NBA Draft 2012: Biggest NBA Draft Busts Of The Past 12 Years
By Chris Walder
4) NIKOLOZ TSKITISHVILI
Selected #5 overall in the 2002 NBA Draft
Career Averages: 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Selected over: Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince
If there was ever a book written on why drafting foreign players is such a big risk, Nikoloz Tskitishvili would be gracing the cover.
He was drafted solely on potential. He only averaged 6.2 points a game while playing limited minutes over in Europe (KK Slovan and Benetton Treviso).
The thing about potential is that someday, you’re expected to live up to it.
Tskitishvili never did.
Being a 7 footer and shooting 30% from the field is simply unacceptable. ESPN’s Adam Reisinger rated Tskitishvili the worst NBA draft lottery pick ever selected at 5th overall.
It’s hard to disagree with that statement.