PEOPLE & HISTORY

Who was the first No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft?

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Art Heyman was the first No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks in 1962. He was a forward from Duke University.

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Player NameArt Heyman
Draft Year1962
Team Selected ByNew York Knicks
CollegeDuke University
PositionForward

About Art Heyman

Art Heyman was a college basketball star at Duke University in the early 1960s. He was known for his scoring ability and competitive spirit on the court. Before becoming the first No. 1 overall pick, Heyman was already a well-known player in college basketball.

The 1962 NBA Draft

The 1962 NBA Draft was the first year that the NBA used a draft system to select college players. The New York Knicks had the first pick and chose Heyman. This marked the beginning of the modern NBA Draft as we know it today.

NBA Career

Heyman played for the New York Knicks and later for other NBA teams during his professional career. While he had a solid NBA career, he did not achieve the same level of stardom in the professional league as he had in college basketball.

Historical Significance

As the first No. 1 overall pick in NBA history, Heyman holds a unique place in basketball history. His selection started a tradition that continues today, where the team with the worst record gets the first pick in the draft.

Sources

  1. nba.com (nba.com)
  2. basketball-reference.com (basketball-reference.com)
  3. espn.com (espn.com)