It is a yearly tradition in the NBA for rookies to be drafted into an NBA team. The players with the most potential are drafted to the big teams and their talent is being nurtured. However, some players are also considered a bust. A draft bust in simple terms is a player whose hype turned out to be more than their potential. A player who was thought by the media and by experts alike to be the next big thing in the world of basketball only to turn out as a complete flop. Let us know ‘Likely Bust From The 2019 NBA Draft Class’.
Likely Bust From The 2019 NBA Draft Class
- Jarrett Culver
Drafted as the 6th pick of the phoenix suns in the 2019 NBA draft, Jarrett Culver’s career as a guard/forward in the NBA is yet to lift off. He was traded for Dario Saric and Johnson Cameron to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Having tallied 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 9.2 points in his rookie year in 63 games, he made a contribution of 3.1 rebounds and 5.3 points in 35 games during his rookie year. During the 2020/2021 season, Jarrett appeared in just a hand full of games due to a season-long ankle injury that required surgery. Just before the 2021/2022 season, Jarrett Culver alongside his teammate, Juancho Hernangomez was traded for Patrick Beverly to Memphis Grizzlies. Despite this move, his number took a turn for the worse as he was only able to register 1.6 rebounds and 4.7 points for just 9 minutes for every contest.
- Coby White
Averaging a very good 4.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 15.1 points per game, Coby White was drafted by the Chicago Bulls as their seventh draft pick of 2019. Standing at a towering 6.5ft, he started his career averaging 2.7 assists, 13.2 points, and 3.5 rebounds in 65 games, because he stacked up those numbers in his rookie year, starting just a game. Later on, the Chicago Bulls had a new addition to the team in the person of Lonzo Ball, which saw a decrease in Coby Whites’ playing time to 17 games from 31 games in the 2021 season. Now a reserve guard, Ball’s performance took a dip having played just 9 games and producing 6. Points, and a terrible 2.6 per game, having been considered at a point in his career as a promising guard.
- KZ Okpala
From afar, he looks to be just the right kind of NBA future legend. Standing at a wholesome small-ball 4 or 6’9” and hitting an average of 16.9 points during his sophomore year, picking him as a future legend was a no-brainer. Fast-forward to his draft pick, Okpala has turned out to be a big bust. A complete waste of talent if you may. Converting just 12 out of 32 shots. Around the basket, he is the least efficient with just 51.6 of his attempts were successful; and was only able to grab 7 rebounds every 40 minutes. With his lack of strength and reliability, it is safe to say that KZ Okpala is not an NBA-type player.
- Jaxson Hayes
Being the eighth pick of the Atlanta Hawks, he was picked out of Texas University and traded to the Pelicans. The Atlanta Hawks got Solomon Hill, De’Andre Hunter, and Jordan Bone in exchange for Jaxson. On the receiving end was the Pelicans having a protected first-round pick in the 2020 draft, Didi Louzada, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. It’s been 3 years already since Jaxson’s career began and he is yet to make a mark in the NBA. As a rookie, Jaxson appeared in 64 games with an average of 4 rebounds and 7.4 points per game. Now in his third NBA season, Jaxson has performed poorly with his average dropping to 3.3 rebounds and 5.9 points per game in 19 games. With the Pelicans having Willy Hernangomez and Jonas Valanciunas, it is unlikely to see Jaxson Hayes’ playing time increase comparing his stats with theirs.
- Nassir Little
Once touted in his college season to be a 10th draft pick, Nasir ended up being a 25th pick in the 2019 NBA draft. In simpler terms, this was an epic fall. Having played for North Carolina for just a season, Nasir got 26.9% of all his three’s, with an average of 9.8 points with 47.8% shooting accuracy, playing for 18.2 minutes per game. Once a promising high school player, his college career was a complete aberration as he was barely making any defensive or offensive contribution. As a player for Portland, Little isn’t expected to be given the ball; his success behind players like C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard is dependent on his development as a player that plays more off the ball. Nassir Little is still a huge question mark as his abilities in defense and offense are still a mystery.
Conclusion
Just like other Draft picks have been making a front in their careers, others are still struggling to make the cut in the first team due to their sub-par performances.
FAQ
- Is Bol Bol also a 2019 draft bust?
No,Bol Bol is a 2020 draft pick and from his performances, he might not be a complete bust after all.
- How bad is Zion Williams’ game?
Zion Williams can be regarded as the biggest bust of the 2019 draft pick. His game is a complete sham and it is unlikely that he will improve anytime soon.
