The Biggest NBA Draft Busts Of All Time
The NBA Draft has become a massive spectacle over the years. The multi-day event attracts thousands of attendees in person, and millions more watching on TV, all hoping to see the next NBA superstar.
Teams do their due diligence, and the players who are picked higher generally have better careers. There have been more than a few misses, though, and picking the wrong player can set a team back for years. Here are some of the biggest draft busts of all time.
Sam Bowie: 2nd overall, 1984 (Trail Blazers)
We'll start out with possibly the most famous draft bust of all time: Sam Bowie, who was picked second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984. History has been unkind to Bowie, who actually had a productive decade-long pro career.
The reason why Bowie is remembered is not because he was bad, but because he was selected one spot above Michael Jordan. In an alternate history, MJ could have been a Portland Trail Blazer.
Darko Miličić: 2nd overall, 2003 (Pistons)
Serbian big man Darko Miličić was projected to be a dominant force in the paint on his arrival to the NBA, and the Pistons took him second overall in 2003 (one pick after the Cavs took LeBron James).
Miličić won an NBA championship in his rookie season, but he struggled to find playing time on a stacked Pistons roster. He was sent to the Magic in 2006, then bounced around the NBA until 2012.
Greg Oden: 1st overall, 2007 (Trail Blazers)
Oden was a dominant collegiate performer during his sole season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, and he beat out players like Kevin Durant, Joakim Noah, and Marc Gasol to be the number one draft selection in 2007.
While Oden had the potential to be an NBA star, he was never able to reach these heights as a series of injuries derailed his career. He missed his entire rookie season with microfracture surgery, and was a middling player during his decade in the NBA.
Adam Morrison: 3rd overall, 2006 (Bobcats)
Forward Adam Morrison was a top prospect following a standout career with Gonzaga University, and he became the first player to be drafted by Michael Jordan, who was the manager of operations for the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets).
Morrison was decent but unspectacular during his first season, in which he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He played three seasons in Charlotte, then moved onto the Lakers and to Europe. He currently serves as a high school coach.
Robert Traylor: 6th overall, 1998 (Mavericks)
The late "Tractor" Traylor was, 6'9" and close to 300 pounds, and the hulking big man attracted plenty of interest after playing college ball at Michigan. The Dallas Mavericks picked him sixth overall, but he wasn't a Mav for long — they immediately traded him to the Bucks.
While Traylor had an up-and-down (mostly down) NBA career, he's best remembered for the man he was traded for: Future Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki. It's one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.
Shawn Bradley: 2nd overall, 1993 (76ers)
The "Stormin' Mormon" Shawn Bradley was immortalized in Space Jam and was one of the more recognizable NBA players of the '90s. He owed much of this to his massive 7'6" height, which made him one of the tallest players ever.
While Bradley's tall frame helped him become an effective blocker, that's about all he did in the NBA. His basketball skills may have been middling, but his height kept him in the league until 2005.
Hasheem Thabeet: 2nd overall, 2009 (Grizzlies)
Thabeet was viewed as a basketball prodigy, as the Tanzanian didn't even start playing basketball until he was 15 years old. Just four years later, he was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at UConn, and three years after that, the Memphis Grizzlies picked him second overall.
Thabeet's globetrotting career has taken him all around the NBA and various Asian leagues. With hindsight, the Grizzlies probably should have selected Steph Curry or James Harden, both of whom were still on the board.
Joe Barry Carroll: 1st overall, 1980 (Warriors)
Joe Barry Carroll, a center out of Purdue, was a sought-after prospect heading into the 1980 NBA draft. The Warriors wanted him so much that they traded star Robert Parish and the third overall pick (used to select Kevin McHale) to the Celtics in order to obtain the number one pick.
Carroll was nicknamed "Joe Barely Cares" for a perceived lack of effort with the Warriors. A tenure in Italy turned things around somewhat, and he returned to the NBA to finish out his career.
Dennis Hopson: 3rd overall, 1987 (Nets)
Hopson's stock rose through his collegiate career at Ohio State, and the shooting guard/small forward first started to attract the attention of NBA scouts in his breakout junior season.
Envisioning Hopson as a star who could anchor the backcourt, the New Jersey Nets selected him third overall in 1987. Three middling years in New Jersey were followed up with stints in Chicago and Sacramento. Just five years after he was drafted, his career was over.
Dragan Bender: 4th overall, 2016 (Suns)
It's never a good sign when a top-five draft pick is playing overseas less than a decade after they were selected, but that's exactly what's happened with Croatian forward Dragan Bender.
