Worst No. 1 overall NBA Draft picks of all time

The Warriors' top pick in 1980 was somewhat productive during his time with the franchise, but they traded Robert Parish and passed on another future Hall of Famer in the draft to get him. Barry earned the nickname 'Joe Barely Cares' for his apparent lack of interest in the game. 

Picked over: Kevin McHale No. 3, Andrew Toney No. 8.

An illustrious collegiate career at Indiana was as good as it got for Benson. Milwaukee traded him after just two and a half mediocre seasons with the franchise. He spent a decade in the NBA, but his debut is remembered most for taking a punch to the face from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Picked over: Otis Birdsong No. 2, Marques Johnson No. 3, Walter Davis No. 5, Bernard King No. 7.

Ellison spent just one season with the franchise that selected him No. 1 overall in 1989. He earned the nickname 'Never Nervous Pervis' in college, but in the NBA he was dubbed 'Out of Service Pervis' for an injury that kept him out more than half of his rookie season. Injuries throughout his 11-year NBA career in Sacramento, Washington, Boston and Seattle kept him from reaching his full potential. 

Picked over: Sean Elliott No. 3, Glen Rice No. 4, Tim Hardaway No. 14, Shawn Kemp  No. 17.

Smith was the college Player of the Year at Maryland and made the 1996 NBA All-Rookie team, but that success didn’t last. Smith spent his NBA career with 12 different teams. No awards, no All-Star appearances, no titles. 

Picked over: Antonio McDyess No. 2, Jerry Stackhouse No. 3, Rasheed Wallace No. 4, Kevin Garnett No. 5.

The Clippers took Olowokandi No. 1 overall in 1998 over several future NBA superstars. The franchise never made the playoffs during his five unproductive seasons in Los Angeles. He played his final five years in Boston and Minnesota with no substantial career achievements.

Picked over: Mike Bibby No. 2, Antawn Jamison No. 4, Vince Carter No. 5, Dirk Nowitzki No 9, Paul Pierce No. 10.

One of the greatest players in Duke's storied basketball history found little success in his short stint in the NBA. Heyman lasted just three seasons with the Knicks, who failed to make the playoffs and went 74-166 during his time with the franchise. He played three more seasons in the ABA before retiring. 

Picked over: Nate Thurmond No. 2, Eddie Miles No. 4.

The first No. 1 overall draft pick out of high school turned out to be a massive failure. The Wizards had high hopes for Brown, but he never came close to living up to expectations. After four underachieving seasons with the franchise, Brown was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was an even bigger disappointment.

Picked over: Tyson Chandler No. 2 , Pau Gasol No. 3, Joe Johnson No. 10, Tony Parker No. 28.

Melchiorre's professional career ended before it even started. After pleading guilty to point-shaving while at Bradley University, the 5-foot-8 guard was banned from the league for life. He is the only top draft pick to never play a game in the NBA. 

Picked over: Mel Hutchins No. 2.

Oden and Kevin Durant were the clear-cut top two players in 2007, but there was no question Portland would take the Ohio State center with the No. 1 overall pick. Knee surgery forced Oden to miss his entire rookie season and he's been plagued by leg injuries ever since. Meanwhile, the No. 2 overall pick Kevin Durant was named the 2014 league MVP with the Thunder, and won a championship with the Warriors in 2017. 

Picked over: Kevin Durant No. 2, Al Horford No. 3.

The Blazers have had some bad drafts in their history, but none worse than their No. 1 pick in 1972. Martin averaged just 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in his four-year NBA career. He never played in the postseason, but the Blazers won a championship without him a year after he retired in 1976.

Picked over: Bob McAdoo No. 2, Julius Erving No. 12.