Henry Roldán
At JefeBet, we have already begun to experience the 2022 NBA Draft that will take place next Thursday, June 23, and in one of the special articles on this important event, we remember that not all choices are always for the best. On the following list, we mention the five names that in the last five years were taken in the first round of the Draft and that have proven to be a disappointment in the circuit.
Worst NBA Draft Picks in the Past Five Seasons
5.- Josh Jackson – Phoenix Suns
In a string of bad decisions on the part of the Phoenix Suns management, selecting Josh Jackson as the fourth overall pick in the 2017 Draft turned out to be another bad call. Despite having been part of the 2017-2018 All-Rookie, Jackson could not establish himself in Phoenix neither on the court nor off due to some off-sports problems.
In 2019, he was traded to Memphis, where he only played 22 games before moving to Detroit. There he played a season and a half before being moved back to Sacramento. In five years in the league, the Kansas graduate barely averages 11.3 points per game, with 4.0 rebounds and just over 40% shooting from the field.
4.- Kevin Knox – New York Knicks
When the New York Knicks took Kevin Knox as the ninth overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft in the organization, it was hoped that in a couple of years he could become that point guard that they were in need of for a long time –something that Knox could never achieve.
Despite showing good form in the Summer League, Knox not only did not find arguments to be able to pass the ball and engage in New York, but his shot also was never up to the tour. In four seasons with the Knicks, he averaged 20 minutes per game, shooting just 39% from the field and dishing out 0.8 assists. Those are more-than-enough reasons for him to be traded to the Hawks.
3.- Jarrett Culver – Minnesota Timberwolves
The expectations that the Minnesota Timberwolves had when they took Jarrett Culver as the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft quickly went down when they traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies last season, a team where he only played 37 games off the bench.
In two seasons with the T-Wolves, Culver could never start and, despite averaging 20.7 minutes per game, his numbers were catastrophic: he averaged 7.8 points per game, 28.8% shooting from three, 40% shooting from the field and less than 50% from the free throw line.
2.- Marvin Bagley III – Sacramento Kings
After going through various injuries and inconsistency on the court, Marvin Bagley III could never become the player the Sacramento Kings needed as the second overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft (and for which they did not take Luka Dončić).
Despite being an All-Rookie in 2018 with a promising performance, the forward never managed to break out on the Kings, to the point that he was traded to the Pistons this season. In 148 games with Sacramento, 69 of them as a starter, he played 24.8 minutes per game, and, although he averaged 50% shooting from the field, he only scored 13.6 points per game.
1.- Markelle Fultz – Philadelphia 76ers
One of the great promises of basketball after being taken as the first overall choice of the 2017 NBA Draft is still uncertain. Although the 76ers changed picks to be able to select Markelle Fultz, after just two seasons and 33 games with the organization he was traded to the Magic.
Injuries have played an important role in the career of the young player, who has only been able to play one full season in the NBA. In total, he has played 131 games in five seasons, with an average of 24.8 minutes on the field. Additionally, he only shoots 26% from long range, with 4.8 assists and 10.9 points per engagement.
