NBA Power Rankings: Darko Milicic and the 25 Biggest Draft Busts of All Time
With the 2011 NBA Draft steadily approaching, fans of teams that are no longer playing are salivating at the thought of adding new talent to their uninspiring rosters.
Hope abounds at this time of year as the college superstars are all getting ready to gather together in Newark, New Jersey, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to walk across the stage and shake David Stern's hand.
But it's important to remember that not ever draft pick works out. In fact, some become absolutely colossal busts.
Will we see any this season as bad as the 25 you're about to look at? That remains to be seen, but it'll be tough to top these huge flops.
25. Marvin Williams (No. 2 in 2005)
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I might be a bit bitter about this one since I'm an Atlanta Hawks fan, but Marvin Williams absolutely deserves to be on this list.
Williams has never completely panned out and lived up to his potential after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. That said, the former Tar Heel has been quite serviceable, averaging 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game thus far in his career for the Hawks.
But Atlanta needed a point guard in this draft and passed on selecting Deron Williams and Chris Paul, who were picked at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
Drafted ahead of: Deron Williams, Chris Paul
24. Yaroslav Korolev (No. 12 in 2005)
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The Russian basketball player named Yaroslav Korolev was selected by the seemingly-inept Los Angeles Clippers with the 12th pick of the 2005 NBA Draft.
After just two seasons, Korolev was waived by the Clippers and went back to playing in Russia.
During his time in the NBA, Korolev played in just 34 games, averaging a stellar 1.1 points and 0.5 rebounds per contest.
Drafted ahead of: Danny Granger, David Lee
23. Stromile Swift (No. 2 in 2000)
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The headline draft bust of the terrible 2000 NBA Draft class, Stromile Swift was taken at No. 2 by the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Swift never lived up to the potential at all. He posted the best numbers of his career during his sophomore season when he averaged 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Over the course of his nine years in the league, Swift put up just 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
To be fair to the Grizzles though, it's not like many other players in this draft worked out well.
Drafted ahead of: Mike Miller, Jamal Crawford
22. Benoit Benjamin (No. 3 in 1985)
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The seven-footer from Creighton tantalized NBA teams with his ridiculous potential in the low post, leading to his selection at No. 3 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
15 seasons later, he'd played for nine different teams and averaged 11.4 points per game during that time. He still remains the Clippers' career leader in blocked shots, but that's really all he excelled at.
Benjamin did average 16.4 points per game during the 1988-1989 season but does one good year really justify that high of a draft pick?
The answer, if you're curious, is no.
Drafted ahead of: Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Joe Dumars
21. Shelden Williams (No. 5 in 2006)
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Wait, a Duke prospect didn't pan out? Sorry Blue Devils fans, but I just had to get that crack in.
Refusing to take a point guard in the draft, just like always, the Atlanta Hawks selected Shelden Williams with the fifth pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.
He had his best season that year when The Landlord put up 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. But it's all been downhill from there.
Drafted ahead of: Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo
20. Ed O'Bannon (No. 9 in 1995)
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Ed O'Bannon was absolutely incredible during his collegiate career for the title-winning UCLA Bruins. But then he was picked ninth-overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets and everything fell apart.
O'Bannon became homesick and his knees let him down time and time again. After just two seasons in the NBA, he was done with that league, electing instead to play abroad for the next seven years.
The 1995 season at UCLA would always remain the highlight of his basketball career.
Drafted ahead of: Theo Ratliff, Michael Finley
19. Danny Ferry (No. 2 in 1989)
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After an outstanding career at Duke, Danny Ferry played professionally in Italy for Il Messaggerro after being picked second-overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1989 NBA Draft.
He only spent one season abroad before coming back to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers for ten seasons. Ferry never lived up to his potential though.
Over the course of his career, he averaged only 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Drafted ahead of: Glen Rice, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp
18. Pervis Ellison (No. 1 in 1989)
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Never Nervous Pervis excelled at Louisville but became Out of Service Pervis once he was drafted first overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 1989 NBA Draft.
As soon as his rookie season, the injury bug bit Ellison and wouldn't stop biting. Whether they were knee problems or broken toes from dropping furniture, the injuries plagued him throughout his career.
He lasted for 11 seasons, but none of them were too great.
