The NBA Draft is Thursday and this is one of the more exciting times of the year for Sixers fans. They’re picking 10th and 26th, along with four second rounders. Former general manager Sam Hinkie would be proud.
Related: Top 5 best draft picks in Sixers history
Over recent years, the 76ers selected budding stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, along with to-be-determined Markelle Fultz, and busts Jahlil Okafor and Michael Carter-Williams. They’ve traded for guys like Nerlens Noel, who didn’t work out, and Dario Saric, who is a currently a key contributor for Brett Brown.
Prior to theses guys, the organization made picks that resulted in all time legends and others that flopped spectacularly.
Here are the top five worst Sixers draft picks.
(Tomorrow: The top five best Sixers draft picks).
No. 5 - Jerry Stackhouse, 1995, 3rd Overall
If you’re wondering why Jerry Stackhouse is on this list while Sharone Wright isn’t, it’s because Eddie Jones was the only notable player taken after Wright went sixth in 1994.
Stackhouse put up decent numbers with the Sixers, averaging 19.5 points a game in parts of three seasons. Trading him to Detroit also resulted in the arrival of Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie.
But, Stackhouse was supposed to be a big part of the future with Allen Iverson, and the 76ers passed up on future hall of fame power forward Kevin Garnett, as well as local kid Rasheed Wallace, to pick him. Is it because the team already sported power forward stiff Derrick Coleman?
No. 4 - Evan Turner, 2010, 2nd Overall
It was considered a huge steal when the Sixers luckily finished second in the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery. Many expected John Wall to be taken first by the Washington Wizards, which would leave National Player of The Year Evan Turner to fall to Ed Stefanski.
Little did we know, the Ohio State product couldn’t crack Doug Collins starting lineup at the beginning of the season, and despite flashes of talent, Turner ultimately flamed out his welcome in Philadelphia, and was eventually traded by Sam Hinkie in 2014.
Since leaving the Sixers, Turner has jumped around the league, while DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward and Paul George are All-Stars, three guys Stefanski passed on to pick “E.T.”
In parts of four seasons in Philadelphia, Turner averaged 11.5 points per pane and started 170 on 279 games. Certainly not worthy of the number two overall pick.
No. 3 - Shawn Bradley, 1993, 2nd Overall
It’s never a good sign when a young basketball player takes two years off from the college game to conquer a church mission.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Shawn Bradley’s religious beliefs, but you probably shouldn’t select him number two before Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Vin Baker and Allan Houston.
Bradley only averaged 9.7 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Sixers. He was eventually traded for Derrick Coleman. He wasn’t worth the coveted number two pick in the draft.
Hey, at least Bradley made “Space Jam.”
No. 2 - Larry Hughes, 8th Overall, 1998
One half of “The Flight Brothers” never took off in Philadelphia. Larry Brown picked Larry Hughes eighth in the 1998 draft ahead of superstars and future Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzski and Paul Pierce.
Enough said.
No. 1 - Marvin Barnes, 1974, 2nd Overall
For those of you thinking, "who?" imagine drafting a player second overall and never, ever, ever seeing that person in a 76ers uniform.
For all of the, "what if Joel Embiid never plays" people, that was the case for Marvin Barnes. Except, it wasn't because of injury. After the Sixers choice Providence's Marivn Barnes second in 1974, he elected to play for the Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA.
Meantime, 1975 Rookie of the Year and future Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes was taken 11th. "The Iceman" George Gervin was picked 40th.
No wonder the Sixers were cellar dwellers in the early '70s.
NBA Draft Coverage on 94.1 WIP-FM - Thursday, June 21st from 6-10pm with Joe Giglio, Andrew Porter, and Michael O'Connor.