The draft can transform a franchise with a cornerstone player but in these cases, the biggest NBA draft busts of all time did the absolute opposite. Let's take a look at the 10 worst draft picks of all time.
10. Dajuan Wagner
Drafted with the 6th pick in 2002 and ahead of Amar'e Stoudemire, Nene and Caron Butler; Dajuan Wagner went from the likely saviour of Cleveland to the Cavs biggest draft bust in history.
The decision worked out though as the 2002-03 Cavaliers played so badly that they just ended up tanking which changed the franchise forever. Their terrible 17-65 season earned them the right to pick LeBron James in the 2003 NBA draft.
9. Michael Olowokandi
Nigerian Michael Olowokandi never played an organised game of basketball until after his 20th birthday. It wasn't enough of a red flag for the Clippers to consider he'd be one of the biggest NBA draft busts of all time.
The Clippers selected Olowokandi with the first overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft. Despite overlooking Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki he ended up having a decent rookie season. At one point he was even seen as the Spurs replacement for David Robinson to continue on with their dynasty during the Tim Duncan era. Olowokandi never lived up to the promise he once showed and his career eventually fizzled out on the back of injuries.
8. Chris Washburn
Before Chris Washburn had even been drafted he'd been sentenced to prison for stealing a radio. That didn't scare Golden State who selected him with the third pick of the 1986 draft.
In his rookie year Washburn developed a cocaine habit and a kidney infection on his way to becoming one of the biggest draft busts of all time. Washburn was banned from the NBA for life following three failed drug tests. His career ended after only 72 games and averaging only nine minutes of game time in three years.
Episode 152! A giant man. A giant bust. He threw away the biggest opportunities a person could have, with assault, theft & obviously cocaine. He’s a crack smoking, test failing, arrest machine! It’s Chris Washburn!!https://t.co/SOLbDnnL4B pic.twitter.com/dGufi4nl47
— Crime In Sports (@CrimeInSports) March 5, 2019
Source: Originally posted on Twitter by @CrimeInSports
7. LaRue Martin
LaRue Martin showed signs of a generational center in college, averaging 18.2 points, 15.9 rebounds and having his #20 retired by the Loyola Ramblers. His college performances never translated into the NBA and he became an extremely inefficient and inconsistent player.
After being selected with the first pick of the 1972 draft ahead of greats Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving, Martin lasted only four seasons in the NBA. His career ended with an average of 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 14 minutes per game and he retired as one of the biggest NBA draft busts of all time.
...I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.