Drafted ahead of: Glen Rice, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp
17. Kent Benson (No. 1 in 1977)
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After a stellar career at Indiana, Kent Benson decided to move on to the next level. And I mean, when you look at him, he just looks like a basketball player, right? You would've made the same decision if you had that look.
The Milwaukee Bucks decided that this was a good choice and took him first overall in the 1977 NBA Draft.
His career literally started out with a bang when he was punched by Kareem Abdul-Jabaar just two minutes into his first game. That might have been the high point as he averaged just 9.1 points per game over the course of his 11 seasons.
Drafted ahead of: Otis Birdsong, Marques Johnson
16. Steve Stipanovich (No. 2 in 1983)
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After accidentally shooting himself in the shoulder during college, Steve Stipanovich's draft stock should have at least dropped a little bit.
But that did not deter the Indiana Pacers from selected the 7'0" center from Missouri with the No. 2 pick of the 1983 NBA Draft.
After five seasons of knee trouble though, Stipanovich called it quits on a rather underwhelming career.
Drafted ahead of: Dale Ellis, Clyde Drexler
15. Jay Williams (No. 2 in 2002)
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Not to be confused with Jason Williams and Jayson Williams, Jay Williams had a storied career at Duke, including a selection as the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2002.
He parlayed that honor, along with many others, into being selected at No. 2 in the 2002 NBA Draft, where he became a member of the Chicago Bulls.
Williams showed a good bit of promise during his rookie year, even posting a rare triple-double against the New Jersey Nets. But then he was a part of a near-fatal motorcycle crash in 2003 and didn't return to the league until 2006. But his return never really happened as he was released to the D-League.
Drafted ahead of: Amar'e Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Carlos Boozer
14. Greg Oden (No. 1 in 2007)
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There's still time for Greg Oden to turn it around, but he'll have to stay healthy.
After one season at Ohio State, Oden declared for the 2007 NBA Draft and was taken by Portland with the first overall pick. Since then, he's had three seasons prematurely stopped by knee injuries.
Maybe he really is as old as he looks.
Even when he's on the court though, Oden hasn't been too effective. The big man has averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and three bajillion fouls per game while on the court.
Drafted ahead of: Kevin Durant, Al Horford
13. Frederic Weis (No. 15 in 1999)
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It's not a good sign when you're most well known for the picture to the left.
"Le dunk de la mort," or "the dunk of death," occurred during the 2000 Summer Olympics when Frederic Weis, a 7'2" member of the French team, was literally jumped over by Vince Carter.
At that point, the New York Knicks probably realized that selecting Weis in the previous year's draft with the No. 15 pick was probably not a good idea.
As it turns out, the Frenchman never played a single game in the NBA.
Drafted ahead of: Ron Artest, Andrei Kirilenko
12. Shawn Bradley (No. 2 in 1993)
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After the 7'6" center dominated the paint for one year at BYU, he went on to take a two-year mission trip and then entered the draft.
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn't pass up Bradley's size at No. 2 in the 1993 NBA Draft and overlooked his awkwardness and complete lack of finesse on the court.
They would come to regret that after Bradley averaged just 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over his 11 seasons in the NBA.
Drafted ahead of: Anfernee Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Vin Baker
11. Marcus Fizer (No. 4 in 2000)
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Marcus Fizer is best known for being one of the most tattooed players in the NBA, as he had 31 plastered across his body as of 2006. He was also the MVP of the D-Leauge in 2006.
Sounds like a draft bust, right?
Fizer was selected with the No. 4 pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2000 after a stellar collegiate career at Iowa State. He just never managed to hang on to a spot with the Bulls, or any other team in the NBA for that matter.
Drafted ahead of: Mike Miller, Jamal Crawford
10. Dennis Hopson (No. 3 in 1987)
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Dennis Hopson was an absolute stud at Ohio State. He finished second in Division 1 basketball when it comes to points scored one year, he still holds the Ohio Sate scoring record and he even led the team in rebounds once from the guard position.
It all worked out for him when the New Jersey Nets took him with the No. 3 pick of the 1987 NBA Draft. Then it stopped working out.
Hopson lasted for just five years before he had to move to leagues that weren't quite as prestigious as the NBA. While playing under the sport's brightest lights though, he only averaged 10.9 points per game.
