: 12 seasons, 625 games
statistics:6.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Michael Jordan, the Wizards’ infamous No. 1 pick, ended up playing for seven NBA teams after joining the league straight out of high school. His best statistical season was the one he played alongside Jordan with the Wizards, before becoming a rotation player on Kobe Bryant’s Lakers playoff team.
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toronto raptors
career: 10 seasons, 561 games
statistics: 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
After the Raptors used the No. 1 pick on Bargnani, he settled into being a role player. The 7-foot Italian averaged over 15 points per game for three straight seasons and shot over 34.5 percent from 3-point range.
phoenix suns
career: 8 seasons, 525 games
statistics: 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 19.7 PER
Ayton is on his third team and got a fresh start with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He reached the NBA Finals with Phoenix in 2020, but the offensively versatile 7-footer has underperformed in recent seasons and seems better suited as a role player at this point.
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new jersey nets
career: 15 seasons, 869 games
statistics: 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks, 15.0 PER
Martin was a one-time All-Star and a key starter on a Nets team that reached the NBA Finals in consecutive seasons. His inside defense, rebounding and toughness made him a coveted role player during his 15-year career.
18. Cooper Flagg, 2026
dallas mavericks
career: 1 season, 70 games
statistics:21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 17.9 PER
Flagg is poised to move up this list quickly after being named the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. He shined for the slow-starting Mavericks, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points in three consecutive games and set the NBA record for most points in a single game by a teenager (51 points). He is also the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
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philadelphia 76ers
career: 8 seasons, 422 games
statistics: 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Simmons’ injury issues, outside shooting struggles and demeanor concerns have tarnished his reputation, overshadowing some of the productive seasons he had after being drafted No. 1 by the Sixers. The 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year was named All-NBA once, led the league in steals in 2020 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season.
Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to Minnesota Timberwolves)
career: 12 seasons, 878 games
statistics: 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 14.8 PER
Wiggins, who was drafted No. 1 by Cleveland and then part of the trade that brought LeBron James back to the Cavaliers, is currently with his third team (the Miami Heat) since starting his career with the Timberwolves. The 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year was a key starter on the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 championship team, shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range for the first time in his career last season.
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new orleans pelicans
career: 7 seasons, 276 games
statistics:23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 24.6 PER
Williamson ranks lower than the other players on this list as the two-time All-Star has yet to make the All-NBA team with the Pelicans due to injury and availability issues. The 25-year-old played in 60 games last season and proved more durable, but his productivity was lower than in previous All-Star campaigns, and New Orleans had another unsuccessful season.
milwaukee bucks
career: 14 seasons, 783 games
statistics:9.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, 16.4 PER
The Australian center once led the league in blocks (in 2011) and was ultimately drafted No. 1 overall by the Bucks, making the All-NBA Third Team and earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. He was also a key role player when the Golden State Warriors won the 2015 NBA Championship.
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orlando magic
career: 4 seasons, 210 games
statistics:22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 17.2 PER
The 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year had his sophomore season cut short due to injury, and went through further growing pains last season as the Magic tried to ascend to championship status. But Banchero remains a promising inside-outside threat, having been the team’s leading scorer in the postseason every season since being drafted No. 1 by Orlando.
washington wizards
career: 11 seasons, 684 games
statistics: 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals
Wall led the Wizards to the first round of the playoffs three times during his four-year career, a feat the team has accomplished only once in the past 30 years. The athletic point guard, who last played in an NBA game in January 2023, earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors once each during his career.
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11. Yao Ming, 2002
houston rockets
career: 8 seasons, 514 games
statistics: 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.6 assists, 23.0 PER
The 7-foot-6 Chinese center became one of the best centers in the NBA with the Rockets, but injuries cut short his elite career. Ming earned All-NBA honors five times, but his Houston team advanced past the first round of the playoffs only once.
detroit pistons
career: 5 seasons, 292 games
statistics:22.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 18.0 PER
Cunningham led the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and earned first-team All-NBA honors for the first time last season. He had a breakout season in Detroit in 2025, earning third-team All-NBA honors and leading the franchise to its first playoff win since 2008.
