NBA Draft 2024: 10 biggest lottery "busts" from the past 10 years

6. Jahlil Okafor – Philadelphia 76ers (2015: Pick 3)

Okafor was the nation’s top high school recruit back in 2014 and found his way to Duke. He absolutely lived up to that billing, earning ACC Player of the Year while leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament championship. Undoubtedly the top freshman in the nation, Okafor showed up with the Blue Devils and did more than enough to prove himself, heading straight to the NBA after going one-and-done.

This fantastic prospect wasn’t taken until pick 3 by way of the Philadelphia 76ers, though it’s hard to argue when drafted after Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. His time in Philadelphia actually started great, earning All-Rookie honors after averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. After a solid second season, Okafor’s production just was never the same and he’d bounce between three teams over the next four seasons. In his most recent NBA experience, he average just over 5 points a game with the Detroit Pistons three years ago.

This isn’t necessarily about who the 76ers could’ve drafted instead of Okafor; he was probably the right player to take with pick three. He just didn’t work out as an NBA prospect and has in fact played overseas for the last two plus years. Okafor showed fantastic potential early in his career but just didn’t find his footing after those first few seasons with the 76ers.