Can we agree David Robinson was the greatest #1 draft pick of all time ?

[Duderonomy]

The Spurs were 21-61 before he arrived and have been a contender up until this season. The only year they weren't was because he got injured and he unselfishly mentored his replacement to dominate for another 15 years.

No player has had a bigger impact with one franchise than the admiral.

[JohnnySic]

Nope, because it wasn't just him. Robinson was a big part (the biggest part) of the turnaround, but the Spurs also added Terry Cummings (22/8 that year), Rod Strickland and Maurecie Cheeks. They had a very solid rookie in Sean Elliot and a good 2nd year player in Willie Anderson. That team was slapped together like the '08 Celtics in one offseason.

[SouBeachTalents]

Nah

[Phoenix]

The Spurs front office deserves the credit for keeping that team competitive while the roster turned over and stars aged/retired/left. I don't know what the Admirals drafting has to do with any of the Spurs success after 2003, but maybe I'm misunderstanding the post.

[Duderonomy]

The Spurs front office deserves the credit for keeping that team competitive while the roster turned over and stars aged/retired/left. I don't know what the Admirals drafting has to do with any of the Spurs success after 2003, but maybe I'm misunderstanding the post.

Shaq, Kareem, or Lebron aren't that valuable of a draft pick if they all bolt after a few seasons. The goal of the draft is to pick someone who will win titles and keep you a contender for as long as possible.

[Phoenix]

Shaq, Kareem, or Lebron aren't that valuable of a draft pick if they all bolt after a few seasons. The goal of the draft is to pick someone who will win titles and keep you a contender for as long as possible.

Understood, but the Admirals drafting in 1987 has nothing to do with the teams success after he was no longer an active player. The majority of the teams championships were won after he retired. The Spurs have a great system and culture of winning and that is the reason for their continued success.

[Akeem34TheDream]

He is not even the greatest #1 draft pick of Spurs franchise.

[Phoenix]

He is not even the greatest #1 draft pick of Spurs franchise.

A fine point.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Who is Lebron James?

[LeCroix]

Did this original post have amneesia to forget leborn and tim doncan?

[tontoz]

He is not even the greatest #1 draft pick of Spurs franchise.

LOL came in here to post the same thing.

[dankok8]

Kareem
Hakeem
Duncan
Lebron

Just off of the top of my head...

[RogueBorg]

The Spurs were 21-61 before he arrived and have been a contender up until this season. The only year they weren't was because he got injured and he unselfishly mentored his replacement to dominate for another 15 years.

No player has had a bigger impact with one franchise than the admiral.

David Robinson originally joined the Navy to be on submarines. Think about that for a moment.

[lilteapot]

Kareem
Hakeem
Duncan
Lebron

Just off of the top of my head...

this lol

[Whoah10115]

Yeah you can argue him ahead of Duncan in this regard, as he had a revolutionary impact on the franchise.

And in his prime? I'd take him.

[Axe]

I don't.

[Smoke117]

David Robinson's impact is up there with anyone ever. You go from how the Spurs were without him to his rookie season: 21 wins to 56 wins and then to the Spurs with him in 96 to basically without him all but 6 games in 97: 59 wins to 20 wins. They fell from 9th in offense and 3rd in defense to 27th in offense and 27th in defense. If that's not a monstrous impact I don't know what is. It's sad how one series has defined a career built on dominance.

[Duncan21formvp]

No Tim Duncan was better, Hakeem, Shaq, Kareem, Magic were better to name a few.

[JBSptfn]

Don't get it twisted: Robinson was the most important pick in SA's history. If they didn't get him, the Spurs may have ended up moving:

https://books.google.com/books?id=A0cuDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT113&lpg=PT113&dq=1987+NBA+Draft+Lottery&source=bl&ots=8iDdeX_ero&sig=ACfU3U1RaECbCoVkmnpaJWouujXPxh0UGA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirnrSr7-TpAhWFhXIEHepdA5Q4HhDoATADegQIDBAB#v=onepage&q=1987%20NBA%20Draft%20Lottery&f=false

[light]

The Spurs were 21-61 before he arrived and have been a contender up until this season. The only year they weren't was because he got injured and he unselfishly mentored his replacement to dominate for another 15 years.

No player has had a bigger impact with one franchise than the admiral.

Who?

Hell no.

You know it's LeBron.

[Duderonomy]

Yeah you can argue him ahead of Duncan in this regard, as he had a revolutionary impact on the franchise.

And in his prime? I'd take him.

Maybe I should have said most important or impactful #1 of all time. Kareem and Shaq were better players but not more valuable to the franchise that drafted them.

[tontoz]

Maybe I should have said most important or impactful #1 of all time. Kareem and Shaq were better players but not more valuable to the franchise that drafted them.

Again the answer is no. He was drafted in '87 but didn't even play until two years later because of his Naval commitment. He was 24 years old in his rookie year.

Not to mention the fact that they added Cummings/Strickland/Cheeks the same year.

[RogueBorg]

Maybe I should have said most important or impactful #1 of all time. Kareem and Shaq were better players but not more valuable to the franchise that drafted them.

I'm a huge David Robinson fan, but going by your criteria I think Olajuwon was more impactful to the Rockets than Robinson was to the Spurs. I can see your point with Kareem and Shaq as they didn't stay with the team they were drafted by for very long, but Olajuwon did. Dream was just a better player with more accolades than the Admiral.

[Horatio33]

Tim Duncan

[Sulico]

I'd say Magic Johnson.

Admiral maybe turned around Spurs team but Magic turned around the NBA.

[iamgine]

Lebron got Cleveland a title. I think it'll be a couple hundred years until they win another.

[HoopsNY]

I don't think anyone would agree with this. I understand why you say this from an impact standpoint. But as others have mentioned, SA added key pieces, which made them competitive.

And yea, Tim Duncan definitely gets the nod over Robinson. And of course, there's LeBron James.

[tontoz]

Strangely enough DRob's biggest contribution might have been missing an entire season due to injury which put them in position to draft Duncan. The Spurs didn't make the Finals until Duncan got there.

[hiphopanonymous]

Elgin Baylor took a very bad losing record ball club and immediately pushed them into the NBA Finals where they repeatedly made Finals runs the next 10+ years and he became a face of the NBA. He didn't win a ring with them technically but then again does Robinson if Duncan isn't acquired? Wilt also had a similar team impact and quickly took them to the Finals though he only won with 2 different franchises. Tim Duncan of course also can be argued as the even more valuable number one Spurs pick than Robinson ever was. Magic Johnson was also a number 1 pick and the Lakers were old and mediocre at best until he arrived and became a dynasty under his floor leadership. LeBron a number 1 draft pick that also turned a bad team into a good team though his loyalty and fortitude isn't as on point he eventually did come back and get a ring for the team that drafted him so that's got to somewhat count in this group too. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can't be forgotten either - his team was literally a crap expansion team and the 1st year on the team he makes the Playoffs and 2nd he gets a ring. Of course thanks to Oscar and he also doesn't stick around for as long but still - he then goes on to win 5 more with the Lakers. There's lots of 'greatest' tier 1st picks.

[Lakers Legend#32]

Now way. It was Magic Johnson.

[kawhileonard2]

Kareem
Hakeem
Duncan
Lebron

Just off of the top of my head...

Also Shaq