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After four consecutive seasons missing the playoffs, the Washington Wizards on Sunday were awarded the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, giving the franchise an opportunity to secure a player capable of altering the trajectory of the franchise.
The No. 1 pick has produced both franchise cornerstones and cautionary tales, and the Wizards' draft history is a prime example of the highs and lows that can come with selecting at the top of the board.
More: Washington Wizards get No. 1 pick: Is AJ Dybantsa coming to DC?
While the Wizards hope this year’s pick can help accelerate the team’s rebuild, history shows landing the No. 1 selection is no guarantee of success. Here’s a look at how Washington’s previous top picks have fared.
The Wizards sent franchise legend John Wall — the organization’s most recent No. 1 overall pick — to represent the team at Sunday’s lottery, where Washington landed the top selection yet again.
Wall was drafted with the top pick in 2010 after a dazzling season at the University of Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to a 35-3 record and an SEC championship in John Calipari's first year at the program.
He found immediate success in Washington, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting while averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Wall became a 5-time All Star in Washington and helped usher in one of the franchise's most successful stretches of the past decade by leading the Wizards to four playoff appearances.
But Wall played just 73 games over his final three seasons in Washington because of injuries before being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2020.
"He’s the most important player since I’ve owned the team," team owner and governor Ted Leonsis told The Athletic.
While the Wizards had modest team success and individual success from its most recent No. 1 overall draft pick, the same cannot be said about its first top selection.
In 2001 with NBA legend Michael Jordan as the Wizards' team president, Washington selected high schooler Kwame Brown, who had an underwhelming tenure in the nation's capital.
Brown played just four seasons for the Wizards, averaging 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in becoming one of the bigger draft disappointments of the generation.
"I never felt so robotic in my life," Brown told ESPN after his first two seasons for the Wizards. "Basketball was so hard, when before it came so naturally. I felt everyone was against me."
The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23 and 24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
In addition to the No. 1 pick, the Wizards will also select in the 51st and 60th draft slots.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wizards NBA draft history: A look at their past No. 1 picks
Continue reading...
The No. 1 pick has produced both franchise cornerstones and cautionary tales, and the Wizards' draft history is a prime example of the highs and lows that can come with selecting at the top of the board.
More: Washington Wizards get No. 1 pick: Is AJ Dybantsa coming to DC?
While the Wizards hope this year’s pick can help accelerate the team’s rebuild, history shows landing the No. 1 selection is no guarantee of success. Here’s a look at how Washington’s previous top picks have fared.
Who was the last No. 1 overall pick by the Wizards?
The Wizards sent franchise legend John Wall — the organization’s most recent No. 1 overall pick — to represent the team at Sunday’s lottery, where Washington landed the top selection yet again.
Wall was drafted with the top pick in 2010 after a dazzling season at the University of Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to a 35-3 record and an SEC championship in John Calipari's first year at the program.
He found immediate success in Washington, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting while averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Wall became a 5-time All Star in Washington and helped usher in one of the franchise's most successful stretches of the past decade by leading the Wizards to four playoff appearances.
But Wall played just 73 games over his final three seasons in Washington because of injuries before being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2020.
"He’s the most important player since I’ve owned the team," team owner and governor Ted Leonsis told The Athletic.
Who was the first No. 1 overall pick by the Wizards?
While the Wizards had modest team success and individual success from its most recent No. 1 overall draft pick, the same cannot be said about its first top selection.
In 2001 with NBA legend Michael Jordan as the Wizards' team president, Washington selected high schooler Kwame Brown, who had an underwhelming tenure in the nation's capital.
Brown played just four seasons for the Wizards, averaging 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in becoming one of the bigger draft disappointments of the generation.
"I never felt so robotic in my life," Brown told ESPN after his first two seasons for the Wizards. "Basketball was so hard, when before it came so naturally. I felt everyone was against me."
When is the NBA Draft?
The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23 and 24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
In addition to the No. 1 pick, the Wizards will also select in the 51st and 60th draft slots.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wizards NBA draft history: A look at their past No. 1 picks
Continue reading...
