With Stephen Strasburg’s promotion coming any day now — except for June 4 — it’s a good time to look back at the past 20 years and see what other No. 1 picks received similar hype, and whether or not they fulfilled expectations:
10. Tim Duncan, Spurs, NBA, 1997
He could have been the top pick after his sophomore season. Or his junior season. But instead he stayed four years. Think he’s worked out? Two MVP trophies, three more in the NBA Finals and four titles. Guess staying in college was OK.
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9. Alex Rodriguez, Mariners, MLB, 1993
Scouts said his ceiling was higher than anyone they’d seen in years. They were right. Rodriguez is a three-time MVP and 12-time All Star. But he also is tainted after taking performance enhancing drugs. He might still land in Cooperstown, however.
8. Michael Vick, Falcons, NFL, 2001
Blessed with speed and a strong arm, Vick was going to usher in the new wave of quarterbacks. But he’s mostly been an anomaly, one who never developed as a passer. He’ll be more famous for dog fighting than quarterbacking.
7. Peyton Manning, Colts, NFL, 1998
Actually, there was strong debate about whether or not Manning should go first overall. But many considered him one of the best quarterbacks to come out in a while. He’s won a Super Bowl and will someday reach the Hall of Fame.
6. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, NHL, 2004
He was the next big thing, before Crosby came along that is. Ovi held his own as a kid in the Russian pro leagues. He seems to have worked out OK, don’t you think? He’s transformed the Caps into a must-watch team.
5. Sidney Crosby, Penguins, NHL, 2005
Billed as the next Wayne Gretzky, he’s either the first or second best player in the league, depending on the day. Sid the Kid might have saved hockey in Pittsburgh, too. He won a Stanley Cup at age 21 and was the Olympic hero for Canada.
4. Shaquille O’Neal, Magic, NBA, 1992
This class was more than just about O’Neal, the dominating center from LSU. Drafted right after him? Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner. Some dismissed O’Neal because he didn’t win in college. The future Hall of Famer has won four titles in the NBA.
3. Eric Lindros, Nordiques, NHL, 1991
After getting picked by Quebec, he refused to report to the team. So the Nordiques traded him to Philadelphia. He scored 41 goals as a rookie and made the Stanley Cup in his fifth season. But injuries derailed the second half of his career.
2. Freddy Adu, United, MLS, 2004
OK, it’s soccer and this is the United States. However, Adu was supposed to be the savior for soccer in America. And he was only 14! Now, six years later, he’s a seldom-played reserve in Europe who can’t make the U.S. World Cup roster.
1. LeBron James, Cavaliers, NBA, 2003
In high school, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and his games were on pay-per-view. He was compared to Michael Jordan. Meanwhile, James has become the player many expected. Without the titles, of course. The King is a two-time MVP and wanted by every team.
