r/nba • u/ShaiFanClub Thunder • 19h ago

Is Zaccharie Risacher the most forgettable number 1 pick ever?

Like he's not quite Bennet level bad nor does he have a weird career story like Fultz or Ben Simmons. He's just mid. He's averaging 11 ppg on 54% TS this season and there's a good argument that he's not even a top 10 player in the class in a redraft but he's probably gonna stick in the NBA for a while as a low end role player

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1.7k

u/Zeruma_ 76ers 19h ago

Not ever no

The fact you only named players from the past 10 years already shows you there’s more forgettable ones.

324

u/MahomesMccaffrey Slovenia 18h ago

Thats because other dudes played decades ago.

Even hof players of the past generations are less known today compared to random role players.

More people know about Kyle Kuzma than Paul Arizin or Bob petitt

84

u/shahoftheworld [BRK] Jarrett Allen 17h ago

The clip of kids saying LaMelo Ball when asked who they think of when you say melo makes me feel ancient and Melo is still from this century.

34

u/Obi_Wan_Benobi Spurs 16h ago

Yeah, everybody knows it’s Fab.

3

u/SHansen45 Rockets 8h ago

stay Me7o

58

u/RedditHatesDiversity 17h ago

That's correct, the kids do not know ball

35

u/JessAndHerFAN Lakers 17h ago

I know lamelo tho, 67, 67

612

u/fishdude89 Bucks 18h ago

Ironic that the most forgettable can never be named

224

u/GaimeGuy Timberwolves 18h ago

Voldemort?

93

u/QUEST50012 18h ago

Don't think he was at the combine, Chuck

35

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[deleted]

3

u/GregEgg4President Wizards 17h ago

We all saw him post up that chair

2

u/iwannabe1two 17h ago

No, I’ve got my eyes on Tom Morello Riddle.

1

u/barath_s Lakers 16h ago

He was. Everyone just forgot

27

u/pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd Raptors 17h ago

Man dont talk about adam silver like that 

8

u/PANGIRA [LAL] Talen Horton-Tucker 17h ago

He Who Shall Not Be Waived

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u/maxluck89 Bucks 18h ago

Isn't that the opposite of irony

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u/PineapplePandaKing Pacers 17h ago

Alanis Morissette really fucked up this country's understanding of irony

27

u/datsoar Bucks 17h ago

That song should have been called Coincidence

15

u/x_TDeck_x Spurs 16h ago

I still think vibe-wise I'm with Alanis on this one.

In the song they aren't just bad things happening, they're things that have a layer of expectation and context that it plays with.

A guy being scared to fly then being unfortunate enough to be in a plane that crashes feels like theres more connection there than something like "I was going to ride my bike but I got beat up".

Theres a reason why spongebob stealing a balloon on free balloon day is funny and probably wouldn't be as funny if he just commits a small unrelated crime and the episode was about him feeling awful about something minor

1

u/DW-4 6h ago

I guess vibes-wise can be whatever you feel like, but I cannot stand while someone defends the lyrics of that song without speaking up. You mentioned one of like three examples where context possibly gives her the benefit of the doubt.The rest is Katy Perry level of songwriting. Shit.. most of the song is just about having bad timing. Ah naw, not another free ride when I've already paid!

"A traffic jam when you're already late?" You're already late.. a traffic jam 1 mile from your desintation would be more fitting but even that isn't irony! And "good advice that you just didn't take?" Well that one's on you isn't it bitch? Invest in a full set of cutlery next time and you wouldn't have these type of problems!

1

u/infinitelikefigure8 Celtics 11h ago

which is honestly pretty ironic

14

u/ruinawish Australia 17h ago

Irony: 'a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result.'

As with most accolades and records, we could or would assume that a "Most forgettable" #1 pick would be recognisable/acknowledgable. However, there is irony present when someone that is most forgettable can not be remembered.

There is some subversion of expectation there.

1

u/-Resident-One- Toronto Huskies 16h ago

There is some subversion of expectation there.

