The NBA Draft is supposed to boost team performance. But sometimes, it just changes the direction of a franchise for the worse. When teams pick the wrong player at the top of the board, the ripple effect can last for years… losing seasons, frustrating fans, and blowing rebuilds.
We’re talking about the biggest busts in NBA history, and the front-office missteps that made them possible.
5. Kwame Brown – Washington Wizards (No. 1, 2001)
Michael Jordan’s pick, and one of the earliest cautionary tales of drafting on raw potential. Kwame lasted 12 years in the league but was never more than a backup.
- Who they could’ve picked: Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Joe Johnson
- Impact: Embarrassed MJ’s front office chops and killed the momentum for the Wizards.
4. Darko Miličić – Detroit Pistons (No. 2, 2003)
Taken ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Darko is the ultimate “what-if.” While the Pistons won a title in 2004, Darko barely played and contributed next to nothing.
- Who they could’ve picked: Literally three future Hall of Famers
- Impact: Robbed the Pistons of a potential dynasty and long-term scoring help.
3. Greg Oden – Portland Trail Blazers (No. 1, 2007)
Portland picked Oden over Kevin Durant. The gamble on size over scoring proved disastrous. Oden played just 105 games in total due to recurring injuries.
- Who they could’ve picked: Kevin Durant
- Impact: Blazers passed on a generational scorer for a center who never got healthy.
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Charlotte Bobcats (No. 2, 2012)
Fresh off a 7–59 season, the Bobcats needed a savior. Instead, they got a role player. MKG couldn’t shoot, never averaged more than 12 points per game, and stunted the rebuild.
- Who they could’ve picked: Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green
- Impact: Wasted a top pick during a critical rebuild and drove fans into apathy.
1. Anthony Bennett – Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 1, 2013)
No one saw this coming, literally. Bennett wasn’t even projected in the top five, yet Cleveland pulled the trigger. He went as No1 in the 2013 NBA draft picks He arrived overweight, lacked positional fit, and couldn’t shoot consistently. He averaged just 4.4 points across four teams in four seasons.
- Who they could’ve picked: Giannis Antetokounmpo, CJ McCollum, Rudy Gobert
- Impact: Set the Cavs back a full season and wasted their No. 1 asset post-LeBron.
Why teams get it wrong
Teams’ NBA draft picks often prioritize potential over proven skills, drafting athletes instead of true basketball players. While they admire athleticism, they overlook crucial traits like basketball IQ and feel, leading to mistakes, as seen with James Wiseman.
Development fails without proper support. Many franchises lack the resources or strategy to nurture young talent, resulting in poor picks.GMs, fearful of being omitted from acquiring stars such as Giannis or Durant, make crazy selections based on hype, not talent.
Not landing a top pick is not just missing out; it stops rebuilds, empties arenas, and enforces ticks off of angry fans. Ask the Bobcats, Pistons, or Cavs.
