Copy linkEmailFacebookWhatsAppXLinkedInBlueskyThreadsImpact Link
SaveSaved
If the NBA draft has taught us anything over the years, it's that the whole thing is a crapshoot.
2019-06-19
While some players who seemed destined for greatness lived up to the hype — like LeBron James — plenty of other hyped players never quite got their footing in the NBA.
From Darko Milicic to Hasheem Thabeet to Kwame Brown, here are the biggest NBA draft busts of all time — and what's become of them.
Emmett Knowlton contributed to this report.
Darko Milicic was picked No. 2 in 2003 by the Detroit Pistons, over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.
Paul Sancya/AP
Milicic played for six teams in 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 6 points and 4 rebounds per game for his career. He left the NBA in 2012, had a kickboxing career, and, as of 2017, worked on an apple farm in Serbia.
Greg Oden was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007.
Kathy Willens/AP
Knee injuries plagued Oden's NBA career, as he left the NBA in 2014. He has helped with the Ohio State basketball team in recent years while getting his degree, and now has coaching aspirations. He has also helped the Boston Celtics during pre-draft workouts this year.
Bryant Reeves was taken with the 6th pick in the 2005 draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies after starring for Oklahoma State in college.
Getty Images
The 7-foot "Big Country" Reeves played well initially but struggled with injuries and conditioning and retired in 2001. Reeves' whereabouts after basketball became such a mystery that a documentary "Finding Big Country" was made about his post-playing career. He is a cattle rancher in a small town in Oklahoma.
Shawn Bradley, standing at 7 feet 6 inches, was the No. 2 pick in 1993, selected by the Sixers.
John Discher/AP
Bradley played 12 years in the NBA and had some productive seasons early on before falling off. He retired in 2005. ESPN made a documentary called "Posterized" about Bradley's propensity for being on the wrong end of highlight dunks. In 2010, Bradley ran as a Republican for the 44th District seat in the Utah House of Representatives and lost.
Pervis Ellison was the No. 1 overall pick in 1989.
Ron Frehm/AP
Ellison battled injuries during his career, earning the nickname "Out of Service Pervis." After his career, he briefly coached basketball for Life Center Academy in New Jersey.
Gregory Payan/AP
Joe Alexander was taken with the eighth pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008 after posting remarkable numbers at the combine and in pre-draft workouts.
Allen Fredrickson/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media/Getty Images
Alexander played just two seasons in the NBA. He has since played in the G League and for several teams overseas, most recently in Turkey.
Dajuan Wagner, who made a name for himself in high school when he scored 100 points in a single game, was drafted sixth overall in 2002 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Injuries and health problems plagued Wagner's NBA career. Wagner played internationally and was slated to play in start-up AmeriLeague in 2015, but the league folded quickly.
Kwame Brown became the first high schooler to go first overall when the Washington Wizards picked him in the 2001 NBA draft.
Stephen J. Boitano/AP
Brown famously struggled playing alongside Michael Jordan on the Wizards and eventually bounced around the league. He retired in 2013. He has since played in the Big3.
Kevin C. Cox/BIG3/Getty Images
Jan Vesely was drafted sixth overall by the Wizards in 2011.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Vesely played just three years in the NBA. He now plays in Turkey and won EuroLeague MVP for the 2018-19 season.
Tolga Adanali/EB/Getty Images
The Cavaliers shocked the NBA world when they selected Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick in 2013.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Bennett bounced around the league, playing for four teams in four seasons. He has played in the G League since 2017.
The Philadelphia 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Fultz's time in the NBA has been strange, as he has struggled mightily with shooting and shoulder issues. He was traded to the Orlando Magic in February 2019 and has played just 33 games in his career. The NBA world hopes he can turn it around, as he is still just 21.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/Getty Images
Now, look back at one of the most infamous trades in NBA history...
Scott is a senior sports reporter for Business Insider, covering all sports with a specific focus on the NBA and the constantly moving basketball world. Since joining Business Insider in 2014, he has reported on NBA trade demands, free agency rumors and news, breakout players you should know, behind-the-scenesbusiness stories, and more. He once briefly led JJ Redick in a game of H-O-R-S-E.Send Scott tips, pitches, complaints, and more at sdavis@jkmperu.com and follow him on Twitter: @WScottDavis.
