Drafting a player in the NBA lottery is no slam dunk. For every LeBron James, there’s a Michael Olowokandi. For every Shaquille O’Neal, there’s a Pervis Ellison. That’s why we wanted to take a look back at the worst draft pick from each draft class, since the turn of the century.
These guys were not only top picks who failed to live up to expectations and set their franchise back for years, but also look even worse considering the guys that each team passed on.
Without further delay, here are the most disappointing NBA draft picks every year since 2000.
2000: Marcus Fizer, Chicago Bulls, 4th Pick
A few years after the 2000 NBA Draft took place, Sports Illustrated looked back on this group and called it one of the worst draft classes of the modern era. But the worst selection of anyone in this group has to be forward Marcus Fizer, the fourth overall selection by the Chicago Bulls.
Fizer never averaged more than 12.3 points per game at any point in his career, and after tearing his ACL in 2003, was merely a shell of himself. Fizer only lasted one more year in the NBA, and was out of the league after five very forgettable seasons. Fizer started just 35 games in his entire career — not exactly the type of production you’re looking for in a Top 5 draft pick.
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