Every NBA 'Unicorn' Who Failed...

Every NBA 'Unicorn' Who Failed...
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What's going on everybody, it's TREESE, and here are a few NBA Draft Unicorns who didn't work out in the NBA.
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My name is Tristan, and I'm a Finnish-American living in Finland, and I've always had a passion for basketball and content creation. I absolutely love making videos, and with your help I can pursue my dream of becoming a full-time KZbinr!
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NONE Of The Clips Used In This Video Are Owned By Me

[@CaffeinatedCruiser]

Poku is the shortest looking 7ft dude I’ve ever seen

[@bigbangbasketball]

Nah fr lol

[@Adfromrhody]

deadass😭😭

[@user-Veluceus]

I thought he was like 6’7” lmao

[@chiefbuuly1240]

It’s because of his small wingspan

[@bedstuy4_l895]

Might be saying this just because of how high I used to be on Thon Maker, but his complete lack of any sort of development in the NBA doubles the strength of the argument that he was drafted at 24. Surprised that people who believed that side never really used that as fuel.

[@trytinn]

It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility. My father is from South Sudan same country as Thon and he doesn’t know his age he just knows it’s within a 10 year range ex (47-57) so I’d say it’s very likely Manute Bol was like that although records have gotten better but at thons age it still could happen

[@chocolatedaddy2094]

Sex​@@trytinn

[@kenxiong6636]

After you said thon maker. Just be quiet 😂😂😂

[@stevesharpe3370]

It really shows what you know about sports. Uhh he’s good because he’s tall? He’s so tall he has to be good at basketball right? Delete this comment I’m embarrassed for you

[@lukesmith9692]

💯. Don't listen to the people above. They are casuals

[@israteeg752]

In the case of Dragan Bender, the answer is simple: he entered the NBA draft too soon. Scouts fell in love with his potential based on a meaningless youth all-star game and a few youth tournaments with his national team, completely ignoring his poor track record playing against "grown men" even in the Israeli League's 2nd division, and then again a year later with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Bender simply couldn't dominate even there. On defense, he had rebounding and guarding issues against centers and forwards, while offensively he couldn't release the ball quickly enough, causing his shooting percentage to drop, and thus couldn't receive significant minutes to develop his game even at that level, so it's no surprise Bender couldn't bridge the gap at a higher level in the NBA when these same issues followed him there.

[@jamesh7469]

There are still people who genuinely think there is a conspiracy against Bol preventing him from getting playing time... across multiple teams, coaches, competing and rebuilding situations. They really cannot accept that he just has 0 motivation to work and his skills are just highlight reel bait without underlying fundamentals/IQ

[@blackdeku8917]

You haven’t been watching the past games he’s been playing with the suns. He’s playing with discipline now.

[@clevercode30]

@@blackdeku8917 🧢🧢🧢🧢

[@Snickerszn]

@@blackdeku8917yeah I have noticed that but only time will tell. The hood thing for bol bol the suns kinda need him on the defensive end.

[@charliemorris4641]

hopefully he learns things from kd this year and does improve, but realistically hell be lucky to be in any teams rotation soon if he doesnt

[@lazarperic4525]

I watched him when he played for the Nuggets, dude was the most selfish bball player that I've ever seen fr

[@jerrypastrana8176]

Almost every "unicorn" player has never panned out even the ones that did if that makes sense. Unicorn players aren't new in basketball. They've been around forever, they're just alot more common today. One of the issues has been the fact that they're almost always injury prone to begin with and we're talking about since top prospects like Ralph Sampson, Yao Ming all the way to Kristaps Porzingis, who've panned out pretty well, but could never stay healthy long enough. Which is why I prefer traditional basketball.

[@theman9048]

Dirk, KG, and David all worked out.

[@FishingNotCatchin]

KP

[@xaviersoup21]

3:39 I love when KZbinrs do this, it’s hilarious 😂

[@willyPVR]

I thought I was tripping lol😂

[@wxracer23]

He did this because he only played 2 years of full nba seasons and he never got his offense figured out

[@Slurpmode11]

Came here to comment this exactly lmfao

[@jonathank786]

Wondered if ppl noticed lol 😅

[@trvndytay]

Porzingis was in the 2015 draft

[@Max1999_3]

Porizingis hasn’t failed

[@yuhaowen9862]

He wasn't saying Kristaps' a failure either, but completely opposite - it's Kristaps' solid performance led to some of the drafts in this video.

[@luther1546]

The obsession with three point shooting has made the NBA unwatchable. Watching guys constantly chucking up deep threes is boring. That and the insane amount of commercials.

[@Paulie_Geelie]

The NBA used to be unique, each team with its own flavor. You had the grit and grind Grizzlies who’d always give your favorite team a scare in the playoffs, the Spurs, with the most beautiful basketball ever played, the young and electric Thunder, led by sharpshooting big man KD, the up and coming Warriors and Rockets, and whatever team Lebron happened to be on that year. You had sharp shooting teams, interior bully teams, ball movement teams, balanced teams, pick and roll teams, motion system teams, etc. Now everything is just, superstars surrounded by 3-D wings and rim protecting big men. Don’t get me wrong, the superstars are still great, but the role players are all just different shades of Khris Middleton; 6-8, shooting defending wings. There are no JJ Bareas, no Borris Diaws, no Brandon Bass, no Lamar Odoms, no Andre Millers. Everybody looks the same, shoots the same, dribbles the same, scores the same, and plays the same. It’s boring.

