What makes an NBA draft bust? Expections? Injuries? Drug abuse?Any questions you have can be answered by any one of these ten men.<u>10)Steve Stipanovic</u>Selected ahead ofale Ellis, Byron Scott,Clyde Drxler, Derek Harper,Drafted 2nd in the 1983 NBA draft. He put up medicore numbers for a few seasons. However horrific recurring knee injuries knee injuries forced him into retirement after only 5 pro seasons.<u>9)Danny Ferry</u>Selected ahead of: Sean Elliott, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Drafted 2nd overall in the 1988 draft by the LA Clippers. He had a great senior season at Duke but never sniffed those numbers while wearing an NBA uniform. He averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds for his NBA career. Those numbers are suspect for a 2nd overall draft pick. He had much more success as the Cleveland GM than anything.<u>8)Rick Robey</u>Selected ahead of: Michael Cooper, Michael Ray Richardson, Larry Bird, Maurice Cheeks, Reggie Theus.3rd Overall Selection by the Indiana Pacers in 1978. It was surprising to see him go number three when he didnt even average over 15 points per game in college as a senior. Those numbers are not generally the type to make you a top 5 draft pick. He was traded midway through his first NBA season. I wish I could write more about him but he is one guy I have yet to study.<u>7)Michael Olowokandi</u>Selected ahead of: Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki, Larry Hughes, Paul Pierce, Bonzi Wells, Rashard LewisDrafted 1st overall by the LA Clippers in the 1998 draft. Has yet to live up to his potential that he showed in college. He puts up very similar numbers to Kent Benson. Another former draft bust.<u>6)Sam Bowie</u>Selected ahead of: Alvin Robertson, Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins,Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Kevin Willis.Drafted 2nd overall in the 1984 draft by the Porland Trailblazers.It seems he will only be remembered for being selected befoe Michael Jordan. From what I watched of him he was a decent player. He had a sweet outside stroke and a rare passing ability for his size. Had this been any other draft he would not be considered a bust nor a decent player. Its the Hall of Famers he was picked ahead of that make him a draft bust.<u>5)Ed O’Bannon</u>Selected ahead of: Kurt Thomas, Theo Ratliff, Michael FinleyAfter winning the Wooden Player of the Year award and leading his team to a national championship he was drafted 9th overall by the New Jersey Nets in 1995. He was drafted with very high expectations. He didn't fit in with the NBA system. He played for 3 teams in his first 2 seasons. After only 2 NBA seaons he retired from the game.<u>4) Dennis Hopson</u>Selected ahead of: Kenny Smith, Kevin Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson 3rd Overall Selection by the New Jersey Nets in 1987. He was a popular Ohio State Buckeye, More like a god to Ohio State. He was picked 3rd in a fairly deep NBA draft. Hopson only lasted 5 pro seasons all of which he spent on the bench. He was arrested at age 35 after threatening to kill his wife. <u>3)Kent Benson</u>Selected ahead of: Benard King, Jack Sikma, Norm Nixon, Cedric Maxwell, Marques Johnson 1st Overall Selection by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1977. He displayed medicore career numbers of 9 ppg and 6 rpg. However those are not the type of numbers you would suspect from a number 1 overall draft pick.<u>2) Chris Washburn</u>Selected ahead of: Dennis Rodman, Chuck Person, John Salley, Roy Tarpley, Ron Harper, Mark Price, Jeff Hornacek Taken third overall by the Warriors in 1986. This was considered the "cursed" draft class of 1986. He had tons of potential, had a nice soft touch around the basket. He was big but versatile. He was banned from the NBA after only 3 seasons for three positive drug tests.College Stats: 16.4 ppg 6.1 rpg 55% FG%NBA Stats: 3.1 ppg 2.4 rpg 41% FG%<u>1) LaRue Martin</u>Selected ahead of: Bob McAdoo, Julius Erving, Paul Westphal The number 1 overall draft pick by the Portland Trailblazers in 1972. Never averaged more than 7 ppg in his short 4 year NBA career. He was a 6'11 forward who still holds the career rebounding record at Loyola University. Portland hoped he would carry his strong rebounding ability over to the NBA. That was obviously not the case as he continuned to put up horrible numbers.Honerable Mention: Marcus Fizer, Richard Washington, Kwame Brown, Joe Smith, Pervis Ellison
Diop needs to be on Honorable MentionSelected Ahead: Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson, Troy Murphy, Zach Randolph, Jamaal Tinsley, Tony Parker, Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalember, Bobby Simmons, Mehment Okur, and Gilbert Arenas
What about Leon Smith, selected by the spurs traded and released by 4 teams and only scored 33 points in the league and then was gone.
Korleone Young 1st round draft pick in 1998 he scored 13 points, and he only played 20 minuts in the NBA
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What about Leon Smith, selected by the spurs traded and released by 4 teams and only scored 33 points in the league and then was gone.</div>Drafted to high to be a bust. He was late first round. Not sure on the exact number.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Korleone Young 1st round draft pick in 1998 he scored 13 points, and he only played 20 minuts in the NBA</div>He was picked in the mid 2nd round. Not many 2nd rounders have expectations.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kingjamez @ Apr 16 2006, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hes only the worst offense player in the NBA.</div>No that honor goes to Ben Wallace.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jkidd51524 @ Apr 16 2006, 09:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No that honor goes to Ben Wallace.</div>Wow amazing. Far from it.Problem is he plays on a team stacked with scorers. Had he been on any other team he could average 10-15 points with ease.
I think Bobby Hurley should be in the Honorable Mention also. He was picked by the Kings with the 7th pick in the 1993 draft. had a wonderful college career and horrible professional one. Take into account that he was also in a pretty bad car wreck, but still. Was picked before Vin Baker, Rodney Rogers, Allan Houston, Sam Cassell and Nick Van Exel. (NVE was a 2nd round pick by the Lakers with the 37th pick.)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC @ Apr 16 2006, 09:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He was picked in the mid 2nd round. Not many 2nd rounders have expectations.</div>My bad, my bad..My source mustve been wrong.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pjcolpitts @ Apr 17 2006, 03:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think Bobby Hurley should be in the Honorable Mention also. He was picked by the Kings with the 7th pick in the 1993 draft. had a wonderful college career and horrible professional one. Take into account that he was also in a pretty bad car wreck, but still. Was picked before Vin Baker, Rodney Rogers, Allan Houston, Sam Cassell and Nick Van Exel. (NVE was a 2nd round pick by the Lakers with the 37th pick.)</div>its hard for me to think of him as a bust because the reason his career didn't go to plan was because of that car crash. He was pretty close to death by all accounts, yet came back to play a few more years.
yeah that car crash really ended his carrer. and its a sad thing too. I usually try not to list people like him, Shawn Respurt, Jay Williams or Len Bias when I mention bust, because other things played a part. things that had they not happened those players could have turned out to be very good.
I know he had the car wreck, but i personally dont think he was worthy of the 7th pick in the draft. Even if the car wreck wouldnt of happened, i dont think he would of been a great player. He could of been an okay player is the best i could see him being. I know he didnt want the wreck and everything, but i think he could still be consider a bust, but just one with an asterick next to his name to explain what happened.
