Who are the biggest draft busts of all-time chosen in the top 3?

Joe Smith #1, Darko #2, Shawn Bradley (#2?), and Kwame Brown (#1)
come to mind.

Smith and Bradley are players that still found a role in the league in spite of falling far short of their draft day expectations. Brown and Darko appear to be heading down the same road.


Are there any that did not even make it in the league? Career threatening injuries aside, because that was not their fault.

I don't want to come off like I'm a big fan of Kwame Brown, but I have to defend the guy on this one. Look at his stats this year. Watch a couple Lakers games. How can he be leading the team on a + basis by double the next closest player on the team and still be a bust?

What is it with the bust fascination? It's like how everyone wanted to call Phil Michelson a failure because he couldn't win a major. Then he busted out with 3 in about a year.

I don't want to come off like I'm a big fan of Kwame Brown, but I have to defend the guy on this one. Look at his stats this year. Watch a couple Lakers games. How can he be leading the team on a + basis by double the next closest player on the team and still be a bust?

What is it with the bust fascination? It's like how everyone wanted to call Phil Michelson a failure because he couldn't win a major. Then he busted out with 3 in about a year.

Compare him to other top 3's and see how he stacks up. He is not even their main future guy at the center spot.

To me top 3 means superstar potential. To fall short of that and end up as a bench player, even a solid bench player is still a bust.

Another criteria for a bust is when the original drafting team has to deal him to give him a fresh start away from all the baggage.

I know there has to be more and some guys that did not even make it in the league?

darko a bust? i dunno. What about Len Bias.

In the early '70s, the Blazers drafted a guy named LaRue Martin #1 overall, and he averaged only 5 points per game in 4 seasons. He's generally regarded as the all-time biggest NBA draft bust, the worst #1 overall pick of them all. And in the year that Len Bias died just after being drafted #2, the Warriors had picked Chris Washburn from N.C. State at #3. He only played parts of two seasons, before his career ended because of (I think) a drug suspension. All 4 guys mentioned in Max's original post are practically hall-of-famers in comparison to those two dudes.

There are also a bunch of guys who were either disappointingly mediocre or couldn't stay healthy. Sam Bowie and Pervis Ellison were both in that category. And Dale Davis' fellow tazee, The Kandi Man, is certainly more of a disappointment as a #1 overall pick than Joe Smith.

darko a bust? i dunno. What about Len Bias.
They made equal contributions to their original teams.

Sam Bowie and Pervis Ellison were both in that category. And Dale Davis' fellow tazee, The Kandi Man, is certainly more of a disappointment as a #1 overall pick than Joe Smith.

Forgot about them. Especially Kandi, although he did have a good year once.

They made equal contributions to their original teams.

Oh, that's just mean! :pound:

How about Jay Williams?

I think that a good rule of thumb is that you have to either be out of the league or older than 25 to qualify as a bust.

How about Jay Williams?

...
Are there any that did not even make it in the league? Career threatening injuries aside, because that was not their fault.
At what # was Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner picked? I also remember that there was a major bust in the 1985 draft, but forgot the name.

minor was picked late lottery like #10. ok it was 12th.

looks like the 1985 featured some mediocre players who were drafted early- Tisdale, Benoit Benjamin, Xavier Mc Daniel, Jon Koncak, Joe Kleine- in the same year, Malone or Dumars where picked later.
1985 NBA Draft - Basketball-Reference.com (http://basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1985.html)

Darko definately did not help the team that drafted him, but it seems like it was by choice. That's why I don't consider it a bust. We picked up Rasheed and then went on a 2 year title run with no PT for newbies.

It was a very unusual situation that the team that got the 2nd pick won the title... without using the 2nd pick.

I consider it a bust. Most times its the players fault but sometimes its not. Its unfortunate that a player has to carry a bust label but the one who made him one is the GM.

i would say darko is an incomplete more than a bust. how can you be a bust if you are getting your first real court time in year 3 of your nba career.

Cuz the pistons blew it. If darko is awesome detroit blew it. If darko sucks detroit blew it. Bottom line Darko was a bust for detroit. Overall, its incomplete but he has some serious growing to do cuz of the guys picked after him.

