NBA Draft History
OMG! It's Patrick Chewing!
Quick. How many college teams have had multiple #1 picks in the NBA draft? If you said 14, you win. There are at least 14 college teams that have notched the highest selection twice in the NBA draft. How many college teams have more than 2 selections as the NBA's choice pick? The answer? Zero. With the general consensus of the teams that are the elite in college basketball, that is pretty amazing. Here is the list of multiple #1 draft picks in the NBA:
| Year |
College |
Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 |
Cincinnati |
Oscar Robertson |
| 2000 |
Cincinnati |
Kenyon Martin |
| 1963 |
Duke |
Art Heyman |
| 1999 |
Duke |
Elton Brand |
| 1955 |
Duquense |
Dick Roberts |
| 1956 |
Duquense |
Sihugo Green |
| 1985 |
Georgetown |
Patrick Ewing |
| 1996 |
Georgetown |
Allen Iverson |
| 1968 |
Houston |
Elvin Hayes |
| 1984 | Houston | Akeem Olajuwon |
| 1961 |
Indiana |
Walt Bellamy |
| 1977 |
Indiana |
Kent Benson |
| 1949 |
Kansas State |
Howie Shannon |
| 1959 |
Kansas State |
Bob Boozer |
| 1976 |
Maryland |
John Lucas |
| 1995 |
Maryland |
Joe Smith |
| 1966 |
Michigan |
Cazzie Russell |
| 1993 |
Michigan |
Chris Webber |
| 1982 |
UNC |
James Worthy |
| 1986 |
UNC |
Brad Daugherty |
| 1980 |
Purdue |
Joe Barry Carroll |
| 1994 |
Purdue |
Glenn Robinson |
| 1969 |
UCLA |
Lew Alcindor |
| 1974 |
UCLA |
Bill Walton |
| 1962 |
Utah |
Bill McGill |
| 2005 |
Utah |
Andrew Bogut |
| 1952 |
West Virginia |
Mark Workman |
| 1957 |
West Virginia |
Rod Hundley |
There are a ton of arguments this brings up, but two jump out at me. First, how in the world has UK gotten this far without a single #1 draft pick while non-basketball elites like Utah, Kansas State, and Duquense have multiple entries? Kansas is the only other tier 1 team to not have multiple entries but at least they have one (Manning in 1988). I realize basketball is a team sport and much of this depends on luck, but it is crazy to think that Kentucky has gone this long without a player at the top.
Second, which 2 team combo would you take in a game where your life was on the line? I think it comes down to Cincinnati, Georgetown, Houston, UNC, and UCLA. If you are building a team and starting with 2 players, this might be a different argument, but frame it as a 2 vs 2 game. That sort of eliminates UCLA as you lack a perimeter player. UNC is out as Daughtery and Worthy, while great, don't measure up. As hard as it is to eliminate the Dream, Hayes being a forward doesn't help that combo. That leaves Cincy vs G-town. I think the Hoyas crush Robertson and Martin in a head to head match-up. It would be difficult to dream up a better combo than Iverson/Ewing in a 2 on 2 game.
I'm sure you all have an opinion and I'm wiling to bet that BTI would put his money on Duquense. Let me know how you feel in the comments.
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