The NBA Draft is a gateway for teams to find future superstars, but history shows not every high pick lives up to expectations.
Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison
Position: SF
Age: 40
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Birth place: United States of America
Some players fail due to injuries, others struggle with the transition to the top level, and some simply weren't good enough to be drafted so high.
Here are the 10 biggest busts, ranked from least to greatest disappointment.
Top 10 NBA busts of all time
10. Dragan Bender (2016, 4th overall pick, Phoenix Suns)
Dragan Bender
Dragan Bender
Credit USA Today – Scanpix
Dragan Bender was drafted fourth overall as a highly touted European prospect. Due to his size and versatility, he was compared to Kristaps Porzingis.
However, he never developed into a reliable player, struggling with consistency, confidence, and physicality in the NBA.
Given that the Suns passed on players like Buddy Hield, Jamal Murray, and Domantas Sabonis, Bender remains one of the biggest NBA draft busts of the decade.
Dragan Bender's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
187 67 5.4 1.3 3.9 0.6 39.9% 32.3% 65.4%
9. Sam Bowie (1984, 2nd overall pick, Portland Trail Blazers)
Sam Bowie
Sam Bowie
Forever known as the player picked ahead of Michael Jordan, Sam Bowie's career was derailed by injuries.
While he showed flashes of solid play, he was never able to maintain sustained health.
Although his stats, averaging 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, weren't terrible, being selected over the GOAT of basketball put him on this list.
Sam Bowie's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
511 349 10.9 2.1 7.5 1.8 45.2% 30.2% 74.8%
8. James Wiseman (2020, 2nd overall pick, Golden State Warriors)
James Wiseman
James Wiseman
Credit AP-Scanpix
James Wiseman was drafted second overall by the Warriors as a highly touted big man with great athleticism and potential.
However, injuries and struggles with Golden State's system prevented him from making an impact, and he was eventually traded to the Detroit Pistons.
While he still has time to carve out a career, his underwhelming performances and lack of development mark him as one of the biggest busts in NBA history.
James Wiseman's NBA career stats (as of 2023-24 season):
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
147 55 9.1 0.7 5.6 0.7 56.0% 26.2% 68.3%
7. Hasheem Thabeet (2009, 2nd overall pick, Memphis Grizzlies)
Hasheem Thabeet
Hasheem Thabeet
Credit AP - Scanpix
At 7'3", Hasheem Thabeet was drafted as a defensive force, but he never developed the offensive skills necessary to stay on the floor.
The big man was benched early in his rookie season and eventually sent to the G League, a rare demotion for a second overall pick.
Thabeet finished his NBA career with averages of only 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, exceptionally low statistics, even for an NBA bust.
Hasheem Thabeet's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
224 20 2.2 0.1 2.7 0.8 56.7% 0.0% 57.8%
6. Michael Olowokandi (1998, 1st overall pick, Los Angeles Clippers)
Michael Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi
Credit Reuters-Scanpix
Dubbed "The Kandi Man," Michael Olowokandi possessed all the physical tools to be an elite center but lacked the skills and work ethic to capitalize on them.
Despite being drafted first overall, he never averaged more than 12 points per game in a season and was largely considered a disappointment.
His poor fundamentals and lack of impact on winning games cemented his status as one of the worst NBA draft picks.
Michael Olowokandi's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
500 399 8.3 0.7 6.8 1.4 43.5% 0.0% 59.7%
5. Adam Morrison (2006, 3rd overall pick, Charlotte Bobcats)
Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison
Credit AFP - Scanpix
After an incredible college career at Gonzaga, where he was a leading scorer in the nation, Adam Morrison was expected to be an NBA star.
His limited athleticism and defensive shortcomings, however, prevented him from achieving stardom.
Morrison's NBA career lasted only three seasons, during which he averaged 7.5 points per game, though he later earned two championship rings as a reserve player for the Lakers.
Adam Morrison's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG SPG FG 3PT FT
161 28 7.5 1.4 2.1 0.2 37.3% 33.1% 71.0%
4. Kwame Brown (2001, 1st overall pick, Washington Wizards)
Kwame Brown
Kwame Brown
Credit AP - Scanpix
Kwame Brown, the first high school top pick, never lived up to the hype.
Under the intense scrutiny of Michael Jordan, who served as both an executive and player for the Wizards, he struggled with confidence and consistency.
Although Brown enjoyed a lengthy career as a role player, averaging 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds, he never developed into the dominant force expected of a number one pick.
Kwame Brown's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
607 281 6.6 0.9 5.5 0.6 49.2% 11.1% 57.0%
3. Greg Oden (2007, 1st overall pick, Portland Trail Blazers)
Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Credit AP - Scanpix
Considered a generational talent out of Ohio State, Greg Oden was drafted first overall ahead of Kevin Durant, a monumental mistake in hindsight.
Unfortunately, injuries plagued Oden's career, limiting him to just 105 games over five seasons.
His knee problems prevented him from ever reaching his potential, marking him as one of the biggest "what-ifs" in NBA history.
Greg Oden's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
105 66 8.0 0.5 6.2 1.2 57.4% 0.0% 65.8%
2. Darko Milicic (2003, 2nd overall pick, Detroit Pistons)
Darko Milicic
Darko Milicic
Credit REUTERS - Scanpix
Drafted ahead of Hall of Famers like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, Darko Milicic remains one of the biggest NBA busts of all time.
The Pistons, a championship-contending team at the time, envisioned him as a future star, but he barely played and never developed into a productive player. Ironically, he became the youngest NBA champion.
Beyond his on-court struggles, Milicic was known for his poor attitude and lack of professionalism. He clashed with coaches, exhibited minimal work ethic, and even expressed disdain for the NBA, once stating he didn't care about basketball.
His temper was also an issue, as he was involved in multiple outbursts, including a post-game profanity-laced rant aimed at referees.
Following his disappointing NBA career, he left basketball entirely and briefly pursued kickboxing before settling into farming in Serbia.
Darko Milicic's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG BPG FG 3PT FT
468 208 6.0 0.9 4.2 1.3 46.0% 0.0% 57.4%
1. Anthony Bennett (2013, 1st overall pick, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Anthony Bennet
Anthony Bennet
Credit Reuters - Scanpix
When the Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett first overall, it shocked many, as he wasn't projected to be the top pick.
His rookie season was a disaster, averaging just 4.2 points per game while shooting 35.6% from the field.
Despite multiple attempts to revive his career with different teams, Bennett was out of the league within four seasons, making him arguably the biggest bust in NBA history.
After failing in the NBA, Bennett attempted to revive his career in Europe, playing for Fenerbahçe Beko and Hapoel Jerusalem in Turkey and Israel, but he was unable to find success at any professional level.
Anthony Bennet's NBA career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG SPG FG 3PT FT
151 4 4.4 0.5 3.1 0.4 39.2% 26.1% 67.0%
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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