The NBA grind isn’t for everyone, so regardless of how talented a draft class is, we see a handful of busts every season. This won’t be your usual list of draft flops, though, so we’ll skip past the popular names, like Kwame Brown, Darko Millicic, Greg Oden, and Anthony Bennett. Instead, we’ll talk about the lesser-known guys, who were likewise heralded but also failed to meet expectations.

Marcus Fizer – 2000 4th overall pick – Chicago Bulls

Career averages: 9.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 43.5 FG%

As a rugged bruiser who played both forward positions, Marcus Fizer was a standout at Iowa State University. He averaged 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds during his junior year and led the Cyclones all the way to the Elite Eight. His game couldn’t translate well in the NBA, however, as he was gone after just six seasons.

Dajuan Wagner – 2002 6th overall pick – Cleveland Cavaliers

Career averages: 9.4 PPG, 1.9 APG, 36.6 FG%

Hailed as the next Allen Iverson, Dajuan Wagner boasted flair and high-scoring abilities, so much so that he was one of the rare one-and-done talents back in the day. Unfortunately, after a good rookie season (13.4 PPG), he suffered injuries and health issues, and just couldn’t recover. It was a tough ending as he was supposed to form a tandem with LeBron James. Wagner never played more than 47 games in his five seasons, and missed one due to colitis. His son, DJ, is currently a sophomore for Arkansas.

Mike Sweetney – 2003 9th overall pick – New York Knicks

Career averages: 6.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG

Nicknamed ‘Big Mike’ and ‘Big Sour,’ Mike Sweetney was in an interesting position coming into New York. He was an interior player and came out of Georgetown, just like Knicks legend Patrick Ewing. The similarities stopped there, however, as he proved to be an undersized PF/C at 6’8, and was out of the league after just four seasons. NY also traded him away after only two years.

Rafael Araujo – 2004 8th overall – Toronto Raptors

Career averages: 2.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 11.4 MPG

This is one of those busts you could tell right from the get-go. While he put up a good double-double in his sophomore year at BYU, Rafael Araujo didn’t seem to be NBA-ready, and was going to clog the lane with Chris Bosh already there. The terrible fit was quickly apparent as he only lasted three seasons and never averaged more than 12.5 minutes per game.

Sean May – 2005 13th overall pick – Charlotte Bobcats

Career averages: 6.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG

Sean May was a dominant, big-bodied C/PF coming out of North Carolina who closed out his collegiate career with a national title, which prompted him to be an easy lottery pick in 2005. However, failed to fully translate his game into the pros and dealt with multiple injuries. May was only in the NBA from 2005 to 2010, missed one full year, and wasn’t able to play in more than 38 games in a season. He’s currently an assistant coach at his alma mater.

Julius Hodge – 2005 20th overall pick – Denver Nuggets

Career averages: 1.2 PPG, 4.5 MPG

Julius Hodge was the heart and soul of NC State basketball for pretty much his four years there. He played with toughness and contributed at just about every facet. None of it made it into the NBA as rode the bench for three years before exiting the league. He played overseas and other American leagues until 2014, and is currently an assistant coach for Arkansas-Little Rock

Shelden Williams – 2006 5th overall pick – Atlanta Hawks

Career averages: 4.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG

Flexing a strong interior presence on both ends, Shelden Williams had an all-time four-year stint at Duke, and even got his #23 retired. As such, he was a clear safe pick in the ‘06 draft, or so they thought. Williams turned into a journeyman rebounder off-the-bench across his eight seasons in the NBA.

Yi Jianlian – 2007 6th overall pick – Milwaukee Bucks

Career averages: 7.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG

With the NBA looking for a new Yao Ming, the Yi Jianlian hype spiked in ‘07, especially since he’s a seven-footer who can play forward. Turns out, though, it was all hype as he only lasted five seasons, with his best (12.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG) being a starter on the atrocious 12-70 New Jersey Nets team in 2010. Future Defensive Player of the Year winner Joakim Noah was selected just one pick later.

