Ranking the 25 greatest NBA first-round draft picks from Kentucky

Every team could use a steady big man, and that was exactly what Magloire became at the next level. He was never flashy and spent the bulk of his career coming off the bench, although when he did get a few years as a starter, he found himself scoring in double figures. He was an All-Star during the 2003-04 season, finishing with career-highs of 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. 

As a rookie, Mercer had no trouble putting up 15 points a night. That began a five-year stretch during which he began scoring in double figures. He only lasted eight seasons, but it was clear that the talent he showcased at Kentucky was not a fluke. Had he had a little more run in the NBA, he likely could have come in higher on the list. 

It's been an up-and-down start to Johnson's career, seeing seasons as a full-time starter and others as a sixth man. In either scenario, he's always been productive for San Antonio, including a career-high 22 points per game during the 2022-23 season. As the Spurs return to title contention, Johnson will get a chance to prove on a national stage what he can do as a consistent role player. 

Wait, he went to Kentucky? Technically, yes, so that's why he's on this list. He signed with the Wildcats but never played a game at Kentucky, forgoing his college eligibility to head to the NBA. When drafted, he was announced as coming from Kentucky. Caveat aside, Sharpe has become a lethal scorer in the NBA, with a career average of 21 points per game to date. 

In his first NBA game, Washington stepped right in and drained a rookie-debut record seven three-pointers. That set the tone for what he'd become as a pro. There's still much left to go for him in his career, but the early returns are positive. He's scored in double figures every season while improving his rebounding numbers by nearly two points from when he entered the league. 

The furthest one back on this list, Ramsey, was an All-American for multiple seasons at Kentucky. He won a title there and went on to win another seven championships with the Boston dynasty in the NBA. Ramsey was a tough player who had a clutch gene during many of those title runs. He was inducted into the Celtics' Hall of Fame in 1981. 

All Monk did in his one season at Kentucky was set the freshman record for points in a season. It took him some time to figure out his role in the NBA, but he has since settled into being one of the top sixth men in the league, twice finishing inside the top five for the award and once being runner-up. His best season to date saw him score 17.2 points per game. 

When it comes to on-ball defense, there haven't been many guards who do it better than Bledsoe. From the jump, Bledsoe demonstrated his defensive prowess and eventually found himself on the NBA's All-Defensive Team multiple times in his career. Along with that, he has always had a good shot from deep and the ability to score, as evidenced by a pair of 20-point-per-game seasons over his 12-year career. 

A change of scenery has helped Quickley find a second gear. While his three-plus years in New York weren't lost seasons, considering he was a valuable sixth man, he really found himself once he got to Toronto. His first season there saw him hit career highs in points (18.6) and assists (6.8). Once more minutes came his way, so did the numbers. 

The Pistons' 2004 title run was a perfect example of what a team can do when it's working in unity. Prince was never the face of that team, but he sure knew his role as a Three-and-D option. He was a four-time All-Defensive Team representative. While never known for scoring, he provided double-digit scoring totals in nine of his 12 seasons in Detroit.  

If you need a bucket, Herro is more than capable of delivering. That’s all he’s done in his career with Miami. He won the Sixth Man of the Year in his third season after dropping 20 a game off the bench. Once he became a starter in Year 4, Herro continued to reach 20 points per game while adding five assists per night. 

NBA fans will never forget what Murray did in the NBA bubble during the 2020 shortened season, including a pair of 50-point games as he carried Denver to the Western Conference Finals. Eventually, he helped lead the Nuggers to a title in 2023. He's a career 22-point-per-game scorer who has developed into a valuable playmaker and rebounder at the guard position. 

His Kentucky career was legendary and ended with his jersey being retired. He put together a good, not great, NBA career, highlighted by an All-NBA selection and one All-Star game appearance. He proved to be a reliable scorer over his 11-year career, averaging 19.1 points per game. 

After winning a national title in 1996, Walker carried that success into the NBA, eventually winning it all with Miami a decade later. He averaged 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game over his time, picking up three All-Star selections along the way. What made him stand out during his time was the way he could stretch the floor from deep, even leading the league at point for most threes attempted in a season. 

