With Cooper Flagg’s selection in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks at No. 1, Duke now boasts six top overall picks in draft history (since 1947) — the most of any NCAA school.
Flagg joins Paolo Banchero (2022), Zion Williamson (2019), Kyrie Irving (2011), Elton Brand (1999) and Art Heyman (1963) as Blue Devils to hear their names called to start off draft night.
After Duke, Kentucky has the next most top picks with three — Karl Anthony-Towns (2015), Anthony Davis (2012) and John Wall (2010).
📊 DRAFT DATA: College basketball schools with the most NBA 1st-round draft picks, all time
The Cleveland Cavaliers have selected first overall a league-high six times, most recently selecting Andrew Wiggins out of Kansas in 2014. The Cavs have also taken Anthony Bennett out of UNLV (2013), Irving (2011), LeBron James from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (2003), Brad Daugherty of UNC (1986) and Austin Carr of Notre Dame (1971).
See the full history of No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft since 1947 below:
DRAFT YEAR
NBA TEAM
PLAYER
SCHOOL
2025
Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg
Duke
2024
Atlanta Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher
N/A (France)
2023
San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama
N/A (France)
2022
Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero
Duke
2021
Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham
Oklahoma State
2020
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards
Georgia
2019
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson
Duke
2018
Phoenix Suns
DeAndre Ayton
Arizona
2017
Philadelphia 76ers
Markelle Fultz
Washington
2016
Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons
LSU
2015
Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl Anthony-Towns
Kentucky
2014
Cleveland Cavaliers
Andrew Wiggins
Kansas
2013
Cleveland Cavaliers
Anthony Bennett
UNLV
2012
New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis
Kentucky
2011
Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyrie Irving
Duke
2010
Washington Wizards
John Wall
Kentucky
2009
Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin
Oklahoma
2008
Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose
Memphis
2007
Portland Trail Blazers
Greg Oden
Ohio State
2006
Toronto Raptors
Andrea Bargnani
N/A (Italy)
2005
Milwaukee Bucks
Andrew Bogut
Utah
2004
Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard
N/A (High school)
2003
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James
N/A (High school)
2002
Houston Rockets
Yao Ming
N/A (China)
2001
Washington Wizards
Kwame Brown
N/A (High school)
2000
New Jersey Nets
Kenyon Martin
Cincinnati
1999
Chicago Bulls
Elton Brand
Duke
1998
Los Angeles Clippers
Michael Olowokandi
Pacific
1997
San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan
Wake Forest
1996
Philadelphia 76ers
Allen Iverson
Georgetown
1995
Golden State Warriors
Joe Smith
Maryland
1994
Milwaukee Bucks
Glenn Robinson
Purdue
1993
Orlando Magic
Chris Webber
Michigan
1992
Orlando Magic
Shaquille O’Neal
LSU
1991
Charlotte Hornets
Larry Jackson
UNLV
1990
New Jersey Nets
Derrick Coleman
Syracuse
1989
Sacramento Kings
Pervis Ellison
Louisville
1988
Los Angeles Clippers
Danny Manning
Kansas
1987
San Antonio Spurs
David Robinson
Navy
1986
Cleveland Cavaliers
Brad Daugherty
North Carolina
1985
New York Knicks
Patrick Ewing
Georgetown
1984
Houston Rockets
Hakeem Olajuwon
Houston
1983
Houston Rockets
Ralph Sampson
Virginia
1982
Los Angeles Lakers
James Worthy
North Carolina
1981
Dallas Mavericks
Mark Aguirre
DePaul
1980
Golden State Warriors
Joe Barry Carroll
Purdue
1979
Los Angeles Lakers
Magic Johnson
Michigan State
1978
Portland Trail Blazers
Mychal Thompson
Minnesota
1977
Milwaukee Bucks
Kent Benson
Indiana
1976
Houston Rockets
John Lucas
Maryland
1975
Atlanta Hawks
David Thompson
NC State
1974
Portland Trail Blazers
Bill Walton
UCLA
1973
Philadelphia 76ers
Doug Collins
Illinois State
1972
Portland Trail Blazers
LaRue Martin
Loyola Chicago
1971
Cleveland Cavaliers
Austin Carr
Notre Dame
1970
Detroit Pistons
Bob Lanier
St. Bonaventure
1969
Milwaukee Bucks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
UCLA
1968
San Diego Rockets
Elvin Hayes
Houston
1967
Detroit Pistons
Jimmy Walker
Providence
1966
New York Knicks
Cazzie Russell
Michigan
1965
San Francisco Warriors
Fred Hetzel
Davidson
1964
New York Knicks
Jim Barnes
UTEP
1963
New York Knicks
Art Heyman
Duke
1962
Chicago Zephyrs
Bill McGill
Utah
1961
Chicago Packers
Walt Bellamy
Indiana
1960
Cincinnati Royals
Oscar Robertson
Cincinnati
1959
Cincinnati Royals
Bob Boozer
Kansas State
1958
Minneapolis Lakers
Elgin Baylor
Seattle
1957
Cincinnati Royals
Hot Rod Hundley
West Virginia
1956
Rochester Royals
Si Green
Duquesne
1955
Saint Louis Hawks
Dick Ricketts
Duquesne
1954
Baltimore Bullets
Frank Selvy
Furman
1953
Philadelphia Warriors
Ernie Beck
Pennsylvania
1952
Milwaukee Hawks
Mark Workman
West Virginia
1951
Baltimore Bullets
Gene Melchiorre
Bradley
1950
Boston Celtics
Chuck Share
Bowling Green
1949
Providence Steamrollers
Howie Shannon
Kansas State
1948
Providence Steamrollers
Andy Tonkovich
Marshall
1947
Pittsburgh Ironmen
Clifton McNeeley
UTEP
Anthony Chiusano is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and has been with Turner Sports since 2016. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship and College World Series.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
