On y retrouve chaque nom (et légendes), équipe et université/international, offrant une perspective historique et comparative sur les talents choisis en première position, culminant avec la sélection de Cooper Flagg en 2025.
| Année | Équipe | Joueur | Université / Club |
| 1980 | Golden State Warriors | Joe Barry Carroll | Purdue |
| 1981 | Dallas Mavericks | Mark Aguirre | DePaul |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | James Worthy | North Carolina |
| 1983 | Houston Rockets | Ralph Sampson | Virginia |
| 1984 | Houston Rockets | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston |
| 1985 | New York Knicks | Patrick Ewing | Georgetown |
| 1986 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Brad Daugherty | North Carolina |
| 1987 | San Antonio Spurs | David Robinson | Navy |
| 1988 | LA Clippers | Danny Manning | Kansas |
| 1989 | Sacramento Kings | Pervis Ellison | Louisville |
| 1990 | New Jersey Nets | Derrick Coleman | Syracuse |
| 1991 | Charlotte Hornets | Larry Johnson | UNLV |
| 1992 | Orlando Magic | Shaquille O’Neal | LSU |
| 1993 | Orlando Magic | Chris Webber | Michigan |
| 1994 | Milwaukee Bucks | Glenn Robinson | Purdue |
| 1995 | Golden State Warriors | Joe Smith | Maryland |
| 1996 | Philadelphia 76ers | Allen Iverson | Georgetown |
| 1997 | San Antonio Spurs | Tim Duncan | Wake Forest |
| 1998 | LA Clippers | Michael Olowokandi | Pacific |
| 1999 | Chicago Bulls | Elton Brand | Duke |
| 2000 | New Jersey Nets | Kenyon Martin | Cincinnati |
| 2001 | Washington Wizards | Kwame Brown | Glynn Academy (HS) |
| 2002 | Houston Rockets | Yao Ming | Shanghai Sharks (Chine) |
| 2003 | Cleveland Cavaliers | LeBron James | St. Vincent–St. Mary HS |
| 2004 | Orlando Magic | Dwight Howard | SACA (Atlanta HS) |
| 2005 | Milwaukee Bucks | Andrew Bogut | Utah |
| 2006 | Toronto Raptors | Andrea Bargnani | Benetton Treviso (Italie) |
| 2007 | Portland Trail Blazers | Greg Oden | Ohio State |
| 2008 | Chicago Bulls | Derrick Rose | Memphis |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Clippers | Blake Griffin | Oklahoma |
| 2010 | Washington Wizards | John Wall | Kentucky |
| 2011 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kyrie Irving | Duke |
| 2012 | New Orleans Hornets | Anthony Davis | Kentucky |
| 2013 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Anthony Bennett | UNLV |
| 2014 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Andrew Wiggins | Kansas |
| 2015 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl‑Anthony Towns | Kentucky |
| 2016 | Philadelphia 76ers | Ben Simmons | LSU |
| 2017 | Philadelphia 76ers | Markelle Fultz | Washington |
| 2018 | Phoenix Suns | Deandre Ayton | Arizona |
| 2019 | New Orleans Pelicans | Zion Williamson | Duke |
| 2020 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Anthony Edwards | Georgia |
| 2021 | Detroit Pistons | Cade Cunningham | Oklahoma State |
| 2022 | Orlando Magic | Paolo Banchero | Duke |
| 2023 | San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama | Metropolitans 92 (France) |
| 2024 | Atlanta Hawks | Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg (France) |
| 2025 | Dallas Mavericks | Cooper Flagg | Duke |