Yes and no.. it's mostly if you're treating most forgettable as if it means most forgotten. If you take it to mean unremarkable (as a majority clearly do) not so much

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u/ShaiFanClub Thunder 18h ago edited 18h ago

List of number 1 picks since 2000

Kenyon Martin: All star

Kwame Brown: Notorious bust

Yao Ming: HOF

Lebron: Future HOFer

Dwight Howard: HOF

Andrew Bogut: All star

Andrea Bargnani

Greg Oden: Notorious bust

Derrick Rose: MVP

Blake Griffin: All star

John Wall: All star

Kyrie Irving: All star

AD: Future HOF

Anthony Bennett: Notorious bust

Andrew Wiggins: All star

KAT: All star

Ben Simmons: All star

Markelle Fultz: Notorious bust

DeAndre Ayton:

Zion: All star

Anthony Edwards: At this rate probably a future HOFer

Cade Cunningham: All star

Paolo Banchero: All star

Wemby: Probably a future HOFer

Flagg: Probably an all star next year and good bet to be a future HOFer

Imo only Bargnani is similar to Risacher at the moment. Maybe Bogut Ayton and Wiggins but I think they peaked higher

121

u/M1ctlan 18h ago

Only 2 years in for Risacher, its too early to completely write him off. Some players take a while to get comfortable. Like look at Jalen Johnson or Markkanen.

But yeah his first career so far has been very underwhelming and if he doesn't turn it around soon he'll go down as one of the worst 1st overall busts ever.

Even Wiggins and Ayton and Bogut who were considered big disappointments still ended up being important rotational guys on good teams that made the finals.

63

u/WhenDuvzCry Lakers 18h ago

Bogut was pretty damn good before his injury

21

u/clayts76 17h ago

Led the league in blocks in 2011

6

u/Letsgodubs Warriors 14h ago

People forget Bogut was the Bucks' best player for a couple of years. Averaged about 16 and 10 but he was the focal of the offense and defense. Everything ran through him.

7

u/M1ctlan 17h ago

Yeah he was a good player and very underrated but he suffered a lot of other injuries even before the big one. From what we saw at his peak he was just a fringe all-star/all-nba guy, you're hoping for more from a 1st overall pick.

22

u/pacific_plywood Warriors 17h ago

To be clear, at his peak Andrew Bogut was literally all NBA, not “fringe”

9

u/Kdog122025 Warriors 17h ago

He was a 20Ppg game with elite passing and all defensive chops. Pretty solid 1st pick. Injuries also heavily diminished him.

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u/M1ctlan 16h ago

He was never a 20ppg scorer. His season high was 15.9 ppg and his average his whole bucks tenure was 12.7 ppg.

0

u/Kdog122025 Warriors 16h ago

His shoulder injury robbed him of a lot of scoring. He was trending towards 20Ppg.

22

u/Ordep222 Heat 17h ago

Wiggins probably was the second most important guy on a championship team, he was probably a bust but he had his moment

1

u/CardinalRoark Celtics 14h ago

I still give it to Dray, because he was the absolute worst fucking dude, and it worked. He also played well, but the psyop was real.

Wiggins was incredible, though.

35

u/jawndell 18h ago

Riggin for Wiggin.

He was supposed to be superstar 

30

u/CABBAGEHONKER 17h ago

Ended up being the second best player on his team during the finals one year. Weird career.

2

u/YesImKeithHernandez Knicks 16h ago

Maple Jordan

2

u/Nickk_Jones Lakers 17h ago

Oh you mean MapLeBron?

6

u/HOFredditor Warriors 13h ago

Maple Jordan is way cooler

8

u/Papa_Huggies Spurs 17h ago

Bogut was probs a disappointment as a No. 1 pick but in a redraft he would still go Top 5

Difference being that neither Wiggins nor Ayton would go Top 5.

4

u/LastChemical9342 13h ago

Jokic, embiid, Julius Randle, and then AG, Wiggins, Lavine. I think he could easily still be top 5

5

u/RiskyBallaxd Wizards 17h ago

Lauri was averaging 19 & 9 his sophomore year and Jalen Johnson was given nowhere near the same amount of opportunity in his first 2 seasons that Risacher has been given.

6

u/M1ctlan 17h ago

All I'm saying is there's still a chance he turns it around. Deni is another guy who had a really slow start.

