Top 10 NBA Draft Busts of All Time

Michael Jordan, in his first year as Washington Wizards president, selected 19-year-old Kwame Brown first overall in the 2001 Draft — the first high school player ever taken #1 overall. Brown never fulfilled expectations: he averaged only 6.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG across a 12-year career and was publicly mocked by teammates (Kobe Bryant in particular) for soft play and lack of aggression. He was traded five times in six years. Jordan later called the selection his greatest regret as an executive. Brown himself has pushed back on the "bust" narrative in recent years, noting he earned $64 million in NBA salary.

Greg Oden was selected first overall by Portland over Kevin Durant in the 2007 Draft — a decision that haunts the Trail Blazers organization to this day. Oden played only 82 games in six NBA seasons, missing his entire rookie year to knee surgery and then suffering multiple subsequent injuries that ended his career at age 24. His physical tools — 7 feet, elite athleticism, immediate shot-blocking ability in his limited games — showed what might have been. Portland selected him over Durant, who won Rookie of the Year, four scoring titles, one MVP, and became a top-5 all-time player.

Sam Bowie was selected second overall by Portland in the 1984 Draft, one pick before Michael Jordan went to Chicago at #3. Bowie was considered the safer pick — an experienced college center with star potential, while Jordan was seen as a shooting guard in a center's league. Bowie averaged 10.9 PPG across 511 career games disrupted by multiple leg fractures, while Jordan won 6 championships and became the greatest player in history. The Bowie-over-Jordan decision is the most famous draft mistake in American sports history.

Michael Olowokandi was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1998 — before Paul Pierce (#10), Dirk Nowitzki (#9), and Vince Carter (#5) — after playing college basketball for only two years at Pacific. He averaged 8.9 PPG and 6.9 RPG across a nine-year career, was a liability defensively despite his 7-foot frame, and was known primarily for being the reason Dirk Nowitzki was available at #9. The 1998 draft is broadly considered the worst #1 pick in NBA history relative to talent available.

The 2003 NBA Draft is widely considered the greatest in history: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were all taken in the top five. Between LeBron at #1 and Carmelo at #3 was Darko Milicic, a 7-foot Serbian teenager taken by Detroit at #2 who averaged 6.0 PPG across a 10-year career. Detroit won the championship his rookie year but Darko played only 4.7 minutes per game. He was traded for Richard Hamilton salary relief. The roster of players available at #2 reads like a Hall of Fame committee.

Sacramento Kings selecting Marvin Bagley III at #2 in the 2018 Draft — over Luka Doncic (#3, Dallas) and Trae Young (#5, Atlanta) — stands as the most visible modern draft error. Bagley averaged 14.1 PPG and 7.6 RPG in his best season before being traded, while Doncic won Rookie of the Year, made five All-Star teams in five seasons, averaged 28+ PPG, and became the best point guard in the world. The Kings later admitted the decision was influenced by wanting a big man to pair with De'Aaron Fox.

Andrea Bargnani was selected first overall by Toronto in 2006 — before LaMarcus Aldridge (#2) and Brandon Roy (#6). He averaged 11.7 PPG across nine NBA seasons while being known primarily as the worst defensive player in Toronto Raptors history, a 7-footer who refused to rebound (4.5 career RPG) or defend. Raptors fans still invoke his name as a cautionary tale. Toronto traded him to New York in 2013 and received cap relief; his career ended at age 31 with nothing to show for a decade of lottery-pick salary.

Memphis selected Hasheem Thabeet second overall in 2009 — one pick after Blake Griffin and four picks before Stephen Curry — on the basis of his 7-foot-3 frame and 7-foot-8 wingspan. Thabeet averaged 2.5 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 158 NBA games, was waived by Memphis in his second season, and bounced around the NBA's 15-man roster fringe for four years. Curry, taken at #7, became the greatest shooter in NBA history. The contrast in outcomes was so stark that the 2009 draft is used in analytics discussions as evidence against over-valuing raw physical measurements.

Pervis Ellison earned the nickname "Never Nervous Pervis" from his 1988 NCAA championship performance at Louisville — then spent his NBA career earning the nickname "Out of Service Ellison" for chronic knee problems that limited him to 408 games across 10 seasons. He averaged 10.7 PPG and 7.0 RPG when healthy, which was rarely. Sacramento selected him over Glen Rice and Tim Hardaway. His 1991-92 season — 20.0 PPG and 11.2 RPG for Washington — briefly suggested stardom before injury resumed. One healthy season in ten shows what could have been.

