Top 7 NBA Draft Busts Who Actually Had Solid Careers

by Jeremy Block - 6/25/2025

NBA Draft busts with solid careers Marvin Williams

Getting tagged a “draft bust” in the NBA usually means your career didn’t live up to the hype. However, sometimes that label misses the bigger picture. You hear the word “bust,” and your brain jumps to players who couldn’t even hang in the league past their rookie deal. But not every so-called bust was a total disaster.

These are seven players who got dragged down for not being franchise saviors but still managed to stick around, produce, and actually contribute in ways that don’t show up in old draft-night headlines. They didn’t live up to initial expectations, sure. But they didn’t disappear behind the curtains, either. So, let’s clear the air.

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Marvin Williams

Drafted second overall in 2005 ahead of Chris Paul and Deron Williams, Marvin Williams walked into the league with expectations set to "future All-Star" levels. And no, he never came close to an All-Star selection or became the go-to guy on any roster, which kept him glued to every bust list since the mid-2000s.

But look past the draft slot, and Williams had a quietly productive 15-year career. He was a reliable stretch-four before it was in-style, logged over 1,000 games, and averaged 10.2 points, and 5.2 rebounds per game for his career. Look, he was never a star—but always the guy who did the little things coaches actually love. If longevity and consistency count for anything, Williams deserves more respect.

Derrick Coleman

As the top pick in 1990, Derrick Coleman was supposed to dominate, but things didn’t exactly go according to plan. Injuries and off-court drama kept him from becoming the superstar he was hyped to be. But let’s not get carried away. Coleman averaged 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over 15 seasons—solid numbers for a big man.

Sure, he wasn’t the franchise-changing No. 1 pick Nets fans dreamed of, but calling him a bust is wild. Coleman stuck around, put up numbers, and gave teams a skill set that was ahead of its time. Was he a total letdown? Absolutely, not. It’s more of a "what could’ve been" with legit production to back it up.

Michael Beasley

When Michael Beasley entered the league, the basketball world knew they were getting a deadly three-level scorer—but a few red flags came along for the ride. Picked second overall in 2008, the hype was real, but inconsistent minutes, off-court problems, and impatient teams quickly derailed the plan.

Still, Beasley averaged 12.4 points over 11 seasons and had stretches where he was absolutely unstoppable offensively. Scoring was never the issue; sticking around long enough to become a franchise guy was. Yes, Beasley didn't have the career people anticipated, but dropping double digits for over a decade means he’s definitely more underappreciated than a bust.

Kristaps Porzingis

The unicorn hype around Kristaps Porzingis never fully materialized, but calling him a bust doesn’t hold much weight. Let me explain: over nine seasons, he’s averaged 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and shot just under 37% from three-point land. Sure, injuries slowed his momentum down. However, when healthy, the production was always there.

Picked fourth overall in the 2016 draft, the expectations were sky-high—maybe unrealistically so. While Porzingis never became the franchise savior the Knicks thought they drafted, he still received an All-Star selection and played a big role in the Celtics 2024 championship run. Yes, he wasn’t the mythical unicorn everyone dreamed up, but he was absolutely more than a bust.

Kenny Anderson

High draft picks come with big promises, and in 1991, Kenny Anderson was supposed to be the next great point guard to run a franchise. While that didn’t exactly happen—let’s not pretend Anderson was a complete flop. Over 14 seasons in the league, he averaged 12.6 points and 6.1 assists, and received an All-Star selection in 1993. Not the superstar some expected, but far from wasted potential.

Anderson was steady, smart, had elite handles, and a legit feel for the game. He never became a household name, but he put together a career plenty of guards would kill for. The verdict? Not a bust—just not the player people thought they were going to watch.

Tyreke Evans

Winning Rookie of the Year had people thinking Tyreke Evans was about to take over the league. Yes, injuries and inconsistency turned that dream into more of a pipedream, but he still averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game over 10 seasons. Listen, those aren’t just “meh” numbers—that’s solid production for a combo guard who can do a little bit of everything.

Evans bounced around more teams than you can count, never quite the franchise guy, but always a player who you could count on for a bucket or a highlight reel pass. So, a bust? No way. More like a “sometimes star who didn’t quite get the opportunity.” He definitely did enough to earn more appreciation.

Ricky Rubio

People forget that Ricky Rubio was considered a potential prodigy. Drafted fifth overall in 2009 (before Steph Curry), the hype was out of control before he even set foot on U.S. soil. And when he finally arrived in Minnesota, he didn’t quite play like the magician people expected.

But here's the kicker: he still had a good NBA career. Over 12 seasons, he averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. No, Rubio didn’t become the European Steve Nash some expected, but he put together a long, respectable run. If you were expecting Magic Johnson-level playmaking, you were disappointed. But if you watched for what he actually was and what he did on the court, you saw a reliable, smart point guard who got the job done.

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Start:	June 25, 2025 @ 10:00 PM
Expert:	Nick Menken
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Top 7 NBA Draft Busts Who Actually Had Solid Careers

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