Top 5 Worst Draft Picks in NBA History Who Were Left With Ruined Careers

The 78th NBA Draft Day is almost here! This means it’s time to indulge in the traditional parlor game that goes with any draft – which top pick turned into a major disappointment. Over eight decades, some names came into the league via the first round with a lot of hype and controversy. Over the course of their careers, they have set their franchises back years, flopped statistically, never had a breakout season let alone a prime phase in their careers, and make early exits. Throughout NBA history, at least five names have earned the dubious honor of being the biggest draft busts in NBA history.

Even the current class of NBA players have draft busts with some hope of redeeming themselves further into their careers. Five NBA players, though, never reached that point and consistently remained unmatched in draft history as busts.

#1 Kwame Brown – 1st overall by Washington Wizards, 2001

When you get Michael Jordan’s name attached to you, expectations are in the stratosphere. But Kwame Brown’s career barely left the earth’s crust. His Airness went to Washington to come out of retirement for a final run and also run the ropes of team management. As a first-time executive, his first job was to re-haul the Wizards and make worthy draft picks.

In a draft class including Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Tyson Chandler, MJ picked Kwame Brown straight out of high school. In hindsight, it might have foretold Jordan’s future as a team owner.

It became obvious he lacked development at his age, averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a rookie. He’d play 12 seasons, rarely making double digits, and average only 6.6. PPG, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists. More than his on-court performance, he’s more memorable for Stephen A. Smith’s infamous rant in celebration of Brown leaving the Lakers.

The closest he came to a comeback was playing in the Big 3 league. Leading his team to the finals hardly erased a failed NBA career from public consciousness.

#2 Anthony Bennett – 1st overall by Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013

Bennett was the first Canadian to be picked first overall. Giannis Antetokounmpo was in this draft. But while the Greek Freak is thriving, Bennett fell to the sidelines. He was bounced between teams before he was out of the league in 2017 when he was only 23 years old. In four seasons, he played 1,905 minutes and made 658 points total, the lowest record for any 1st overall pick since 1989.

He didn’t retire, though. He switched to playing overseas basketball, including in the Taiwanese league against another successful 1st pick, Dwight Howard. Even that didn’t work out the best for Bennett.

#3 Greg Oden – 1st overall by Portland Trail Blazers, 2007

Oden was not bad because of poor stats or high expectations. His very promising career was derailed by terrible injuries. Within weeks of the 2007 draft, he underwent knee surgery and made his pro-debut the following season. In his draft class was Kevin Durant, one of the big names who dominated playoffs in the 2010s. Whereas Oden missed three seasons due to injuries.

His body betrayed him repeatedly, and he couldn’t mount a comeback. He last played in the NBA in 2014 and had a short stint overseas. The upside? He completed his college degree during his downtime while also working on the Ohio State Buckeyes staff. Currently, he’s on the coaching staff at Butler University.

#4 LaRue Martin – 1st overall by Portland Trail Blazers, 1972

The Blazers were only two years old and had the first pick for the first time. Their priority was building an entire roster from scratch. They went with LaRue Martin, who played against Bill Walton in college over the HoFers like Julius Erving and Bob McAdoo.

But Martin wasn’t the big man everyone expected him to be. He has 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 14 minutes per game to show for an NBA career of four seasons.

Martin was a better office worker. He worked at Nike and is on the Retired Players Association along with other community outreach organizations. The biggest losers were the Blazers who tanked their reputation for draft judgment over the years, picking Sam Bowie over Jordan and Oden over Durant.

#5 Darko Milicic – 2nd overall by Detroit Pistons, 2003

The 2003 draft class was bursting at the seams with talent that you can’t imagine it contained a bust. Darko Milicic’s name was called out after LeBron James but before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. These are HoF names and one of them is in the GOAT discussion. Milicic instead faded from relevance.

The Serbian played 10 seasons with six teams and averaged six points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He won the NBA championship in his rookie season with the Pistons but was less than a role player with few minutes in his career. He even won a gold medal for the Serbian national team.

His post-basketball career felt something like the Dennis Rodman path. He took to pro kickboxing and MMA, tried to return to the court in the Serbian league, played amateur basketball after retiring, and now is an apple farmer in his hometown.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.