NBA Draft: List of First-Overall Picks All Time from 1947 to 2025

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Cooper Flagg has carried that label of basketball's next superstar for a while now, so it was no surprise that he was the first overall pick of the Dallas Mavericks in June during the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-9 forward who played one season of college ball at Duke is the 79th player taken first overall, and he joins a list of some of the greatest players in the history of the game. (He joins some busts, as well.) He joins a team that's a legitimate title contender in 2026, something more first-overall picks don't get to do.

Here is the complete list of first overall picks since the draft started in 1947.

First overall picks in 2020s

• 2025 — Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
• 2024 — Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
• 2023 — Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• 2022 — Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
• 2021 — Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
• 2020 — Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

First overall picks in 2010s

• 2019 — Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
• 2018 — Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
• 2017 — Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
• 2016 — Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
• 2015 — Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 2014 — Andrew Wiggins, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2013 — Anthony Bennett, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2012 — Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets
• 2011 — Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2010 — John Wall, Washington Wizards

First overall picks in 2000s

• 2009 — Blake Griffin, Los Angele Clippers
• 2008 — Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
• 2007 — Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
• 2006 — Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
• 2005 — Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2004 — Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• 2003 — LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2002 — Yao Ming, Houston Rockets 
• 2001 — Kwame Brown, Washington Wizards
• 2000 — Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Nets 

First overall picks in 1990s

• 1999 — Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls
• 1998 — Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers
• 1997 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 1996 — Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
• 1995 — Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
• 1994 — Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks 
• 1993 — Chris Webber, Orlando Magic
• 1992 — Shaquille O’ Neal, Orlando Magic
• 1991 — Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets
• 1990 — Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets

First overall picks in 1980s

• 1989 — Pervis Ellison, Sacramento Kings
• 1988 — Danny Manning, Los Angeles Clippers
• 1987 — David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
• 1986 — Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 1985 — Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
• 1984 — Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
• 1983 — Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets
• 1982 — James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1981 — Mark Aguirre, Dallas Mavericks
• 1980 — Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Warriors

First overall picks in 1970s

• 1979 — Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1978 — Mychal Thompson, Portland Trail Blazers
• 1977 — Kent Benson, Milwaukee Bucks
• 1976 — John Lucas, Houston Rockets
• 1975 — David Thompson, Atlanta Hawks
• 1974 — Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers
• 1973 — Doug Collins, Philadelphia 76ers
• 1972 — LaRue Martin, Portland Trail Blazers
• 1971 — Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 1970 — Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons

First overall picks in 1960s

• 1969 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
• 1968 — Elvin Hayes, San Diego Rockets
• 1967 — Jimmy Walker, Detroit Pistons
• 1966 — Cazzie Russell, New York Knicks
• 1965 — Fred Hetzel, San Francisco Warriors
• 1964 — Jim Barnes, New York Knicks
• 1963 — Art Heyman, New York Knicks
• 1962 — Bill McGill, Chicago Zephyrs
• 1961 — Walt Bellamy, Chicago Zephyrs
• 1960 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals

First overall picks in 1950s

• 1959 — Bob Boozer, Cincinnati Royals
• 1958 — Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers
• 1957 — Hot Rod Hundley, Cincinnati Royals
• 1956 — Si Green, Rochester Royals
• 1955 — Dick Ricketts, St. Louis Hawks
• 1954 — Frank Selvy, Baltimore Bullets
• 1953 — Ray Felix, Baltimore Bullets
• 1952 — Mark Workman, Milwaukee Hawks
• 1951 — Gene Melchiorre, Baltimore Hawks
• 1950— Chuck Share, Boston Celtics

First overall picks in 1940s

• 1949 — Howie Shannon, Providence Steam Rollers
• 1948 — Andy Tonkovich, Providence Steam Rollers
• 1947 — Clifton McNeeley, Pittsburgh Ironmen