NBA's worst players: A list of 10 basketball players who are considered flops

NBA's worst players: A list of 10 basketball players who are considered flops

Sospeter Itolondo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:19 PM

The NBA has seen some of the best athletes in the world with wholesome careers. However, not all players go on and have fulfilling stints in the league. Some players perform poorly due to many reasons such as environment, injuries, external factors or sometimes they are just not good enough. Read on to find out NBA’s worst players.

Worst players in the NBA hall of fame
Jalen Green (Centre) of the Houston Rockets watches from the bench as his team plays the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena on November 28, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Matthew Stockman
Source: Getty Images

The franchise always bets on players to become great once they are signed but that is not always the case. Some players such as Anthony Bennet, Darko Milicic and Kwame Brown are just a few who underperformed contrary to expectations. Here are some of the best prospects in the NBA who turned out to be the worst players in the league.

10 of the NBA’s worst players ever

Sometimes careers do not go as planned and sometimes the biggest athlete prospects do not perform to the expectations of the fans, teams and the franchise. Here are some of the NBA’s worst players of all time:

10. Anthony Bennett

He was part of the 2013 draft which is considered the worst in history since most of the players went on to be flops. Players like Giannis Antetokoumpo who have had great careers did not come close to the top 10 selections that year. Anthony was the first pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers going on to produce underwhelming stats of 4.4 points per game, and 3.1 rebounds per game in the four seasons he played in the NBA.

10 of the NBA’s worst players ever
Anthony Bennett of the Agua Clippers looks on against Capital City Go-Go during the NBA G League Winter Showcase at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on December 21, 2018. Photo: David Becker
Source: Getty Images

However, he came in handy when he was transferred out and Kevin Love transferred in to help Lebron James conquer the league to the establishment’s first and only championship.

9. Cherokee Parks

He concluded his career with a devastating 1.0 point per game with the Warriors in the 2003-2004 season. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 points per game after being the 12th overall pick in the 1995 draft of the Dallas Mavericks.

The worst current NBA player
Cherokee Parks (#13) of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 30, 2003, in Miami, Florida. Photo: Victor Baldizon
Source: Getty Images

8. Nikoloz Tskitishvili

He averaged 1.7 points per game in his last two seasons which is one of the worst stats in the league. He started with the Denver Nuggets averaging 3.2 points per game before a trade-off to the Golden State Warriors where he had a worse stint.

Worst players in the NBA hall of fame
Nikoloz Tskitishvili of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the Pepsi Center on October 2, 2003, in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Garrett Ellwood
Source: Getty Images

7. Adam Morrison

He was the number 3 pick for the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2006 draft after his impressive performance with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in college. He averaged 3.4 points in his last two seasons before moving to Serbia to try to reinvent his career. The 2006 draft class dominates the list of NBA flops.

Worst defensive players in NBA
Adam Morrison of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena on March 16, 2010, in Sacramento, California. Photo: Rocky Widner
Source: Getty Images

6. Mengke Bateer

He busted for the Denver Nuggets, Spurs and Raptors averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. However, his career was more successful in China after being a four-time CBA Player of the Year.

NBA’s worst players of all time
Mengke Bateer of Xinjiang Guanghui looks on during the fourteenth round of the CBA 11/12 game against Liaoning Panpan at Hongshan Stadium on December 21, 2011, in Urumqi, China. Photo: Visual China
Source: Getty Images

5. Todd Fuller

He was the 11th overall pick for the 1996 NBA draft to the Golden States Warriors who seemed to be making all the wrong draft picks, missing out on incredible players such as Kobe Bryant. He averaged 4.0 points per game for the Warriors before averaging 3.3 for Utah Jazz for his final three seasons in the league.

NBA’s worst player in 2022
Todd Fuller of the Golden State Warriors posts up against the Chicago Bulls on January 30, 1998, at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California. Photo: Sam Forencich
Source: Getty Images

4. Brian Scalabrine

He was able to make it in the NBA for more than 10 seasons because of his gigantic height despite his horrible performances. He averaged a measly 1.1 points per game in his last two seasons averaging 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds his whole career. However, he turned his legacy around with his incredible stint as an assistant manager.

