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Having the No. 1 overall pick is mostly a blessing in the NBA draft. The opportunity to pick from anyone in the incoming class can result in acquiring generational prospects that set your franchise up for years. However, with such power also comes risk; risk of looking like a fool should you whiff on that top pick.
Former top selections like Greg Oden, Anthony Bennett and Kwame Brown were supposed to set their teams up for long-term success, but in actuality, just set them back even further. Such potent risk can cause some organizations to panic. In times of strife, perhaps it's best to lean on ol' faithful — the schools that have provided the NBA with some of the best talent the league has ever seen.
You can never go wrong with picking an athletic specimen from Duke, an elite two-way guard from Kansas or a high-flying small forward from UNC. But which school has given us the most No. 1 picks in NBA history?
Here are the alma maters that have heard their names first most often at the NBA draft:
Which university has produced the most No. 1 picks?
The Duke Blue Devils have had six players go No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, twice as much as the next closest university (Kentucky).
- 1963: Art Heyman, New York Knicks
- 1999: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls
- 2011: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2019: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
- 2022: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
- 2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Kentucky is the only school to produce three No. 1 picks in the NBA draft, while 16 different schools are tied for third with two No. 1 picks in NBA draft history.
Which university has produced the most first-round picks?
While Duke may have the most first overall picks, the Blue Devils are surpassed when it comes to first-round picks in general. Over the years, Kentucky has produced 60 first-round talents, while Duke has produced 59.
North Carolina (55) and UCLA (43) are the only other schools to produce 40 or more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From college to NBA draft, which school has produced most top picks?
