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NBA Draft Busts That Left Fans in Total Disbelief Since 2010

by Jeremy Block - 10/24/2024

NBA Draft Busts Ben Simmons Brooklyn Nets

The NBA, like all major sports leagues, has the thrilling opportunity to draft young talent from colleges and scout international players from all corners of the globe. This is how teams aim to achieve their goals and inch closer to that coveted championship.

But let’s be real—not every player who gets their shot in the big leagues makes the most of it. Some crash and burn early on, earning the dreaded label of “bust.” And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the biggest NBA draft busts of the 2010s!

7. Jimmer Fredette 

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Coming in at number seven is the ever-controversial Jimmer Fredette. You remember him — the guy who inspired the iconic “Jimmer!” chant whenever you launched a paper ball into a trash can? He was basically Steph Curry before Steph Curry, draining three-pointers from practically anywhere on the court.

His college success caught the attention of the NBA, and he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft. But the plot twist? He ended up with the Sacramento Kings, where things quickly went south.

Despite his three-point shooting, Jimmer struggled to find his footing on any team. Scouts pointed to two major drawbacks — his height and defense, both of which were serious kryptonite for him. He bounced around the league, playing for the Kings, Bulls, Pelicans, Knicks, and Suns. In his 241 games, he averaged just 6.0 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.4 assists per game, shooting a solid 37% from deep.

6. Anthony Bennett 

Next up is none other than the infamous Anthony Bennett, the first overall pick in the 2013 draft. The Cavs had sky-high hopes for this 6’8”, 245-pound big man, who was an unstoppable force for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. But Bennett’s NBA journey went up in flames faster than you can down your first cup of coffee on a Monday morning.

From the start, he struggled to find his rhythm, grappling with weight issues and inconsistent performances. In his rookie season, he averaged a dismal 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds, which set a pretty grim tone for what would follow. After bouncing around the league with the Cavs, Timberwolves, Raptors, and Nets, he found himself playing in the G League and overseas.

Bennett’s fall from grace has cemented his status as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history — never managing to average more than 5.2 points per game in his four seasons. Talk about a sting; that one hurts!

5. Jahlil Okafor  

While Jahlil Okafor is currently playing overseas and has expressed countless times that he’s ready to make an NBA comeback, he still lands at number five on our list. Drafted third overall by the 76ers in 2015, expectations were sky-high for this guy. With his dominant post play and scoring ability, he seemed like a sure thing.

However, as the NBA evolved to favor more versatile big men, Okafor struggled to keep pace, especially on the defensive end. While he had a strong rookie season, averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, he quickly became a liability on defense. As the seasons went by, injuries began to pile up. And despite his attempts to evolve his game, it was setback after setback.

His struggles continued in subsequent seasons. And even though he had a brief resurgence with the Pelicans, he never found the consistency that would justify his high draft status. In just 247 games, Okafor averaged 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game — a far cry from the star he was expected to be. So, while he’s still holding out hope for an NBA return, the journey hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing by any means.

4. Dante Exum 

Sliding in at number four, we have Dante Exum. Selected fifth overall by the Jazz in the 2014 NBA draft, this Aussie seemed to have the whole package: a versatile offensive skill set, solid defense, and a knack for thriving in transition. The future looked bright.

But then came the 2015-16 season, when Exum suffered a devastating ACL injury. That setback threw a wrench in his progress, and he faced a tough task trying to get his game back to where it was, constantly battling to find consistency.

Throughout his career, Exum has played 300 games but has averaged just 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Much of his time on the court has been limited to garbage time or brief appearances that barely made a dent. While he had all the tools to be a standout player at one point, injuries and inconsistency have kept him from fulfilling that potential. It's a tough break for a guy who had so much promise.

3. Josh Jackson 

Next up is Josh Jackson at number three, as he was taken fourth overall by the Suns in 2017. He entered the league with a ton of hype and a reputation as a two-way player. Unfortunately, off-court issues and a lack of development derailed his career.

In his rookie season, he averaged just 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds. After a lackluster stint in Phoenix, he struggled to find his footing with the Grizzlies and Pistons. Sure, he had his moments and made some highlight plays now and then, but his inconsistency kept him from landing a long-term contract with any team, leaving fans to wonder what could have been if he had found the right fit.

In just 271 games played, Jackson holds a career average of 11.3 points, four rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. 

2. Ben Simmons

Finally, we have Ben Simmons at number two, drafted first overall by the 76ers in 2016. As a Nets fan, I wanted to put him at number one, but I promised myself I wouldn’t let my personal feelings get in the way. So, for the sake of giving you the best experience possible here at Doc's Sports Service, Simmons takes the silver spot.

He came into the league with sky-high expectations after a solid collegiate career at LSU, where he stood out for his exceptional passing and defensive skills. He would even eventually go on to win Rookie of the Year in 2018, averaging 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. But then things took a nosedive.

It became painfully clear after that impressive season that Simmons couldn’t develop a consistent jump shot and severely lacked the scoring aggression that today’s point guards need. This made him a massive offensive liability for the 76ers while he was on the court. After a disastrous playoff performance in 2021—where he averaged just 11.9 points and passed up open shots from the foul line—his reputation took a serious hit.

Philadelphia eventually called it quits and traded him to the Nets, but his struggles to be an offensive threat have continued. Now heading into his third season with the Nets, Simmons is still trying to regain his rookie form after battling a so-called “back injury” the past two seasons, having only played in 57 games during that time.

1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

After diving into the stats and reliving the 2010 draft days, it’s clear that the top spot goes to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He burst onto the NBA draft scene in 2012 after putting on a clinic at Kentucky, averaging just shy of a double-double with 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The 6'7" forward had general managers across the league singing his praises.

Kidd-Gilchrist eventually got drafted by the Charlotte Hornets (then the Bobcats), but his time there was nothing like anyone expected—and not in a good way. Right out of the gate, it seemed like the rookie was a bit in over his head, struggling to consistently put up points and live up to the expectations scouts had set for him. He never averaged more than 12.7 points a game, and it quickly became clear he wasn’t the man for the job.

To make matters worse, his incredibly unorthodox jump shot hindered his scoring ability, making it tough for him to find his place on the court. After eight seasons in Charlotte, he wrapped up his career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2020, not even managing to average a point a game. 

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