Every NBA front office dreams of discovering the next face of the league. But sometimes, instead of finding a superstar, they end up hitching their wagon to a mirage with a solid highlight reel and a great PR team.
Whether it was a college phenom, an international mystery, or a high-flyer who looked the part but didn’t play it, these teams went all-in on someone who was supposed to change the franchise—and didn’t. From overhyped lottery picks to supposed saviors, here are 18 NBA teams that gambled big on the wrong “Next Big Thing.”
18. Sacramento Kings – Thomas Robinson
The Kings thought they found a gritty cornerstone with Thomas Robinson. Five teams in five years later, it was clear they just drafted a hustle guy without the upside.
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Joe Alexander
Milwaukee fell hard for Joe Alexander’s athleticism and potential. Unfortunately, being able to jump out of the gym doesn’t mean much when you can’t stay on the floor.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonny Flynn
Jonny Flynn was supposed to be the quick, explosive guard to lead the Wolves into the future. Instead, he’s mostly remembered for being drafted right before Steph Curry.
15. Detroit Pistons – Darko Miličić
The Pistons thought they were getting a unicorn before unicorns were trendy. What they got was a very tall cautionary tale.
14. Phoenix Suns – Josh Jackson
Josh Jackson looked like a two-way force with All-Star potential coming out of Kansas. But Phoenix quickly realized potential doesn’t always come with polish.
13. New York Knicks – Kevin Knox
The Knicks saw Kevin Knox as their next long-limbed scorer to take over MSG. He ended up being a bench guy with a cool Summer League mixtape.
12. Atlanta Hawks – Marvin Williams
Marvin Williams was supposed to be the smooth, do-it-all forward to build around. Instead, Atlanta passed on Chris Paul and Deron Williams to get a solid role player.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Charlotte wanted MKG to be their defensive stopper and culture setter. Unfortunately, offense is kind of important too.
10. Washington Wizards – Jan Vesely
The Wizards went all in on “The Dunking Ninja” and got… a guy who couldn’t shoot free throws or stay on the court. The nickname was easily the best part.
9. Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani
Toronto bet big on Bargnani as a seven-foot sharpshooter who could stretch the floor. Turns out, he couldn’t really shoot or rebound—kind of a problem.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers – Anthony Bennett
Cleveland shocked everyone by taking Bennett first overall. Even more shocking was how quickly he played himself out of the league.
7. Orlando Magic – Mario Hezonja
Hezonja had swagger, confidence, and highlights from overseas. What he didn’t have was consistency or defense.
6. Philadelphia 76ers – Jahlil Okafor
Philly thought Okafor was the next great post scorer in a league moving away from post scorers. By the time they realized it, the league had left him behind.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Darius Miles
The Clippers banked on Darius Miles as a franchise-changing phenom. What they got was flash without the substance.
4. Golden State Warriors – Joe Smith
Before the Warriors were a dynasty, they were out here using the No. 1 pick on Joe Smith. He was fine, just not remotely franchise-player material.
Read More: 10 NBA Teams That Should Consider Relocating
3. Chicago Bulls – Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker came home to Chicago with sky-high expectations. Sadly, injuries and defense (or lack thereof) derailed any chance at stardom.
Read More: 10 NBA Teams That Should Consider Relocating
2. Portland Trail Blazers – Greg Oden
The Blazers took Oden over Kevin Durant thinking they found the next great big man. His knees had other plans.
Read More: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams by How Many Enemies They’ve Made
1. New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson
The hype was unreal and the flashes have been electric, but availability is a skill too. So far, the Pelicans have built around a ghost more than a generational talent.
Stay in the Game With the Latest Scores, Highlights, and Stories — Follow GamerKoala on MSN.
