They were No. 1 Here's a look at the past 10 top picks in the NBA draft:
2014: Anthony Wiggins, guard/forward, Kansas (by Cleveland)
Current team: Timberwolves
Recap: Athletic wing player was acquired by the Wolves in the Kevin Love draft and is expected to be the team's starting small forward.
2013: Anthony Bennett, forward, UNLV (Cleveland)
Current team: Timberwolves
Recap: His training affected by summer surgery, and facing a switch to small forward, Bennett struggled. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 52 games, shooting just 35.6 percent. Came to Minnesota as part of the Kevin Love trade.
2012: Anthony Davis, forward/center, Kentucky (New Orleans)
Current team: New Orleans
Recap: A first-team all-rookie first teamer in a season that ended with a knee injury, Davis finished second in rookie of the year voting to Damian Lillard. Despite a hand injury, Davis averaged 20.8 points and 10.1 rebounds in 2013-14, appearing in his first All Star Game.
2011: Kyrie Irving, guard, Duke (Cleveland)
Current team: Cleveland
Recap: Has averaged between 18.5 and 22.5 points per game in three seasons and has a 5.8-assist career average. Was rookie of the year in 2012 and was the MVP of the 2014 All Star Game. He will now be passing to LeBron James and Kevin Love.
2010: John Wall, guard, Kentucky (Washington)
Current team: Washington
Recap: Finished second to Blake Griffin in rookie of the year voting after averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 assists as a rookie under head coach Flip Saunders. Averaged a career-high 19.3 points last season, leading Washington into the playoffs.
2009: Blake Griffin, forward, Oklahoma (L.A. Clippers)
Current team: LA Clippers
Recap: Missed the 2009-10 season with a knee injury, but came back to be named rookie of the year a season later. Has career averages of 21.4 points and 10.1 rebounds.
2008: Derrick Rose, guard, Memphis (Chicago)
Current team: Chicago
Recap: Named rookie of the year in 2009. Two years later he became the youngest-ever winner of the MVP award after averaging 25.0 points and 7.7 assists. Tore his left ACL in the 2012 playoffs, which kept him out of the 2012-13 season. His 2013-14 season was cut short by a cartilage tear in his right knee.
2007: Greg Oden, center, Ohio State (Portland)
Current team: Last played with Miami last season
Recap: A long history of injuries – beginning with microfracture knee surgery that kept him out of action his first season – has limited Oden to just 105 games over three NBA seasons.
2006: Andrea Bargnani, forward/center, Italy (Toronto)
Current team: NY Knicks
Recap: A member of the league's all-rookie team in his first season, Bargnani has averaged 15.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in seven NBA seasons.
2005: Andrew Bogut, center, Australia (Milwaukee)
Current team: Golden State
Recap: Finished third in rookie of the year voting in 2006. Has started 499 of 507 career games, averaging 11.6 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Minnesota No. 1 overall ties
1958: Elgin Baylor, forward, (Seattle), Mpls. Lakers
Recap: One of the all-time NBA greats (27.4 ppg career average), played two seasons in Minneapolis before franchise moved to Los Angeles.
1978: Mychal Thompson, center/forward (Minnesota), Portland
Recap: Shot blocker who averaged 13.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg during 12-year career.
1995: Joe Smith, forward (Maryland), Golden State
Recap: A solid pro who played four seasons with the Wolves, but cost the franchise dearly in draft picks when he agreed to an illegal free-agent deal.
1998: Michael Olowokandi, center (Pacific), Milwaukee
Recap: Never achieved potential some saw in him; played three relatively nondescript seasons with the Wolves.
• Also: Ray Felix (1953), Frank Selvy (1954) and Rod Hundley (1957) played for the Minneapolis Lakers but were not selected in the draft by the team. Art Heyman (1963) played four NBA seasons before landing in the ABA, where he played a season with the Minnesota Pipers.