Bender modeled his game after Croatian legend Toni Kukoč, and for a time, it looked like he might be able to live up to his predecessor. But throughout his time with the Suns, Bucks, and Warriors, Bender failed to impress. He's currently playing pro ball in Spain.
Marvin Bagley III: 2nd overall, 2018 (Kings)
Bagley was a big name starting all the way back in his freshman year of high school, in which he was named National Freshman Basketball Player of the Year. He parlayed this into a scholarship at Duke, and after a season with the Blue Devils, declared for the NBA draft.
He was selected second overall by the Kings and finished the season on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Things soon soured, though, and he wasn't able to hold down a starting role. He was eventually moved to the Pistons.
Pervis Ellison: 1st overall, 1989 (Kings)
Ellison had two well-known nicknames during his career — one positive, the other derogatory. In college, he was known as "Never Nervous Pervis," for leading the underdog Louisville Cardinals to a national championship.
After he was picked first overall by the Kings in the 1989 draft, he was more insultingly dubbed "Out of Service Pervis" for his injury woes. Ellison was an NBA mainstay throughout the '90s, but he never lived up to the promise he showed in college.
Joe Alexander: 8th overall, 2008 (Bucks)
Power forward Joe Alexander had an interesting basketball journey: He was born in Taiwan, and spent his childhood in Maryland, Hong Kong, and mainland China — and thanks to his grandfather, he's an Israeli citizen.
Despite his high draft pedigree, Alexander has spent time playing in virtually all of those countries (and more) after washing out of the NBA in 2010. He currently plays for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
Marvin Williams: 2nd overall, 2005 (Hawks)
Williams was a highly-recruited player coming out of high school, and he spent just one season with the North Carolina Tar Heels before declaring for the 2005 NBA draft. His rookie season was promising, but not elite, and his progression stalled from that point forward.
The Hawks hung onto Williams for seven seasons, but he never emerged as a dominant NBA presence. He was traded to Utah in 2012, then signed with Charlotte in 2014 and Milwaukee in 2020.
Jay Williams: 2nd overall, 2002 (Bulls)
Jay Williams, who was known as Jason early in his career, was a standout point guard with the 2001 NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils. He was selected second overall by the Bulls in 2002, and projected to be the centerpiece of the rebuilding Bulls.
That all came to a crashing halt in June of 2003, when Williams crashed his motorcycle into a streetlight. He was severely injured and never played another NBA game.
Chris Washburn: 3rd overall, 1986 (Warriors)
Chris Washburn stood out even among his peers, with the 6'11" center anchoring a talented North Carolina State team that also included players like Nate McMillan, Spud Webb, and Vinny Del Negro. Despite his success, his work ethic was called into question at times.
The Golden State Warriors made Washburn the third overall selection in the 1986 draft, and he was immediately placed into the lineup. Injuries and drug addictions plagued his career, and he washed out of the NBA after just two seasons.
Kwame Brown: 1st overall, 2001 (Wizards)
Whatever his legacy might be, Kwame Brown will always be known as the first player ever to be drafted first overall straight out of high school. He paired up with the incomparable Michael Jordan in his rookie season with the Wizards.
Brown was overhyped and under-delivered during his tenure in Washington, and the Wizards traded him to the Lakers in 2005. While he had a productive enough career, he never lived up to his billing.
Michael Olowokandi: 1st overall, 1998 (Clippers)
The Nigerian seven-footer arrived in the United States without ever having played an organized game, and decided to attend the University of the Pacific after randomly selecting it from a college guide.
Olowokandi attracted attention for his dominant college play, and the Clippers took him first overall in 1998 — missing out on future stars Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, and Dirk Nowitzki. While Olowokandi played in the NBA for eight years, he was never an impact player.
Kent Benson: 1st overall, 1977 (Bucks)
Big Kent Benson was a college star with the Indiana Hoosiers, with whom he won the 1976 NCAA Championship. The Milwaukee Bucks decided to draft the center first overall in 1977.
In his first NBA game, Benson was knocked unconscious in a scuffle with Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Unfortunately, that punch is what he's best known for, as his eleven seasons in the NBA were middling at best.
Anthony Bennett: 1st overall, 2013 (Cavaliers)
Bennett was never seen as a generational talent, but the Canadian from UNLV was thought to have some upside. Considering the fact that the 2013 draft class wasn't seen as being particularly deep or talented, the pick made sense.
Bennett never did much in the NBA, and is now regarded as the worst first overall pick in league history. With hindsight, the Cavs should have drafted Giannias Antetokounmpo, who fell to the 15th overall pick.
