Given its randomized nature, the NBA Draft lottery has historically worked out for some franchises better than others.
Some teams have benefitted at the perfect time, landing the No. 1 pick right when they need it — such as the San Antonio Spurs landing the right to select Victor Wembanyama in 2023. But even before the lottery was implemented, teams could utilize a No. 1 pick to bring in a potential superstar, the kind of player who can single-handedly elevate a franchise.
The NBA Draft has been held in every year since 1947, with the first lottery held in 1985. Over the years, a few franchises have held the No. 1 pick more than others — and after winning the 2026 lottery and right to select AJ Dybantsa, the Washington Wizards have made history in that regard.
Here’s a look at which teams have held the No. 1 overall pick the most across NBA history.
Who has the most No. 1 picks in NBA history?
There is now one team standing alone in NBA history with the most all-time No. 1 picks: the Washington Wizards.
By winning the 2026 lottery — following a 17-win season, making them the first NBA team to win the No. 1 pick with the league’s worst record since 2018 — the Wizards earned their seventh top selection in franchise history, breaking a tie with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, the history of the two teams is a bit different. Four of Washington’s now-seven No. 1 picks all-time came in the 1950s and 1960s, while Cleveland has earned the top pick four times since 2000.
There are also six teams that have never had a No. 1 pick: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies.
Wizards No. 1 pick history
Here’s a look at the No. 1 picks that the Wizards have had:
| Year | No. 1 Pick |
| 1951 | Gene Melchiorre (pick made as Baltimore Bullets) |
| 1954 | Frank Selvy (pick made as Baltimore Bullets) |
| 1961 | Walt Bellamy (pick made as Chicago Packers) |
| 1962 | Bill McGill (pick made as Chicago Zephyrs) |
| 2001 | Kwame Brown |
| 2010 | John Wall |
| 2026 | TBD |
Cavaliers No. 1 pick history
And a look at the No. 1 picks made by the Cavaliers:
| Year | No. 1 Pick |
| 1971 | Austin Carr |
| 1986 | Brad Daugherty |
| 2003 | LeBron James |
| 2011 | Kyrie Irving |
| 2013 | Anthony Bennett |
| 2014 | Andrew Wiggins (then traded to Minnesota) |
Most No. 1 picks in NBA history
Only the Wizards and Cavaliers have made six No. 1 picks, while another two teams, the Kings and Rockets, have had the top selection on five occasions.
Since the lottery began in 1985, the Magic and Cavaliers are tied for the most times winning the No. 1 pick, each winning the lottery four times.
Here’s a look at the teams with the most No. 1 picks made in NBA history:
| Total No. 1 Picks | Team | Players Taken |
| 6 | Wizards | Gene Melchiorre (1951), Frank Selvy (1954), Walt Bellamy (1961), Bill McGill (1962), Kwame Brown (2001), John Wall (2010) |
| 6 | Cavaliers | Austin Carr (1971), Brad Daugherty (1986), LeBron James (2003), Kyrie Irving (2011), Anthony Bennett (2013), Andrew Wiggins (2014) |
| 5 | Rockets | Elvin Hayes (1968), John Lucas (1976), Ralph Sampson (1983), Hakeem Olajuwon (1984), Yao Ming (2002) |
| 5 | Kings | Si Green (1956), Hot Rod Hundley (1957), Bob Boozer (1959), Oscar Robertson (1960), Pervis Ellison (1989) |
| 4 | Hawks | Mark Workman (1952), Dick Ricketts (1955), David Thompson (1975), Zaccharie Risacher (2024) |
| 4 | Warriors | Ernie Beck (1953), Fred Hetzel (1965), Joe Barry Carroll (1980), Joe Smith (1995) |
| 4 | Bucks | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), Kent Benson (1977), Glenn Robinson (1994), Andrew Bogut (2005) |
| 4 | Knicks | Art Heyman (1963), Jim Barnes (1964), Cazzie Russell (1966), Patrick Ewing (1985) |
| 4 | Magic | Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993), Dwight Howard (2004), Paolo Banchero (2022) |
| 4 | 76ers | Doug Collins (1973), Allen Iverson (1996), Ben Simmons (2016), Markelle Fultz (2017) |
| 4 | Trail Blazers | LaRue Martin (1972), Bill Walton (1974), Mychal Thompson (1978), Greg Oden (2007) |