The easiest thing to do when the topic of the worst draft pick in NBA history comes up at your favorite watering hole is to shout the name of Sam Bowie above the fray.
Most people will nod their head in an agreement. How could anyone disagree that the Portland Trailblazers selection of Bowie with the second overall pick in the draft ahead of Michael Jordan in 1984 was anything but a blunder?
Well truth be told, the selection of Bowie ahead of Jordan was not the worst draft pick in the last thirty years.
Bowie never blossomed into an all—star but his lack of success was not due to lack of talent or lack of will but rather because of chronic knee injuries. In the three seasons he was healthy, Bowie put up respectable numbers suggesting he was talented enough to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Despite his injuries, Bowie played in more than 500 games and posted career averages of 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks a game.
Bowie was a hardly the worst draft pick in the last thirty years.
Well, if Bowie wasn’t the worst pick in the last thirty years then who was the worst draft pick? Let the debate begin.