[@jaydagoat8503]

@@Paulie_Geeliethis is why guys like ja are so great to watch and are a breath of fresh air

[@cyruswang9354]

@@Paulie_Geelie shot creating super star/s+ 3&d wings and a rim protecting center That’s been the meta for ever single championship team since the bill russel era.

[@bigbangbasketball]

Everybody wanna be like steph instead of doubling down on their strengths

[@fierankearey9118]

⁠​⁠@@Paulie_GeelieI also have a love for skilled wings/bigs who can handle and pass like Diaw, Bass and Odom- but even if everyone shoots more threes I think the league still has players who fit the archetype. Dudes like Aaron Gordon, Deni Advija, Franz Wagner and Pascal Siakam have all filled that void for me

[@tidedetergent4382]

3:40 high af rn but did he just repeat himself twice here?

[@xaviersoup21]

No you just high

[@haydenwells4609]

he repeats it almost exactly 😂

[@swrmilk]

I thought you’d mention Johnathon Bender, who was supposed to be KD, played small forward at 6”11 in the early 2000’s, and i think sg before the nba.

[@robertlowrie8446]

The list should be called "Teams who failed to develop top prospects."

[@Snickerszn]

Bender really didn’t have a chance in nba. He’s not even playing ball in Europe anymore at age of 25.

[@siler22]

you think anyone who plays basketball can become great/elite?

[@jolosarmiento24]

Or maybe they were just overhyped to begin with?

[@theman9048]

the bucks develeped Giannis and Middletown its not on them. Thon just didnt do what he needed to do.

[@JoshBeFreeTV]

They were all overhyped. Not a single one of these players were truly legitimate NBA prospects. They were all physically underdeveloped, feeble minded, and immature basketball players who's athleticism or stature got their weaknesses overlooked by incompetent authorities (team owners, GMs, Scouts, etc)

[@ponypower8]

I think if we really do a DEEP DEEP DEEP dive about the 1st NBA "unicorn", we might end up with the name Ralph Sampson from the 1980's.

[@guiwhiz]

I think Poku has a real shot in the right program under the right coach. San Antonio as a backup to Wemby might be a good fit as there is no better coach to bring along a young big man. The other team where I think he might find some success would be Detroit.

[@ameribrahim3120]

Bol Bol is a forward so Jokic position and status didn't affect his minutes but his work ethics and IQ and selfness put him in this list

[@charliemorris4641]

Bol Bol would be good if he didnt have one of the worst basketball IQs in the league, both offensively and defensively makes horrible decisions and never improved on that

[@alex-h.]

People often overlook the mental side of the game. Being strong or long only takes you so far. What will allow you to stick around is whether or not your skills could prevail when faced with a guy as big as you. Giannis, Shaq, Yao, Embiid, Lauri, Porzingis and so on. They are all hyper skilled. It's not just height they are relying on.

[@trevormay101]

“Unicorn” is starting to not mean anything. Almost like “generational QB” in the NFL

[@TREESEhoops]

Is that getting thrown around in the NFL too?

[@trevormay101]

I swear I feel like they say best QB prospect we’ve seen in years every other year

[@TREESEhoops]

Sounds like the NBA lmao @@trevormay101

[@bigbangbasketball]

Really have been watered down dramatically

[@RomnysGonzalez]

If the dude is African imported on his late on his HS years and decided to skip College you better be ready to receive a Bust

[@dtmt502]

and Gianiss is an extremely hard worker, it's stupid to expect other players to become like him

[@mt.2237]

He moved to Australia when he was a kid you genius. He even played for the Australian Olympic team. He wasn't imported from Africa to USA.. smart one

[@OK-yy6qz]

Embid?

[@anthonyplanzo1082]

Porzingis should not be on this list.

[@agnelo000]

kristaps is still good

[@BBallRambles]

This was a very well made video. I appreciate all the work you put into it. But I will disagree with you saying Bender and Maker “didn’t get the chance” to develop. That’s pretty much all they did in the NBA. They spent years training with pros under pros and got lots of court time alongside pros. They just weren’t very good. It has nothing to do with them not getting a chance. And if the argument is… now that they are developed and in their prime we should give them another chance. Unfortunately, these guys are in their prime and not even the best players on their foreign league or national teams. They just aren’t NBA level talents.

[@cheesebuilding]

And with that, TREESE IS BACK

[@chrisreqkless]

good video. very informative

[@hennivaananen1255]

Niin hyvä video taas!😍

[@snakey973]

Kills completely the arguement that 'anyone can do what Giannis does, he has no bag'

[@MostlyML]

3:42 onwards I thought I was tripping 😂

[@beansie8213]

3:50 nice editing pal!

