NBA Draft History: The Best Players Taken At No. 5 Overall
May 19, 2025, 3:20 PM | Updated: May 20, 2025, 10:28 am
24 Jun 1998: A picture of David Stern the NBA Commissioner during the NBA Draft at the General Motors Palace in Vancouver, Canada. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
SALT LAKE CITY – Although it was always the most likely individual pick, Jazz fans were still stunned when Utah landed the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The disappointment is understandable, but it’s important to remember that a top-five selection is nothing to scoff at. Let’s take a look back at some of the greatest No. 5 picks in NBA Draft history.
Reason For Optimism? Best Fifth Picks In NBA History
NBA Legends Picked At No. 5
Dwyane Wade – 2003 NBA Draft
Debatably the best No. 5 pick in NBA history has a tie to the Utah Jazz as a minority owner, and it’s Dwyane Wade.
Wade was picked by the Miami Heat back in 2003 and is widely considered a top-four shooting guard in league history. As a three-time NBA champion, 2006 Finals MVP, eight-time All-NBA selection, and 13-time All-Star, Wade was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Wade averaged 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over his 16-year NBA career.
But…… There has been some great players drafted with the 5th pick! pic.twitter.com/o29KhUM9cc
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 12, 2025
Vince Carter – 1998 NBA Draft
The only player to play in four different decades and possibly the greatest dunker of all time, Vince Carter was a fifth overall selection back in 1998.
He averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over his 22 seasons in the association. In 2000-2001, he averaged 27.6 points on 46 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from three.
Carter was an eight-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and an Olympic Gold Medalist.
Some prime Vince Carter ridiculousness 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NJgWw6Rggr
— Fastbreak Hoops (@FastbreakHoops5) May 7, 2025
Ray Allen – 1996 NBA Draft
Another consensus top shooting guard in NBA history was also picked fifth, and that’s sharpshooter Ray Allen.
In his first two stops in Milwaukee and Seattle, Allen was a do-it-all scoring threat. Eventually, he transitioned into a smaller role as a pure shooter, where he eventually became the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point makes.
Allen was a two-time champion, 10-time All-Star, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ray Allen is one of the greatest shooters of all-time ☔🔥 pic.twitter.com/dVMfAtm0S6
— Fastbreak Hoops (@FastbreakHoops5) May 18, 2025
Kevin Garnett – 1995 NBA Draft
Another top all-time player at his position was picked fifth, and maybe the most intense NBA player of all time, Kevin Garnett.
Garnett played 21 seasons and averaged 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He was an NBA champion, a 15-time All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA selection, the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, and the 2004 NBA MVP.
As one of the most dominant two-way bigs in league history, Garnett was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Kevin Garnett posted a career-high 47 PTS and grabbed 17 REBS against the Suns! (2005) pic.twitter.com/u4kV5BT0Me
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) December 1, 2022
Scottie Pippen – 1987 NBA Draft
Maybe the best wingman and best two-way player in NBA history, Scottie Pippen, also landed at five back in 1987.
He was a six-time NBA champion, a seven-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA selection, and an eight-time All-Defensive team member.
For his roles on the “Dream Team” and maybe the greatest dynasty in league history, Pippen was named a Hall of Famer in 2010.
Scottie Pippen turns 55 today.
🏆 6x NBA Champion
🔒 8x All-Defensive First Team
🏅 2x Olympic gold medalist
⭐️ Naismith Basketball Hall of FamerStill one of the greatest posters of all time. pic.twitter.com/fRIsXZf125
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2020
Charles Barkley – 1984 NBA Draft
Although the younger generation knows him more as a TV personality, Charles Barkley was a problem on the hardwood and another No. 5 pick.
Over 16 seasons, Barkley averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He was the 1993 NBA MVP, an 11-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer.
Charles Barkley was a basketball juggernaut.
Give the man his flowers today. pic.twitter.com/Fz0wlo6mDp
— Hoops Nostalgia (@HoopsNostalgia) February 21, 2022
Recent Top Names
There’s an argument to be made that the draft process and scouting have made significant advancements in the last decade, so the chance of a true star falling to five is lower than it’s ever been.
Although there is probably some truth to this, there are some examples of all-star-level players landing at No. 5 in recent memory.
Trae Young – 2018 NBA Draft
Trae Young is somewhat of a polarizing player, but his talent can’t be ignored.
In seven seasons, he has averaged 25.3 points and 9.8 assists per game. Young is already a four-time All-Star, a two-time assists leader, and holds the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise record for career three-pointers — all at the age of 26.
Young also led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals as the best player on the roster.
Trae Young’s last 3 seasons: CONSISTENT 🧊
26.2 PPG | 10.2 APG
25.7 PPG | 10.8 APG
24.2 PPG | 11.6 APGHe’s the 6th player EVER with 3 straight 20-PT, 10-AST seasons, joining:
Oscar Robertson (4)
Isiah Thomas (4)
Russell Westbrook (4)
Kevin Johnson (3)
James Harden (3) pic.twitter.com/jEl00xP9jo— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2025
Darius Garland – 2019 NBA Draft
One year after Young went fifth, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Darius Garland.
In six seasons, Garland has proved to be an all-star level offensive engine with averages of 18.9 points and 6.7 assists on near 50/40/90 shooting splits. He is already a two-time All-Star.
Garland played a major role in Cleveland’s success this year. This showed in the playoffs as he missed the first two games of the semifinals and the Cavs went down 0-2 to the Pacers.
