Ranking the NBA's last 24 first overall picks: 15-11

Ben Simmons was a tough note to end the latest piece in our series ranking the last 24 top overall NBA draft picks. The former Robin to Embiid’s Batman has seen his career fade, but some on this list may continue to make the case to move up, beginning with one of the toughest to rank players on the board.

15. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (2021)

Eyes have been on Cunningham for a long time. He was a consensus No. 1 overall high school recruit, performed well at Oklahoma State, and his status as the No. 1 overall pick for the NBA Draft was really never in doubt. Though never hyped to the degree of LeBron James or Victor Wembanyama, we’ve known Cunningham was good for awhile. However, he, like a good bit of his draft class, has been a mixed bag in the NBA. His scoring and assists have improved each year he’s been in the league, and he averaged over 33 points per game in the last 10 games of the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately, his play isn’t elevating the Pistons, and he’s just the best player on an atrociously bad team.

14. John Wall, Washington Wizards (2010)

From 2013-2017, John Wall put together 4 straight seasons where he played over 70 games. Statistically, those were his best seasons, but those are the only seasons in his career where he has consistently stayed on the basketball court. Still, he was a good player – the best player on his team for most of his stint with the Wizards. The only player from his class that one could make a strong case for as better than Wall is Paul George.

13. Andrew Wiggins, Cleveland Cavaliers (2014)

Many forget that Wiggins was drafted as a Cavalier, and I remember being one of the few who thought Cleveland made a mistake trading him for Kevin Love. It would have been interesting to see Wiggins benefit early in his career from playing alongside LeBron, Kyrie Irving, and whatever complimentary pieces could have been brought in. A highly regarded prospect years before making it to the league, Wiggins did not respond greatly to the pressure. He put up good numbers with the Timberwolves, but could not help them make the leap into becoming a great team. As a Warrior, he found a role, became an All-Star, and helped them win a championship. Though it seems like he’s been around for a long time, Wiggins has not yet turned 30. That said, he just had his worst season, statistically speaking, indicating his best basketball may be behind him.

12. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic (2022)

As with Cade Cunningham, Banchero is in the very early stages of his career. He's been better than expected. Some thought he was a poor choice for the No. 1 overall pick. Instead, he won Rookie of the Year, became an All-Star, and made the Magic, well, magical again. He gets the No. 12 spot because he does not have the skill set of a “transcendent talent,” but he’s already accomplished a good deal in two seasons, and he could make a strong case to move up. 

11. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (2019)

Prior to the Hawks landing the No. 1 overall pick, the best team to land it previously was the Pelicans. Unfortunately, Williamson’s struggles to stay healthy have held the franchise back as it sought to build on the surprise Lottery win. This season, however, was his healthiest yet – despite his Playoff participation being cut short – and he showed what he can bring to the team alongside CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. One of the more unique physiques in league history, the challenge for this wrecking ball will be maintaining weight and staying healthy. As such, the former Blue Devil could really climb this list or be quickly forgotten based on where his career goes from here.