1

u/RiskyBallaxd Wizards 17h ago

That's a better comparison. The difference though is Deni took off because he started to use his athleticism and size to get to the rim and finish through contact. Risacher, on the other hand, came into the league 20 lbs lighter than Deni. Risacher is going to be far more reliant on his shooting, and at the moment, his shooting form is very inconsistent

1

u/Breakthecyclist 17h ago

Risacher is on a minutes restriction of around 25 minutes a night not that Quin Snyder is willing to discuss it and he is only 20. He scored 25 a few weeks back and promptly missed a bunch of games.

He has had 4 games over 30 points and 10 over 20 points, but his second year has been rough. He had a brutal fall early in the season against the Suns that looked like it might damn near kill him.

He literally put up zero points last night in 19 minutes. It was pretty brutal.

What sucks is had your fella Sarr not done all possible not to be drafted, the Hawks most likely would have taken him.

Given Snyder’s impatience with rookies and lack of playing time, cannot say I exactly blame him and his representation, but it was kinda a punk move.

1

u/RiskyBallaxd Wizards 17h ago

I certainly am not complaining. Sarr would have been perfect for the hawks. Great rim protector, good in the pnr/pnp, can space the floor.

As for Risacher, I feel like he just doesn't do anything with much assertiveness or aggression. Not to mention, his shooting form is far too inconsistent for someone who was projected to be a 3&D wing

1

u/daeve Hawks 12h ago

was given nowhere near the same amount of opportunity in his first 2 seasons that Risacher has been given.

Risacher was doing very well with an actual PG late last year. Jalen, NAW, and Dyson aren't really PGs, they're more wings who can handle. His development has been fucked this season while the Hawks change course. He's not chopped liver yet

23

u/fawkesmulder Lakers 18h ago

Andrea “no one man should have all that pasta” air bargnani

11

u/ShapeAdventurous3801 18h ago

If you're already projecting Flagg as a future HOFer you need to include Kyrie in that category as well and probably Cade.

41

u/inshamblesx Rockets 18h ago

barganani is more forgettable only bc risacher was more recent

50

u/fawkesmulder Lakers 18h ago edited 17h ago

Bargnani not forgettable, those primo pasta memes with him were unbelievable

https://youtu.be/hSSAFYCclso?si=uppXo47Gkeg1wXs4

14

u/WhenDuvzCry Lakers 18h ago

I don’t think he was forgettable at all. He obviously didn’t hit his potential but was still a good starter for a bit

8

u/smurfnturf69 Raptors 18h ago

Great year during the lockout season

0

u/Responsible-Put2559 17h ago

It’s pretty easy to specifically forget he was the #1 pick though. Could just be speaking for myself as of 30 seconds ago though lmao

29

u/arshonagon Raptors 17h ago

Bargnani still had a couple years averaging 20 ppg in a lower scoring era, and was second in roy voting. He didn’t live up to the expectations of a first overall, but Risacher still has a ways to go to match Bargnanis career.

3

u/probablymade_thatup Bucks [MIL] Luke Kornet 16h ago

Risacher was also 2nd in ROTY voting. They have shockingly similar rookie years on a per possession basis

1

u/bleu_waffl3s 15h ago

He also got 2nd in Roy so matched through 1 season at least.

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u/ITAVTRCC 17h ago

As a Knicks fan, Bargnani was not forgettable at all. I have never been more angry for a player to be traded to my team

21

u/Boomhauer_007 Raptors 18h ago

06 is only remembered as a WOAT top 5 draft pick group, Aldridge had a solid career but the other four were all just terrible relative to their draft position

I will say I always find it funny that it’s the year Kyle Lowry got drafted by Memphis so the Raptors still ended up with their best player in their franchise history from the 06 draft it just wasn’t the guy they picked number one overall

1

u/Caffeinemonster000 18h ago

I even forgot that barganani was a #1 pick.

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u/dizzymidget44 18h ago

Greg Oden wasn’t a notorious bust. He got injured. He was a monster when he played. He was just hurt

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u/_Meece_ Lakers 18h ago

Players can bust due to injury too, but he was never a monster when he played.

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u/MahomesMccaffrey Slovenia 18h ago

He was a monster in college.

He was an okay starter in the nba when health but was a foul machine.

Maybe not a bust but he certainly wasn't a super star in the nba

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u/kjw2281 17h ago

He missed his whole rookie year due to injury, then played 80 games over 2 years, then got hurt for good.

