Going back to the 80s, I'd say these guys 100% DIDN'T live up to the #1 pick expectations. Some for their play, others because of injuries:
- 89 - Pervis Ellison
- 95 - Joe Smith
- 98 - Olowokandi
- 01 - Kwame
- 06 - Bargnani
- 07 - Oden
- 13 - Anthony Bennett
- 17 - Fultz
- 18 - Ayton
These guys could be considered a letdown for the #1 spot too but it's up for debate:
- 80 - Joe Barry Carroll - Warriors traded Parish and the pick that turned into McHale for him. Had questions about his effort early in his career and left the W's to play in Italy for a year. Made 1 all star team but overall had an odd career.
- 88 - Derrick Coleman (only 1 all star team)
- 00 - Kenyon Martin - Overall a solid player from a weak draft class. #43 pick Michael Redd was probably the best player from that draft.
- 05 - Bogut - Good player who had a good career but looking back CP3 and Deron Williams would have been picked before him.
- 14 - Wiggins - Very similar to Bogut. Above average role player on a championship Warriors team, but not quite the sustained production you expect from a #1 pick. Embiid probably would've gone #1 if it weren't for injuries, and Jokic was in the same draft but you can't really blame any team for passing on him. Nobody really thought he'd be a generational big man back then.
- 16 - Ben Simmons - Great player but has slowly gotten worse in basically every way since his rookie year.
- 19 - Zion - We'll see. Health concerns coming into the draft are still the same. He has the talent but if he doesn't stay on the court that talent doesn't matter.
For real dude. That might be the latest whistle I've ever seen.