The 2023 NBA Draft takes place Thursday, June 22, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The San Antonio Spurs won the Draft Lottery and almost certainly will take Victor Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.
The first player selected isn’t always the best in their class, but these players more than lived up to their billing by carving out Hall of Fame careers.
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights: Five-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, 12-time All-Star
Stats: 17,707 points, 6,559 rebounds, 10,141 assists
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights: Three-time NBA champion, seven-time All-Star, 1988 NBA Finals MVP
Stats: 16,320 points, 4,708 rebounds, 2,791 assists
Team: Houston Rockets
Career highlights: Rookie of the Year, four-time All-Star
Stats: 7,039 points, 4,011 rebounds, 752 blocks
Team: Houston Rockets
Career highlights: Two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 1994 MVP, 12-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year
Stats: 26,946 points, 13,747 rebounds, 3,830 blocks
Team: New York Knicks
Career highlights: 11-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year
Stats: 24,815 points, 11,617 rebounds, 2,894 blocks
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights: Two-time NBA champion, 1995 MVP, 10-time All-Star, 1992 Defensive Player of the Year
Stats: 20,790 points, 10,497 rebounds, 2,954 blocks
Team: Orlando Magic
Career highlights: Four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 MVP, 15-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year
Stats: 28,596 points, 13,099 rebounds, 2,732 rebounds
Team: Orlando Magic (traded to Golden State)
Career highlights: Five-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year
Stats: 17,182 points, 8,124 rebounds, 3,526 assists
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights: 2001 MVP, 11-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year
Stats: 24,368 points, 3,394 rebounds, 5,624 assists
Memorable moment:Â Practice?
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights: Five-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, two-time MVP, 16-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year
Stats: 26,496 points, 15,091 rebounds, 4,225 assists
Team: Houston Rockets
Career highlights: Eight-time All-Star
Stats: 9,247 points, 4,494 assists, 920 blocks
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights: Four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, all-time scoring record
Stats: 38,652 points, 10,667 rebounds, 10,420 assists (and counting)
LeBron — currently with the Lakers — has hinted at retirement, but we don’t believe him.
Team: Orlando Magic
Career highlights: One-time NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year
Stats: 19,485 points, 14,627 rebounds, 2,228 blocks (and counting?)
Howard currently plays professionally in Taiwan. He’s also interested in a possible WWE career.