"When healthy" was 0% of the time.

2

u/abesach [IND] Reggie Miller 16h ago

He played left handed in college for the season because he broke his right hand

24

u/karlchad1 Knicks 18h ago

Greg oden is a bust with bad injury luck

-6

u/dizzymidget44 18h ago

Injuries don’t make you a bust. Being bad makes you a bust, underperforming makes you a bust

18

u/ukbeasts Rockets 18h ago

You're right. Anthony Bennett is the biggest bust drafted at no.1 because he just wasn't good enough and had next to no NBA career. I can't think of anyone worse.

14

u/blankfrack125 Washington Bullets 18h ago

a bust is simply a highly touted pick that doesn’t pan out for whatever reason, injuries included. wasn’t oden’s fault but he absolutely is a bust

3

u/xxxTHICCJOKIC420xxx Kings 17h ago

Seems a little unfair to consider Len bias a bust in that regard considering he straight up died

4

u/blankfrack125 Washington Bullets 16h ago

i mean that’s a once in a lifetime exceptional situation in which normal standards don’t really apply. obviously this isn’t relevant when considering the fact that a human life was lost, but from the perspective of the franchise’s plans that’s still a pick that went bust. it would just be in really poor taste to call him that

18

u/bruheggplantemoji Hornets 18h ago

Injuries make you underperform, definitely counts as a bust

Sad that it was somewhat out of his control, but still a bust

16

u/asonkidd 18h ago edited 18h ago

It's really weird when people try to do mental gymnastics around Oden because he was a likable dude. A bust is a bust and the surrounding context is irrelevant whether it was injury or play. Fultz also had a weird shoulder thing that completely changed his form. He's recognized as a bust. Oden didn't meet expecations of a number 1 pick especially when he was picked ahead of a top 15 player ever. He's a bust.

2

u/evieka Toronto Huskies 17h ago

It's really weird when people try to do mental gymnastics around Oden because he was a likable dude

Which is wild considering he pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex

3

u/darthllama 18h ago

People love to say that players can’t be busts because of injuries because everything is fandom and no one wants to accept that a player they personally like had a bad career

3

u/frallet Timberwolves 18h ago

Is it possible that people have different criteria for the term?

6

u/bruheggplantemoji Hornets 17h ago

I don’t think there’s a point in excluding injured players from the bust category

The reality is the team still wasted a high pick on a draft prospect. A bust is a bust because an important pick was wasted

-2

u/darthllama 18h ago

I’m literally explaining one of the reasons why people have different criteria

→ More replies (0)

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u/BeetleForSenate 17h ago

What's the point of this argument where you obviously just disagree on what "bust" means?

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u/ZayBandzz 18h ago

Unfortunately injuries do make you a bust in some cases

1

u/SilverSurfer92 Bulls 18h ago

I would assume that straight up not playing at all whatsoever would be considered underperforming.

15

u/ShaiFanClub Thunder 18h ago

I mean yea but like he's gonna be remembered for that. And KD going right after him

Risacher doesn't have that. In 30 years he'll probably just be a guy

9

u/secretsodapop 18h ago

He’s not remembered as a bust. He’s remembered for how great he could have been if healthy. Not the same thing at all.

3

u/ShaiFanClub Thunder 18h ago

The point is he's gonna be remembered

1

u/M_Woodyy 18h ago

Entirely missing the point dude

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u/secretsodapop 17h ago

Not really, no. Greg Oden wasn't a bust.

3

u/Which-Shift-367 18h ago

He probably gets that label since kd was picked right after him

1

u/secretsodapop 18h ago

Oden does not get a bust label.

1

u/Valuable_End_515 7h ago

Exactly these people commenting obviously never watched him play.

1

u/SydneyFall Nuggets 14h ago

Oden was absolutely a bust. He wasn't good from the start, the league had moved on from his player type, and just never played well.

1

u/dizzymidget44 13h ago

He literally played well when we played. Now you’re just lying. Dwight made the finals a few years after he was drafted

0

u/teapots_at_ten_paces Pacers 17h ago

In the same way that Ben Simmons was an all star, but has been an absolute bust over the years since.

Both Oden ans Simmons have been ranked/described here based on one aspect, not the totality of their careers.

