Is Tim Duncan the greatest number one overall draft pick ever to be selected in the history of the NBA? [Brandon Jennings seems to think so](https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/ex-knicks-guard-makes-wild-tim-duncan-take-01jx13eg1fmz), and I'm inclined to agree with him.
Let's run down Tim Duncan's accolades before we get into the true nitty gritty. The Big Fundamento finished his 19-year career as a 5x champion, a 3x Finals MVP, a 2x MVP with 15 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections, and 15 All-Defensive Team selections. He was the Rookie of the Year and is top-10 all-time in winning percentage, prevailing in 70% of the games he played.
His resume is as decorated as it gets, so broaching this subject is probably more appropriate for Tim Duncan than anyone else, including LeBron James. And honestly, there should be a gap between the two that includes Magic Johnson. Magic is the only player who should even be considered as a worthy argument to Tim Duncan's place atop this list, and I'll tell you why.
Tim Duncan's tenure gives him the nod over Magic and LeBron
-----------------------------------------------------------
I know that people believe that Cleveland's franchise was in such a desolate place that getting them one championship trophy elevates James into a different stratosphere, but that's actually just delusion. LeBron fans have searched for any and every reason possible to place their deity above Michael Jordan in the GOAT discussion. It's intentional to push a false narrative. Don't fall for it.
James left Cleveland, not once but twice. The question you have to ask yourself to get fair criteria for this debate is this: who did the pick benefit? For those who claim that someone like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best number one pick of all time, how can that be the case when he left the team that picked him? He's the best number one pick of all time for whom?
If Brandon Jennings simply wanted to talk about who the best player was, he would have said that, but when we're talking about who the best draft pick was, you have to consider value and who got the most out of _**their**_ pick.
Magic helped explode the game of basketball and was a key factor in expanding the Lakers' fan base, running the Showtime offense that took the league by storm. Los Angeles won five championships with Johnson as their franchise player. His accolades are deep, and his impact was undeniable. But he only played for 13 years, and that's what puts him at number two.
Timmy D played for 19 years, and the team [didn't win fewer than 70%](https://airalamo.com/posts/list-san-antonio-spurs-10-longest-win-streaks-franchise-history) of their games in any season he played in. That means making the playoffs every single year of a 19-season stretch, and he did it in San Antonio. It was a respectable organization before Duncan, but he made it into one of the most respected franchises in the world.
LeBron's hunt for championships may have succeeded to an extent, but it cost him a potential spot at the top of a list like this. If you look in the comment section of Jennings' post, you'll see his fans crying about it. They'll be okay, though. They're just having a tough time with an age-old adage that's as undeniable as Duncan's title as the greatest number one pick of all time: the truth hurts.