The NBA Draft is always a gamble. One minute, you think you’re grabbing the next franchise cornerstone, and the next, you’ve got a guy barely making the G League roster. For every Steph Curry or Damian Lillard, there’s a long line of guards who were picked way too early and delivered way too little.
This list is a tribute to those first-round guards who had the hype, the highlight mixtapes, and the promise—but couldn’t quite cash in on that potential. Some flamed out fast, others just quietly faded away, but all of them have one thing in common: they probably should’ve gone a lot later if at all.
18. Joe Alexander
He looked the part with his athleticism and hops, but things unraveled quickly once the real games began. By the time most fans learned his name, he was already out of the league.
17. Austin Rivers
He had the confidence of a superstar but the production of a role player. Being Doc’s son got him drafted in the lottery, but didn’t make him a lottery-level talent.
16. William Avery
A Duke product with high expectations, but he never found his footing in the league. His NBA career was shorter than the list of people who remember him.
15. Jarrett Jack
Solid backup energy, sure—but a first-round pick? He had a long career, but was never the guy a franchise built around.
14. Jerome Robinson
The Clippers shocked everyone by taking him in the lottery, and it didn’t exactly pay off. He struggled to stick even when minutes were available.
13. Jimmer Fredette
A college legend who never translated to the NBA. The range was deep, but the game didn’t keep up.
12. Marcus Banks
He was fast, athletic, and looked great in workouts, but the on-court impact never matched the scouting reports. Several teams gave him a shot, and none got much in return.
11. James Young
Drafted out of Kentucky with high hopes, he barely saw the floor in Boston. It was a classic case of potential overproduction.
10. Kendall Marshall
Great passer, sure—but not enough to offset the glaring lack of athleticism and defense. He peaked as a fill-in starter and quickly fell out of rotation.
9. Adam Keefe
The numbers at Stanford didn’t lie, but the NBA sure did. His game didn’t translate to the faster, stronger league.
8. Tony Wroten
Explosive? Yes. Efficient or consistent? Not at all. He had the tools but never figured out how to put them together.
7. Sebastian Telfair
A high school phenom with all the hype but no staying power. His pro career was a rollercoaster, with way more downs than ups.
6. Emmanuel Mudiay
Touted as a top prospect who took the overseas route, but his shot and decision-making were always questionable. Teams wanted a star and got a project.
5. Johnny Flynn
Drafted ahead of Steph Curry. That sentence alone is enough to land him on this list.
4. Tony Snell
A 3-and-D archetype who never quite delivered the “3” or the “D” consistently. He stayed in the league for a while but was more ghost than presence.
3. Nik Stauskas
Shotmaker in college, benchwarmer in the NBA. He bounced around the league but never found a role that stuck.
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2. Ben McLemore
He had the look, the athleticism, and the jumper—but none came together when it counted. Sacramento took a big swing, and it barely left the tee.
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1. Anthony Bennett
Yes, he was technically more of a forward, but he was labeled a combo guard in the lead-up, and he gets lifetime membership in the “shouldn’t have been drafted” club. The only thing more shocking than him going first overall was how fast he faded from relevance.
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