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Whether you like it or not, being picked as the top pick of the NBA Draft comes with massive expectations. One of the perks of being the top pick is getting all the media attention, meaning all eyes are on you. However, having all the attention on you has its downside, too. If you fail expectations, the hatred can be too much to bear, regardless of why you failed to live up to the hype.
Last season's top pick, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, was the runaway Rookie of the Year with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 3.6 blocks, and 46.5% field goal shooting in 71 regular-season games. Can this year's top pick, Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, match what Wemby accomplished? Only time will tell.
We've seen a ton of great top picks who went on to become great NBA players and win several accolades. However, we also have our share of disappointing top picks who miserably didn't live up to the hype. Let's examine the top five most disappointing number-one overall picks of all time.
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Michael Olowokandi - LAC (1998)
Can you believe the Los Angeles Clippers once held the opportunity to select players like Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Jason Williams, Mike Bibby, and even Al Harrington in the 1998 NBA Draft?
Instead, the Clippers chose Nigerian Michael Olowokandi.
Athlete of the day: Mike Olowokandi. First overall pick in 1998, a draft class that featured Mike Bibby, Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk, and Paul Pierce. Only 1st overall pick from the WAC. pic.twitter.com/6J9YLf56fL
— Ronnie Bass (@NotSunshineBass) August 7, 2019
Despite his height, Olowokandi only averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in his rookie season. He only averaged above ten points per game once in ten NBA seasons. His career averages stood at 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Kwame Brown - WAS (2001)
"If you draft me, you'll never regret it,"
That's what Kwame Brown said to then-Washington Wizards Head Coach Doug Collins.
In his rookie season, Brown played 57 games and started three games. He averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 38.7% field goal shooting in just 14.3 minutes per game.
17 years ago today the Wizards drafted Kwame Brown #1 overall in the 2001 draft passing up on Tyson Chandler and Pau Gasol. We'll never forget you Kwame, no matter how hard we try pic.twitter.com/vrRPAhKIMf
— Joey (@jnorris298) June 27, 2018
That forgettable rookie campaign set the tone for the rest of Brown's career as he finished with averages of 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 607 games.
While the 2001 NBA Draft class wasn't as loaded with big names as compared to other draft classes, it included Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Gilbert Arenas, Joe Johnson, Zach Randolph, and yes, Tony Parker at the 28th pick.
Until now, the Wizards are probably slapping themselves with regret.
Greg Oden - POR (2007)
Greg Oden is probably one of the NBA's biggest what-ifs for various reasons. If he managed to take off right after being picked top pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007, the Blazers would have had a Big Three in Oden, Brandon Roy, and Damian Lillard. On paper, this trio could have contented for a top-four finish in the Western Conference standings.
Sadly, Oden missed his rookie season due to injuries, returned and played the next two, and missed the next three. He tried one more time with the Miami Heat in the 2013-2014 season before calling it a career.
2007 No.1 overall NBA Draft Pick Greg Oden is in the building for the Knicks vs. Pacers matchup 👀pic.twitter.com/ghd3oXZhxx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 6, 2023
He averaged eight points and 6.2 rebounds in 105 career games. His knees could just never hold up for more than a few games. It was sad and disappointing at the same time.
Anthony Bennett - CLE (2013)
To be fair, the 2013 NBA Draft class wasn't the most spectacular but it wasn't all bad either. It had Victor Oladipo, Kentavious Cardwell-Pope, CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
June 27, 2013:
The Cavs select Anthony Bennett #1 overall.
What was your initial reaction? pic.twitter.com/z38CHTIUem
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) June 27, 2024
Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett as the top pick. According to many, Bennett is one of the most disastrous top picks of all time. Why?
In his lone season in Cleveland, he averaged 4.2 points, three rebounds, and 35.6% field goal shooting. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 as a part of the Kevin Love deal.
He also had one-and-done stints in Brooklyn and Toronto and was already out of the NBA by 2017.
Markelle Fultz - PHI (2017)
Who could ever forget the rookie who forgot how to shoot?
That's how most people remember Markelle Fultz- the top pick of the 2017 NBA Draft selected by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Most people who saw Fultz before entering the big stage believe he was ready and talented enough to join the league. However, Fultz only played 14 games during his rookie season due to a shoulder injury. He averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 40.5% field goal shooting in 18.1 minutes per game.
Markelle Fultz was the complete player at Washington.
There was a reason why he was the no brainer first pick pic.twitter.com/f2Xmr5DX3y
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) May 26, 2023
He did have four seasons where he averaged ten points or more and to his credit, he is still playing in the NBA, last suiting up for the Orlando Magic.
Imagine what the Sixers would look like had they chosen Jayson Tatum, De'Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, or Derrick White. Joel Embiid would have probably experienced playing in the Eastern Conference Finals by now at least once.
That's why Fultz, to most fans, remains one of the disappointing top picks in the history of the NBA. It was a far cry from the player who averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks during his collegiate career in Washington.
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