Mario Hezonja: 5th overall, 2015 (Magic)
Croatian forward Mario Hezonja didn't attend a U.S. college and instead developed in the European youth and pro system. He showed enough promise for the Orlando Magic to make him a top five pick in the 2015 draft.
Despite showing glimmers of potential, Hezonja found that his game didn't translate to North America. After stints with the Knicks and Blazers, he returned to Europe, finding success with Real Madrid in Spain.
Stromile Swift: 2nd overall, 2000 (Grizzlies)
Stromile Swift was yet another draft pick that didn't work out for the hapless Vancouver Grizzlies. He played five seasons with the Grizzlies (first in Vancouver, then in Memphis), with the highlight being the 2001 Slam Dunk Competition, in which he placed fourth.
Swift was a reasonably productive player throughout his career, but never showed the superstar potential he'd displayed during his collegiate days at LSU. His last NBA game was in 2009 with the Phoenix Suns.
Derrick Williams: 2nd overall, 2011 (Timberwolves)
Derrick Williams had nothing left to prove at the collegiate level following a dominant sophomore season with the Arizona Wildcats, in which he was named Pac-10 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated.
Williams declared for the 2011 draft, and was snatched up by the Timberwolves with the second overall pick. His tenure in Minnesota only lasted two seasons, as he was traded to the Kings in 2013. He then became a basketball nomad, bouncing between the NBA and international leagues.
Andrea Bargnani: 1st overall, 2006 (Raptors)
The Raptors were hopeful that Italian seven-footer Andrea Bargnani would be a dominant big man to anchor their franchise after the departure of Chris Bosh, and they made him the number one selection overall in the 2006 draft.
Bargnani had an average decade-long career in the NBA, and would likely be more fondly remembered if he hadn't been drafted so high. The selection wouldn't have hurt as much if the Raptors hadn't left players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Kyle Lowry on the board.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: 2nd overall, 2012 (Bobcats)
Kidd-Gilchrist starred for the storied Kentucky Wildcats in college, beginning with the first game of his freshman season. He continued this momentum with the 2012 NCAA championship, then concluded his one-and-done college season by entering the 2012 NBA Draft.
The Bobcats (now the Hornets) took Kidd-Gilchrist with the second pick overall, and he had a promising rookie campaign in which he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Unfortunately, he was never able to reach the next level. He last played in 2020 for the Mavs.
Markelle Fultz: 1st overall, 2017 (76ers)
Like many other highly-touted prospects in recent years, Markelle Fultz spent a single year in college before declaring for the NBA Draft. The Philadelphia 76ers took him first overall in 2017 and immediately slotted him into their starting lineup.
A shoulder injury hindered his early progress and the Sixers gave up on him midway through the 2018-19 season. He's found a home with the Magic, but seems unlikely to ever be more than a role player.
Danny Ferry: 2nd overall, 1989 (Clippers)
Danny Ferry was a household name beginning in high school and had an impressive career with the Duke Blue Devils. He chose to spurn the Clippers after they selected him second overall in the NBA Draft, and played in Italy for a season.
After the Clippers traded him to the Cavs, Ferry's NBA career got underway. He signed a rich ten-year contract, but never lived up to expectations. He wrapped up his career in 2003.
Michael Beasley: 2nd overall, 2008 (Heat)
Beasley dominated during his lone year in college, where he was named Big 12 Player of the Year with Kansas State. After going second overall in the 2008 draft, he showed glimpses of greatness in his NBA rookie campaign.
Beasley's momentum soon stalled, and he became an NBA journeyman, spending time with the Timberwolves, Suns, Rockets, Bucks, Knicks and Lakers — and three separate stints with the Heat. After a season with China's Shanghai Sharks in 2022, he called it a career.
Steve Stipanovich: 2nd overall, 1983 (Pacers)
Steve Stipanovich has an impressive college legacy, as he won four Big Eight Conference championships in his four seasons with the Missouri Tigers. The Pacers liked the big man enough to select him second overall in the 1983 draft.
Stipanovich spent his entire pro career with the Pacers. Unfortunately, it was a short career, as chronic knee issues forced him to retire after the conclusion of the 1987-88 NBA season.
Jabari Parker: 2nd overall, 2014 (Bucks)
The Milwaukee Bucks could have selected Joel Embiid with the second selection of the 2014 NBA draft, but they went with Duke standout Jabari Parker instead. Hindsight is 20/20, but the pick will go down as one of the bigger draft whiffs in recent memory.
