First Overall Busts

It's easy to be critical of Blake Griffin, the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Despite winning the MVP award for the Summer League, Griffin missed the entire 2009-10 season with a stress fracture in his left knee. The highly touted big man from Oklahoma is hardly a bust - yet.

It's easy to criticize a player when you have yet to see him on an NBA court. Griffin is not a bust, but proof that the first overall pick is still a gamble. In fact, it's the biggest gamble in the entire draft. The first pick gets the most money and instantly becomes the face of the franchise. He has nothing but high expectations to fill.

(It's easy to call 2008 first overall pick Derrick Rose the smart pick now.)

Very rarely do teams picking first overall have someone to distract attention away from their prized rookie - the 1997 Spurs come to mind, coupling rookie Tim Duncan with veteran David Robinson.

With the implementation of the draft lottery, though, teams can win the right the the first overall pick without being the worst record in the league.

The 5 Worst First Overall Picks of the Lottery Era (since 1985)

5. Pervis Ellison, 1989, Sacramento Kings, Louisville

Ellison spent 11 seasons in the NBA. He was traded to the Washington Bullets after missing most of his rookie season with an injury. He won the NBA's most improved player award in 1992. He retired in 2000 after playing only nine games with the Seattle Supersonics.

Career Highlight: 1986 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He was the second freshman to receive this honor.

4. Greg Oden, 2007, Portland Trailblazers, The Ohio State University

In 2007, the Portland Trailblazers chose 7-footer Greg Oden over the Naismith Player of the Year, Kevin Durant, and basketball pundits will still not shut up about it. Oden missed his entire rookie season with a right knee injury. He started 21 games for the Blazers in 2009 before another knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Career highlight: He had 20 rebounds on December 1, 2009 against the Miami Heat.

3. Joe Smith, 1995, Golden State Warriors, Maryland

Joe Smith is somehow still in the league. The 34-year-old played 64 games last season for the Atlanta Hawks and averaged the fewest points per game (3.0) in his 15 year career. During those 15 seasons, he has played for a total of 10 franchises (a third of the league!) and has only played one 82 game season, his rookie year.

Career Highlight: Naismith Player of the Year in 1995after his sophomore season at Maryland.

2. Michael Olowokandi, 1998, Los Angeles Clippers, Pacific

The Kandi Man played nine seasons in the league - most of which he spent with the Los Angeles Clippers. He retired in 2007 after playing only 24 games for the Boston Celtics. He was named to the 2^nd All-Rookie Team in 1999 and played 82 games in the 2000-01 season for the Clippers.

Career Highlight: He led Pacific to the NCAA Tournament during his junior season (1997). It was the program’s first tournament bid since 1979.

1. Kwame Brown, 2001, Washington Wizards, Glynn Academy (HS)

Kwame Brown is perhaps best known as Michael Jordan’s infamous first pick as team president of the Washington Wizards. A highly touted prospect out of high school, Brown chose entering the draft over playing at the University of Florida. Brown has started less than half of the games he has played in the NBA. In nine seasons, he has played for four teams and recently signed with a fifth – the Charlotte Bobcats.

Career Highlight: Traded by the Los Angeles Lakers as a part of package for Paul Gasol and a second-round draft pick.

- Jeff Laboon