When it comes to the NBA Draft, and projecting what a player was versus previously versus what a player could be in the future, at the risk of using even more sports cliches, it really is all about beauty being in the eye of the beholder, and the process being much more of an art than a science.
For every “generational, can’t-miss” prospect that enters the NBA and changes the league’s landscape, there are countless players whom we all thought would be future superstars… only to watch their careers fall disappointingly flat. And then, there are those “diamonds in the rough” – the guys who get overlooked in the draft’s beauty contest, only to end up being among the “prettiest” players we have in the NBA today.
Here’s our look at 15 players who fell greatly short of their lofty draft status, and 15 NBA Draft gems unearthed outside of the top picks.