15 of The Worst NBA Picks of The Last Decade
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The NBA Draft is a highly anticipated event every year, where teams look to bolster their rosters with fresh talent. It typically takes place in June, following the conclusion of the NBA season, and consists of two rounds, with 30 picks in each round. Teams are assigned draft positions through a lottery system for the first 14 picks.
Players eligible for the draft usually include those who have completed a year of college basketball or have played professionally overseas. Over the years, the draft has seen prodigious talents emerge. It’s also notorious for its share of surprises and regrettable choices.
Anthony Bennett (2013, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Bennett entered the league with high expectations, showcasing a promising college career at UNLV, averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. However, his transition to the NBA was anything but smooth. Over his rookie season, he averaged just 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds, shooting a dismal 35.6% from the field.
During his rookie year, Bennett became the first No. 1 overall pick to be assigned to the D-League (now the G League). Over the next few years, he bounced around the league, playing for teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors, but never found his groove. He ultimately averaged a mere 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds over his entire four-season career.
Dragan Bender (2016, Phoenix Suns)
This 7-foot Croatian big man was touted for his impressive skill set, including shooting range and versatility—a combination that promised a bright future. However, Bender averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds over his three seasons in Phoenix.
His shooting numbers paint an even more troublesome picture: just 37.4% from the field and a cringe-worthy 31.2% from three-point land. He played 113 games for the Suns before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019.
13th Worst Pick: Thomas Robinson (2012, Sacramento Kings)
Standing at 6’9″ and known for his athleticism and rebounding prowess, Robinson stood out at Kansas, averaging a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds in his final collegiate season. However, once he hit the NBA hardwood, things took a nosedive.
In his rookie season, he played 51 games and managed only 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He was traded in his second season to the Houston Rockets, where he failed to find significant playing time. Over his brief four-year career, Robinson played for five teams, averaging a meager 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Jahlil Okafor (3rd Overall Pick, 2015)
Okafor, selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft, entered the league with sky-high expectations. He boasted an impressive college career at Duke, averaging 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, earning himself the prestigious AP Player of the Year award.
Over his rookie season, Okafor showcased some flashes of brilliance, averaging 17.5 points and 7 rebounds per game. But as the dust settled, his defensive rating was a dismal 110.0. In his second and third years, his minutes dwindled as he failed to develop a consistent presence on the court, leading to his eventual trade to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017.
Markelle Fultz (1st Overall Pick, 2017)
Fultz came into the league with an impressive college resume, boasting averages of 23.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game during his freshman year at Washington. Unfortunately, the hype didn’t translate to the NBA stage (Fultz’s career average points per game sits at a meager 10.5).
In his rookie season, Fultz played just 14 games due to a mysterious shoulder injury and a bizarre shooting mechanic overhaul, which led to dizzying shooting percentages around 41.4% from the field and a dismal 50% from the free-throw line. After being traded to the Orlando Magic in 2019, Fultz finally began to show glimpses of his potential, even achieving a triple-double in 2021.
Noah Vonleh, 9th Pick, 2014 NBA Draft
Drafted 9th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2014, Vonleh was heralded as a promising big man with a versatile skill set. At 18, he showcased incredible potential with his athleticism and rebounding abilities. In his rookie season, he averaged a mere 4.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game, which fell short of the expectations set by his draft position.
Over time, Vonleh struggled to cement a consistent role in the lineup, bouncing between teams like the Hornets, Blazers, and even the Knicks before appearing in short stints with the Bulls and Timberwolves. He played an average of only 43 games per season from 2014 to 2021 and had a career shooting percentage of 43.1%. His highest-scoring season was 8.4 points per game in 2018-19.
Nik Stauskas (2014, Sacramento Kings)
Drafted 8th overall by the Sacramento Kings, expectations were sky-high for the sharpshooter out of Michigan. During his rookie season, Stauskas averaged a mere 4.4 points per game. His shooting percentages were underwhelming, recording just 31.7% from beyond the arc.
According to Basketball Reference, he had the 4th worst three-point field goal percentage among players who attempted at least 100 shots that season. Moreover, he struggled to find a consistent role after a few seasons bouncing around the league, including stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Mario Hezonja, 5th Pick, 2015 NBA Draft
During his four-year stint in Orlando, Hezonja averaged a meager 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 36.8% from the field and an even worse 30% from beyond the arc.
Hezonja showed flashes of his potential, like when he dropped 28 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, but those moments were few and far between. After parting ways with the Magic in 2019, he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he continued his trend of underwhelming performances, playing just a handful of minutes each game.
Ben Simmons, 1st Pick, 2016 NBA Draft
Simmons entered the league with a robust skill set, boasting averages of 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in his rookie season—even winning the Rookie of the Year award. Yet, despite these promising numbers, his inability to develop a reliable jump shot has haunted his career.
As of the end of the 2022 season, Simmons had a dismal three-point shooting percentage of just 32%. In the 2021 playoffs, Simmons made headlines, notably for his failure to attempt a shot in the fourth quarter during a crucial Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons’ prolonged absence from the court following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets during the 2021-22 season raised several red flags about his work ethic.
James Wiseman, Warriors (No. 2, 2020)
In his rookie season, Wiseman averaged just 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and an underwhelming 0.7 blocks per game over 39 games. Wiseman’s defensive rating was a shaky 116.1, and his advanced metrics, like Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 13.0, fell below the league average.
Moreover, Wiseman’s struggle to stay on the court was highlighted by a series of injuries that limited him to only 39 games in his debut season. After only two troubled seasons, the Warriors eventually traded him in February 2023.
Marvin Bagley III, Kings (No. 2, 2018)
After a standout freshman year at Duke, where he averaged a stellar 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, many believed Bagley would be a franchise cornerstone. However, his journey has been marred by injuries that have sidelined him for extensive periods—he missed 102 games over his first three seasons.
In his rookie season, he flashed potential with an average of 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, but inconsistent shooting and defensive lapses plagued his progress. Fast forward to the 2020-2021 season, and Bagley dropped to just 8.3 points per game while struggling to find rhythm off the bench.
Josh Jackson, Suns (No. 4, 2017)
Coming off a promising season at Kansas, Jackson was seen as a high-flying wing with a potent mix of athleticism and defensive chops. Fast-forward a few years, and Jackson struggled to find his footing in the league. He averaged a mere 11.0 points per game during his time with the Suns while shooting a paltry 39.2% from the field.
In his second season with the Suns, Jackson played only 43 games before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. According to ESPN, his best game came in January 2018, where he dropped 24 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jarrett Culver, 6th Pick, 2019 NBA Draft
Coming off a stellar season at Texas Tech, where he led the Red Raiders to the NCAA Championship game, Culver was lauded for his versatility and defensive prowess. During his rookie NBA season, he averaged only 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, shooting a lackluster 40.4% from the field and a dismal 29.9% from three-point range.
His player efficiency rating (PER) was a paltry 8.5 during his rookie season, well below the league’s average. Despite his defensive skills, he found it challenging to carve a niche within the Timberwolves’ rotation, leading to limited playing time and opportunities. Fast-forward to the 2021-2022 season and Culver found himself traded to Atlanta.
Kevin Knox, New York Knicks, 9th Pick, 2018
Knox was a one-and-done player from the University of Kentucky. Over his first three seasons, Knox struggled to find his footing, averaging a mere 9.0 points per game with a dismal shooting percentage of 38.5% from the field.
In 2021, only 11.0% of the shots taken against him were considered “contested,” suggesting that he often allowed opponents easy looks. According to Basketball-Reference, Knox finished his tenure with the Knicks with a -2.6 Box Plus/Minus (BPM), indicating that his presence on the court was detrimental rather than advantageous.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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