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

3. Frank Ntilikina – New York Knicks (2017: Pick 8)

Born in Belgium, Ntilikina was raised in France and began his professional career playing in the EuroLeague for SIG Strasbourg. As a teenager he played a key role for his hometown team before heading to the NBA Draft after two pro seasons. While he lacked the development of other backcourt prospects, Ntilikina was highly regarded and did end up becoming a lottery pick in 2017.

His NBA career began by way of the New York Knicks who would select him with the 8th pick in that year’s draft. While seen as a bit of a project right off the bat, Ntilikina didn’t exactly take the steps forward that were expected from him. He never averaged more than 6.3 points per game in his four seasons with the Knicks before spending two years a minor piece for the Dallas Mavericks. He only saw the floor in five games with the Charlotte Hornets this past year.

Ntilikina was the only international prospect taken in the Top 20 of the 2017 NBA Draft and the Knicks selected him over future stars like Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo. Front offices don’t have that kind of hindsight, though it’s still disappointing that Ntilikina hasn’t become the stud point guard that the Knicks anticipated seven years ago.