It happened in 1984 when Michael Jordan fell into the Chicago Bulls' laps at No. 3, setting the stage for six NBA championships.
It happened in 1997 when the Spurs took Tim Duncan first overall to lay the foundation for a dynasty.
Only time will tell if it happened again Thursday night when the New Orleans Hornets took Kentucky's Anthony Davis first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.
But where do Jordan and Duncan rank among the most impactful draft choices of all-time? Both were dominant players, but did they transform their franchises as much as someone like Bill Russell or Magic Johnson?
Photo via Facebook/Michael Jordan
