10 Biggest NBA Draft mistakes of the 21st century

2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft

#8 Markelle Fultz - 1st pick in the 2017 NBA Draft

Milwaukee Bucks v Orlando Magic - Game Four
Milwaukee Bucks v Orlando Magic - Game Four

The 2017 NBA Draft class was interesting to watch develop, with the father of probable lottery pick Lonzo Ball, Lavar, making all kinds of noises about his son and the top-seed in the East — the Boston Celtics — having the number one pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers traded up to get the first spot, and the Celtics got the third selection in the NBA Draft. Philadelphia picked Markelle Fultz from Washington, ahead of Ball, who went to the LA Lakers. Boston selected Jayson Tatum, who could be considered the best player from that NBA Draft class.

Fultz played only 33 games for the Sixers in two years, and though he has had a resurgence with the Orlando Magic, he is not at Tatum's level for now.


#7 Michael Beasley - 2nd pick in the 2008 NBA Draft

Milwaukee Bucks v Cleveland Cavaliers
Milwaukee Bucks v Cleveland Cavaliers

The Miami Heat had in their hands the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and they selected Michael Beasley from Kansas State.

Beasley had had a monster single-season for Kansas State, averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds per game. However, his NBA career never really went as great, despite one good year for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2010-11 season (averaging 19 PPG).

Beasley played 11 NBA seasons, averaging 12 points and five rebounds per game. Though he did not reach his potential, Beasley's career was not mediocre. Still, the pick was terrible if we consider superstars Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and even solid pros like Brook Lopez, DeAndre Jordan, and Goran Dragic were on the board.


#6 Darko Milicic - 2nd pick in the 2003 NBA Draft

Milicic played for six NBA teams.
Milicic played for six NBA teams.

The pick after LeBron James in the 2003 NBA Draft, Darko Milicic, went to the Detroit Pistons.

Though many would be quick to say this is one of the worst NBA Draft picks ever and possibly the worst since 2000, Detroit's success from 2003 to 2008 will always be one way to downplay this pick.

The 7 ft Serbian center played 468 NBA games, and he even won the NBA championship as a rookie with the Pistons. He averaged six points and four rebounds in 19 minutes per game in his career, but the real issue was being selected in front of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.

Even though he entered the NBA with a contending team and had little chances to progress as a player, Milicic will normally be considered a bad pick because he is the only non-All-Star out of the Top-6 picks in his NBA Draft class.


#5 Kwame Brown - 1st pick in the 2001 NBA Draft

BIG3 - Week One
BIG3 - Week One

One of the most infamous first picks of any NBA Draft, Kwame Brown, was selected by the Washington Wizards in the 2001 NBA Draft.

He was the first high-school player to go first in an NBA Draft and played 607 games in his career. Though he had a long career, Brown is remembered as a mediocre player without any great skill, who underperformed vastly.

Brown was selected ahead of Tyson Chandler and Pau Gasol.

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