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Best draft pick in the history of each NBA organization

The NBA Draft began in 1947, and has become one of the most anticipated events on the NBA calendar. The following list features the best player ever drafted by each NBA organization.

 
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Atlanta Hawks: Bill Russell, C

Atlanta Hawks: Bill Russell, C
Dick Raphael / National Basketball Association

Russell was selected second overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 but never set foot on the court for the team. Boston traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the Hawks for Russell. He went on to win five MVP Awards and average 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds in a Hall of Fame career. Russell also won an astounding 11 NBA Championships.

 
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Boston Celtics: Larry Bird, F

Boston Celtics: Larry Bird, F
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Bird had a Hall of Fame career in Boston after being selected sixth overall in 1978. He averaged 24.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, winning three MVPs and three NBA Championships.

 
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Brooklyn Nets: Buck Williams, F

Brooklyn Nets: Buck Williams, F
Brian Drake / National Basketball Association

Williams went third overall in the 1982 draft after playing his college ball at Maryland. He went on to have a long and productive career with the Nets, Portland, and Knicks, making three All-Star Game appearances and winning the 1981-82 Rookie of the Year award.

 
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Charlotte Hornets: Kobe Bryant, G

Charlotte Hornets: Kobe Bryant, G
Andy Hayt / National Basketball Association

The Hornets selected Bryant 13th overall in 1996, making him the first guard to ever be taken out of high school. He was promptly traded to the Lakers for Vlade Divac and had an incredible 20-year career in LA. The 18-time All-Star won five NBA Championships, averaging 25.0 points for his career.

 
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Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan, G

Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan, G
NBA Photos / National Basketball Association

Up until LeBron James, there was rarely debate about the greatest player in NBA history after Jordan completed his career. The five-time MVP went third overall to the Bulls in 1984 and won six NBA Championships in Chicago. He averaged 30.1 points per game for his career and finished his playing days with two seasons in Washington.

 
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Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, F

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, F
Kirby Lee / Getty Images

James remains arguably the best player in the NBA and has a chance to win his fourth NBA Title in 2017. The four-time MVP has averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks through his age 32 season. He went first overall to the Cavs in 2003.

 
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Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd, G

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd, G
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

Arguably the best point guard of his era, Kidd averaged 12.6 points and 8.7 assists during his 19-year career. He was selected second overall by the Mavs in 1994.

 
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Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, F

Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, F
Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association

Anthony has had a long and productive career as a scorer with the Nuggets and Knicks. He was taken third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft after winning a National Championship at Syracuse and has averaged 24.8 points and 6.6 rebounds through his age 32 season.

 
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Detroit Pistons: Bob Lanier, C

Detroit Pistons: Bob Lanier, C
Dick Raphael / National Basketball Association

Over 14 NBA seasons, Lanier made eight All-Star appearances, averaging 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He was selected first overall in 1970 by the Pistons.

 
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Golden State Warriors: Wilt Chamberlain, C

Golden State Warriors: Wilt Chamberlain, C
Dick Raphael / National Basketball Association

One of the greatest NBA players of all-time, Chamberlain was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial selection in 1959. He led the league in points per game in each of his first seven seasons and rebounds per game in 11 of his 14 NBA seasons. The four-time MVP won two NBA titles.

 
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Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, C

Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, C
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

Olajuwon went first overall in 1984, two picks ahead of Michael Jordan. It's hard to imagine the Rockets regret the pick after Olajuwon won one MVP and two NBA titles, along with 12 All-Star appearances. He averaged 21.8 points and 11.1 rebounds over his 18-year career.

 
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Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller, G

Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller, G
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

Miller spent his entire 18-year career with the Pacers after being selected 11th overall in 1987. He averaged 18.2 points per game, shooting nearly 40 percent from three, and made five All-Star appearances.

 
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Los Angeles Clippers: Adrian Dantley, F

Los Angeles Clippers: Adrian Dantley, F
NBA Photos / National Basketball Association

Taken sixth overall by the Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) in 1976, Dantley was traded to the Pacers and then the Lakers over the next year. Dantley played for seven different teams during his career, averaging 24.3 points per game.

 
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Los Angeles Lakers: Jerry West, G

Los Angeles Lakers: Jerry West, G
NBA Photos / National Basketball Association

West made a huge impact for the Lakers both as a player and in the front office. He averaged 27.0 points and 6.7 asissts during his 14-year career in LA, making the All-Star team in all 14 seasons and winning the 1972 NBA Championship.

