Every 3rd pick in NBA draft history
80 players have gone 3rd in the NBA draft since 1947, from Eddie Ehlers to Cameron Boozer in 2026. The most decorated: Michael Jordan (1984; 5x NBA MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 14x All-Star), Bob Cousy (1950; NBA MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 13x All-Star), and James Harden (2009; NBA MVP, 6x All-NBA First Team, 11x All-Star). 33 of the 80 won nothing on the NBA honours list.
| Year | Player | Team | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Cameron Boozer | Memphis Grizzlies | — |
| 2025 | VJ Edgecombe | Philadelphia 76ers | — |
| 2024 | Reed Sheppard | Houston Rockets | — |
| 2023 | Scoot Henderson | Portland Trail Blazers | — |
| 2022 | Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets | NBA All-Rookie Second Team |
| 2021 | Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team, All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-Star |
| 2020 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets | NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, All-Star |
| 2019 | RJ Barrett | New York Knicks | — |
| 2018 | Luka Dončić | Atlanta Hawks | 6x All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 6x All-Star |
| 2017 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 4x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 6x All-Star |
| 2016 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | 2x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Finals MVP, 5x All-Star |
| 2015 | Jahlil Okafor | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA All-Rookie First Team |
| 2014 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA MVP, 4x All-NBA Second Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 7x All-Star |
| 2013 | Otto Porter Jr. | Washington Wizards | — |
| 2012 | Bradley Beal | Washington Wizards | All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 3x All-Star |
| 2011 | Enes Freedom | Utah Jazz | — |
| 2010 | Derrick Favors | New Jersey Nets | NBA All-Rookie Second Team |
| 2009 | James Harden | Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA MVP, 6x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 11x All-Star |
| 2008 | O.J. Mayo | Minnesota Timberwolves | — |
| 2007 | Al Horford | Atlanta Hawks | NBA All-Defensive Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 5x All-Star |
| 2006 | Adam Morrison | Charlotte Bobcats | NBA All-Rookie Second Team |
| 2005 | Deron Williams | Utah Jazz | 2x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 3x All-Star |
| 2004 | Ben Gordon | Chicago Bulls | NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA Sixth Man of the Year |
| 2003 | Carmelo Anthony | Denver Nuggets | 4x All-NBA Third Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 10x All-Star |
| 2002 | Mike Dunleavy | Golden State Warriors | NBA Coach of the Year |
| 2001 | Pau Gasol | Atlanta Hawks | 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 6x All-Star |
| 2000 | Darius Miles | Los Angeles Clippers | NBA All-Rookie First Team |
| 1999 | Baron Davis | Charlotte Hornets | All-NBA Third Team, 2x All-Star |
| 1998 | Raef LaFrentz | Denver Nuggets | — |
| 1997 | Chauncey Billups | Boston Celtics | 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, All-NBA Second Team, 5x All-Star |
| 1996 | Shareef Abdur-Rahim | Vancouver Grizzlies | NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-Star |
| 1995 | Jerry Stackhouse | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA All-Rookie First Team, 2x All-Star |
| 1994 | Grant Hill | Detroit Pistons | 4x All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 7x All-Star |
| 1993 | Anfernee Hardaway | Golden State Warriors | — |
| 1992 | Christian Laettner | Minnesota Timberwolves | NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-Star |
| 1991 | Billy Owens | Sacramento Kings | NBA All-Rookie First Team |
| 1990 | Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | Denver Nuggets | — |
| 1989 | Sean Elliott | San Antonio Spurs | NBA All-Rookie Second Team, 2x All-Star |
| 1988 | Charles Smith | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA All-Rookie First Team |
| 1987 | Dennis Hopson | New Jersey Nets | — |
| 1986 | Chris Washburn | Golden State Warriors | — |
| 1985 | Benoit Benjamin | Los Angeles Clippers | — |
| 1984 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 5x NBA MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 14x All-Star |
| 1983 | Rodney McCray | Houston Rockets | NBA All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Defensive Second Team |
| 1982 | Dominique Wilkins | Utah Jazz | 4x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, All-NBA First Team, 9x All-Star |
| 1981 | Buck Williams | New Jersey Nets | 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-Star |
| 1980 | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics | 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2x NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 7x All-Star |
| 1979 | Bill Cartwright | New York Knicks | NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-Star |
| 1978 | Rick Robey | Indiana Pacers | — |
| 1977 | Marques Johnson | Milwaukee Bucks | 2x All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 5x All-Star |
| 1976 | Richard Washington | Kansas City Kings | — |
| 1975 | Marvin Webster | Atlanta Hawks | — |
| 1974 | Tom Burleson | Seattle SuperSonics | — |
| 1973 | Ernie DiGregorio | Buffalo Braves | NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year |
| 1972 | Double D Davis | Cleveland Cavaliers | — |
| 1971 | Elmore Smith | Buffalo Braves | NBA All-Rookie First Team |
| 1970 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | 2x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 5x All-Star |
| 1969 | Lucius Allen | Seattle SuperSonics | — |
| 1968 | Bob Kauffman | Seattle SuperSonics | 3x All-Star |
| 1967 | Clem Haskins | Chicago Bulls | — |
| 1966 | Clyde Lee | San Francisco Warriors | All-Star |
| 1965 | Dave Stallworth | New York Knicks | — |
| 1964 | Gary Bradds | Baltimore Bullets | — |
| 1963 | Nate Thurmond | San Francisco Warriors | 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 7x All-Star |
| 1962 | Zelmo Beaty | St. Louis Hawks | NBA All-Rookie First Team, 2x All-Star |
| 1961 | Larry Siegfried | Cincinnati Royals | — |
| 1960 | Darrall Imhoff | New York Knicks | All-Star |
| 1959 | Tom Hawkins | Minneapolis Lakers | — |
| 1958 | Mike Farmer | New York Knicks | — |
| 1957 | Jim Krebs | Minneapolis Lakers | — |
| 1956 | Jim Paxson | Minneapolis Lakers | All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-Star |
| 1955 | Jim Loscutoff | Boston Celtics | — |
| 1954 | Gene Shue | Philadelphia Warriors | 2x NBA Coach of the Year, All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 5x All-Star |
| 1953 | Jack Molinas | Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons | All-Star |
| 1952 | Dick Groat | Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons | — |
| 1951 | Marcus Freiberger | Indianapolis Olympians | — |
| 1950 | Bob Cousy | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | NBA MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 13x All-Star |
| 1949 | Bob Harris | Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons | — |
| 1948 | George Hauptfuhrer | Boston Celtics | — |
| 1947 | Eddie Ehlers | Boston Celtics | — |
Honours from the NBA award history and the All-Star selections, matched to the pick by name. Picks from the NBA's own draft history.