Cuz the pistons blew it. If darko is awesome detroit blew it. If darko sucks detroit blew it. Bottom line Darko was a bust for detroit. Overall, its incomplete but he has some serious growing to do cuz of the guys picked after him.
i will agree detroit blew it though. so that makes the organization more of a bust than the player to me.

darko was just in one of the greatest drafts in history. can't hold that against him. those guys will always put up great stats. i think darko will win a few championships in his career and those guys won't win as many except wade and lebron.

I wouldn't say the X-man was mediocore.

A 5 time 20+ PPG scorer, 12 year veteran, and career averages of 15 + 6, which if you subtract the last couple years playing out the string, he's a lifetime 17.5 PPG player.

Darko is currently a bust because of his high draft status...but primarily because of the players picked around him. If Darko gets drafted 2nd round, the Darko debate immediately has no legs. This is not to say that he can't turn it around. (although I doubt it)

Darko is currently a bust because of his high draft status...but primarily because of the players picked around him. If Darko gets drafted 2nd round, the Darko debate immediately has no legs. This is not to say that he can't turn it around. (although I doubt it)

I looked up the word Bust in my dictionary and a picture of Darko came up.

I looked up the word Bust in my dictionary and a picture of Darko came up.

We must have the same dictionary. :)

Check out this thread from 2003. The consensus was that 1997 was a terrible draft year and that Chauncey Billups was the biggest bust from it. And at this point, CB was 27 I think.

Drapg: Biggest Bust of 1997 (http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=49367)

Just wanted to show you how silly forums can be in hindsight.

We must have the same dictionary. :)

When I looked up "bust" I got a picture of Dolly Parton. I guess I have a different dictionary than you guys.:sssh:

Sam Bowie?

Kwame Brown, anyone???

Don't let your Darko Hater Glasses fool you. Darko doesn't even make the top ten in the 2000's!!!!

Here are some real busts from the past 7 years:

Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Rodney White, Stromile Swift, and Darius Miles.

BTW, the Pistons handling of Darko may be the worst handling of a top pick by a professional organization, in any sport, ever.

When I looked up "bust" I got a picture of Dolly Parton. I guess I have a different dictionary than you guys.:sssh:

That's funny, because when I look up the word "boob" I get a picture of Darth Tater. :MusicBigGrin:

Tyson Chandler? A bust?

Compare Tyson Chandler to Darko Milicic Per 48 Minutes - Basketball-Reference.com (http://www.basketball-reference.com/labs/comp.cgi?I=chandty01%3ATyson+Chandler&y1=2003&C=milicda01%3ADarko+Milicic&y2=2006&s=r&t=m&submit=Compare)

Don't let your Darko Hater Glasses fool you. Darko doesn't even make the top ten in the 2000's!!!!

Here are some real busts from the past 7 years:

Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Rodney White, Stromile Swift, and Darius Miles.

No way Tyson Chandler is a bust.

No way Tyson Chandler is a bust.
Tyson Chandler, #2 overall pick 2001 draft. In his 6th year, at age 24, is having his best year w/ 8 points and 12 boards.

If Darko has those numbers 2 years from now, I'll call him a bust.

If Darko has those numbers 2 years from now, I'll call him a bust.
Dude, Darko won't be in the league! ;) You won't be able to call him a bust. His knees were knocking at the free throw line last night. After 4 seasons, you can't play scared!

I'd have to agree about "The Kandi Man"? Michael Olowokandi was pretty terrible player and a headcase. Is he even in the league?

That's funny, because when I look up the word "boob" I get a picture of Darth Tater. :MusicBigGrin:


:mad::angrysoapbox::mad2::censored:

Don't let your Darko Hater Glasses fool you. Darko doesn't even make the top ten in the 2000's!!!!

Here are some real busts from the past 7 years:

Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Rodney White, Stromile Swift, and Darius Miles.

BTW, the Pistons handling of Darko may be the worst handling of a top pick by a professional organization, in any sport, ever.

Chandler? Averaging 12 boards a game is far from mediocre. Miles has had some success when healthy.

Jay Williams, Dunleavy, Brown, White and Swift.

Agreed.

