New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the Top 40 No. 1 Picks of All-Time
Still no New Orleans Pelicans on the list of top number one picks
#29: Ralph Sampson- Houston Rockets (1983)
Probably better known for being one of the greatest college players of all-time, and being part of the “Twin Towers” with Hakeem Olajuwon, Sampson was an absolute beast for the Rockets in his first four seasons before his knees fell apart. He averaged 21 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his rookie season and kept close to those stats through his first four before things went south physically. Sampson never lived up to his enormous hype (please read about his college career) but he was still one of the best bigs of all-time.
#28: Glenn Robinson- Milwaukee Bucks (1994)
A long wing who could shoot, Glenn Robinson would probably be more heralded now than he was in his career. He averaged more than 20 a game overall and was a good rebounder and passer as well. Robinson didn’t shoot the 3-point shot in volume (no one did then) but he had seasons when he hit nearly 40 percent from long-range.
#27: Derrick Coleman- New Jersey Nets (1990)
D.C. was very good for a very long time, eventually evolving into the prototype for the modern stretch-four, though by today’s standards he really didn’t shoot many threes. Only made one All-Star team, largely because he was always hurt. He’s one of the great “what-ifs” of the NBA, as he had the potential to be one of the best power forwards of all-time had his career not been hampered by injuries. People forget how good this guy was.
#26: Kyrie Irving- Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)
A gifted offensive player who doesn’t do much else, Kyrie is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. He’s very good, averaging 22.4 points for his career, but always seems to be at the center of dysfunctional teams whose coaches get inexplicably fired. Kyrie is a six-time All-Star and hit a huge shot in the Finals on the way to a title. May not be good enough to carry a team to a title as the best player, but don’t tell him that.
#25: Yao Ming Houston Rockets (2002)
Would be number one if this list were made in China, as Yao Ming led All-Star voting pretty much every year in the league on the backs of his Chinese fans. Would probably be higher if it weren’t for injury, as Yao was very, very good, despite what Charles Barkley and other (racist, sorry) haters had to say. Would probably be even better in today’s NBA, where he’d be launching 3-pointers and still getting two blocks a game. Yao could be a top-ten all-time center had his career not been shortened by myriad injuries.