Now that the Chicago Bulls know they have the 4th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the next step is finding a talent with the potential to completely turn the franchise around.
In this four-horse race between AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson, which one of the four will still be on the board for the Chicago Bulls remains a mystery until draft night. But the history behind the fourth overall pick itself is an intriguing one.
Based on the names I’ve looked at, history says the 4th pick is about as “boom or bust” as it gets. If the player turns out to be good, he’s generational. If he turns out to be bad, he’s forgotten almost immediately, or worse, remembered for all the wrong reasons.
So before we see who the Chicago Bulls select with the 4th pick, let’s take a look back at the last 25 years of fourth overall picks: how many became stars, and how many faded into NBA obscurity.
Will Chicago Bulls’ 4th Overall Pick Be a BOOM…
Considering the NBA Draft has been around since 1947, it would be insane to list every fourth overall pick in NBA history. Which is why we’re only looking at the last 25 years.
However, just to strengthen my argument a bit more, some of the best players drafted 4th overall before 2001 include names like Dave Cowens, Dolph Schayes, Jerry Sloan, Lou Hudson, Dikembe Mutombo, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Rice, Jamal Mashburn, Stephon Marbury, Lamar Odom, and Byron Scott, just to name a few.
But since 2001, here are the ten best players drafted with the 4th overall pick, listed in chronological order:
Chris Bosh © David Butler II-Imagn ImagesChris Bosh, 2003 NBA Draft:The 2003 NBA Draft was considered stacked in every sense of the word, and at pick No. 4, the NBA got an 11-time All-Star, two-time NBA Champion, and Hall of Famer in Chris Bosh. Bosh played an integral role on the Miami Heatles, and honestly, his résumé could’ve been even more stacked had he not been forced to retire early.
Chris Paul Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsChris Paul, 2005 NBA Draft:The Point God himself, Chris Paul, was also selected with the fourth overall pick and, in a redraft, would probably go No. 1 overall. Paul built a first-ballot Hall of Fame career with 12 All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA selections, countless assist and steals titles, and a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. The only thing missing from his trophy case is an NBA Championship, although we all know he came painfully close.
Mike Conley Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesMike Conley, 2007 NBA Draft:One of the most underrated players in NBA history and one of the faces of the “Grit and Grind” Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley was selected fourth overall in 2007. His 19-year career saw him make an All-Star team and an All-Defensive team, and he remains one of just four players from that draft class still active in the NBA. Outside of basketball, his reputation as a teammate may be even more impressive, proven by the four sportsmanship awards he’s won throughout his career.
Russell Westbrook © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesRussell Westbrook, 2008 NBA Draft:A former NBA MVP and the all-time leader in triple-doubles, Russell Westbrook was drafted fourth overall in 2008. Much like Chris Paul, his resume is stacked with All-Star appearances, All-NBA selections, and a place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, but without the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy. Still, Westbrook’s ability to put a team on his back, for better or worse, is what makes him one of the greatest players of his era.
Kristaps Porzingis Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsKristaps Porzingis, 2015 NBA Draft:Kristaps Porzingis was Wembanyama before Wembanyama. The man who was booed on draft night quickly became a fan favorite in New York. He made an All-Star appearance, won an NBA Championship, and carved out a very respectable decade-long NBA career. I’d argue that if Porzingis never tore his ACL in 2018, he could’ve developed into one of the best players in the league during the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Jaren Jackson Jr. © Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesJaren Jackson Jr., 2018 NBA Draft:The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., was also selected fourth overall. Jackson may not be one of the league’s elite rebounders, but his impact defensively is impossible to ignore. Two All-Star appearances, two block titles, and three All-Defensive Team selections before turning 26 is a résumé most players in the league would dream of having.
Scottie Barnes © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn ImagesScottie Barnes, 2021 NBA Draft:One of my favorite players in the NBA, and someone I genuinely believe is on a superstar trajectory, Scottie Barnes was selected fourth overall in 2021. At just 24 years old, he’s already a two-time All-Star and looks destined to earn multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive selections throughout his career. His performances during this season’s playoffs were extraordinary, and if the Toronto Raptors had just a little more talent around him, I genuinely think they could make a deep run.
