Who was the best initial draft bust who redeemed themselves the best?

[giberish]

Billups and Chandler are good calls.

Nowitzki comes to mind as well. Dirk went from not making the all-rookie team, to making all-NBA by his 3rd season.

Payton, I don't think was considered a bust, but his rookie campaign was quite underwhelming given that he was a #2 pick and considering the career he'd eventually have. He barely made the all-rookie team, 9th in votes behind guys like Willie Burton and Travis Mays (who and who?)

I guess the 15th pick is too low to qualify here, but Nash, Kawhi, Giannis were all drafted 15th had slow starts and eventually became superstars.

Kawhi had a very good rookie season. I remember after Jokic's rookie season there was a list of best BPM seasons from rookies and Kawhi was on it - right next to Jokic. Both lower minutes then some other guys (who were generally older rookies) but almost all ended up major stars.

Giannis was drafted as major project. That he was doing anything useful as a rookie was seen as a big win and strong sign for the future. Bucks fans were very high on him after his rookie season.

Nash was a bit like O'Neal in that he was on a team with Kidd and KJ - tough for a PG to get minutes.

[meekrab]

What about Randle (7), Markkenen (7) and Dipo (2)?

Lauri was never a bust, he put up 19/9 in his second season.

[Richard4444]

What about Randle (7), Markkenen (7) and Dipo (2)?

Lauri was never a bust, he put up 19/9 in his second season.

He was traded at a very low value to the Cavs.

[Myth]

Tyson Chandler had a bust label after his first couple years in chicago. Then they just started letting Ty be Ty and he blew up into a defensive monster.

Them being compared to Shaq and KG coming into the league didn’t help.

[Dominator83]

Chauncey Billups gotta be the most successful one

This is the best answer I can think of.

To give another name: Tyson Chandler. You can say that as a straight HS guy he was never actually a bust because he was expected to take time to mature…but he arguably contributed negative net value for the team that drafted him (Bulls) before finding a really valuable niche in other teams.


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Chandler's progress was a little odd. in his 2nd season post ASB, he was putting up some monster games. Big double-double with several block type of games. Started year 3 like that as well. Then he dove into the stands for a loose ball, hurt his back. When he returned, the head coach changed from Cartwright to Skiles, and those monster games stopped and he was just so-so the rest of his time here. Maybe Cartwright was just a better coach for big men because getting rid of him really stunted Chandlers growth IMO

[Lalouie]

lonzo

[Optms]

Kemba Walker was called a massive bust on here after his first year. He eventually made an All NBA team and went on to become a multiple all star and franchise player.

[Peak Brunson]

Why not Embiid?
Dude literally missed his first two full seasons due to injury, most fans considered him a bust by then and the next Greg Oden, he was selected 3rd after all. Then went on to win MVP, even if his playoff performance was disappointing.

[Duffman100]

Marvin Williams never redeemed anything. I remember having an argument once where I said if Marvin can have a career like Jamal Mashburn he did well, well Marv never made or was even in the running to make a single all-star team. Horrendous #2 pick.

I remember at the time being flabbergasted. I assumed it was Paul or Deron and the Hawks badly needed a PG.

Where BPA met need perfectly

[sisibilio]

Jermaine O'Neal is the only one I can think of, but he was drafted as the 17th pick. He played four seasons where his numbers just got worse, playing about 10 to 12 minutes per game.

Wiggins had the potential to be great, but he never lived up to it. Fans think a player sucks if they put up solid numbers on bad teams, but they will turn around as soon as the player ends up on a good team.

Zach Randolph is the best example of this, where he was a joke among fans until he joined Memphis, and suddenly he was an excellent player and everybody had actually been saying he was good the whole time.

Jermaine was a kid in a stacked team. He didn't suck, just couldn't find minutes.

[SportsGuru08]

Hedo Turkoglu started out as just another bench player and eventually worked his way up to winning Most Improved.

[scrabbarista]

I assume he's been mentioned, but Chauncey Billups came immediately to mind.

EDIT: Ach! 37 And1's! Timing is so important.

[tamaraw08]

Picked 2nd overall, Brandon Ingram looked initially a bust for me, needing almost 9 attempts to average 9 points, 40FG%, 2 assists to 1.5 turnovers, was also horrendous from FT line. Yes he was very young but other 19 yr olds posted better rookie stats imo .

[Geaux_Hawks]

Marvin Williams never redeemed anything. I remember having an argument once where I said if Marvin can have a career like Jamal Mashburn he did well, well Marv never made or was even in the running to make a single all-star team. Horrendous #2 pick.

I remember at the time being flabbergasted. I assumed it was Paul or Deron and the Hawks badly needed a PG.

Where BPA met need perfectly

Everybody wanted Bogut. Paul had the majority of Hawks fans, but there were some who wanted Deron(I was in this camp). Very few wanted Marvin Williams. After signing Joe Johnson and drafting the "Joshes", it was either PG or C. Indeed a very disappointing move to draft the 6th man of a Natty team.

[dc]

Marvin Williams never redeemed anything. I remember having an argument once where I said if Marvin can have a career like Jamal Mashburn he did well, well Marv never made or was even in the running to make a single all-star team. Horrendous #2 pick.

Marvin was a guy who "looked the part" of a great NBA prospect, being a 6'7"-6'8" wing with a nice looking shot and good athleticism. But he was never able to beat anyone off the dribble in the NBA and basically had to settle for playing a lot of PF, where he didn't really have any physical advantages and was a "Just Another Guy" type player.