There has never been such thing as a 'can't-miss talent' when it comes to the NBA Draft. However, there's always a consensus as to which players are more likely to become stars or, in the worst-case-scenario, at least a solid player that could help turn a franchise around.
Needless to say, given the nature of the draft lottery, the higher the pick, the more the team needs a star, as the teams with the worst record have higher odds to choose the first - and therefore the best - prospect.
Nevertheless, there have been some times when those first guys off the board have miserably failed to live up to the expectations and responsibilities that come with being the first overall pick.
And while others turn out to be just fine, these guys are often out of the league in just a couple of years, as they just can't seem to shake off the pressure or prove why they were a promising prospect, to begin with. That's why today, we're going to let you know about the top 5 worst 1st overall picks in NBA Draft history.
5. Greg Oden
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Draft: 2007
Career Stats: 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.5 APG
To be fair, Greg Oden was a beast in college and it was hard to pass on him with the first overall pick. In fact, when healthy, he was a dominant big man on both ends of the floor and a gifted athlete and physical specimen.
The problem was the Oden could never stay healthy. After playing 61 games in his rookie season, he could never make more than 23 appearances, missing three straight seasons before attempting a comeback with the Miami Heat.
It's hard to label Oden a bust because of injuries, as he wasn't to blame for them. However, when you consider that Kevin Durant went right after him, you put into perspective just how much of a terrible pick he was for the Portland Trail Blazers.
4. Michael Olowokandi
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Draft: 1998
Career Stats: 8.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.7 APG
The Los Angeles Clippers were looking for a franchise player that could finally turn them around and get them over the hump, so they took a physical standout in Michael Olowokandi with the first overall pick in 1998.
However, despite his athletic gifts, Olowokandi was more of a tweener and subpar finisher and could never establish himself as a solid player. As a matter of fact, he never scored more than 30 points or averaged over 12.3 points throughout his career.
Olowokandi struggled to stay in help and to stay healthy and was never a factor. Outside of making the All-Rookie team, there aren't many other things he could brag about from his career with the Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics.
3. Kwame Brown
Team: Washington Wizards
Draft: 2001
Career Stats: 6.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.9 APG
It goes without saying that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players of all time but when it comes to running a basketball team, he's left much to be desired. It's been like that since he wasted the Washington Wizards' first overall pick in Kwame Brown.
Brown was - literally - bullied throughout his entire career in the league because of how mentally soft he was for such a big guy. He had no true skills, was a subpar scorer and defender in the post, and just didn't have much of a feel for the game.
Somehow, he managed to say in the league for 11 years, bouncing around and playing for the Wizards, Lakers, Grizzlies, Pistons, Bobcats, Warriors, and 76ers. He never averaged a positive offensive plus/minus in his career.
2. LaRue Martin
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Draft: 1972
Career Stats: 5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.7 APG
It must be hard being a Portland Trail Blazers fan if you're reading this as RIP City makes the cut again, this time thanks to LaRue Martin, a guy who became a successful businessman after being one of the biggest busts to ever set foot in the NBA.
Martin was a dominant rebounder and scorer on a bad college team before he made it to the league, and even though there wasn't much of a reason to take a flier on him with the first overall pick, a couple of great games vs. Bill Walton and Jim Chones convinced the Blazers that this was their guy.
LaRue was out of the league after just three years and he proved that he didn't even belong in the pros. To make things even worst for the Blazers, they took him ahead of Julius 'Dr. J' Erving and Bob McAdoo. Yikes.
1. Anthony Bennett
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Draft: 2013
Career Stats: 4.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG
And last, but not least, Anthony Bennett gets the 'honor' of being the worst first overall pick in NBA Draft history. The Cleveland Cavaliers took him ahead of Victor Oladipo despite the fact that some scouts only viewed him as a mid-lottery talent.
Bennett looked lost, unaware, and flat-out scared out there. He never developed a consistent jump shot and lacked the range to play the four, yet he wasn't big, athletic, or strong enough to play at the five either.
The Cavaliers eventually packaged him with Andrew Wiggins to land Kevin Love in a trade and that's literally his only contribution to a championship team. He tried his luck with the Raptors and Nets but isn't even in the NBA anymore, and he holds the worst career average for all first overall picks ever.
