Two summers ago, just before the 2007 NBA draft, I was working at a wedding. Shortly after the cocktail hour, the wedding party finally arrived. As the man on the loudspeaker introduced everyone, I heard the following words: “Please welcome (Bridesmaid X), escorted by the brother of the bride, J.J.Redick.” 

 

And then the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft strolled into the room with that same smug look on his face that he perfected at Duke.

 

Now, I’ve never really been a huge fan of Redick, but he seems to be on his way to a decent pro career. There were times during this year’s playoffs when he made a few plays and provided a spark off the bench. Of course, there were also times when he looked like he shouldn’t be anywhere near the court.

 

Anyway, the thing about him I remember was that he just didn’t look like an NBA lottery pick, based purely on appearance. He was a skinny, goofy-looking white kid with long arms and a bad haircut. Basically, he looked like me. 

 

After that mini-celebrity sighting, I was inspired to write about the biggest draft busts over the years. This is an updated version of that list. (Don’t worry, J.J. isn’t on the list…yet.)

 

Here’s how it works–I’ve tried to determine which players have turned out to be the worst picks at each numbered draft pick, from picks one through 20. 

 

I used all the drafts (except the two most recent ones) from the past 27 years, since that’s how long I have been alive for. I tried to use factors like expectations, non-basketball problems, and overall careers (since many of these guys are out of the league) to figure out who was the worst.

Without further adieu, here’s your list of the biggest draft busts of all-time…

 

 

No. 1 (Tie)–Kwame Brown (Wizards, 2001); Mike Olowokandi (Clippers, 1998)

This is a straight up tie as to who was the worst first overall pick. It’s impossible to pick between these two; it’s like choosing between Coke and Pepsi, or Biggie and Tupac, or Cincinnati and Cleveland. It can’t be done. 

 

Although a certain center from Portland might be throwing his hat in the ring in a few years.

 

No. 2–Darko Milicic (Pistons, 2003)

Sam Bowie (Blazers, ’84) deserves strong consideration here, as he has become the poster boy for draft busts, but Darko was drafted ahead of Carmelo, Bosh, and Wade.

 

That’s tough to beat. I think we may have a new poster boy.

 

No. 3–Chris Washburn (Warriors, 1986)

Universally regarded as one of the biggest busts of all-time in the NBA, this former N.C. State center was banned for life in 1989 after numerous failed drug tests. If the Warriors ever get the No. 3 pick again, they should probably trade it–last time they had it, they took Mike Dunleavy Jr. 

 

Oh, and I almost forgot about you, Adam Morrison.

 

No. 4–Marcus Fizer (Bulls, 2000)

This Iowa State forward has become a symbol for the awful 2000 draft, which featured many terrible first-round picks like Stromile Swift (Grizzlies, No. 2), Jerome Moiso (Celtics, No. 11), and Courtney Alexander (Magic, No. 13). 

 

Fizer was third in the league in tattoos during his rookie season, but quickly fizzled out after that. He is now playing in the D-league.

 

No. 5–Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Nuggets, 2002)

Whew, hope I spelled that one right. The Big Russian just edges out Jonathan Bender, who was picked fifth in 1999 by the Pacers and retired three years ago at age 25 due to knee problems.

 

No. 6–DeJuan Wagner (Cavs, 2002)

This pick has had a large number of disappointments.

 

Boston took Ron Mercer with the sixth pick in ’97. Atlanta took DeMarr Johnson in ‘00. The Mavs took Robert "Tractor" Traylor in ’98, before promptly–and smartly–trading him to Milwaukee for a German guy, picked three spots later, named Dirk Nowitzki. In ’95, the Grizzlies, with their first ever draft pick, selected Bryant “Big Country” Reeves.

 

Anyway, Wagner was a phenom in high school, and, according to some, may have been the No. 1 overall pick (!) if he had come out right away instead of going to Memphis for a year. 

 

This seemed like a good pick at first, as he averaged nearly 14 PPG as a rookie. But he has been out of the league for quite some time now, after suffering a slew of tough injuries. I’m choosing him as the worst pick based mainly on unfulfilled expectations.

 

No. 7–Bobby Hurley (Kings, 1993)

Not really a bust because his career was cut short due to a car accident during his rookie season. Roy Tarpley and Eddie Griffin were the other contenders here, but they each had a few solid seasons before their careers were cut short.

 

No. 8–Shawn Respert (Blazers, 1995)

This sharpshooter from Michigan State was never able to find his niche in the pro game, lasting just three seasons. 

 

What’s really crazy is that Respert’s career fizzled out while his backcourt mate Eric Snow has carved out a 14-year (and counting!) NBA career.

 

An honorable mention for the worst eighth pick goes to Bo Kimble, selected by the Clippers in 1990. 

 

No. 9–Ed O’Bannon (Nets, 1995)

I think I remember reading something about this guy working as a car salesman now.  Anyway, this former Bruin spent two seasons in New Jersey, averaging just five PPG, and was out of the league by 1998. 

 

Now I’m wondering whatever happened to Charles O’Bannon.

 

No. 10–Leon Wood (Sixers, 1984)

Triple bonus points for Wood because a) he was on the ’84 Olympic team that featured Michael Jordan and was coached by Bobby Knight, b) he sued the league as a rookie in an attempt to drive salaries up, and c) allegedly, he is now a current NBA referee.

 

No. 11–Trajan Langdon (Cavs, 1999)

The Alaskan Assassin never caught on in the NBA, averaging a paltry 5.4 PPG in three nondescript seasons in Cleveland. 

 

I’m convinced he never recovered from his play at the end of the ’99 NCAA Championship Game, when UConn’s Ricky Price flustered him into making two crucial mistakes in the final minute–bricking a three, and turning the ball over on a traveling violation. 

 

He is currently playing in the Euroleague.

 

No. 12–Vitaly Potapenko (Cavs, 1996)

Notice how many times the Cavs are on this list? The Big V was taken one spot ahead of Kobe Bryant, and three spots ahead of Steve Nash.

 

No. 13–Sebastian “Bassy” Telfair (Blazers, 2004)

There have been a few other disappointments at the Lucky Number 13 spot, with the Clippers using this pick on Terry Dehere in ’93 and Joe Wolf in ’87. 

 

The Bobcats took Sean May in ’05, without realizing he would be perpetually out-of-shape.

 

Telfair had huge expectations as the first point guard to be selected straight from high school, and has been struggling to even find playing time in the NBA. He has played for three teams in five seasons. 

 

No word on when the upcoming documentary, “Back Through the Fire: Bassy’s Downfall” will be released.

 

No. 14–Mateen Cleaves (Pistons, 2000)

Here are Cleaves' career numbers: six seasons, four teams, 3.6 PPG, and one beard. 

 

He just barely beats out the No. 14 pick from 1999, Duke’s William Avery, who finished with a whopping 2.7 PPG in a three-year career. 

 

I’ll take Cleaves as the bigger bust because he never should have been drafted this high, it was only because he won the NCAA title. 

 

No. 15–Frederic Weis (Knicks, 1999)

Hey, the Knicks finally made an appearance on this list!

 

They took this guy Weis, a 7’2” center from France, who will likely only be remembered for getting ferociously dunked on by Vince Carter at the 2000 Summer Olympics. 

 

The Knicks could have taken local star Ron Artest, who was chosen by the Bulls with the very next pick.

 

No. 16–Randy Woods (Clippers, 1992)

Boy, the Clippers really have a bad draft record throughout all of this. I wonder if they knew that Woods, a point guard from LaSalle, was only 5-foot-10.

 

No. 17–Uwe Konstantine Blab (Mavs, 1985)

Maybe the best name in the history of the NBA. Too bad this West German only lasted five years and–despite standing 7'1''–never averaged more than two rebounds per game. 

 

Two! That might be the lowest rebound-to-height ratio of all-time.

 

No. 18–Mirsad Turkcan (Rockets, 1998)

Scored a grand total of 66 points in his one NBA season, when he played for three different teams. Just goes to show, you should probably never draft anyone from Turkey.

 

(John Wallace gets a mention here because he was the original Brady Quinn. In 1996, he had to sit in the front row and try not to look pissed that he was being continuously passed over.)

 

No. 19–Randolph Childress (Pistons, 1995)

One of the most perplexing busts of all. I still can’t believe this guy didn’t become an all-star in the pros. In the ’95 ACC Tournament, he scored 107 points in three games. 

 

In the championship game, he was the best player on the floor in a game that included Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, and Tim Duncan. 

 

Childress is now in the Italian League.

 

No. 20–Roshown McLeod (Hawks, 1998)

Another draft bust to add to the long list of Blue Devils who never panned out in the pros.  You think the Hawks would have learned their lesson after trading for Christian Laettner.

 

No. 21–Joe Forte (Celtics, 2001)

Okay, I know I said I was only going to No. 20, but I had to include the erstwhile DeMatha and UNC star on this list. 

 

With this pick, the Celtics could have had Jamal Tinsley, Gerald Wallace, Gilbert Arenas, or Tony Parker. Even Red Auerbach was wrong about Forte–and you can’t say that about too many other players.