On Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans made Zion Williamson the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. And that got me thinking: who were the last five number ones and how have they fared in the NBA thus far. Here's a quick look:
2018 - Deandre Ayton (Arizona) - Phoenix Suns - Ayton was named to the NBA's First Team All-Rookie squad after averaging 16.3 points and a team high 10.3 rebounds in his rookie campaign. Alas, the Suns finished 19-63, 14 games worse than anyone else in the Western Conference.
2017 - Markelle Fultz (Washington) - Philadelphia 76ers - Fultz has only appeared in 33 games in his first two NBA seasons due to issues with his shoulder. In his limited time with the 76ers, Fultz averaged 7.7 points and 3.4 assists and was traded to Orlando in February. Fultz has yet to play for the Magic.
2016 - Ben Simmons (LSU) - Philadelphia 76ers - Simmons missed the entire 2016-17 season following an ankle injury, but rewarded Philadelphia's patience with a spot on the All-Rookie First Team and a Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, and his first All-Star selection in 2019. In two seasons, Simmons has averaged 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
2015 - Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky) - Minnesota Timberwolves - Towns just wrapped up his fourth season in Minnesota, and third in a row where he averaged at least 21 points and 12 rebounds. Towns won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2016, and has followed that up with a pair of All-Star selections and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team in 2018. For his career he's averaging 22.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.
2014 - Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) - Wiggins, like Towns, has also spent his entire career with Minnesota, and like Towns, also won the Rookie of the Year Award (2015). Wiggins has averaged over 19 points a game in his five year career peaking at 23.6 points per game in 2016-17.
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