The rookies I remember having immense hype, the kind where the draft is considered a sweepstakes for who will get them:
Shaquille O’Neal (1992) Tim Duncan (1997) LeBron James (2003) Zion Williamson (2019) Victor Wembanyama (2023)
Three out of four have had top 10-15 all time careers. I hope Zion gets it together to have at least a Hall of Fame career.
Who am I forgetting / who was there before 1992?
Your list in the modern time (last 30 years) is accurate. Wiggins, Oden, were not hyped to the level of these players. Dwight was extremely hyped, but wouldn’t put him quite on this level…but his hype is underrated by people.