NBA’s worst player in 2022
Brian Scalabrine (L) and Rick Barry of the Ball Hogs look on during the game against the Ghost Ballers on July 31, 2021, in Dallas. Photo: Cooper Neill
Source: Getty Images

3. Rafael Araujo

Many thought the 6’11” Brazilian would be an instant success after being the eighth pick for the Toronto Raptors in the 2004 pick but that was not the case. He was expected to form the perfect link-up with Chris Bosh and Vince Carter to take the Raptors to the next level. He lasted two seasons with the team averaging 2.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while being at 41% in shooting.

Worst NBA player right now in 2022
Rafael Araujo of the Utah Jazz stands on the court during the NBA game against the Houston Rockets at EnergySolutions Arena on April 18, 2007, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Melissa Majchrzak
Source: Getty Images

2. Michael Ruffin

He somehow survived nine seasons in the NBA with one of the worst stats ever. The player averaged 1.7 points per game with 41% shooting his whole career, finishing with a stunning 0.5 points per game with the Trail Blazers in 2009. He is known for having one of the worst plays in NBA history against the Raptors when he was with the Wizards.

Who are the most hated NBA players?
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat falls to the floor, under pressure from Michael Ruffin of the Milwaukee Bucks, on January 9, 2008, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: Jonathan Daniel
Source: Getty Images

1. Sun Yue

The Lakers' second-round pick only featured in 10 games in the 2008-2009 season, averaging 0.6 points per game. He got less than three minutes of game time per outing, making it even worse for him. He, however, won a ring with the Lakers before continuing to the CBA where he won two titles. He is one of the biggest NBA flops of all time.

Biggest NBA flops of all time
Sun Yue of Beijing Begcl in action during 2019/2020 CBA League - Beijing Begcl v Shanxi Tong Xi at Beijing Olympic Sports Center on December 31, 2019, in Beijing, China. Photo: Fred Lee
Source: Getty Images

The worst current NBA player

Jalen Green is the NBA’s worst player in 2022. The player has the lowest plus-minus in the 2022 season despite averaging 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. These stats are part of the reason he is the worst NBA player right now in 2022.

Worst players in the NBA hall of fame

The NBA Hall of Fame has some of the best players in basketball although some players are considered undeserving of the honour. Some of the names on the list include Drazen Petrovic, Earl Monroe, Bill Walton, Calvin Murphy, Frank Ramsey, Gail Goodrich, Dave Bing, Arvydas Sabonis and Bill Bradley among others.

Worst defensive players in NBA

The NBA has seen some of the best and worst defensive players, making some of the clumsiest mistakes ever. Some of the worst defenders in the league include DeMar DeRozan, Anfernee Simons, Marvin Bagley III, Glenn Robinson III and Enes Kanter.

NBA’s worst player in 2021

Keon Johnson is the NBA’s worst player in 2021. The shooting guard has played 107 minutes averaging 6.4 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

NBA’s worst player in 2022
Keon Johnson of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 4, 2022, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Barry Gossage
Source: Getty Images

Who are the most hated NBA players?

The NBA is a tough league with fascinating players who sometimes grow to become villains. Some may be due to the drama they bring, others due to rivalries and others mainly due to underwhelming performances. Some of the most hated NBA players include:

Chris Paul

Russel Westbrook

Kevin Durant

Kyrie Irvin

Joel Embiid

Grayson Allen

James Harden

Patrick Beverley

Ben Simmons

Draymond Green

Sun Yue takes the top spot for NBA’s worst player ever. As seen on the list, flopping in the NBA does not mean doom as some players have gone on to be successful in other basketball leagues worldwide, such as the CBA. Jalen Green is currently considered the worst player in the NBA in 2022.

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Sospeter Itolondo
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