NBA players never want to be remembered as the worst players in the NBA. They are often criticized for not having enough focus or not trying hard enough. And while they did try to do well, they just couldn’t make it. While the NBA has its share of players who have done absolutely nothing for the league, it also has players who have made an impact on the world.
Brian Scalabrine
Brian Scalabrine was an NBA player from 2001 to 2012, but he never played in the playoffs. The former Boston Celtics forward averaged less than three points per game and never played in more than seven games. He had a few good games, but was largely a forgettable player. He never played more than 13 minutes per game and was often a bench player. In addition to being an occasional scorer, Scalabrine also had great defense.
Scalabrine is currently a Celtics analyst. He was drafted 40th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. In his final season, Scalabrine only scored 32 points. However, his defense was good and he was also a good rebounder.
Brian Scalabrine was known as the “White Mamba” during his days with the Boston Celtics. However, he became a laughingstock in the league after he signed a five-year, $15 million contract. He did not play a single minute in the playoffs, and his contract was later terminated.
Some of the worst players in the NBA have been considered the best in the league. Some of them are famous and have become stars. However, some were completely buzzkills. The NBA’s worst players can ruin a game and make fans question their eligibility. Some of the worst players are even millionaires.
Pete Chilcutt
Chilcutt, a former college basketball star, has played in the NBA for nine seasons. The South Carolina native was selected with the 27th pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. He played for the Detroit Pistons for two seasons and the Houston Rockets for one. He also spent three seasons with the Vancouver Grizzlies and won an NBA title with the Houston Rockets in 1994. Chilcutt averaged 6.1 points per game during his NBA career and had a field goal percentage of 38.1% from 3-point range.
The Celtics gave Scalabrine a contract worth $15 million despite the fact that he did not play a single game in the playoffs. He is currently a television analyst for the team. Although he was a decent college player, he lacked the athleticism to make an impact at the NBA level. Despite this, the Celtics gave him a five-year, $15 million deal to be their television analyst.
Chilcutt is a former player who played for three different teams in the NBA. During his first two seasons, he averaged 9.6 points per game and was nominated for the Most Improved Player Award. He later left the NBA and went into coaching, becoming an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets.
Erick Dampier
Erick Dampier is a former NBA center who was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2002 for Chris Mullin. He spent seven seasons with the Warriors as their starting center. In 2003-04, Dampier had his best season in terms of scoring and rebounding with 12.3 points and 1.9 blocks per game. At the time of his trade, Dampier was just one year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent and was considered the top free agent commodity during the 2004 off-season.
Dampier, who averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds per game in 2003-04, was traded to the Golden State Warriors. After two seasons in California, the Warriors decided to replace Dampier with Adonal Foyle, who had more potential and was a better center. Besides being a better center, Foyle also served as a paint protector for Dirk Nowitzki.
While Dampier was not great, he was a decent defender. His four-year win-share percentage was over 95 percent on the defensive end. The NBA is in need of a point guard with a strong defender. Erick Dampier is the most underrated player of the past three years.
Greg Foster
Greg Foster is the NBA’s worst player, according to a new poll released today. He played over 900 games and scored less than 3000 points in his career. Then there’s Bismack Biyombo, who made his NBA debut in 2011 for the Charlotte Bobcats against the Orlando Magic. After getting traded to the Raptors, he played in two games this summer and scored fewer than six points on each occasion.
Greg Foster was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft. He averaged just over four points a game and averaged less than five rebounds. He also rarely blocked a shot in a game. Despite his poor stats, Foster showed a remarkable work ethic and eventually won the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
During his rookie season, Michael Jordan averaged 16.5 points per game. While he was a star, his playing time was limited. His stardom was limited by his poor defense. Jordan lasted two seasons in the NBA before moving overseas.
Darius Garland
Darius Garland was once dubbed the NBA’s worst player, but in just one season, he has changed his reputation. The former undrafted rookie is now an All-Star and contender for the Most Improved Player award. He has received comparisons to many great point guards, including Steve Nash and Stephen Curry.
Garland was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who hoped he could anchor their young backcourt. The young Cavs, who are on the verge of a playoff run, have been a revelation this season, and Garland has led the way. In fact, many of the league’s top players have lauded him for his outstanding play.
In 2019-20, Garland averaged 12.3 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 40.1% of the time. He also finished last in value over replacement and win shares, and was ranked 506th in ESPN’s real-plus-minus. However, Garland improved significantly in 2020-21, as he averaged 17.4 points and shot 45.1% of the time. In 2021-22, Garland will be one of the league’s best guards.
Cleveland’s backcourt is arguably the best in the East. The Mitchell and Garland combination can carry the Cavs on offense, while Mobley and Allen add a defensive presence. The Cavs would be a lot more exciting to watch if Garland and Mitchell were paired together, but a backcourt alone isn’t enough to advance to the playoffs.
Sun Yue
The Los Angeles Lakers were looking for the next Lamar Odom when they spent a second-round pick on Chinese import Sun Yue. Having played for the Beijing Olympians in China’s Basketball Association, Yue was expected to adjust to the speed and space of the NBA. But his rookie season was a disaster. His fouls outpaced his points and he was quickly cut from the team.
While some players may not want to be remembered as a terrible player, there are many who have been a disaster in the NBA. Some players have failed to make it despite their hard work and dedication. Others may have never made it in the NBA. Nevertheless, some players are truly impactful.
The worst player in the NBA is a foul machine. A player who commits more fouls than points is the worst. According to the NBA’s official website, a player must commit at least a foul every 1.2 seconds. In addition to fouling out more often than scoring, he also commits more turnovers and shots than he makes.
Elliot Williams
Elliot Williams is a former NBA player who was drafted 22nd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. During his rookie season, Williams played in just nine games and missed most of the season. He then went on to miss most of his second and third seasons due to an Achilles tendon injury. He was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers in November. Ultimately, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in November and was sent to the NBA Developmental League.
Before joining the NBA, Williams played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. After graduating, the team selected him with the 22nd overall pick. But Williams struggled in college, only averaging 6.0 PPG. After that, he bounced around the league and ended up playing in the Greek basketball league.
During his final season, Williams made history as the NBA’s worst player. He played 15 minutes per night for the Clippers and averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He had trouble shooting and had a -15.8 net rating, which is the worst in the league. In addition, he averaged only 0.4 assists per 100 possessions.
