Greg Oden was taken number 1 in this years NBA draft. I think he is going to be an awesome player for years to come. I thought I would look back and see how the other number 1 draft picks are doing. Here is the history of the number 1 pick:
2007– Greg Oden, C, Portland, Ohio State
2006– Andrea Bargnani, F, Toronto, Benetton Treviso (Italy)
2005– Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, C, Utah
2004– Dwight Howard, Orlando, F, Southwest Atlantic Christian Academy (Atlanta)
2003– LeBron James, Cleveland, G, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS
2002– Yao Ming, Houston, C, China
2001– Kwame Brown, Washington, F-C, Glynn Academy HS
2000– Kenyon Martin, New Jersey, F, Cincinnati
1999– Elton Brand, Chicago, F, Duke
1998– Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers, C, Pacific
1997– Tim Duncan, San Antonio, C, Wake Forest
1996– Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, G, Georgetown
1995– Joe Smith, Golden State, C, Maryland
1994– Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee, F, Purdue
1993– Chris Webber, Orlando, F, Michigan
1992– Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando, C, Louisiana State
1991– Larry Johnson, Charlotte, F, UNLV
1990– Derrick Coleman, New Jersey, F, Syracuse
1989– Pervis Ellison, Sacramento, C, Louisville
1988– Danny Manning, Los Angeles Clippers, F, Kansas
1987– David Robinson, San Antonio, C, Navy
1986– Brad Daugherty, Cleveland, C, North Carolina
1985– Patrick Ewing, New York, C, Georgetown
1984– Akeem Olajuwon, Houston, C, Houston
1983– Ralph Sampson, Houston, C, Virginia
1982– James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers, F, North Carolina
1981– Mark Aguirre, Dallas, F, DePaul
1980– Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State, C, Purdue
1979– Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, G, Michigan St.
1978– Mychal Thompson, Portland, C, Minnesota
1977– Kent Benson, Milwaukee, C, Indiana
1976– John Lucas, Houston, G, Maryland
1975– David Thompson, Atlanta, G, North Carolina St.
1974– Bill Walton, Portland, C, UCLA
1973– Doug Collins, Philadelphia, G, Illinois St.
1972– LaRue Martin, Portland, C, Loyola-Chicago
1971– Austin Carr, Cleveland, G, Notre Dame
1970– Bob Lanier, Detroit, C, St. Bonaventure
1969– Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee, C, UCLA
1968– Elvin Hayes, Houston, C, Houston
1967– Jimmy Walker, Detroit, G, Providence
1966– Cazzie Russell, New York, F, Michigan
Just looking at over the past 20 years a couple names stand out as superstars. A couple I thought “thats right, I had forgotten they were taken #1.” And some I said that was a mistake.
Kwame, and Olowokandi were mistakes. Kenyon, Joe Smith, and Glenn Robinson didn’t turn out as good as promised and probably weren’t worth the #1 (KMart does still have a chance to come around if he is ever healthy). Bogut and Bargnani are still young and need to show they can become a star or they may fall into the bad pick category. Shaq, Iverson, Duncan, Brand, Yao, LeBron, and Howard are all superstars and excellent picks.
In the 14 seasons played since 1992, the year Shaq was drafted, Either Shaq or Tim Duncan have won it all 8 times. The great centers always go first. Robinson in ‘87 and even Hakeem in ‘84. Both won 2 titles.
Some would say Olajuwon was a mistake even with the 2 rings. Why, because Michael Jordon won 6 and was drafted 3rd. Sam Bowie, who suffered from leg injuries, was 2nd. Charles Barkley went 5th, to the 76ers in that very rich draft.
The Sultan on Sports
http://www.tsos20.wordpress.com