Darko has earned the right to be mentioned on this list.

Chandler? Averaging 12 boards a game is far from mediocre. Miles has had some success when healthy.

Jay Williams, Dunleavy, Brown, White and Swift.

Agreed.

Darko has earned the right to be mentioned on this list.

How has he earned the right? Ok, so he couldn't beat out Wallace x2 or McDyess as a teenager. That makes him a bust? Especially when you consider that LB played Darvin Hamm over Okur, Piston coach's judgement on talent doesn't really impress me. He's 21, and has improved dramatically from last year. Chandler has had some recent monster games, but considering the pt he was given from day one, 6 years is kind of long to start producing.

Darvin Ham broke a backboard. That pretty much elevates a player to the pantheon of sports legends.

http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/1996/0325_large.jpg

Darvin Ham broke a backboard. That pretty much elevates a player to the pantheon of sports legends.



Who wins in a dunk contest Super Dupe, Darvin, or Mo Evans? My money is on Mo.

How has he earned the right? Ok, so he couldn't beat out Wallace x2 or McDyess as a teenager. That makes him a bust? Especially when you consider that LB played Darvin Hamm over Okur, Piston coach's judgement on talent doesn't really impress me. He's 21, and has improved dramatically from last year. Chandler has had some recent monster games, but considering the pt he was given from day one, 6 years is kind of long to start producing.

Chandler's been a good rebounder for the past 3 years.

You forgot to add Dale Davis, Elden Campbell and Maxiel to the list of players he was unable to beat out. It also took Battie getting injured in Orlando for Darko to get the starting nod. Not to mention we are talking about a #2 pick. This is not to say he can't be a decent player, but he has shown no signs of being a franchise player (which I would expect out of that draft postition).

How many busts in History are currently starting for an NBA team?

Are Darko and Chauncey the only ones?

The Bust of the Busts: Shawn Bradley
Close: Joe Smith
Third Place: Darko
Fourth: Kwame Brown

Shawn Bradley did and Joe Smith have done very little in their long NBA careers. Darko and Kwame have a lot of time to become good players, Kwame was improving a whole lot until he got injured.

Top 10 draft Bust (http://nbahoopsonline.com/Articles/2005-06/draftbust.html)

This is a pretty thoughtful list. I don't see Darko on there though, so feel free to discredit it.

From his draft class, Darko as No. 2 pick (Bron, Wade, Bosh, Carmela, etc..)is a bust at the moment, period. Anyway, he is still 21 and I hope he improves and wish him well. But more importantly, I wish the Pistons reach at least the conference finals every year until Darko retires from the league and beyond.

How many busts in History are currently starting for an NBA team?

Are Darko and Chauncey the only ones?

Currently...

I dunno...Kwame Brown? Dunleavy?

I'm sure there's more...but who cares? They're probably unwatchable.

Chauncey=bust

huh???

Maybe initial bust...but certainly not one now.

I assume TaShawn meant "which top picks who were busts for the team that drafted them are starting for different teams now."

I assume TaShawn meant "which top picks who were busts for the team that drafted them are starting for different teams now."

Oh, I see.

Let me think about that one. Sorry Tashwan.

I assume TaShawn meant "which top picks who were busts for the team that drafted them are starting for different teams now."

By that definition, Darko is a bust, unless Orlando misses the playoffs, we get the best unprotected pick possible, and draft some stud. Still possible, especially how bad Orlando's guards are, and Hedo getting worse and worse after each game.

How many busts in History are currently starting for an NBA team?

Are Darko and Chauncey the only ones?

Jermaine O'neal

Who wins in a dunk contest Super Dupe, Darvin, or Mo Evans? My money is on Mo.


I'll take that bet, but my money is on Dupree. He's one of the quickest and more athletic leapers I've seen in a Piston's uniform in a long time.

Anyone else remember that dunk he put down in the preseason about 2-3 years ago against the Nuggets and Melo at the Carrierdome? It may have even been 4 years ago in Melo and Darko's rookie preseason.

It was a vicious dunk OVER SOMEONE right down the middle of the paint. It was lightning quick and just plain awesome.

BROKE-THE-BACKBOARD.

Sag Nasty. Book it.