Duke’s No. 1 Pick History

Alright, let’s break this down Duke style. No stiff, Wikipedia-level nonsense. We’re talking about Duke Blue Devils who were drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. And yeah, Cooper Flagg just joined the party, so let’s get into it. Get comfy, this is basketball royalty.

Art Heyman (1963)

Duke’s OG #1. Picture this. The early ‘60s, short shorts, no three-point line. Heyman was a straight-up bucket. He dropped 25 a night, grabbed nearly 11 boards, and dragged Duke to its first Final Four. He gets picked by the Knicks, goes All-Rookie, then, well, stuff happens (let’s call it “his hot-headed tendencies. The 60s Boogie Cousins plus injuries). He flamed out of the NBA fast and bounced around the old ABA but at Duke? He’s still a legend. The original.

Elton Brand (1999)

“Big E.” Two years at Duke, almost 17 and 9 a game, an All-American, and a Final Four. He was a beat. The Bulls, fresh off the whole Michael Jordan hangover, snatched him at No. 1 in a stacked draft (seriously, All-Stars everywhere). Brand put in the work. He was Co-Rookie of the Year, a two-time All-Star, and for a minute, he even made the Clippers relevant. Injuries slowed him down, but he was a problem in the paint for a solid 15 years. Not bad, Elton. Not bad at all.

Kyrie Irving (2011)

Kyrie’s Duke career? More like a cameo with just 11 games (thanks, foot injury). Still, he balled out averaging 17.5 points and showed off his crazy handles, and total floor general vibes. The Cavs needed a savior post-LeBron, so they drafted him. He was the Rookie of the Year, has nine All-Star nods, and oh yeah that shot in 2016. You know the one. The guy’s a walking highlight reel (and, let’s face it, a walking headline), but you can’t deny the talent. Straight wizard with the rock.

Zion Williamson (2019)

The human cheat code. Zion at Duke was like watching a video game. Dunks, blocks, windmills. Everything. He averaged 22 and 9 a game at Duke, was the National Player of the Year, and an ACC champ. The Pelicans had no choice, he was the obvious top pick. Since then? When he’s healthy, he’s a monster. He is an All-Star, All-NBA caliber, and puts up mid-20s in points like it’s nothing… when healthy. The only thing stopping Zion… is, well, Zion. Still, if he stays on the court, he’s a superstar.

Paolo Banchero (2022)

This guy’s smooth. He averaged 17 and 8 in college and carried the Blue Devils to the Final Four. Orlando took him No. 1. He won Rookie of the Year, became an All-Star, and looks like the Magic’s new face. He’s got that modern big-man swag. He can shoot, pass, and score from anywhere. As of 2025, he’s dropping 20+ a night and looking like a problem for years. Orlando’s franchise player.

Cooper Flagg (2025)

The new kid on the block. Flagg showed up at Duke with all the hype. Like, “future of basketball” hype. He’s got size (6’9”), freaky athleticism, and can do anything on the court. Everyone saw him going No. 1 before he even played a college game. He did not disappoint. As the 2025 top pick, he’s bringing that Duke swagger to the league, and expectations are sky-high. We’ll see, but the dude’s got “superstar” written all over him.

Duke vs. the Field:

So, how’s Duke stack up? Five No. 1 picks before Flagg, now six. Kentucky and UNC are always in the mix, but Duke’s got the edge for sheer star power and NBA-ready dudes. Just look at the names. Legacy? Oh, it’s real. Blue Devils aren’t a college powerhouse only, they are an NBA pipeline. That pipeline is still wide open.