Who was the taken first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft?

Deandre Ayton was taken first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns selected Ayton on June 21, 2018, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn after winning the NBA Draft Lottery. It was the first time in franchise history that Phoenix held the No. 1 overall pick. Ayton entered the draft after one standout season at the University of Arizona, where he averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Ayton was widely regarded as the leading prospect because of his exceptional size, strength, rebounding, and polished offensive game. The Sacramento Kings selected Marvin Bagley III second, while Luka Dončić was chosen third by the Atlanta Hawks and later traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

A common mix-up is confusing the first pick with the draft’s later outcomes or with Dončić, who became one of the class’s most celebrated players. The question asks who was selected first, not who ultimately had the best career or which player was most valuable in hindsight.