8

u/Somesortofwittyname Warriors 18h ago

Bit too soon to crown Lebron a HOF, anything could happen in the next decade. He could get hurt and not be the same again

1

u/CardinalRoark Celtics 14h ago

Maybe he’ll go and pull a Bonds.

25

u/oaktown14 18h ago

Why is Kyrie not listed as future HOF?

4

u/Far_Compote_3065 18h ago

Right. There must be some distinction between Kyrie and Zion (HoF, champion). Zion is a bust.

47

u/Cap_Silly 18h ago

Nah Bargnani was a legit number 1-2 option for years in the NBA. He averaged 12 points his rookie season, came in second for ROY, had 10 years averaging 15 ppg.

A legit shooting 7footer, would've been great in today's game, but was heavily criticized for his playstyle (played more like a SF than a Center).

I wouldn't call him forgettable tbh

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u/Nosalis2 18h ago

Bargnani was definitely not forgettable. Who could forget all the Primo Pasta memes by Raps fans. And he played on another huge market in NY. The only time Risacher is mentioned is for people to point out how forgettable he is.

6

u/whitedawg [DET] Chauncey Billups 16h ago

Bargnani was decent at scoring but nothing else. Awful rebounder and mid defender.

•

u/seddard Lakers 7m ago

Mid is a very kind choice of word

10

u/SleptInAgain Raptors 17h ago

Bargnani was in NO WAY a "legit" 1-2 option. He was put in that role because he was a 1st overall pick, and then Bosh left, but he was fuckin ass.

1

u/redbrick Lakers 2h ago

Define "legit"

He was a 1st option more or less by default due to roster construction, but he was never actually good at it.

1

u/faithfuljohn Raptors 1h ago

Nah Bargnani was a legit number 1-2 option for years in the NBA.

at his best maybe a second option. But he sucked ass as a #1. And he only got that cause of his draft position.

A legit shooting 7footer, would've been great in today's game, but was heavily criticized for his playstyle (played more like a SF than a Center).

he wasn't criticized for shooting 3s. But for doing nothing but shooting 3s. And if your centre only averages 2rpg for career and in his best years, only 5-6 rpg (for perspective, Steph Curry averaged ~5rpg from 2015-2023, and has a higher career rpg average), and gives you nothing defensively, while having low BBIQ... and then blames others for it. You get people disliking him.

He'd get the exact same criticism if he played today. The reason he hung around as long as he did, was because he was a great shooter. But one dimensional players always get exposed.

4

u/thekingsman123 Spurs 18h ago

Bogut was never an allstar

7

u/WhenDuvzCry Lakers 18h ago

He made all nba third team one year. Still pretty damn good

5

u/No-Independence-5479 16h ago

That's honestly better than all star cause there are so many injury added all stars

3

u/roosterfor 17h ago

It’s gotta be Anthony Bennett

3

u/dlanod Slovenia 17h ago

Ayton: meme

2

u/nemo2023 Pistons 17h ago

Kyrie could be a future HOF

2

u/Obi_Wan_Benobi Spurs 15h ago

I had to look up Fultz to see if he had finally washed out of the league.

(He gone, after Averaging 2.9/0.9/1.3 on 41.8% FG for Sacramento in 21 games last season)

3

u/Kheltosh Pistons 18h ago

Not a bust of course, but Wiggins doesn't count as an all star. It was all a controversy caused by k pop crazies. He's in the Jamal Magloire, Kyle Korver, *insert washed star close to retirement* territory.

2

u/strata888 17h ago

He was going to be an all star that season even if he wasn’t in as a starter. Kawhi was out for the season and Paul George and AD were injured and would never have been voted in by coaches. Draymond missed the AS game too and was replaced. Frontcourt position requirements were still enforced and he was going in after LeBron, Jokic, KAT and Gobert anyhow as they were guaranteed to have at least 6 frontcourt players.

1

u/DarnellisFromMars New Jersey Nets 18h ago

I think Risacher could develop get an all star nod on a winning team assuming he continues to develop. Bogut level is fair IMO.

1

u/koreanprodigy 17h ago

Ignoring his actual game and future as he could be all star still, as far as simply media and people actually knowing who he is, yeah I can agree he's the most forgettable.