Parker spent four mediocre seasons with the Bucks, then played with various teams until 2022. Following that season, he moved on to Europe to play for FC Barcelona Bàsquet.
Joe Smith: 1st overall, 1995 (Warriors)
Maryland Terrapins prospect Joe Smith certainly seemed to be a star in the making, so the Warriors used their first overall selection to pick him in 1995. While Smith was a decent NBA player, he was never a star — and hindsight shows that the Warriors should have gone in a different direction.
By selecting Smith first overall, the Warriors passed up on Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Kevin Garnett, and others who would become stars.
Josh Jackson: 4th overall, 2017 (Suns)
In 2016, the Suns drafted Dragan Bender, a notable draft bust. Just one year later, they made a similar mistake when they picked Josh Jackson fourth overall in 2017. Jackson certainly showed promise during his lone season with the Kansas Jayhawks but never figured it out as a pro.
The Suns cut ties with Jackson after just two seasons. After that, he bounced around between the Grizzlies, Pistons, Kings, and their G-League affiliates.
James Wiseman: 2nd overall, 2020 (Warriors)
While James Wiseman still has time to figure it out, early returns indicate that the Warriors whiffed when they took the big man second overall in the 2020 draft. This draft was heavily affected by the pandemic, which may help to explain things.
Wiseman has spent more time on the bench and in the trainer's room than on the floor during his NBA career, as a persistent knee injury has hindered his effectiveness.
Eddy Curry: 4th overall, 2001 (Bulls)
Eddy Curry's big size — 6'11" and 290 pounds — drew comparisons to Shaquille O'Neal, but the Illinois high school product wasn't able to translate his amateur success when he joined his hometown Bulls.
Curry played four seasons in the Windy City with decidedly mediocre results. He would be traded to the Knicks, and wear and tear took its toll on his large frame, limiting his ability to stay healthy.
Nikoloz Tskitishvili: 5th overall, 2002 (Nuggets)
The seven-footer from Georgia (the country, not the state) seemingly had all the raw abilities to succeed in the NBA, but drafting a relatively unknown international player was a significant gamble for the Nuggets.
As it turned out, it was a terrible gamble to make. Tskitishvili wasn't able to transition to the North American game. He spent three years in Denver, and was out of the NBA entirely within five years.
Rick Robey: 3rd overall, 1978 (Pacers)
The Indiana Pacers made trades to get the third overall pick in 1978. Fans likely wanted to see the Pacers draft Indiana product Larry Bird, who was still on the board — but the Pacers decided to select Kentucky product Rick Robey instead.
Not only did Robey flame out at the NBA level (he was only with the Pacers for one season), but the "what if" scenario of Larry Bird spending his career with the Pacers will forever haunt Indiana's basketball fans. In a cruel twist, Robey went on to team up with Bird on the Celtics.
Lonzo Ball: 2nd overall, 2017 (Lakers)
There was plenty of buzz surrounding UCLA's Lonzo Ball, and the Lakers decided to pick the local product with the second overall pick in 2017. Ball's charisma seemed like a perfect match for the Lakers, and he did put up relatively decent numbers for a time.
However, a retooling meant that Ball was eventually traded as part of the deal that brought Anthony Davis to the Lakers. It's also worth noting that the Lakers could have selected Jayson Tatum with this pick.
Jonny Flynn: 6th overall, 2009 (Timberwolves)
The Timberwolves were in an enviable position heading into the 2009 draft. They had two lottery picks, and prospects like Steph Curry were available. Instead, Minnesota decided to pass up on Curry not once but twice, using one of their picks on Jonny Flynn.
The guard out of Syracuse was decent in his rookie season, but a hip injury in his sophomore campaign put an end to his effectiveness. He was out of the NBA soon after.
Rafael Araujo: 8th overall, 2004 (Raptors)
The eighth overall pick isn't generally expected to be a superstar-caliber player, but teams generally expect some level of productivity out of a top-ten pick. The Raptors picked BYU center Rafael Araujo eighth overall in 2004, a surprising pick given the fact that he wasn't even projected to be a first-rounder.
Araujo never gained a foothold in Toronto — and after a trade to Utah, he couldn't find a place there either.
Dante Exum: 5th overall, 2014 (Jazz)
Exum seemed to have the rare "it factor," as the electrifying 6'5" Australian guard impressed in his amateur career. The Jazz couldn't resist his promise, so they selected Exum as the fifth pick in the 2014 draft, leaving Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, and Zach LaVine on the board.
The Jazz really tried to stick it out with Exum, signing him to a contract extension, but he was never able to put it together. He was out of the NBA by the age of 25.
