Ranking biggest NBA Draft busts since 2000 ahead of 2026 draft
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 3:11 PM
Last updated Jun 22, 2026
With the 2026 NBA Draft approaching, a retrospective lists the top ten draft busts since 2000. Topping the list is Anthony Bennett, selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013 but averaging only 4.4 points during his career. Other notable names include Hasheem Thabeet, Greg Oden, and Markelle Fultz, who all struggled to meet expectations after being drafted high. The analysis evaluates factors contributing to these players’ failures, including injuries and skill mismatches. This historical context is aimed at helping teams avoid similar pitfalls in upcoming drafts.
- •Top draft bust: Anthony Bennett, drafted first by Cleveland in 2013.
- •Hasheem Thabeet and Greg Oden also ranked as major failures.
- •Markelle Fultz's career hindered by a persistent nerve condition.
- •Analysis reviews factors like injuries and skill mismatches.
- •List aims to provide lessons for teams before the 2026 draft.
- 3:11 PMYahoo Sports — 10 biggest NBA Draft busts since 2000, ranked
"Anthony Bennett, Markelle Fultz and the NBA's most disappointing draftees.
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