Drafted ahead of: Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller
9. Jonathan Bender (No. 5 in 1999)
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Jonathan Bender was taken at No. 5 in the 1999 NBA Draft straight out of high school by the Toronto Raptors and then immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers undoubtedly regret that decision because Bender wasn't exactly a hit in the NBA. In fact, he averaged only 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during his eight seasons in the league.
Drafted ahead of: Richard Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Ron Artest
8. LaRue Martin (No. 1 in 1972)
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In 1972, the Portland Trailblazers selected LaRue Martin with the first overall pick, hoping he would be the player to turn their franchise around.
Martin played for Loyola University Chicago and excelled throughout his collegiate career, but the NBA would prove to be a much harder test for him.
He ended up retiring after just four seasons at the professional level and averaged just 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Drafted ahead of: Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving
7. Nikoloz Tskitishvili (No. 5 in 2002)
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Playing in Italy, Nikoloz Tskitishvili (who I will now refer to as Mr. T to avoid having to spell his name again) was good but not great.
The Denver Nuggets never got that hint and drafted Mr. T with the No. 5 pick of the 2002 NBA Draft. I pity the fool that thought that selection would work out.
He finished his journeyman career averaging only 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Drafted ahead of: Amar'e Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Carlos Boozer
6. Adam Morrison (No. 3 in 2006)
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I'll be the first to admit that I was suckered into the Adam Morrison hype. I was entirely convinced that he was going to become the next Larry Bird and dominate in the NBA just like he did while at Gonzaga.
Well, I was dead wrong.
Morrison was the third-pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and ended up averaging 11.8 points per game during his rookie season for the Charlotte Bobcats. Then he injured his knee and missed all of 2007-2008, not that it would have mattered much since he'd already lost his starting job thanks to a lack of defensive ability and poor shooting during the previous year.
Fortunately for Morrison, he was traded to the Lakers, where he kept the bench warm and won two rings. He played only 39 games during those two seasons.
Drafted ahead of: Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo
5. Kwame Brown (No. 1 in 2001)
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The first No. 1 pick ever to be taken directly from high school, Kwame Brown didn't do much other than prove that Michael Jordan was a much better player than selector of talent.
Brown showed a lack of maturity throughout his career, which is still somehow ongoing, and never lived up to the hype generated by his lofty selection in that 2001 draft.
He's enjoying one of the best seasons of his career right now, but even then, he's still only averaging 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Over the course of his career, those numbers drop to just 6.7 points and 5.5 boards per contest.
Drafted ahead of: Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson
4. Michael Olowokandi (No. 1 in 1998)
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The Kandi Man dominated the lower level of competition at Pacific University for four years but then had to play against the big boys. That's when the problems started.
Olowokandi was drafted No. 1 overall in 1998 by the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming just one more mistake in the history of that troubled franchise.
The seven-footer averaged just 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds during his let-down of a career.
Drafted ahead of: Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce
3. Sam Bowie (No. 2 in 1984)
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When you think of draft busts, Sam Bowie's name is always one of the first to come to mind.
After his career at Kentucky ended, the Portland Trailblazers made the somewhat controversial decision to select Bowie with the No. 2 pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. Taken third was none other than some guy named Michael Jordan. You might have heard of him.
Bowie went on to have a rather nondescript NBA career. He was good but not great throughout and averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his 11-year time in the pros.
Drafted ahead of: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley
2. Chris Washburn (No. 3 in 1986)
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Chris Washburn had trouble signs written all over him.
He never attended classes at NC State, he was caught stealing a stereo and he never even tried on the SAT. But Washburn did average 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds during his one full year in college.
Despite the red flags, Golden State selected Washburn in 1986 with the No. 3 pick. He played just 72 games with the Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds before being banned from the NBA for life thanks to three failed drug tests.
Drafted ahead of: Mark Price, Dennis Rodman
1. Darko Milicic (No. 2 in 2003)
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Darko Milicic is widely hailed as one of the worst draft picks of all-time, and truthfully, he deserves that notoriety.
The 18-year old was taken with the No. 2 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft (see the Drafted ahead of section below for why this is so bad) by the Detroit Pistons and never really received any playing time. This resulted in a lack of development and a good bit of bad publicity for the center.
Now, Milicic is a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves and putting up a career-high 8.3 points per game.
Drafted ahead of: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade
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