what are the top 3 draft busts in recent history?

Question

busts that were selected no lower than third overall. Also by recent history ill make it anywhere from 1996 up to today

Answer 1

I am a Clipper fan so I am something of an expert at this. Here are my picks:

1. Michael Olawakandi 1998- Clippers could have had Mike Bibby, Vince Carter or Dirk Nowitzki in this draft. Instead they pick the Candy Man- an English native who had only played 2 years of organized basketball in his life. My feeling at the time was that the Clippers picked him because he would have taken less money than anyone else. You get what you pay for.

2. Kwame Brown 2001- this pick occurred at the height of what I can "Kevin-Kobe" fever where all these teams thought that if you were a big high school player and wiped up the court playing 5'4" high school kids you were worthy of a top draft pick. Then everyone was shocked when these kids got their butts handed to them playing experienced big men like Shaq, Duncan, etc. The second pick in this draft Tyson Chandler is on my dishonorable mention list for this category.

3. Darko Milicic 2003- Is this guy still in the league? Again the product of fad drafting- Got drafted because he was European and burned up the court playing other Europeans and Americans that could not cut it in garbage minor leagues like the CBA and the clone-ABA. Note to GM's: think about how these guys are going to fare in the world's top basketball league not how they did in high school, the YMCA, Serbian Superleague or whatever.

Answer 2

Biggest busts since 1996... I think these guys don't play in the NBA anymore.
1) Michael Olowokandi 1st overall 1998 Los Angeles Clippers - I guess he's on the top of everyone's list...
2) Marcus Fizer 4th overall 2000 Chicago Bulls - I think you can still see him play on NBA TV when they show Euroleague games.
3) Nikoloz Tskitishvili 5th overall 2002 Denver Nuggets - I think he's back in Europe.

Honorable mention:

Kwame Brown 1st overall 2001 Washington Wizards, Stromile Swift 2nd overall 2000 Vancouver/Memphis Grizzles, Dajuan Wagner 6th overall 2002 Cleveland Cavs... These guys were lousy picks though they are still relatively young and may be able to make a comeback.

Answer 3

#1
Kwame Brown (First pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards out of Glynn Academy High School)
Brown has actually played better in recent seasons. But considering he was the number one overall pick in the 2001 draft, he hasn't played anywhere near well enough to justify his selection by the Wizards.

#2
Michael Olowokandi (First pick of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers out of Pacific)
Olowokandi finished his 9th season in the NBA and has firmly cemented his spot as one of the worst number one overall selections in modern NBA history. Known around the league as a lazy and aloof player, Olowokandi never became more than a decent center. He's currently on the Boston Celtics, averaging under ten minutes per game.

#3
Darko Milicic (Second pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons out of Serbia-Montenegro)
Pistons general manager Joe Dumars has proven himself to be great at what he does. However, this is one pick Dumars wishes he could have back. With Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade available, the Pistons opted to roll the dice and go with the little known forward out of Europe. The gamble did not pay off, to say the least

Answer 4

Michael Olowokandi 1st overall 1998 Los Angeles Clippers
Kwame Brown 1st overall 2001 Washington Wizards
Darco Milicic 2nd overall 2003 Detroit Pistons

Answer 5

darko millicic in 2003 draft #2 pick
kwame brown in 2001 draft #1 pick
Shawn Bradley in 1993 draft #2 pick

Answer 6

Diana Taurasi's is pretty nice. ok, ok.... Sam Bowie was picked ahead of Michael Jordan.... that's more bust than a Baywatch marathon.

Answer 7

darko milicic picked ahead of pretty much everyone

Answer 8

Len Bias - who OD'ed on dope afterwards.