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No matter how talented a prospect may be, the NBA Draft is no sure thing. Even for players picked in the top five.
Some, like Ben Simmons, don't seem to have the mental fortitude required of a top pick tasked with reinvigorating a franchise worth billions of dollars. Others have physical or skill limitations that can only be exposed at the highest level of competition. And then there's those whose injuries get in the way.
Nevertheless, busts are an inescapable element of the draft. They also are a key learning opportunity to determine where teams have gone wrong to avoid similar mistakes going forward.
With the 2026 NBA Draft looming, let's take a look back at the biggest draft busts since the turn of the century.
Draft position: No. 1 to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013
A big-bodied forward with a soft shooting touch coming into the NBA, Bennett went on to start only four games over four seasons. He finished his NBA career averaging 4.4 points with putrid shooting splits of 39% from the field and 26% from 3.
Draft position: No. 2 to Memphis Grizzlies in 2009
The 7-foot-3 center was never able to translate the elite shot-blocking ability he displayed at UConn to the NBA. Over five seasons, the slow-footed Thabeet averaged 2.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.
Draft position: No. 1 to Portland Trail Blazers in 2007
Knee injuries took away what could've been a legendary career. Oden was a dominant player at Ohio State, but he missed four NBA seasons due to injury and was never able to consistently contribute at the highest level. Kevin Durant being the next selection makes this one sting even worse.
Draft position: No. 3 to Charlotte Hornets in 2006
A consensus National Player of the Year at Gonzaga, Morrison struggled to adapt to the NBA because of his limited athleticism and a torn ACL he suffered in the 2007 preseason. He started only 28 games over three seasons.
Draft position: No. 2 to Detroit Pistons in 2003
Miličić played 10 NBA seasons, which is nothing to sneeze at in a league with significant roster turnover year-over-year. It's who he was drafted above that hurts. Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were the very next picks. Yikes.
Draft position: No. 2 to Golden State Warriors in 2020
It's hard to fault the Warriors here, as this was the infamous pandemic draft where teams faced a litany of restrictions as it relates to meeting and working out prospects. Still, Wiseman was an awful choice. He's been oft-injured and ineffective for his entire career, and over the past two seasons he's played only five games.
Draft position: No. 1 to Washington Wizards in 2001
Brown never met the hype of the high school prospects who came before him like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. He played 12 NBA seasons but never became the full-time starter he was expected to be, particularly because of his inability to catch passes.
Draft position: No. 2 to Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011
Williams never found his niche in the NBA after flashing elite athleticism and a steady 3-point shot at Arizona. He was too small to play the 4 and not skilled enough to play the 3 over his seven-year career.
Draft position: No. 1 to Philadelphia 76ers in 2017
A rare nerve condition disrupted Fultz's shooting mechanics and severely hampered his career. He had a few solid seasons with the Orlando Magic, but for a player Philadelphia essentially gave Jayson Tatum up for in the 2017 draft, Fultz's career has been a massive disappointment.
Draft position: No. 4 to Phoenix Suns in 2017
Jackson, who went the pick before two-time All-Star De'Aaron Fox, flamed out the NBA in 2022 and faced sexual assault allegations the following year. He started only 92 games over five seasons.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 10 biggest NBA Draft busts since 2000, ranked
Continue reading...
Some, like Ben Simmons, don't seem to have the mental fortitude required of a top pick tasked with reinvigorating a franchise worth billions of dollars. Others have physical or skill limitations that can only be exposed at the highest level of competition. And then there's those whose injuries get in the way.
Nevertheless, busts are an inescapable element of the draft. They also are a key learning opportunity to determine where teams have gone wrong to avoid similar mistakes going forward.
With the 2026 NBA Draft looming, let's take a look back at the biggest draft busts since the turn of the century.
10 biggest NBA Draft busts since 2000
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No. 1 Anthony Bennett, F
Draft position: No. 1 to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013
A big-bodied forward with a soft shooting touch coming into the NBA, Bennett went on to start only four games over four seasons. He finished his NBA career averaging 4.4 points with putrid shooting splits of 39% from the field and 26% from 3.
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No. 2 Hasheem Thabeet, C
Draft position: No. 2 to Memphis Grizzlies in 2009
The 7-foot-3 center was never able to translate the elite shot-blocking ability he displayed at UConn to the NBA. Over five seasons, the slow-footed Thabeet averaged 2.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.
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No. 3 Greg Oden, C
Draft position: No. 1 to Portland Trail Blazers in 2007
Knee injuries took away what could've been a legendary career. Oden was a dominant player at Ohio State, but he missed four NBA seasons due to injury and was never able to consistently contribute at the highest level. Kevin Durant being the next selection makes this one sting even worse.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 4 Adam Morrison, F
Draft position: No. 3 to Charlotte Hornets in 2006
A consensus National Player of the Year at Gonzaga, Morrison struggled to adapt to the NBA because of his limited athleticism and a torn ACL he suffered in the 2007 preseason. He started only 28 games over three seasons.
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No. 5 Darko Miličić, C
Draft position: No. 2 to Detroit Pistons in 2003
Miličić played 10 NBA seasons, which is nothing to sneeze at in a league with significant roster turnover year-over-year. It's who he was drafted above that hurts. Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were the very next picks. Yikes.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 6 James Wiseman, C
Draft position: No. 2 to Golden State Warriors in 2020
It's hard to fault the Warriors here, as this was the infamous pandemic draft where teams faced a litany of restrictions as it relates to meeting and working out prospects. Still, Wiseman was an awful choice. He's been oft-injured and ineffective for his entire career, and over the past two seasons he's played only five games.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 7 Kwame Brown, C
Draft position: No. 1 to Washington Wizards in 2001
Brown never met the hype of the high school prospects who came before him like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. He played 12 NBA seasons but never became the full-time starter he was expected to be, particularly because of his inability to catch passes.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 8 Derrick Williams, F
Draft position: No. 2 to Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011
Williams never found his niche in the NBA after flashing elite athleticism and a steady 3-point shot at Arizona. He was too small to play the 4 and not skilled enough to play the 3 over his seven-year career.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 9 Markelle Fultz, G
Draft position: No. 1 to Philadelphia 76ers in 2017
A rare nerve condition disrupted Fultz's shooting mechanics and severely hampered his career. He had a few solid seasons with the Orlando Magic, but for a player Philadelphia essentially gave Jayson Tatum up for in the 2017 draft, Fultz's career has been a massive disappointment.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 10 Josh Jackson, G
Draft position: No. 4 to Phoenix Suns in 2017
Jackson, who went the pick before two-time All-Star De'Aaron Fox, flamed out the NBA in 2022 and faced sexual assault allegations the following year. He started only 92 games over five seasons.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 10 biggest NBA Draft busts since 2000, ranked
Continue reading...
