When we think of basketball greatness, names like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Stephen Curry come to mind. These players are often celebrated for their incredible achievements and skills.
However, the NBA has also seen players who couldn’t live up to the high bar set by these legends. While the spotlight rarely shines on them, understanding their journeys reveals a different side of the game.
Sometimes, players earn a spot in history not for their success but for their struggles on the court, which can also impact NBA odds.
In this list, we’ll explore the ten NBA players who fell short of expectations and earned a different kind of legacy.
Cherokee Parks
Cherokee Parks was once a star at Duke, shining brightly with impressive stats and a college championship under Coach K. His promising college career led to him being the 12th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Despite high hopes, Parks struggled to make an impact in the NBA. Over his career, he averaged just 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, ending with the Golden State Warriors where his stats dropped further.
Sun Yue
Sun Yue, known for being in a famous photo with Kobe Bryant, had a brief NBA stint. Drafted by the Lakers in the second round, he played only 10 games during the 2008-09 season. Averaging just 0.6 points on 27% shooting in under three minutes per game, his NBA numbers weren’t impressive. However, he earned a championship ring with the Lakers and later found success in the Chinese Basketball Association, winning two CBA titles.
Michael Ruffin
Michael Ruffin became infamously memorable during his time with the Washington Wizards when he made a costly play against the Toronto Raptors. Despite this blunder, he managed to hang on in the NBA for nine seasons. Drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls, Ruffin’s career averages were just 1.7 points and 41% shooting. His final season with the Portland Trail Blazers saw these numbers dip further, solidifying his reputation among the league’s less successful players.
Greg Oden
Greg Oden came into the NBA with enormous expectations, drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007 ahead of Kevin Durant. His towering presence and skill at Ohio State promised a bright future. Unfortunately, constant knee injuries limited him to just 105 games over seven seasons, making his NBA journey one of immense potential left unfulfilled. While he showed glimpses of his talent, he never lived up to the superstar status some predicted, making this a cautionary tale of what could have been.
Rafael Araújo
Rafael Araújo was the eighth pick for the Toronto Raptors in 2004, with high hopes for him to join forces alongside Chris Bosh and Vince Carter. At 6-foot-11, his potential seemed promising, but the results were disappointing. In his two seasons with Toronto, he averaged only 2.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The Raptors’ decision to draft Araújo became even more questionable when Andre Iguodala, a future three-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, was selected right after him.
Mengke Bateer
Mengke Bateer is celebrated as a basketball legend in China, having won four CBA Player of the Year awards. However, his NBA career didn’t reflect the same success. After joining the Denver Nuggets briefly in 2002, he was released and had short stints with the Spurs and Raptors. In total, Bateer played just 46 NBA games, averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Despite his limited impact in the NBA, his influence in the Chinese Basketball Association remains significant.
Todd Fuller
Todd Fuller was a notable draft pick who symbolized the Golden State Warriors’ struggling years in the late 90s. Drafted 11th overall in 1996, he was selected two spots before the Lakers picked Kobe Bryant. Despite the high expectations, Fuller only managed to average 4.0 points in 132 games with the Warriors. His stint with the team ultimately ended with a trade to the Utah Jazz, and his NBA career concluded after averaging a modest 3.3 points over his final seasons, reflecting missed opportunities in the Warriors’ draft strategy.
Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison was a top pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, chosen third by the Charlotte Bobcats after excelling in college at Gonzaga. Despite high expectations, Morrison struggled in the NBA, averaging just 3.4 points per game in his last two seasons. 
His overall shooting was low at 36%, and his career lasted only 161 games before he went to play in Serbia. The 2006 draft included other players who did not meet the hype, making it a challenging year for general managers.
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Nikoloz Tskitishvili’s NBA career didn’t go as planned at all. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets as the fifth pick in 2002, big hopes were placed on him. Unfortunately, he managed only 3.2 points per game in his first two seasons. After moving to the Golden State Warriors, things didn’t improve, and he ended up averaging a mere 1.7 points over his last two seasons. This performance solidified his place among the least successful players in the league’s history.
Javaris Crittenton
Javaris Crittenton was once a promising basketball player, chosen 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft. He was expected to do well after leading his college team at Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, his NBA career was short, just two seasons, with only 22 games played for the Lakers. While he showed potential by averaging 5.3 points, his career is mostly remembered for a serious incident involving a gun with a teammate, which ended his time in the league.