Michael Jordan, in his first year as Washington Wizards president, selected 19-year-old Kwame Brown first overall in the 2001 Draft — the first high school player ever taken #1 overall. Brown never fulfilled expectations: he averaged only 6.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG across a 12-year career and was publicly mocked by teammates (Kobe Bryant in particular) for soft play and lack of aggression. He was traded five times in six years. Jordan later called the selection his greatest regret as an executive. Brown himself has pushed back on the "bust" narrative in recent years, noting he earned $64 million in NBA salary.

Greg Oden was selected first overall by Portland over Kevin Durant in the 2007 Draft — a decision that haunts the Trail Blazers organization to this day. Oden played only 82 games in six NBA seasons, missing his entire rookie year to knee surgery and then suffering multiple subsequent injuries that ended his career at age 24. His physical tools — 7 feet, elite athleticism, immediate shot-blocking ability in his limited games — showed what might have been. Portland selected him over Durant, who won Rookie of the Year, four scoring titles, one MVP, and became a top-5 all-time player.

Sam Bowie was selected second overall by Portland in the 1984 Draft, one pick before Michael Jordan went to Chicago at #3. Bowie was considered the safer pick — an experienced college center with star potential, while Jordan was seen as a shooting guard in a center's league. Bowie averaged 10.9 PPG across 511 career games disrupted by multiple leg fractures, while Jordan won 6 championships and became the greatest player in history. The Bowie-over-Jordan decision is the most famous draft mistake in American sports history.

Michael Olowokandi was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1998 — before Paul Pierce (#10), Dirk Nowitzki (#9), and Vince Carter (#5) — after playing college basketball for only two years at Pacific. He averaged 8.9 PPG and 6.9 RPG across a nine-year career, was a liability defensively despite his 7-foot frame, and was known primarily for being the reason Dirk Nowitzki was available at #9. The 1998 draft is broadly considered the worst #1 pick in NBA history relative to talent available.

The 2003 NBA Draft is widely considered the greatest in history: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were all taken in the top five. Between LeBron at #1 and Carmelo at #3 was Darko Milicic, a 7-foot Serbian teenager taken by Detroit at #2 who averaged 6.0 PPG across a 10-year career. Detroit won the championship his rookie year but Darko played only 4.7 minutes per game. He was traded for Richard Hamilton salary relief. The roster of players available at #2 reads like a Hall of Fame committee.

Sacramento Kings selecting Marvin Bagley III at #2 in the 2018 Draft — over Luka Doncic (#3, Dallas) and Trae Young (#5, Atlanta) — stands as the most visible modern draft error. Bagley averaged 14.1 PPG and 7.6 RPG in his best season before being traded, while Doncic won Rookie of the Year, made five All-Star teams in five seasons, averaged 28+ PPG, and became the best point guard in the world. The Kings later admitted the decision was influenced by wanting a big man to pair with De'Aaron Fox.

Andrea Bargnani was selected first overall by Toronto in 2006 — before LaMarcus Aldridge (#2) and Brandon Roy (#6). He averaged 11.7 PPG across nine NBA seasons while being known primarily as the worst defensive player in Toronto Raptors history, a 7-footer who refused to rebound (4.5 career RPG) or defend. Raptors fans still invoke his name as a cautionary tale. Toronto traded him to New York in 2013 and received cap relief; his career ended at age 31 with nothing to show for a decade of lottery-pick salary.

Memphis selected Hasheem Thabeet second overall in 2009 — one pick after Blake Griffin and four picks before Stephen Curry — on the basis of his 7-foot-3 frame and 7-foot-8 wingspan. Thabeet averaged 2.5 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 158 NBA games, was waived by Memphis in his second season, and bounced around the NBA's 15-man roster fringe for four years. Curry, taken at #7, became the greatest shooter in NBA history. The contrast in outcomes was so stark that the 2009 draft is used in analytics discussions as evidence against over-valuing raw physical measurements.

Pervis Ellison earned the nickname "Never Nervous Pervis" from his 1988 NCAA championship performance at Louisville — then spent his NBA career earning the nickname "Out of Service Ellison" for chronic knee problems that limited him to 408 games across 10 seasons. He averaged 10.7 PPG and 7.0 RPG when healthy, which was rarely. Sacramento selected him over Glen Rice and Tim Hardaway. His 1991-92 season — 20.0 PPG and 11.2 RPG for Washington — briefly suggested stardom before injury resumed. One healthy season in ten shows what could have been.