Amen Thompson Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY SportsAmen Thompson, 2023 NBA Draft:Another fourth overall pick who already looks like a future superstar is Amen Thompson. Through just three NBA seasons, the 23-year-old has already established himself as a defensive monster, earning an All-Defensive First Team selection and potentially adding another one this year. He has “perennial All-Star” written all over him, and with rumors of a potential $250 million contract extension, it’s hard to argue he wouldn’t deserve every dollar.
Stephon Castle Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsStephon Castle, 2024 NBA Draft:The 2024 Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, was also selected fourth overall and is already viewed by many as the best player from his draft class. In just his second NBA season, he became the starting guard on a 62-win San Antonio Spurs team and arguably their second-best player. His defensive intensity and aggressive scoring mentality fit perfectly with the identity of so many successful No. 4 picks throughout NBA history.
Kon Knueppel Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn ImagesKon Knueppel, 2025 NBA Draft:Last season’s fourth overall pick and runner-up in one of the closest Rookie of the Year races in recent memory, Kon Knueppel looks like an absolute baller. He shattered multiple rookie three-point records and led the NBA in total three-pointers made during his rookie season alone. The sky is the limit for Kon, and finding himself in the history books this early is about as perfect a start to an NBA career as you could ask for.
Patrick Williams © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images…Or a BUST
I can’t show you one side of the coin without showing you the other, especially when the Chicago Bulls appear a frightening number of times among the ten worst players drafted fourth overall in the last 25 years.
Now, I’ll preface this by saying I found this list pretty difficult to make, because some of these players still had long NBA careers. They just happened to be the weakest names out of the 25 players eligible for this list. And honestly, the fact that that’s a problem is pretty good news if you’re a Chicago Bulls fan.
Here they are, listed in chronological order:
Eddy Curry, 2001 NBA Draft — Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, Eddy Curry played 11 seasons in the NBA. He never logged a single playoff minute, but still managed to win an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2012. His best stretch came between 2003 and 2008, where he averaged around 15 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Drew Gooden, 2002 NBA Draft — Former Chicago Bulls forward Drew Gooden was selected fourth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. He played for 10 different teams across a 14-year NBA career and averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. Honestly, that’s a very respectable NBA career.
Tyrus Thomas, 2006 NBA Draft — Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Chicago Bulls on draft night, Tyrus Thomas played just eight NBA seasons. His best year came in 2008-09, when he averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.
Wesley Johnson, 2010 NBA Draft — Mostly remembered for the viral clip of James Harden sending him flying on a step-back three, Wesley Johnson never really found his footing in the NBA. He played nine seasons across six teams and never averaged more than 10 points per game in a single season.
Tristan Thompson, 2011 NBA Draft — Starting center for the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, Tristan Thompson was selected fourth overall in 2011. He played 13 NBA seasons, with his best years coming during his first stint in Cleveland. Between 2018 and 2020, Thompson averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game and is honestly one of the better names from this group.
Dion Waiters, 2012 NBA Draft — Riding off into the sunset with an NBA Championship in 2020, Dion Waiters was selected fourth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He was the definition of a pure scorer, unfortunately, without many other elite skills to complement it. Waiters averaged 13 points per game across eight seasons in the league.
Cody Zeller, 2013 NBA Draft — Selected fourth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats, Cody Zeller carved out a solid role as a backup big man throughout the 2010s. He played 11 seasons in the NBA and had three separate years averaging over 10 points per game.
Dragan Bender, 2016 NBA Draft — Probably the worst fourth overall pick in modern NBA history, Dragan Bender was out of the league after just three seasons. He played for four teams during that span and unfortunately had far more flaws in his game than strengths.
Josh Jackson, 2017 NBA Draft — The Phoenix Suns had back-to-back fourth overall picks and completely missed on both. Josh Jackson played five seasons across four NBA teams and did show flashes early in his career. In three of his five seasons, he averaged over 11 points per game, but his production and role declined year after year until he eventually fell out of the league.
Patrick Williams, 2020 NBA Draft — With the fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Patrick Williams. Williams had all the physical tools to succeed in the NBA, just none of the mentality or polish to fully put it together.
Somehow, though, he still convinced the Chicago Bulls to hand him a massive $90 million extension, one many already consider among the worst contracts in the league. Now, the Chicago Bulls have a chance to finally right their wrongs with another fourth overall pick, and it’s something this franchise desperately needs to get right.
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