It’s common knowledge that No.1 overall draft picks don’t automatically lead to success, both for the player drafted and the teams involved. Of course, that’s not limited to basketball, as there is always a risk in betting on a player’s college basketball potential transforming into elite professional stardom. Conversely, the opposite can – and does – happen, and we see the top picks settle quickly into life in the NBA.
As history tells us, that is also the case for the most recent No.1 picks, some of whom have stood out for excellence, others who have flopped, and some who have simply become solid ball players. Below, we are going to check in on the last 10 No.1 Draft Picks, looking briefly at how they are performing and what their prospects are for success with their teams as we embark on the 2024/25 NBA season:
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns
Kentucky > Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns was part of one of the biggest trades of the offseason, joining the New York Knicks in a move that immediately impacted the NBA odds for the season ahead. Whether Towns is enough to make the Knicks championship contenders remains to be seen, but they look in great shape ahead of the 2024/25 season.
2016: Ben Simmons
LSU > Philadelphia 76ers
Part of the Brooklyn Nets set-up since 2022 after some great years in Philadelphia, things have gone great for the three-time All-Star in New York. Injury has blighted his time in a Nets jersey. Even if he gets healthy in 2024/25, there is a rebuild going on in Brooklyn, and they are a long way from being in contention.
2017: Markelle Fultz
Washington > Philadelphia 76ers
Markelle Fultz isn’t the biggest bust in terms of being a No.1 overall pick and eventually disappointing, but it is fair to say he has not lived up to the hype. The good news for him is that he has shown flashes of his old self since moving to the Orlando Magic. They are outside bets for a run into the Playoffs this season, so maybe Fultz can shine along with another No.1 pick on this list.
2018: Deandre Ayton
Arizona > Phoenix Suns
Ayton has been okay – just okay – in six full seasons in the NBA so far. His best performances for the Suns came in the 2020/21 season when he was a key piece of their Playoff run. Now he is with the fairly directionless Portland Trailblazers. Nobody is expecting big things this season.
2019 Zion Williamson
Duke > New Orleans Pelicans
There’s a lot to like about two-time All-Star Williamson, and there are also reasons to be bullish on the hopes of the Pelicans going forward this season and in the future. Williamson showed his importance to the Pelicans when bouncing back from injury in November last year. His fitness will be key to their hopes in the 2024/25 season. A return to the Playoffs is possible.
2020 Anthony Edwards
Georgia > Minnesota Timberwolves
“Ant-Man” has grown into a fine player, winning All-Star recognition in each of the past two seasons. He had career-highs in points and assists per game last season. The Timberwolves are contenders in 2024/25, and Edwards is a big piece of their puzzle. A fine player on a fine team.
2021 Cade Cunnigham
Oklahoma State > Detroit Pistons
After season-ending surgery in 2022-23, Cunningham came back last season and quickly showed why he was a no.1 overall pick. In July, he signed a multi-year extension deal with Detroit worth $224 million over five years. Right now, he’s a good player in a bad team, but the Pistons are looking to the future. Getting more than 25 wins will be seen as progress this season.
2022 Paolo Banchero
Duke > Orlando Magic
There’s a lot to like about Banchero, and while it’s too early in his NBA career to make any pronouncements, everything looks positive. He was Rookie of the Year in 2022/23 and made the All-Star team last season, putting up strong numbers as Orlando sneaked into the Playoffs. Banchero and Orlando can surprise this season, although it’s probably too soon to be talking about championships.
2023 Victor Wembanyama
Metropolitans 92 –+> San Antonio Spurs
The first of a double French entry on this list, we can’t really add more about Wembanyama than has already been said in countless articles. He is part of a massive rebuild in San Antonio – perhaps the last of the Greg Popovich era – but it does feel like the 2024/25 season is too soon to talk about San Antonio as contenders.
2024 Zaccharie Risacher
JL Bourg > Atlanta Hawks
Finishing with our final Frenchman, we can only speculate about how Risacher will take to life in the NBA. The Hawks managed to make the Play-In last season, but few pundits believe they will do anything of note this season. They are rebuilding, but they are so far back in that rebuild that the direction has not been decided. Risacher will be part of those plans but don’t expect the same kind of explosive introduction to the NBA like his compatriot had.
