NBA Draft: Every team’s least popular pick ever

Los Angeles Clippers – Michael Olowokandi (1996)

There’s a case to be made that the first three picks in the 1998 NBA Draft would qualify as one of each of the franchises that made a selection’s least popular picks ever. Raef LaFrentz isn’t exactly getting a heroes welcome in Denver, the same of which can be said for Mike Bibby. However, the least popular of the three undoubtedly was taken No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the era that they were mired in awfulness: Michael Olowokandi.

Coming out of the University of the Pacific, Olowokandi had the size, strength, and all of the measurables it seemed to be a high quality NBA big man. The only problem with his physical tools standing out so much was the fact that it cast a shadow over the fact that he wasn’t a skilled basketball player at all. And as he made it into the NBA with the Clips, that shadow went away and he was exposed.

Olowokandi spent his rookie contract and five seasons with the Clippers, posting 12.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 38 minutes per game in the 36 games he played in his final season. While that’s not awful, that was his peak season for his career—and those are far from peak No. 1 pick numbers and what those should look like.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers