Top 10 NBA Draft Busts 2000-2009

A lot of teams can't predict who will be better than whom when they draft players. These are the extreme examples of players who really failed to make it into the NBA, whether it was due to injuries, failure to launch, or other circumstances.

Notable draftees that are close to making the list—but are too early to tell—include:
Corey Brewer
Greg Oden
Danilo Gallinari
Ricky Rubio

These players have been all been considered for the list because they have issues, whether it's lack of playing time because of injury, team's preferences, or just not coming to America for a few years.

10. Shaun Livingston

Drafted: Fourth overall in 2004 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers
Current NBA team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Notable Accomplishments: McDonald's All-American (co-MVP of the game)

Shaun Livingston came directly out of high school and into the NBA, where injuries have defined his career so far. He has never played all 82 games, and in fact averaged playing in less half of them. He's never put up double digits and has only contributed when it counted during the Clippers' a one-year playoff run in 2006.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Devin Harris
Luol Deng
Andre Iguodala
Andris Biedriņš
Al Jefferson
Jameer Nelson
Kevin Martin

9. Jay Williams

Drafted: Second overall in 2002 draft by the Chicago Bulls
Current NBA team: N/A
Notable Accomplishments: Naismith College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy Winner

Jay Williams was a bust in the sense that he never made it in the NBA, but it wasn't because of poor playing. It was poor decision-making. He violated his contract and by driving a motorcycle without a helmet, and was involved in an accident that nearly killed him.

This occurred in the summer after being drafted.He has not played an NBA minute since.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
Nenê
Amar'e Stoudemire
Caron Butler
Roger Mason Jr.
Carlos Boozer

8. Adam Morrison

Drafted: Third overall in 2006 draft by the Charlotte Bobcats
Current NBA team: Los Angeles Lakers
Notable Accomplishments: NBA Champion, NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Oscar Robertson Trophy College Player of the Year

Adam Morrison had a very good start to his career, but a torn ACL in 2007 made it very difficult for him to relaunch his career.

Adam recently won an NBA championship with the Lakers, where he averaged under six minutes in the regular season. His shining in the summer league makes his comeback season possible, but with the depth of his current team, Adam looks to remain a draft-day bust.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Tyrus Thomas
Brandon Roy
Randy Foye
Rudy Gay
Rajon Rondo
Paul Millsap

7. Eddie Griffin

Drafted: Seventh overall in 2001 draft by the New Jersey Nets (traded to Houston)
Current NBA team: N/A
Notable Accomplishments: NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Eddie Griffin was originally considered a slip in the draft, going at No. 7 to New Jersey after his attitude was questioned. This was with good reason. He got into a fight with another player in high school, a fight with another player in Houston, and missed an entire season in alcohol rehab.

After a brief successful return in Minnesota, Griffin was struck by a train while intoxicated and was killed instantly.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Joe Johnson
Vladimir Radmanović
Richard Jefferson
Zach Randolph
Samuel Dalembert
Tony Parker

6. Shelden Williams

Drafted: Fifth overall in 2006 draft by the Atlanta Hawks
Current NBA team: Boston Celtics
Notable Accomplishments: NBA Rookie of the Month: April, USA Today Oklahoma Player of the Year, EA Sports High School All-America selection, Duke all-time leader in blocked shots, Duke all-time leader in rebounds

Shelden Williams will play for his fourth NBA team in two years when/if he ever suits up for the Celtics this season. Averaging under six points and rebounds per game every single season, Williams was a star graduate of Duke whose NBA career went downhill after his rookie year.

The 25 year-old is not down and out yet, but he is certainly down, and at 6'9" it's going to take a lot to bring him back up to glory—especially with the talent in Boston.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Brandon Roy
Randy Foye
Rudy Gay
Rajon Rondo
Daniel Gibson
Paul Millsap

5. DerMarr Johnson

Drafted: Sixth overall in 2000 draft by the Atlanta Hawks
Current NBA team: N/A
Notable Accomplishments: Arrested twice

You just can't mention the 2000 draft and not pick DeMarr Johnson. In reality, the 2000 draft didn't have many All-Stars, but fewer people have heard the name DeMarr Johnson than Mike Miller, Jamal Crawford, or Darius Miles.

DeMarr had several short-lived seasons with the Hawks, Knicks, Nuggets, and Spurs. His career average highs mainly came in his second season with the Hawks, but DeMarr's tiny career ended on a low note with two arrests: drunk driving and interfering with police/resisting arrest.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Mike Miller
Jamal Crawford
Hedo Türkoğlu
Michael Redd

4. Nikoloz Tskitishvili

Drafted: Fifth overall in 2002 draft by the Denver Nuggets
Current NBA team: N/A
Notable Accomplishments: N/A

Nikoloz is one of the defining draft busts. A player who was set back for no reason other than simply not becoming good, Tskitishvili averaged 3 ppg, and just under 2 rpg in his 4 year NBA career.

He is ranked among top draft day busts, and was considered the worst player ever to be taken fifth overall by ESPN's Adam Reisinger.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Nenê
Amar'e Stoudemire
Caron Butler
Tayshaun Prince
John Salmons
Luis Scola

3. Kwame Brown

Drafted: First overall in 2001 draft by the Washington Wizards
Current NBA team: Detroit Pistons
Notable Accomplishments: McDonald's All-American

Kwame Brown has always been thought of as the stupid mistake that Michael Jordan made for the Wizards. While people in D.C. booed his presence, the team believed in his potential until they traded him to the Lakers because of feuds with Gilbert Arenas.

Brown's stint in L.A. lasted nearly three years, and while he played as a starter, he never hit that No. 1 overall potential, averaging less than 23 minutes per game and only once averaging double digits.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Tyson Chandler
Pau Gasol
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Richard Jefferson
Gerald Wallace
Tony Parker
Gilbert Arenas
Mehmet Okur

2. Marcus Fizer

Drafted: Fourth overall in 2000 draft by the Chicago Bulls
Current NBA team: N/A
Notable Accomplishments: D-League MVP, All-Rookie Second Team, McDonalds All-American

Averaging 9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 1.2 apg, shooting .435 from the floor and .691 from the free-throw line in 20.9 mpg, Marcus Fizer was a player the Bulls expected to trade immediately after drafting. (Elton Brand already played as the team's starting power forward.) Marcus never made it big in the NBA, playing for the Sonics, Bulls, Hornets, and Bucks.

Fizer has since left the NBA, and has played in Europe for the past two years.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Mike Miller
Jamal Crawford
Hedo Türkoğlu
Michael Redd

1. Darko Milicic

Drafted: Thirrd overall in 2003 draft by the Detroit Pistons
Current NBA team: New York Knicks
Notable Accomplishments: European Cadet Champion, Under-20 World Champion

Averaging under two points per game with the Pistons, Darko might have been one of the biggest draft busts of all time. In one of the greatest drafts of all time, the Pistons had a high pick because of a trade with the Grizzlies.

A playoff team from the year before, the Pistons took a risk on the international star, and it did not pay off. The reason he's considered such a bust, however, is mainly because of the talent that was chosen after him.

Milicic has played for the Grizzlies and Magic since being traded from the Pistons in February of 2006.

Notable players that could've been taken:
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade
David West
Josh Howard
Mo Williams