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The biggest busts in NBA draft

Is the NBA draft a true science or just plain luck? The evidence would suggest a little bit of both. For the most part, the higher you are picked in the draft, the better your career will be. But for every Shaquille O’Neal or David Robinson, there is a Sam Bowie or Danny Ferry — both No. 2 overall picks who failed to live up to expectations.

The draft is dotted with players who came in with a heap of shining college credentials, only to spend a career in mediocrity and if they were luck — like the Spurs’ Ferry — as a role player on a winning team.

NBCSports.com takes a look back at the biggest lottery busts in the NBA draft from 1985 (the first year of the lottery) through 2001. We excluded players from the most recent drafts to give them a chance to prove themselves.

1. Chris Washburn (No. 3 overall, 1986, Golden State)
He had everything: Height, skills, athleticism. But Washburn just didn’t take much in life seriously. He barely got through school at N.C. State, then couldn’t handle the fame of the NBA. Washburn averaged 3 points and 2.4 rebounds in two seasons before he was banned from the league in 1989 following three positive drug tests.

Claim to fame: In the book Personal Fouls, which looks into academic improprieties at N.C. State under coach Jim Valvano, one teammate said of Washburn: “Chris never went to school. He'd come to some classes, but he was never there enough times to pass. But ‘V’ gets you through school if he wants to.”

Better choice: Jeff Hornacek, by Phoenix in second round, No. 46 overall.

2. Kwame Brown (No. 1 overall, 2001, Washington)
Tough call on Brown, who could still turn into a decent player, but after four miserable years with the Wizards, it’s tough not to call him a bust. After averaging 10.4 points per game last year, he regressed this season as the Wizards won their first playoff series in more than a decade without him.

On the bright side for Kwame, it took Jermaine O’Neal four years to finally get a chance to shine after being traded from the Blazers to Pacers.

Claim to fame: The first prep to be drafted No. 1 overall, Brown started just 14 games, averaged 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and less than half a block a game this season.

Better choice: Pau Gasol, by Atlanta (rights later traded to Memphis), No. 3 overall. (Though some would say Gilbert Arenas, selected No. 31 overall by Golden State, would be the main since he now stars for the Wizards.)

3. Jon Koncak (No. 5 overall, 1985, Atlanta)
Koncak scratched out an 11-year career in the NBA, averaging 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. He went steadily downhill after averaging 8.3 points in his rookie season.

Claim to fame: Earned the nickname “Contract” after Hawks gave him more money as a free agent than Michael Jordan was earning at the time.

Better choice: Joe Dumars, by Detroit in first round, No. 18 overall.

4. Shawn Bradley (No. 2 overall, 1993, Philadelphia)
OK, so he’s been in the league for 10 years, averaging nearly three blocks and more than seven rebounds per game. But for all the hype surrounding Bradley when he entered the draft out of BYU, he has done very little to merit the reputation. Bradley was supposed to revolutionize basketball with his supposed amazing agility and quickness for a 7-foot-6 center. Instead, Bradley is awkward on the court and offers little offensively. Certainly not worth a No. 2 pick. Heck, even Sam Bowie, another much-maligned No. 2 pick, averaged more points and rebounds than Bradley in his career.

Claim to fame: For being such a tall, skinny player, Bradley sure seems to get into more than his share of scraps. Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that all of his moves seem to start with an elbow to the head. Ask Walt Williams, Olden Polynice, Dale Davis, etc.

Better choice: Nick Van Exel, by L.A. Lakers in second round, No. 37 overall.

5. Randy White (No. 8 overall 1989, Dallas)
Apparently the Mavericks got White confused with the more talented Dallas hero who played for the Cowboys. White averaged 7.4 points in five seasons with Dallas. He shot 40 percent from the field, 19 percent from 3-point range.

Claim to fame: Played collegiate ball at Louisiana Tech, the same school as Karl Malone. Unfortunately, White was more likely than Malone to be a real mailman.

Better choice: Clifford Robinson, by Portland in second round, No. 36 overall.

6. Bo Kimble (No. 8 overall, 1990, L.A. Clippers)
High-scoring Loyola-Marymount guard could not transfer his skills to the NBA hardwood. Kimble lasted a mere two seasons with the Clippers, then played nine games for the Knicks in the 1992-93 season.

Claim to fame: In one of the most touching tributes in college basketball history the right-handed Kimble, shot his free throws left-handed during the NCAA Tournament to honor his former teammate Hank Gathers, who was felled on the court during a game by a heart condition.

Better choice: Antonio Davis, by Indiana in second round, No. 45 overall.

7. Marc Macon (No. 8 overall, 1991, Denver)
A shooting guard who can’t shoot? Not a good combination. In six seasons with the Nuggets and Pistons, Macon shot 38 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3-point range, all while averaging 1.7 assists per game.

Claim to fame: As a freshman at Temple, Macon led the Owls to victories in 32 of their first 33 games before the Owls lost to Duke in the East regional finals.

Better choice: Rick Fox, by Boston in first round, No. 24 overall.

8. Ed O’Bannon (No. 9 overall, 1995, New Jersey)
Slippery left-hander struggled to find his shot in the NBA. O’Bannon lasted only two seasons in the league, averaging five points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Shot just 37 percent from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range.

Claim to fame: Teamed with his brother Charles, Toby Bailey and Tyus Edney to lead the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA championship in 1995. O’Bannon was named outstanding player of the Final Four.

Better choice: Michael Finley, by Phoenix in first round, No. 21 overall.

9. Shawn Respert (No. 8 overall, 1995, Portland)
Respert was picked ahead of O’Bannon, but he ranks lower on our list because he was able to cobble together a 4-year career in the NBA. Respert’s third season was his best, when he averaged 5.9 points in 57 games with Toronto.

Claim to fame: Averaged 21 points and shot 45.5 percent from 3-point range at Michigan State, where he played in the same backcourt as current 76ers guard Eric Snow.

Better choice: Eric Snow, by Milwaukee in second round, No. 43 overall.

10. Todd Fuller (No. 11 overall, 1996, Golden State)
Another example of how it pays to be tall, the 6-foot-11 Fuller averaged 11 minutes per game during his five-year NBA career, which included stints with the Warriors, Jazz, Hornets and Heat.

Claim to fame: Led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring (20.9) and was second in rebounding (9.9) as a senior at N.C. State in 1995-96.

Better choice: Ben Wallace, Detroit, undrafted.

11. Adonal Foyle (No. 8 overall, 1997, Golden State)
Maybe there should be a law against the Warriors drafting big men in the first round. Not learning their lesson from Fuller, the Warriors grabbed Foyle out of Colgate the next year. At least he’s still with the team, and he’s showing promise as a rebounder (5.3 for career) and shot-blocker (1.93). But a lottery pick? We don’t think so.

Claim to fame: His 492 blocked shots while at Colgate broke the career record of 453 held by Alonzo Mourning at the time.

Better choice: Alvin Williams, by Portland in second round, No. 48 overall.

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