A two-time NBA champ, Rondo developed into a "do-it-all" type player. He had three seasons leading the league in assists and another season topping the charts in steals. The man who set Kentucky's single-season record for steals in a season was also on the All-Defensive Team four times. Perhaps more impressive than anything was the way he stepped up in the playoffs as both a playmaker and a lockdown defender. 

At Kentucky, Fox was just the second Wildcat to ever record a triple-double. That exhibited the pure talent at his disposal, the same talent that he would rely on at the next level. While still early into his NBA playing career, Fox has an All-Star on his resume, an All-NBA Third Team selection, and was the first player to win the Clutch Player of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season. 

Randle started to feel like a bust after his first few seasons, never averaging more than 13 a night, but once he got out of Los Angeles, he elevated his game. He has upped his scoring to 20-plus per game since 2018-19 and was rewarded for his transformation by winning Most Improved Player in the 2020-21 season. The three-time All-Star has even had multiple seasons with 25 points per game, putting aside all those who doubted him in his early years. 

It’s amazing that Maxey lasted until the 20s in his draft class. He’s a classic example of someone who found another gear at the next level, transforming himself into one of the NBA’s best three-point shooters and all-around scorers. Still just 25 years old in 2025, Maxey has seen his scoring jump from 17 in his sophomore season to the low 30s as of the 2025-26 season. He was named Most Improved Player following the 2023 season, the same year that he made his first of what will likely be a handful of more All-Star games. 

For the first half of his career, Cousins was as imposing a presence in the paint as anyone during the 2010s. He powered his way to eight seasons averaging a double-double, picking up four All-Star selections and a pair of All-NBA bids along the way. His dominance eventually saw his scoring reach 27 a night in 2016-17. Though never receiving any accolades for it, he was also a stout defender, averaging at least one steal and one block for the bulk of his career. 

Kentucky has sent some defensive stalwarts to the league, and Adebayo is certainly among the best. He’s a five-time All-Defensive selection and three-time All-Star who has finished inside the top five of Defensive Player of the Year voting five times. He’s also become a formidable offensive force, reaching 20 points per game at times while averaging a double-double in three of his nine seasons. 

Entering the NBA the same season as his fellow college teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns, Booker was often an afterthought on a stacked Kentucky team. From his second year in the NBA to now, all he has done is become a walking bucket, capable of scoring 25 a night at ease. The four-time All-Star finished fourth in MVP voting for the 2021-22 season. There aren’t many better pure scorers in the league than Booker. 

As a freshman, Wall was not only the SEC’s Freshman of the Year, but he was also the best player in the league. When Wall’s NBA career wrapped up, he walked away with an 18.7 points per game average to go with 8.9 assists. That latter number is the highest career average for any Kentucky player in the NBA. He had a three-year stretch in which he averaged a double-double, even garnering MVP votes after the 2017 season, with 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game. 

The big man spearheaded a dominant 38-0 start to the season in 2014 en route to winning SEC Freshman of the Year and a consensus All-American selection. Once in the NBA, Towns became a perennial 20-point-per-game player with a career double-double average. The 2015 Rookie of the Year has three All-NBAs on his resume and five All-Star bids. 

While there are more than 150 Kentucky alums to have been drafted into the NBA, only one can lay claim to winning an MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander took home the honor in 2025, positioning himself to potentially become the greatest Wildcat to ever step onto the hardwood. What separates him from the No. 1 on this list is simply longevity, but that will come for the 27-year-old. He’s already a three-time All-NBA selection, a scoring champ, and a Finals MVP. 

Davis had a year to remember in his lone run at Kentucky, winning an NCAA championship and being named both the National Player of the Year and the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. He carried that success into his NBA career with 10 All-Star selections as of 2025 and an NBA Championship. He’s also been a defensive menace at the next level, leading the league in blocks three times and earning All-Defensive five times. Because of all that, Davis was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.