Despite some of the most prestigious college teams around possessing an array of talented players who went on to play in the NBA over the years, not every prospect developed into the world-class professionals many expected. The NBA has seen some truly terrible players.
Of course, no player deserves to be ridiculed for making it into the sport in the first place, but for whatever reason, they failed to build on it. These days, fans who wear the jerseys of some of the competition’s biggest stars and look at NBA betting lines are filled with superstars to back, but not every player has lived up to their initial billing.
Sure, their journey to the NBA should inspire many aspiring professionals, but there is no denying that the opportunity they earned for themselves was filled with more lows than highs. So, with that in mind, below is a brief look at some of the worst NBA players ever seen.
Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison was hailed as one of Gonzaga’s finest talents in 2006, but his move into the professional game was still a disaster. While he showcased his quality on the college courts, as soon as he joined the NBA, it looked too much for him. It was sad to witness. Even though Morrison showed some hope of turning his fortunes around in his rookie season, he never really kicked on from there. Adam Morrison is the classic case of a player who couldn’t do it in the NBA and was eventually worn down by it all after only lasting three seasons.
Darko Miličić
A player Pistons fans will be desperate to forget, Darko Miličić is a Serbian athlete even Nikola Jokić probably won’t want to recall either. While his move to the NBA would’ve inspired many Serbian talents back home, Miličić was shockingly bad after joining the 2003 Draft. From the fact that he never managed double digits to his lack of all-around ability for a player at the highest level of the sport, Darko Miličić was terrible.
Cherokee Parks
Ask any Duke coaches at the time who their most talented player was, and many would recall Cherokee Parks. Parks, the star on their team from 1995, didn’t live up to his billing after being the 12th overall pick in the draft at that particular time. He only stayed in Dallas for one season before joining the Timberwolves for nine campaigns, but he achieved nothing of note there. He peaked at just over seven points and five rebounds a game in his third year, highlighting his poor career.
Javaris Crittenton
Where do we even start with Javaris Crittenton? His performances for Georgia Tech were exceptional, but Crittenton couldn’t get going in the NBA. The former Lakers player averaged 5.3 points in stops with three teams, while he became unpopular after threatening his eventual Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas with a gun. Javaris Crittenton blew his opportunity in professional basketball.
Greg Oden
One for more senior fans of the sport to recall, Greg Oden entered the NBA with a tremendous amount of hype surrounding him. Ultimately, though, his career was nothing short of a disaster. Oden joined the NBA out of Ohio State and possessed plenty of ability for the Portland Trail Blazers to work with. While you have to feel for him due to the constant issues with his knee, Oden is the classic example of a player who couldn’t get their career on the right track, highlighted by the fact he only played 105 games in the NBA.
