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
