<P> China 's Yao Ming ( 2002 ) and Italy 's Andrea Bargnani ( 2006 ) are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall . Eleven other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall -- Mychal Thompson ( Bahamas ) in 1978 , Hakeem Olajuwon ( Nigeria ) in 1984 , Patrick Ewing ( Jamaica ) in 1985 , Tim Duncan ( U.S. Virgin Islands ) in 1997 , Michael Olowokandi ( Nigeria ) in 1998 , Andrew Bogut ( Australia ) in 2005 , Kyrie Irving ( Australia ) in 2011 , Anthony Bennett ( Canada ) in 2013 , Andrew Wiggins ( Canada ) in 2014 , Ben Simmons ( Australia ) in 2016 , and Deandre Ayton ( Bahamas ) in 2018 . Duncan is an American citizen , but is considered an `` international '' player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or the District of Columbia . Ewing had dual Jamaican - American citizenship when he was drafted and Irving and Simmons had dual Australian - American citizenship when they were drafted . </P>
<P> China 's Yao Ming ( 2002 ) and Italy 's Andrea Bargnani ( 2006 ) are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall . Eleven other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall -- Mychal Thompson ( Bahamas ) in 1978 , Hakeem Olajuwon ( Nigeria ) in 1984 , Patrick Ewing ( Jamaica ) in 1985 , Tim Duncan ( U.S. Virgin Islands ) in 1997 , Michael Olowokandi ( Nigeria ) in 1998 , Andrew Bogut ( Australia ) in 2005 , Kyrie Irving ( Australia ) in 2011 , Anthony Bennett ( Canada ) in 2013 , Andrew Wiggins ( Canada ) in 2014 , Ben Simmons ( Australia ) in 2016 , and Deandre Ayton ( Bahamas ) in 2018 . Duncan is an American citizen , but is considered an `` international '' player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or the District of Columbia . Ewing had dual Jamaican - American citizenship when he was drafted and Irving and Simmons had dual Australian - American citizenship when they were drafted . </P>
who was picked number 1 in the nba draft
who was picked number 1 in the nba draft
Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton