Top 10 Most Disappointing NBA Draft Picks Ever
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The world of professional basketball is filled with stories of success and failure, and the NBA Draft is no exception. Over the years, there have been numerous instances where highly-touted prospects have failed to live up to their billing, earning the label of "draft bust."
One such example is Shawn Bradley, known as "The Stormin' Mormon," who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1993 despite his 7'6 height. Despite a 12-year career, Bradley averaged only 8.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game, often being debated as a draft bust.
Another example is Hasheem Thabeet, a Tanzanian player drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009. Thabeet has struggled in the NBA, playing for multiple teams, and is currently rostered with the D-League Grand Rapids Drive.
In 1998, Michael Olowokandi was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite averaging 10.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game over nine seasons, Olowokandi is often considered a draft bust due to his inconsistent performance.
Kwame Brown, the first overall pick by the Washington Wizards in 2001, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers just three years later and played for six other franchises before leaving the league in 2013. Brown's physical limitations and inconsistent effort made him a liability on both offense and defense, earning him the label of a major bust.
Sam Bowie was drafted second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984, behind Michael Jordan. Despite a nine-season career, Bowie only averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game, but is often considered a draft bust due to Jordan's success.
Adam Morrison was drafted third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006, but played only four years of professional basketball, averaging 9.8 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game, before leaving the league.
Greg Oden played a total of 105 games over six professional seasons in the NBA, despite being drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007. Oden's career was derailed by multiple injuries, ending his career prematurely.
Jay Williams, drafted second overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2002, played only two seasons in the NBA, averaging 10.4 points per game and 3.6 assists per game, before retiring due to a career-ending motorcycle accident.
Darko Milicic was drafted second overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2003, but played for multiple teams over a 12-year career, averaging 6.8 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game. Milicic's underwhelming performance and the success of the players drafted after him have contributed to his being considered a draft bust.
In 1972, the Portland Trail Blazers drafted LaRue Martin with the first pick. Martin averaged only 5.3 points per game and left the NBA by 1977. His bust status is highlighted by the fact that the Trail Blazers passed on multiple Hall of Famers including Bob McAdoo, Paul Westphal, and Julius Erving to draft him.
The primary factors contributing to an NBA draft pick being a bust include injuries, inability to adjust to the professional level, personal issues, poor physical attributes or effort, and being overshadowed by other successful players drafted later. Examples such as LaRue Martin, Sam Bowie, and Kwame Brown illustrate these causes clearly.
Additional insights from data analytics indicate that busts often fall dramatically in redraft rankings compared to their original draft positions, with some "top 5 picks falling to at least the 21st spot" in value.
In summary, the main contributing factors to NBA draft busts are:
- Failure to meet performance expectations stemming from limited skills or effort
- Injuries that derail development or availability
- Poor physical or medical evaluation leading to selection ahead of better talent
- Being overshadowed retrospectively by players drafted later who achieve higher success
- Personal issues or inability to adjust to NBA competition and lifestyle
Examples such as LaRue Martin, Sam Bowie, and Kwame Brown illustrate these causes clearly.
Sports, specifically basketball in the NBA, have seen numerous examples of highly-touted prospects who failed to meet expectations, such as Hasheem Thabeet and Greg Oden. These players, despite being drafted early in the NBA Draft, struggled in their professional careers, sometimes due to personal issues, injuries, or poor adjustment to the NBA level.