Joe Alexander – 2008 8th overall pick – Milwaukee Bucks

Career averages: 4.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 11.1 MPG

Joe Alexander generated a lot of curiosity as an athletic 6’8 forward. Unfortunately for the Bucks, he was the team’s second-straight draft bust after Yi. Alexander played just 59 games on 12.1 minutes per game in his rookie year before getting dealt to the Chicago Bulls, where he only saw eight contests on a measly 3.6 minutes.

Jonny Flynn – 2009 6th overall pick – Minnesota Timberwolves

Career averages: 9.2 PPG, 3.9 APG

There was a lot to like about Jonny Flynn coming out of Syracuse. He was an active guard that can slash, facilitate, and be a menace on defense. He had a solid rookie year (13.5 PPG, 4.4 APG), but that’s about it as he regressed and was already overseas after just three seasons. He was also the pick right before the Golden State Warriors selected Stephen Curry. Ouch. 

Wesley Johnson – 2010 4th overall pick – Minnesota Timberwolves

Career averages: 7.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG

The expectation for Wesley Johnson was an all-around forward with good defensive potential. The reality is a second or third-string journeyman, who also didn’t do well as a ‘3 and D’ guy, shooting just 33.7% from three in his career. Future All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was the pick right after Johnson.

Derrick Williams – 2011 2nd overall pick – Minnesota Timberwolves

Career averages: 8.9 PPG, 4.0 ROG

Derrick Williams was the third-consecutive draft bust during the T-Wolves’ disastrous run of picks in the late ‘00s and early ‘10s. Seen as an athletic freak, a la Blake Griffin with much better shot creation, Williams instead became a mere depth filler and journeyman. He played seven seasons and only averaged in double-digits once.

Picked after him included Jonas Valanciunas, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard.

Jan Vesely – 2011 6th overall pick – Washington Wizards

Career averages: 3.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 15.2 MPG

As part of the long list of Euros who flopped in the 00s and 10s, Jan Vesely was a question mark from the start. He had the size and efficiency in his shots, but couldn’t develop anything, which then resulted in his NBA exit after only three seasons.

Our best memory of Jan is that kiss during draft night.

Thomas Robinson – 2012 5th overall pick – Sacramento Kings

Career averages: 4.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG

Thomas Robinson was a beastly workhorse while at Kansas, and many expected him to be the same in the pros. Instead, he bounced around as a benchwarmer and was out of the league by 2017. He still plays overseas as of 2024, and recently played as an import for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA.

Nik Stauskas – 2014 8th overall pick – Sacramento Kings

Career averages: 6.7 PPG, 38.9 FG%, 35.7 4FG%

Fondly remembered as ‘Sauce Castillo,’ Nik Stauskas came out of Michigan as an impressive 44% shooter from beyond the arc. He entered the NBA as it was about to transition into a shooter’s league, but he just couldn’t figure it out and just got traded again and again. He last saw NBA action in 2022 for the Boston Celtics.

Dragan Bender – 2016 4th overall pick – Phoenix Suns

Career averages: 5.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG

Having okay potential with a super badass name shot Dragan Bender up the draft boards. It was clear early on that he was a huge reach at no. 4 (J.Murray was 7th, D.Sabonis was 11th), as evident in not getting a second deal after his rookie contract expired. His best year was an underwhelming 6.5 PPG and 4.4 RPG on a bottom-feeding team.

Shabazz Napier – 2014 24th overall pick – Miami Heat

Career averages: 7.1 PPG, 2.5 APG

Two things boosted Shabazz Napier heading into the 2014 draft, he led Connecticut to a National Title and got praise from incoming then-free agent LeBron James, which is allegedly why the Heat traded up for his services. Unfortunately, James still bolted and Napier fizzled out. He was traded the very next year and was out of the NBA after the 2019-20 season. He’s in an Italian league as of 2024.

James Young – 2014 17th overall pick – Boston Celtics

Career averages: 2.3 PPG, 36.7 FG%

Boy, Bill Simmons was so wrong on this one.

James Young was a smooth, sweet-shooting guard who looked like a perfect fit alongside head coach Brad Stevens of the Celtics. He was not. He couldn’t see the floor, never started a game, and only had 8.5 minutes per game across four seasons of being a bench warmer. Young is playing overseas and is currently in an Italian league.