Many high draft picks come into the NBA with a ton of hype, hoping they can help their team eventually boast short NBA championship odds.
However, some of them don’t quite pan out, whether it be due to injuries, a bad fit with their team, or a lack of interest in becoming great.
With that said, what are the worst NBA draft classes? Let’s find out.
7 Worst NBA Draft Classes of All Time, Ranked
| Rank | Draft Class | Draft Busts |
| 1 | 2000 | Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer, Dermarr Johnson, Chris Mihm |
| 2 | 2013 | Anthony Bennett, Alex Len, Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore |
| 3 | 1973 | Jim Brewer, Ernie DiGreggorio, Mike Green, Ed Ratleff |
| 4 | 1975 | Dave Meyers, Marvin Webster |
| 5 | 2006 | Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Shelden Williams |
| 6 | 2002 | Jay Williams, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Dajuan Wagner |
| 7 | 1988 | Tim Perry, Jeff Graver |
What Are the Worst Drafts in NBA History?
1. 2000 Draft Class
Kenyon Martin, Jamal Crawford, Jamaal Magloire, and Michael Redd all had solid careers, but nobody from this draft class has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Martin helped the New Jersey Nets make back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
Crawford was a lethal scorer, winning Sixth Man of the Year three times.
Martin, Magloire, and Redd were All-Stars in 2004.
2. 2013 Draft Class
Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted No. 15 in this draft.
Antetokounmpo has earned multiple MVP awards and helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the 2021 championship.
Rudy Gobert, who is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, was selected No. 27 overall.
However, most of the picks in this draft have failed to make much of a contribution in the NBA.
3. 1973 Draft Class
No. 1 pick Doug Collins became a four-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, but his enshrinement was partially due to his coaching and broadcasting career.
Kermit Washington, George McGinnis, and Larry Kenon were among the All-Stars to come out of this draft, but McGinnis had most of his success with the Indiana Pacers while they were in the ABA.
4. 1975 Draft Class
David Thompson went No. 1 overall and was a perennial MVP candidate due to his scoring ability. However, his career was cut short due to injuries.
Alvan Adams, World B. Free, Lionel Hollins, Dan Roundfield, and Gus Williams were among the All-Stars to come out of this draft, though none of them became household names.
5. 2006 Draft Class
No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani could’ve become a lethal offensive player, but he just didn’t care enough.
However, No. 2 pick LaMarcus Aldridge developed into a consistent scorer.
No. 6 pick Brandon Roy could’ve become a surefire Hall of Famer, but injuries cut his career short.
All-Stars Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Millsap were also selected in this draft.
6. 2002 Draft Class
Yao Ming was selected No. 1 overall, and Amar’e Stoudemire was the No. 9 pick, but injuries robbed both of living up to their fullest potential.
However, Stoudemire was regularly featured in MVP conversations during his prime.
Tayshaun Prince, Caron Butler, and Carlos Boozer all made solid names for themselves, but not enough to be remembered as all-time greats.
7. 1988 Draft Class
Danny Manning and Rik Smits were the first two picks in this draft. Both became All-Stars but never quite lived up to the hype of being the top two picks.
No. 5 pick and Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond became a regular 20-point-per-game scorer.
Dan Majerle, Hersey Hawkins, and Anthony Mason were the other All-Stars who came from this draft.
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