LaRue Martin: 1st overall, 1972 (Trail Blazers)
LaRue Martin is largely forgotten today, both as an NBA player and as an NBA draft bust, but fans of 1970s roundball surely remember how quickly this prospect flamed out at the pro level.
The promising 6'11" center starred for Loyola, and his number 20 is retired by the Ramblers to this day. But after going first overall in the 1972 draft, he was never able to find his footing. He spent his entire NBA career — which lasted less than five years — with the Blazers.
Jarrett Culver: 6th overall, 2019 (Suns)
Jarrett Culver had all the raw talent to succeed at the NBA level, and he looked to be a star during his college days at Texas Tech. The Suns selected the shooting guard/small forward sixth overall in 2019 and immediately traded him to the Timberwolves.
It turned out to be a prudent trade, as Culver failed to impress through two seasons in Minnesota. Stints with the Grizzlies and Hawks followed, and Culver is currently trying to play his way back into the NBA.
Thomas Robinson: 5th overall, 2012 (Kings)
Credit to Thomas Robinson for putting together an impressively lengthy pro career — but given his draft pedigree, many fans likely expected more out of the big man.
Robinson was picked fifth overall by the Kings in 2012 but was traded to Houston midway through his rookie season. He then became a journeyman, last playing in the NBA in 2017. Since then, he's traveled the world, playing for various pro teams around the globe.
Jahlil Okafor: 3rd overall, 2015 (76ers)
Okafor, a cousin of NBA player Emeka Okafor, attended the basketball factory that is Duke University for one season before going third overall to the Sixers in the 2015 NBA draft.
While Okafor showed promise in his rookie season, he was never able to make the next step and become an NBA regular. He was shipped out of Philly in 2017, spending time with the Nets, Pelicans, and Pistons before moving to China to sign with a pro team there.
Marcus Fizer: 4th overall, 2000 (Bulls)
Iowa State isn't generally regarded as a basketball powerhouse, so it was a surprise when high school standout Marcus Fizer decided to play for the Cyclones. He became a legend with Iowa State and was picked fourth overall in the 2000 draft for Chicago.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, Fizer turned out to be yet another draft miss in the post-Jordan wilderness years. He spent six years in the NBA before trying his luck overseas. He last played in 2015 in Uruguay.
Jan Veselý: 6th overall, 2011 (Wizards)
While some European prospects can blossom into NBA impact players, others fail to make the transition — and, unfortunately for Jan Veselý, he's a member of the latter category.
The Czech big man was a top-ten pick for the Wizards in 2011. He tried to make it work through three seasons in Washington but just couldn't replicate his European success. After a brief stint with the Nuggets, he moved back to Europe, where he's found more success with Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Barcelona in Spain.
Thon Maker: 10th overall, 2016 (Bucks)
The South Sudanese seven-footer was viewed as a prospect with raw tools during his prep school days, and was selected tenth overall, straight out of high school, by the Bucks in 2016.
Maker thoroughly failed to impress in the NBA, spending time with the Bucks, Pistons, and Cavs. After flaming out of the G-League in 2022, he tried his luck overseas, where he's become a dominant player in the Chinese and Lebanese pro leagues.
Shelden Williams: 5th overall, 2006 (Hawks)
Williams was a decorated star coming out of Duke, and the hype saw the Hawks select him fifth overall in 2006. His rookie season in the NBA was decent, if not spectacular, and he stayed in Atlanta until 2008.
After Atlanta, he spent a single season in Sacramento, then had short stints with the Timberwolves, Celtics, Nuggets, Knicks, and Nets before exiting the NBA entirely in 2012. He spent a few years in France and China before retiring after the 2015 season.
Emmanuel Mudiay: 7th overall, 2015 (Nuggets)
The Congolese point guard adapted to the North American game at two Texas prep schools and showed enough promise to be selected seventh overall by the Nuggets in 2015.
Mudiay was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team that season, but that was the only hardware he ever earned in the NBA. He spent five seasons in the NBA before moving to Lithuania to play professionally there. A brief return to the NBA followed in 2021-22, but he was playing overseas once more by the next season.
Shabazz Muhammad: 14th overall, 2013 (Jazz)
Muhammad showed enough potential during his freshman season at UCLA to declare for the 2013 draft. The Jazz selected him 14th overall, then shipped his draft rights to the Timberwolves.
He bounced around the NBA and G-League during his rookie season and then transitioned to the NBA full-time in his second season. He played in Minnesota until 2018 and then signed with the Bucks for the following season. Muhammad was cut after just two preseason games and never played in the NBA again.
