I can’t believe some teams missed so badly in the NBA Draft. Let’s talk about Kwame Brown. When the Washington Wizards picked him first overall in 2001, everyone had high hopes. He was supposed to be Michael Jordan’s protégé, but he ended up averaging just 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over his career. People forget he posted career-high stats of only 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during the 2003-04 season. That’s really not what you expect from a number one pick, considering the amount of talent that came in that draft.
Oh, and what about Darko Miličić? Selected second overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, he seemed like a solid choice at the time. That draft class included superstars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. But Darko? Not so much. He only averaged 6 points per game over his career and couldn’t even crack the starting lineup for a long time. Detroit could have had Carmelo or even Wade; instead, they got a guy who was more known for riding the bench.
One name that always comes up: Sam Bowie. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him second overall in 1984, right before Michael Jordan. Bowie had struggled with injuries throughout his college career, yet Portland took a gamble on him. Guess what? He had a decent rookie season but injuries plagued his career after that. His career averages: 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds. Not terrible but when you think that Michael Jordan could have been in a Blazers uniform, it stings.
We can’t overlook Anthony Bennett, either. Drafted first overall in 2013 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is a classic example of a bust. Bennett couldn’t even stay in the league for more than four seasons. He averaged a dismal 4.4 points per game and bounced around multiple teams in such a short span. What’s shocking is that he didn’t have one standout season, not even close.
Another one that had fans shaking their heads: Hasheem Thabeet. The Memphis Grizzlies used their second overall pick in 2009 on him. Standing at 7 feet 3 inches, you’d expect him to be a defensive powerhouse. Instead, he barely managed 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game over his career. He couldn’t block shots at the NBA level the way he did in college. He was quickly overshadowed by other players drafted that year like James Harden and Stephen Curry. Such a waste for a team that could have built its future around a better player.
Remember Greg Oden? Oh man, the Portland Trail Blazers had such high hopes for him. Drafted as the first overall pick in 2007, Oden was supposed to be the next big man in the league. Unfortunately, injuries wrecked his career. Over three seasons, he only played a total of 105 games, averaging 8 points and 6.2 rebounds. Can you believe it? It seemed like every time he was ready to get back on the court, another injury sidelined him.
When talking about major disappointments, don’t forget Michael Olowokandi. Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1998, he was seen as a potential cornerstone for the franchise. What fans got was an average player at best. He finished his career with mediocre stats, averaging 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Not exactly what you want from your number one pick. The Clippers could have picked Dirk Nowitzki or even Paul Pierce, but nope, they went with the “Candy Man.” That decision set them back years.
LaRue Martin is another classic example. The Portland Trail Blazers picked him first overall in 1972, and oh boy, did that not work out. He only averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game over his career. The most astonishing part is that he lasted only four seasons in the league, proving that sometimes scouts and executives just get it horribly wrong. Imagine if Portland had gone for Bob McAdoo instead, who was picked right after Martin and had a Hall of Fame career. It’s mind-blowing.
I can’t leave out Adam Morrison. Drafted third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006, Morrison was expected to bring a scoring punch with his sharp-shooting skills. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialize. He averaged only 7.5 points per game in his short-lived NBA career. What’s more frustrating is that the Bobcats passed on players like Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay, who had much more successful careers. Morrison’s performance was so disappointing that he was out of the league after just four seasons.