Top 5 #1 NBA Draft Picks of the Last 10 Years

In past decade, the NBA has seen some truly incredible players emerge who have brought immense value, entertainment and talent to the game. With respect to every great draft pick in the last 10 years we have managed to break it down to just 5.

Kyrie Irving

1 x NBA Championship, 6 x All-Star, 2012 Rookie of The Year (ROTY)

The legendary Herm Edwards said it best, “you play to win the game.” And Irving is the only player in this list to have held up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Anthony Davis

7 x All Star, 5 x All NBA, 1 x All-Defence, 3 x block leader.

As a two-way superstar who can score at every level and defend all 5 positions, when all is said and done, Davis will be the best player from this class. While he had 7 years wasted in New Orleans by a Front Office who couldn’t find the piece to make it work, a deep playoff run in the Orlando bubble could see The Brow pass Irving this year.

Ben Simmons

2 x All Star, 2018 ROTY

If you can pass like Magic and Defend like Rodman, do you need a jumper? Simmons has more playoff wins in two seasons than Davis had in his eight and is close to averaging a triple double in a team with no spacing and a crowded front court. We can only imagine how far he could soar if a team built around him like the Bucks did with another certain poor shooting, sweet passing athletic freak.

John Wall

5 x All Star, 1 x All NBA 1 x All-Defence

Once the most feared two-way guards in the NBA, injuries have kept Wall to 73 out of a possible 246 games over the last 3 seasons.

Karl-Anthony Towns

2 x All Star, 2016 ROTY

KAT is an offensive beast and a supremely talented athlete with great physical tools and has improved every year as a passer in his 5 years in the NBA. A lack of killer instinct and poor defence has caused his detractors to label him soft, and 15.2PPG in 5 playoff games compared to a career 22.7PPG do not help is case.

Honourable Mention

Zion Williamson - The sky is the limit for Zion but too early to make the call. Watch this space.

Dishonourable Mention

Anthony Bennett - Bennett was out of the League within 4 years of playing in the NBA.

Did your favourite player make the cut?
With decades of incredible players, the NBA has never been short on expertise. So, grab your friends, head down to the court and make your own top 5 list.