How bad was Anthony Bennett?

azcatz11 · Post #1 » by **azcatz11** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:21 am

I don't remember much about his career.

- Started 4 games total
- Out of the league by the time he was 23

Did his athleticism not translate at all?

It's pretty obvious he's the worst #1 pick of any player in any sport in the history so curious those who remember what exactly happened?

Dr Aki · Post #2 » by **Dr Aki** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:31 am

Please, not even the worst #1 pick of all time, Clifton McNeely didn't even play a single professional game

Post #3 » by **cupcakesnake** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:34 am

There was weirdness with Anthony Bennett. Reports of sleep apnea, asthma, and poor mental health. He seemed to fall apart right at the start.

As a prospect he was an interesting mix of super bouncy athleticism, strength, and spacing potential. Looked like a guy who could run the floor, beast mismatches, pressure the rim, and hit some threes. In the halfcourt he had great strength and elevation on his turnaround jumper (he'd get really nice separation on it). Used to dunk the ball with a ton of power and hang on the rim like Shaq. He was a bit of an old-school tweener on defense though. He had serious questions on that end and that felt like his swing skill as a prospect.

But something clearly happened mentally or physically after college. Immediately didn't look right once he got to the NBA. It wasn't the level of competition, he definitely got worse. Even at lower levels, he really struggled (g-league, euroleague and national team) and never looked right.

His 3-point shot ended up being real though. He shot well over 40% on threes in the gleague over many years.

Post #4 » by **HomoSapien** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:40 am

Watch on YouTube

benultimate · Post #5 » by **benultimate** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:41 am

He was also being mocked throughout the year as a late-lottery pick, consensus just prior to draft night was about pick 9. So he got thrust to the top of the draft and therefore the additional spotlight out of nowhere. If he stays late-lottery he may have had an easier time with less pressure, or he still busts but is barely remembered as just one of the numerous first rounders that don't make it.

MrBigShot · Post #6 » by **MrBigShot** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:42 am

He started his rookie season coming off an injury iirc, and was obscenely out of shape...like legit 30 lbs overweight, and had no lift. At normal playing weight he was actually a pretty good athlete with some explosiveness. Decently skilled, could shoot the ball.

I think the two biggest things that ruined his career were immaturity and total lack of confidence. He started 0/16 from the field in his rookie year and just never recovered.

Post #7 » by **HomoSapien** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 4:58 am

That really was a rough draft. Cavs blew it with Bennett, but it's not like it was a major loss to pass on Oladipo or Otto Porter. Both would certainly be significantly better, but I don't think either seriously alters Cleveland's success (outside of possibly bringing back more in a future trade). At various times, Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore were mocked as being in the top 3 (Noel was often seen as a guy projected to go #1), and both of those guys would have been busts too.

CJ McCollum ended up having the best career of the guys drafted in the first 10. Giannis is really the only franchise player, but was taken 15.

DLoMor · Post #8 » by **DLoMor** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:00 am

2013 draft, like the 1997 draft, saved by a few great players, remove Duncan TMac and Billups and 1997 draft had no one else.

Bird4Three · Post #9 » by **Bird4Three** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:03 am

I remember the preseason game his rookie year, where he got hot in the 4th quarter vs the Magic. He had already been struggling, and this was the first sign of potential. Unfortunately, that was probably one of his best games of his career-

Watch on YouTube

;t=195s

JustBuzzin · Post #10 » by **JustBuzzin** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:10 am

Picture Zion without actual talent. That was literally Bennett.

Plate cleaner who just happened to be big and tall enough to play basketball.

Onlytimewilltel · Post #11 » by **Onlytimewilltel** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:15 am

JustBuzzin wrote:Picture Zion without actual talent. That was literally Bennett.

Plate cleaner who just happened to be big and tall enough to play basketball.

He was a better shooter than Zion…

Ayt · Post #12 » by **Ayt** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:30 am

JustBuzzin wrote:Picture Zion without actual talent. That was literally Bennett.

Plate cleaner who just happened to be big and tall enough to play basketball.

His athleticism was nowhere near Zion.

Post #13 » by **Capn'O** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:34 am

MrBigShot wrote:He started his rookie season coming off an injury iirc, and was obscenely out of shape...like legit 30 lbs overweight, and had no lift. At normal playing weight he was actually a pretty good athlete with some explosiveness. Decently skilled, could shoot the ball.

I think the two biggest things that ruined his career were immaturity and total lack of confidence. He started 0/16 from the field in his rookie year and just never recovered.

I see a lot of posters brush it off but that's a big issue. I've noticed it a few times that guys come out of the gate not taking their conditioning seriously and they can never really overcome it. Michael Sweetney was another guy who had some legit skill but couldn't get his body right.

BruttoNostra · Post #14 » by **BruttoNostra** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 6:18 am

Had to google his Euroleague experience.
He played 10 games and totalled 12 points. Not averaged. I'm talking about a total of 12 points.

MrGoat · Post #15 » by **MrGoat** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 6:37 am

Weird thing was he actually learned to shoot in the D league... I mean G league. I remember a few years ago the Mavs and maybe a couple of other teams actually considered signing him because he was a former #1 pick canning the deep ball at over 40% so maybe he would have been worth a low risk reclamation project but none of them ultimately ever did for some reason. I don't consider him even close to the least talented megabust ever myself, that goes to Hasheem Thabeet

axeman23 · Post #16 » by **axeman23** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 6:58 am

Ah, yes. The number 1 pick that the league "rigged" for Cleveland along with Wiggins... :roll:

Thank you for the painful reminder, OP! :banghead:

haha

Post #17 » by **Domejandro** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 7:07 am

He was a sneakily talented passer.

Mogspan · Post #18 » by **Mogspan** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 7:51 am

Cartoonishly bad.

There are bust 1st overall picks like Kwame Brown who at least fit in among NBA players.

Anthony Bennett had no business even being in the league.

He had a career BPM of -4.8.

He missed his first 16 field goal attempts.

Just… impossibly bad.

May as well have drafted Usain Bolt 1st overall.

He may have wound up better tbh.

Post #19 » by **HomoSapien** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 7:57 am

DLoMor wrote:2013 draft, like the 1997 draft, saved by a few great players, remove Duncan TMac and Billups and 1997 draft had no one else.

That's three HOFers, which I have to imagine isn't on the lower end for the average draft. The rest of the draft wasn't filled with stars, but was filled with notable role players who went on to have long NBA careers.

Bloodbather · Post #20 » by **Bloodbather** » Wed Jan 22, 2025 8:44 am

He was an athletic power player who seemingly lost it the moment he got to the league. He had an injury and then got overweight. He could shoot open shots and pass some, but couldn't defend at all.

He looked lethargic all the time (probably had to do with his asthma and sleep apnea) and probably lost his confidence completely after the disastrous start.

Probably would've been a Julius Randle type if he fulfilled the potential he showed at UNLV.