 
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Memphis Grizzlies: Shane Battier, F

Memphis Grizzlies: Shane Battier, F
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

Battier was taken sixth overall in 2001 and had a much better NBA career than many give him credit. He was a two-time All-Defensive player and won two NBA Championships.

 
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Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade, G

Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade, G
Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association

Now with the Bulls, Wade remains productive in his mid-30's. He won three NBA Championships with the Heat and has made 12 All-Star appearances. He went fifth overall in the incredibly talented 2003 Draft.

 
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Milwaukee Bucks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C

Milwaukee Bucks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C
Tony Tomsic / WireImage

While Abdul-Jabbar played most of his career with the Lakers, his first six seasons were in Milwaukee. Drafted first overall out of UCLA in 1969, he went on to make 19 All-Star appearances and win six NBA Championships.

 
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett, F

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett, F
Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association

The fifth overall pick in the 1995 Draft out of high school, Garnett is a surefire Hall of Famer after 15 All-Star appearances and 12 All-Defensive designations. He averaged a double-double for his career.

 
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New Orleans Pelicans: Chris Paul, G

New Orleans Pelicans: Chris Paul, G
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

CP3 played his first six seasons in New Orleans before going to the Clippers. He's averaged 18.7 points and 9.9 assists per game for his career.

 
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New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, C

New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, C
Noren Trotman / National Basketball Association

An NBA Hall of Famer after 11 All-Star appearances, Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 2.4 blocks, and 9.8 total rebounds for his career. He went first overall in the 1985 NBA Draft.

 
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Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, F

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, F
Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association

Durant has been an elite NBA player since the SuperSonics drafted him second overall in 2007 behind Greg Oden. After playing nine seasons in the Seattle/Oklahoma City organization, Durant signed with Golden State last offseason. He is a seven-time All-NBA and won the 2013-14 MVP.

 
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Orlando Magic: Shaquille O'Neal, C

Orlando Magic: Shaquille O'Neal, C
NBA Photos / National Basketball Association

Shaq needs no introduction as arguably the most dominant center in NBA history. He's a four-time NBA Champion, though none of that success occurred until he left Orlando. He was also the 1999-00 MVP and a 15-time All-Star. The Magic selected O'Neal first overall out of LSU in 1992.

 
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Philadelphia 76ers: Charles Barkley, F

Philadelphia 76ers: Charles Barkley, F
Brian Drake / National Basketball Association

Barkley has made just as big of a name for himself as a studio commentator as he did during his Hall of Fame career. He was the 1992-93 MVP and made 11 All-Star appearances between Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston. Sir Charles averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game for his career.

 
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Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, G

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, G
Andy Hayt / National Basketball Association

Nash turned into a spectacular NBA point guard after the Suns selected him 15th overall in 1996. He averaged 14.3 points and 8.5 assists for his career along with two league MVPs.

 
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Portland Trail Blazers: Clyde Drexler, G

Portland Trail Blazers: Clyde Drexler, G
Brian Drake / National Basketball Association

Drexler developed into a star after being selected 14th overall in 1983 by the Blazers. He made 10 All-Star appearances and averaged 20.4 points per game for his career.

 
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Sacramento Kings: Oscar Robertson, G

Sacramento Kings: Oscar Robertson, G
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Selected first overall in 1960 by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings), Robertson was a 12-team All-Star and the 1960-61 Rookie of the Year. He averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game during his career.

 
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San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, F

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, F
Craig Jones / Getty Images

Duncan surpassed former teammate David Robinson as the best Spurs draft pick of all time as a 15-time All-Star and two-time MVP. He won five NBA Championships with the Spurs, averaging 19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during his career.

 
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Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh, F

Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh, F
Jennifer Pottheiser / National Basketball Association

The Raptors took Bosh fourth overall in 2003, and he's had a great career between Toronto and Miami. Bosh has averaged 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game during his career.

 
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Utah Jazz: Karl Malone, F

Utah Jazz: Karl Malone, F
Rocky Widner / National Basketball Association

A 14-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Malone was a prolific scorer alongside John Stockton in Utah. He averaged 25.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game during his career. Utah drafted Malone 13th overall in 1985.

 
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Washington Wizards: Walt Bellamy, C

Washington Wizards: Walt Bellamy, C
Bettmann/Getty Images

Bellamy was the first overall pick of the Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) in 1961. He averaged 20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds for his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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