The most disastrous NBA draft picks in history

The NBA draft happens every year and is the most lucrative event for college students looking to make it into Basketball’s big-time league.

However, throughout the years, some of the NBA’s most successful general managers have made huge mistakes in selecting the perfect college players to fit their rosters.

Let’s go back and see just who some of the worst NBA draft picks were in years gone by.

Notoriously, the famous pick made by the great Michael Jordan. Kwame Brown was drafted number 1 in the 2001 NBA draft ahead of the likes of future hall of Famers Tony parker and Pau Gasol.

Brown played 12 seasons in the NBA averaging 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds with eight different teams, finishing his NBA career in an underwhelming fashion for a number one pick.

The 1984 draft is seen by many as the greatest draft ever with the likes of Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan. However, the biggest flop and the man drafted before them both was Sam Bowie.

Whilst others in his draft class excelled to the top of the game, Bowie’s NBA career never really got started. The center played 11 seasons in the league riddled with leg injuries and averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds over his career.

In 1986 the Golden State Warriors selected Chris Washburn third in the NBA draft. Addiction put a halt to his career before it even got started after receiving a lifetime ban from the NBA in 1989.

The 6ft11 center played in only 72 games in his whole NBA career and averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

In 2013, Anthony Bennett became the first player from Canada to be picked number 1 overall in the NBA draft.

However, after only averaging 4.2 points and three rebounds in his rookie career, the 6ft8 forward only lasted 151 games in the NBA and now spends his career playing in Europe.

Drafted at number two in the 2003 draft behind Lebron James, Darko Milicic was seen by the Detroit Pistons as the next Dirk Nowitzki when they brought him in ahead of Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

Milicic rarely got off the bench in his rookie seasons only playing 71 games. He went on to average six points and 2.9 rebounds in a ten-year NBA career.

Greg Oden was selected number one by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA draft and was seen by many as the final piece of the jigsaw for NBA titles in Portland.

Due to multiple surgeries on his knee, Oden only managed to play 82 games in five seasons for the Trail Blazers, probably making him the biggest ‘what if’ player in NBA history.

Drafted number one in the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Markelle Fultz has arguably been the biggest mistake in recent draft classes.

Severe shoulder injuries restricted his game time in his opening two seasons with the 76ers with many critics questioning his physical and mental toughness. He now plays for the Orlando Magic.

Picked at number 12 in the 2018 NBA draft, Miles Bridges’ career looked to be going on an upwards curve after averaging a career-best 20.2 points a game last season with the Charlotte Hornets.

His personal life however may lead to the forward never being able to play in the NBA again. With another court date on the horizon, Bridges has decided to focus on his rap career for the time being.