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chicago bulls
career: 15 seasons, 775 games
statistics: 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 18.0 PER
Rose would be ranked higher given his brief growth and peak as an NBA player, winning the 2009 Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP in his third season after being taken No. 1 overall by the Bulls. After reaching the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, injuries hampered Rose’s time in Chicago, but he had a long career as a role player. His only All-NBA honor came during his MVP season.
Los Angeles Clippers
career: 13 seasons, 833 games
statistics: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, PER 21.0
Although Griffin was unable to play in his first year in the NBA due to injury, he had a strong season in the first part of his career with the “Lob City” Clippers, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011. Griffin was named All-NBA five times, including with the Detroit Pistons.
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minnesota timberwolves
career: 11 seasons, 789 games
statistics:22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 23.6 PER
The 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year was a versatile two-way force for the Knicks as they won their first NBA championship since 1973 this season. Towns also earned All-NBA Third Team honors last year for the third time in his career. Towns, one of the best 3-point shooting big men in league history, previously led the Timberwolves to their first playoff series victory in 20 years.
minnesota timberwolves
career:6th season, 494 games
statistics:24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 18.2 PER
Edwards could be ready to climb even higher based on the potential he showed during his first six years in the NBA. He’s already a two-time All-NBA selection (and just missed the 65-game mark to achieve the feat a third time last season). The two-way threat averaged a career-best 28.8 points this season, and also set career highs in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
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san antonio spurs
career: 3 seasons, 203 games
statistics:23.4 points, 11 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks, 25.7 PER
Wenbanyama quickly rose to the top five on this list after leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals, earning All-NBA first-team honors and winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award during his third NBA season. He finished third in this year’s MVP voting and looks poised to become the league’s best big man in this generation.
cleveland cavaliers
career: 15 seasons, 875 games
statistics:23.7 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 22.2 PER
Irving was the Rookie of the Year in 2012 after the Cavaliers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick, and he won the NBA Championship with LeBron James in 2016. He was a three-time All-NBA selection (with three different teams) and reached the NBA Finals in 2024 with the Dallas Mavericks. Irving did not play for the Mavericks in the 2025-26 season. Currently recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained in March 2025.
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new orleans hornets
career: 14 seasons, 867 games
statistics:24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 blocks, 26.7 PER
Davis ranks next to Dwight Howard on this list, even though Howard was the NBA Finals MVP on the winning team. That’s because of what Davis’ tenure was like with the team that took him No. 1. He made one playoff appearance with New Orleans before requesting a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite this, Davis became arguably the best two-way big man of his generation, but that argument is only due to him being sidelined by injuries for many years. Davis was a five-time All-NBA selection (four of which were first-team selections), a five-time All-Defensive selection and led the NBA in blocks three times.
2. Dwight Howard, 2004
orlando magic
career: 18 seasons, 1,367 games
statistics: 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.3 assists, 21.3 PER
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His career numbers don’t do justice to the fact that he was one of the most dominant players in the league during his prime after being drafted No. 1 by the Magic. The recent Hall of Famer was named All-NBA eight times (including five first-team selections), was named Defensive Player of the Year three times, led the league in rebounds five times and led the NBA in blocks twice. Howard won an NBA championship in 2020 as a role player with LeBron James and the Lakers after leading Orlando to the NBA Finals as a star ahead of James 11 years ago.
1. LeBron James, 2003
cleveland cavaliers
career: 23 seasons, 1,924 games
statistics:27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 26.9 PER
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is arguably the best No. 1 pick since 2000. The four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, and four-time NBA Champion just finished a record-breaking 23rd season in the league, but it looks like he still has a lot left in him. The 40-year-old is one season away from earning All-NBA second-team honors with the Los Angeles Lakers. Although his first stint as a No. 1 pick in Cleveland ended in a controversial “decision” to Miami, James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals before returning to Cleveland and winning the NBA Championship in 2016. He also won back-to-back titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, and led the Lakers to the 2020 championship.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Draft 2026: No. 1 pick since 2000
