• Zion Williamson, 2019-20: first pick in 2019 and one of the most hyped prospects since LeBron James.
• Hakeem Olajuwon: first pick in 1984; 1985 rookie of the year; 1994 MVP; 12x All-NBA; Hall-of-Famer. Damon Stoudamire was the Raptors' first draft pick, taken seventh overall in 1995. He won rookie of the year in 1996 and went on to a productive 14-year career. He came out of the gates as if shot from a cannon, with the ultimate green light as the star of an expansion team in 1995-96. He averaged 15.3 points, seven assists and five rebounds – albeit on 37.
McGrady's start shows how difficult an adjustment the NBA can be. He was 18 and straight out of high school after being the ninth pick in 1997, and his introduction to the NBA reflected that as he appeared in only three of the Raptors' first seven games in his rookie season, making negligible impact.
michaelgrange Ben Simmons was the first overall pick, not the second.