In the NBA Draft 2002, the top overall pick Yao Ming, who was selected by the Houston Rockets, became the highest draft pick to come directly to the NBA from an international basketball league or federation; the highest NBA Draft pick from China; and the sixth international player selected at number one.

In the NBA Draft 2001, the 2002 ‘got milk?’ Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol of Spain was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks as the third pick in the first round and traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the NBA Draft 2001. As the third overall pick, Gasol became the highest draft pick to come to the NBA from an international basketball league.

The following is a list of top draft picks to come to the NBA from an international basketball league or a federation:

YEAR	NO.	NAME	COUNTRY	TEAM	PRO TEAM
2002	1	Yao Ming	China	Houston Rockets	Shanghai Sharks
2001	3	Pau Gasol	Spain	Memphis Grizzlies	F.C. Barcelona
1998	9	Dirk Nowitzki	Germany	Dallas Mavericks	DJK Wurzburg
2001	12	Vladimir Radmanovic	Serbia and Montenegro	Seattle SuperSonics	FMP Zeleznik
1996	14	Predrag Stojakovic	Serbia and Montenegro	Sacramento Kings	POAK
2000	16	Hidayet Turkoglu	Turkey	Sacramento Kings	Efes Pilsen

Since 1966, five international players, who competed in the NCAA, were selected as the number one pick:

YEAR	NAME	COUNTRY	TEAM	COLLEGE
1998	Michael Olowokandi	Nigeria	L.A Clippers	Pacific
1997	Tim Duncan	U.S.Virgin Islands	San Antonio	Wake Forest
1985	Patrick Ewing	Jamaica	New York Knicks	Georgetown
1984	Hakeem Olajuwon	Nigeria	Houston Rockets	Houston
1978	Mychal Thompson	Bahamas	Portland Trail Blazers	Minnesota