The 2017 NBA Draft had its ups and downs. Star level talent was filled throughout the lottery, from the Boston Celtics selecting future All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum with the No. 3 overall pick to the Utah Jazz selecting future All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell with the No. 13 overall pick. However, many teams struck out swinging on their first-round selections involving multiple lopsided trades, resulting in the worst whiffs of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Five Worst Whiffs in the 2017 NBA Draft
Markelle Fultz (1st overall)
The list of misses began at the very top as the Philadelphia 76ers traded up from No. 3 overall to No. 1 overall with the Boston Celtics to select Washington guard Markelle Fultz. Let’s just say this is one of the worst whiffs in NBA history, let alone the 2017 NBA Draft. In his single season with the Huskies, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on solid efficiency, earning him 2016-17 All-Pac-12 honors. During the pre-draft process, Fultz became widely-regarded as the consensus top pick with the 76ers believing him and Joel Embiid would make for an effortless fit.
However, a shoulder injury early into his career disrupted his development. His efficiency took a massive dip as he lost his overall ability to create his own shot. Fultz would play just 33 games (plus three playoff outings) with the 76ers due to the injury before Philadelphia traded him after two seasons to the Orlando Magic in 2019. In Fultz’s first season in Orlando, he showed significant growth in his recovery and performance, averaging 12.1 points and 5.1 assists in 72 appearances.
The former No. 1 pick would continue to supply the Magic with consistent minutes during his five-year tenure, including a productive 2022-23 season where he averaged 14 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals in 60 starts. However, his five-year stint as a viable point guard in Orlando doesn’t discount his time in Philadelphia being a total failure and his eight-year career being an overall disappointment compared to expectations.
Josh Jackson (4th overall)
With the No. 4 overall pick, the Phoenix Suns looked to redeem themselves for their 2016 selection of Dragan Bender. As a result, they aimed for a safer option, selecting Kansas wing Josh Jackson. In his freshman season, Jackson averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, three assists, and 1.7 steals per game, winning 2016-17 Big 12 Rookie of the Year and earning All-Big 12 honors.
To begin his career, Jackson would make an All-Rookie team, averaging 13.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in his rookie season. In his first two seasons with the Suns, he produced two double-digit scoring seasons. However, nothing was guaranteed about Jackson as his inconsistent efficiency became a road block in his development in Phoenix.
The Suns would trade him to the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 offseason, ending a short two-year tenure. Jackson would never truly find a home in the league, suiting up for four organizations during his five-year NBA career.
Frank Ntilikina (8th overall)
The New York Knicks were on the clock with the No. 8 overall pick, selecting guard Frank Ntilikina. After hitting on Kristaps Porzingis in 2015, New York wanted to swing on another international talent. This time they tried to find answers to the problems in their backcourt. In his years in France, Ntilikina failed to earn meaningful minutes, only averaging 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on elite low-volume efficiency in his final season overseas.
However, the Knicks’ experiment with Ntilikina never worked as he quickly became one of the worst whiffs in 2017. New York gave him the opportunity by immediately gifting him 20-plus minutes per game in his first three seasons. Ntilikina couldn’t develop into a consistent contributor though, averaging only six points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in his playing time over those seasons.
The Knicks would move on from the experiment as he earned less than 10 minutes per game in year four. After his rookie contract expired, Ntilikina signed with the Dallas Mavericks before ending his seven-year NBA career with the Hornets in 2024.
Zach Collins (10th overall)
The Portland Trailblazers targeted a trade up in the draft, jumping into the top-10 by swapping their No. 15 overall pick with the Kings’ No. 10 overall pick. With No. 10, they selected Gonzaga big man Zach Collins. In his one-and-done season with the Bulldogs, Collins posted efficient averages of 10 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Gonzaga had begun consistently developing first-round talent with players like Kelly Olynyk in 2013 and Domantas Sabonis in 2016.
Portland wanted to get in the mix and draft the next best Gonzaga big man product. However, the Blazers weren’t lucky enough, failing to fully develop Collins into a long-term contributor in their front court. For a big, Collins was inefficient from the field as a rookie (39.8%). Even though his efficiency improved over his time as a Blazer, he would spend his final season in Portland on the sideline due to ankle injuries.
Collins signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2021 offseason where he saw a leap in production, averaging back-to-back double-digit point seasons. Currently, he’s active on the Chicago Bulls roster after being traded from the Spurs midway through last season.
Tyler Lydon (24th overall)
The Denver Nuggets traded down from their lottery selection with the Utah Jazz to draft Syracuse forward Tyler Lydon with the No. 24 overall pick. In his sophomore season for the Orange, he averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, one steal, and 1.4 blocks per game on excellent three-level efficiency. The Nuggets were searching for spacing alongside their star center Nikola Jokic, and Lydon looked to be a perfect fit.
However, his fit was the exact opposite as he had an injury-riddled rookie campaign. By the time Lydon was healthy for his sophomore season, Denver had already made moves indicating their lack of urgency to develop him. They just drafted Michael Porter Jr. with their lottery selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, creating a crowded forward rotation.
Averaging less than one point in just under four minutes per game, the Nuggets would move on from him after his second season with Lydon never getting another chance in the NBA again. His 26-game career equates to one of the worst whiffs of the 2017 NBA Draft. While Mitchell quickly became Utah’s franchise building block, Denver can only imagine what they could’ve had by remaining in the lottery.
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