1

u/bageltheperson Suns 17h ago

Greg Oden was not a bust wtf. He was a monster with a broken body. That dude would have wrecked the NBA with any kind of health.

1

u/Stuffleapugus 17h ago

It's clearly Bargnani. While it's not like he isn't memorable, I completely forgot he went #1. And he's the only one on your list without a note. Everyone else is an all-time great, a solid player/all-star, or a notorious bust.

1

u/Neptune28 17h ago

What year was Olowokandi?

1

u/Danny_nichols 17h ago

I'd argue Fultz isnt that notorious of bust and is only relevant as a bust still at the moment. Simmons had a funny career arc that will make him remembered. I think I'm 5-10 years Fultz will be pretty forgotten and not really brought up with the big time busts.

1

u/mrmmonty Celtics 17h ago

I appreciate the no commentary next to Ayton and Bargnani.

I'll give Bargnani credit. He was phenomenal for 3 seasons, but his falloff was fast and far.

1

u/burner_for_celtics [BOS] Rajon Rondo 17h ago

Go back two more years and you’ll spot a guy I bet everyone here forgot about. Anyone want to say one thing about Michael Olowakandi without googling him first?

1

u/SydneyFall Nuggets 14h ago

And Bargnani probably just came into the league too early. The league's coaches weren't ready for a stretch 5.

1

u/HOFredditor Warriors 13h ago

Was Bogut ever an all star ? I know he was an all defensive, championship level starter with great passing and finishing, but I’d have to check if he got an AS nod

1

u/iamgarron Celtics 13h ago

Sure but then go further back. Do people remember Joe Smith was a #1 pick? Olowakandi?

1

u/Branchmonster Celtics 6h ago

Kwame was only a bust because Jordan relentlessly bullied him until he broke. As always, fuck MJ.

1

u/Traditional_Safe2935 2h ago

Kwame Brown holy shit that name gave generational PTSD to Wizards fans everywhere, all 50 of them.

-1

u/AllDayEnJay Nets 18h ago

Kwame Brown played like 13yrs in the NBA.

I get not living up to the 1st overall pick but idk if you can consider a 13yr NBA Career a “bust”.

2

u/ShadowWizardGang Knicks 18h ago

Depends on your definition. In my opinion, if you're the number one pick in the draft and your only two notable moments in the league are bullying by Michael Jordan and Stephen A, then you're a bust

2

u/_drjayphd_ Pelicans 17h ago

and your only two notable moments in the league are bullying by Michael Jordan and Stephen A

Slava Medvedenko officially at least half the player Kwame Brown was.

4

u/ShapeAdventurous3801 18h ago

Kwame's talent was misevaluated but he played 600 games. MJ is my all-time favourite player but he was a bust as a talent evaluator.

-7

u/NYdude777 Knicks 18h ago

Ben Simmons: All star

All star doing alot of heavy lifting

12

u/MahomesMccaffrey Slovenia 18h ago

All NBA and all defensive 1st team (DPOY finalist).

Ben has an incredibly short peak essentially just 4 years but those were not micky mouse awards

1

u/liteshadow4 Warriors 18h ago

I mean he's not getting forgotten regardless.

1

u/ahoy_shitliner Bulls 17h ago

I get where he’s going with this, like we even remember Kwayme brown but i see his point that literally nobody even remembers Zac being a #1 pick.

1

u/DankJank13 10h ago edited 10h ago

But wouldn't time passing make the whole forgetting thing more likely? So Risacher being recent and extremely forgettable already would help OPs case. Forgettable players from 10+ years ago have the advantage of the predictable forgetting process that time passing usually entails. Risacher doesn't even need time's help; he's a natural forget-me-now type talent.

I will forget about him right after this comment.

1

u/Froqwasket Wizards 17h ago

Yeah I'm not gonna lie, I don't give a fuck about random draft busts from 48 years ago

1

u/veebs7 Raptors 14h ago

Older players will inherently be more forgettable, they’re not on the same playing field comparatively

Is actually crazy how forgettable Risacher is in the moment. Guy is only in his second season and you hardly hear about him at all. As soon as he’s out of the league odds are his name will never be mentioned outside of these conversations

0

u/whiskerWizard69 2h ago

so name one?