Every few years, an NBA team falls in love with a player and declares, “This is our guy!” They print the jerseys, run the hype videos, and build marketing campaigns around someone who probably shouldn’t have been starting, let alone leading.
These so-called franchise cornerstones often ended up glued to the bench, struggling to justify the expectations placed on them. Some had flashes of brilliance, others had great smiles, but very few had the game to back up the hype.
15. Michael Carter-Williams
He looked like the future on opening night, but played like a flashback the rest of the season. Teams kept hoping he’d evolve, but the only thing consistent was his inconsistency.
14. Marvin Bagley III
Taken ahead of Luka Doncic, which still haunts Sacramento fans today. Injuries and defensive lapses made him more of a project than a pillar.
13. Jimmer Fredette
College superstar turned NBA afterthought in record time. He was supposed to be a scoring machine, but the league had other ideas.
12. Emmanuel Mudiay
Touted as a dynamic point guard who would revolutionize the offense. He was a turnover-prone player who couldn’t shoot or run a team.
11. Josh Jackson
Top-four pick with highlight-reel athleticism and G League-level decision-making. His career became a tour of second chances that never stuck.
10. James Wiseman
Golden State hoped he was the future of their frontcourt. He barely cracked the rotation before being shipped off as a reclamation project.
9. Dante Exum
The Jazz talked him up as a mystery star from Australia. That mystery was never solved, and the impact never arrived.
8. Ben McLemore
He was supposed to put it together every offseason, and finally, every regular season, he reminded everyone why hope never panned out.
7. Hasheem Thabeet
You can’t teach height, but you can teach basketball IQ—that’s where things fell apart. He never came close to living up to the No. 2 overall selection.
6. Dennis Smith Jr.
Started with jaw-dropping dunks and ended with DNPs. He never adjusted to the pace or playmaking responsibilities of an NBA guard.
5. Jan Vesely
Dubbed the “European Blake Griffin,” which was offensive to both Europe and Blake Griffin. He never looked comfortable, and the NBA quickly moved on.
4. Anthony Bennett
The most confusing No. 1 pick in NBA history. He looked overwhelmed from day one and never once looked like he belonged.
3. Kevin Knox
He had one good Summer League and rode that wave for years. Unfortunately, the regular season showed he wasn’t quite ready for primetime—or even daytime.
2. Thomas Robinson
A high-motor guy who couldn’t find a consistent role. Five teams in two seasons told you everything you needed to know.
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1. Michael Beasley
He was supposed to be a scoring savant to build a team around. Instead, he became a journeyman whose defense and decision-making never matched his draft status.
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