Hornets Beware: 7 Biggest busts at pick No. 2 in NBA Draft history

Draft Bust No. 5: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 2012

The 2012 Kentucky Wildcats were absolutely loaded. Anthony Davis led the way as the 2012 National Player of the Year, while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was a Second Team All-American and two other Wildcats, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, were All-SEC players. Kentucky lost just twice all season and won the NCAA Tournament.

Six players from that team were drafted that year, with four going in the First Round. Davis led the way at No. 1, but Kidd-Gilchrist was right there at No. 2 for the Charlotte Bobcats. He made an early impact, putting up multiple 25 point, 12 rebound games and was named a Second-Team All-Rookie.

Unfortunately, things fizzled from there. Kidd-Gilchrist was n excellent defender and rebounder but never put things together on the offensive end. Multiple leg injuries took him off the court and likely stunted his development, but it doesn’t seem like even a healthy Kidd-Gilchrist would have developed the requisite skill to be anything more than a defensive specialist. He spent eight seasons in Charlotte and another handful of games with the Dallas Mavericks before retiring in 2020.

Just Missed: Bradley Beal went one pick later, and Damian Lillard just a few picks after that. Much later on, Draymond Green was the epitome of the player the Hornets wished they had taken at No. 2.

Hornets this Draft: Uh, moving on…