Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Taking a look back at every NBA team’s biggest draft regret

Every NBA team has draft picks they wish they could take back, but some missteps are more atrocious than others, especially when the next player chosen goes on to be great. With that in mind, we scoured the draft histories of all 30 NBA franchises and picked the most glaring “one that got away” for each team. To qualify for this exercise, teams either needed to trade an eventual standout player before he appeared in a game, or had to make their regrettable selection one pick before another team drafted a future star. Let the debate begin:

Blazers: Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan (1984)
Blazers: Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan (1984)

For most teams, picking Greg Oden one spot before Kevin Durant would be the worst draft slip-up in team history.