The NBA Draft has historically been one of the most important events on the calendar for teams looking to improve their roster with new, young talent. Of all the first overall picks from 2000 to 2014, the story these selections tell is one full of hope, expectation, and some occasions of heartbreak. The Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the odds to make today’s biggest professional basketball moment happen. They made calculated decisions on which players were likely to become stars and which faced the possibility of fading into obscurity.
During the 2000 NBA draft, the Washington Wizards held the first overall pick, selecting Kenyon Martin. His career was marked by a solid performance but did not quite reach the level of Hall of Fame status that many expected. The following year, the Wizards won the lottery again. They selected Kwame Brown, making him the first high school player in history drafted number one overall. Brown’s NBA journey was a rollercoaster, to put it lightly, as he failed to fulfill the considerable expectations that came with his ire — err, fire — and brimstone nature.
A Shift in Power
It took until 2002 when the Texas-based Houston Rockets finally swooped in, taking Yao Ming with the first overall pick. And during and after his career, Yao became an international icon while helping to change the game through his rare combination of size and skill. His impact on the league was profound, as he not only excelled on the court but increased the NBA’s popularity in China.
While everyone was in shock, the Cleveland Cavaliers went on to make history by selecting LeBron James first overall in 2003. It only took LeBron five games to show he was one of the all-time greats. He’s won a lot of championships and MVP awards in the process. His play was the inflection point for the Cavaliers and became the gold standard for number one picks to come.
The Orlando Magic next in line did the same thing in 2004 when they drafted Dwight Howard. Howard’s unmatched athleticism and defensive impact turned him into a league-dominating force. He would win three Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career.
Emerging Talent
The Milwaukee Bucks took Andrew Bogut in 2005, and the Toronto Raptors, who were in the same position as the Pistons, took Andrea Bargnani in 2006. Bargnani received a lot of side eye for his selection. Although he achieved never stardom, he nevertheless opened doors for international players in the league and blazed trails for them.
Other victors include the Portland Trail Blazers, who in 2007 selected franchise-changing player Greg Oden. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Oden’s career, demonstrating the volatility that can leave a number one draft pick high and dry. The Chicago Bulls made a significant choice in 2008 by selecting Derrick Rose, who would win an MVP award before injuries curtailed his potential.
That was the LA Clippers’ track record when they made Blake Griffin their first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Overnight, Griffin turned into a fan favorite and highlight-reel player known for his explosive dunks and suit-and-tie versatility. Similarly, the Wizards returned the first overall pick in 2010 to the lottery by picking John Wall. Since then, he’s had an immeasurable stamp on the entire franchise.
A Decade of Choices
The Cleveland Cavaliers once more lucked into the first pick in 2011 and used it to draft Kyrie Irving. The mercurial Irving displayed genius like no other, carrying Cleveland to an NBA championship in 2016. In 2012, the New Orleans Pelicans (then Hornets) picked first and drafted Anthony Davis, who very quickly ascended to one of the league’s best players.
The Cavaliers continued their impressive streak by picking first again in 2013 and 2014, choosing Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins respectively. While Bennett never found his footing in the league, Wiggins’ breakout year came when he joined the Golden State Warriors, where his former teammate had struggled.
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