[@lukesmith9692]

Dragon is pronounced Draw-gan not drow-gone. Thon was maybe 25 when drafted and didn't improve ever, that was his problem. Everything else is spot on. Good work

[@lukapaic7560]

Its Dragan and its not draw gan its Dra gan Like saying grrra but with a d

[@aureocalles]

How fitting. Draw-gone 😂

[@TREESEhoops]

@@aureocalles I was about to say, maybe I got it right 😅

[@TREESEhoops]

Thanks! You really think Thon was 25? I never heard that he was SIX years older than he claimed.

[@lukesmith9692]

@@TREESEhoops yeah you got it right lol. Yes it was considered he was much older than he was and is why he didn't improve. They found a Australian high school graduation photo years before then years later he was 18 again. Big mystery though

[@alexndrtrash]

Yo Brodie had a double line at 3:40 Dope as fuck video also

[@TREESEhoops]

I really can't believe I did that, watched it over many times haha. Thanks bro!

[@alexndrtrash]

@@TREESEhoops no stress man it happens haha keep up these vids man I loved this

[@_Vancelvany_]

Dragan Bender was not a big man talent that you put in as a C or PF. He's more like Lauri Markannen or Danilo Gallinari. At minimum, I always felt he could have been like Nikola Mirotic. Dude is a 7'0ft shoot first SF. Should have been developed that way. Wasted potential IMO. He's 26 now and plays in Spain but I feel he could still be serviceable in the NBA for a role wing player. Size is talent and he has a shooting touch, just needs the proper set-up & right team. Everything else he brings is a bonus. Poku is now on a similar boat but that boy is for sure a better handler & defender, lots to learn though and polish fundamentally. He's 22 now so time is ticking but I feel he can carve a 15 min role playing career akin to maybe like Cedi Osman? All rounded forward kinda role player. Poku's great defensively but he's no Center though...and that's the issue. OKC has Chet Holmgren who does everything Poku can do way better. Poku maybe can carve a niche as a Holmgren back-up @ OKC but I doubt they'll look to re-sign him...

[@merlinbotha363]

Its helps being at OKC , they are invested in making players instead of luring them

[@denim5667]

9:13 😭😭😭😭😭

[@thorphoeung6057]

I don't think KP "failed", he is a borderline All-Star for the past few years. He is playing for the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics.

[@tnertttahcuot8743]

no mo bamba?

[@matisit8673]

he still has hope as he still in leugue with 76ers, where he has had glimses but ultimatly not much going on for em, but i dont pay attention to much to 76ers so I could be a bit off

[@tnertttahcuot8743]

@@matisit8673 he’s in a very similar situation to bol bol

[@wxracer23]

3:40 why did you say the same thing twice lol

[@user-qg9dq7cw6f]

NBA politics Lauri Markkanen was allowed to play SF. The other unicorns where forced to play center

[@Yellow_belly777]

Bol bol is realistic a really tall SF or SG

[@abw1317]

Never understood the Bol Bol defenders. Like people still think he can be a superstar if he gets the chance. Are they only watching higkights, actually, even his highlighys point to several major flaws.

[@cursivewriting9315]

Next time Suns play the Spurs we need Bol Bol vs Wemby man

[@ryanward2855]

Bruno caboclo could’ve been on the list too. He was once called the “Brazilian kd”

[@JacionBryant]

You have some of the next videos

[@PokuHighlights]

Let me tell you the truth of Poku DNP this year… simply because he refused to sign a cheap contract extension and Presti decided to penalise his decision. It’s widely reported in Europe. Don’t make up reasons… you are welcome

[@joelgabriel7066]

Nice Video

[@cristobalfernandeziv]

where is ma boy, KAI SOTTO?

[@Reggular]

Andrea Bargnani was the first unicorn forreal

[@SiNsCere1100]

You know ball

[@stevesharpe3370]

@@SiNsCere1100 nah he doesn’t know ball at all Andrea bargnani was drafted in 2006 far from the first “unicorn”😂 basketball didn’t start in 2005.😂 You young kings need to check out this brother name Dirk nowitzki he was actually a pretty good player and made some all star teams not the first unicorn ever either but before Andrea barganini

[@stevesharpe3370]

nah Andrea bargnani was drafted in 2006 far from the first 1😂 basketball didn’t start in 2005. You young kings need to check out this brother name Dirk nowitzki he was actually a pretty good player and made some all star teams not the first unicorn ever either but before Andrea barganini

[@SiNsCere1100]

@@stevesharpe3370 dope story fam!

[@stevesharpe3370]

@@SiNsCere1100 no not a door story, it’s true look it up that Dirk nowitzki dude I’m talking about was a 7ft jump shooter from Germany who actually won a championship as one of the top 3 players on his team

[@BIG-F3LLA]

Hopefully Zvonmir Ivisic can avoid this trajectory

[@vintagemonte]

No mention of KD is INSANE 😂

[@HipixOFFICIAL]

???

[@jermainerodgers]

Is he 7ft up?..

[@i-work-at-enron]

The jury's still out on Bol Bol

[@bigbangbasketball]

The next wave of “generational” players will be called Aliens

[@Mr.0ne]

Bruno Cabocolo and Thon Maker were trash.

[@kashganja]

kids come to fast to the nba . 4 years to collage and then to the draft should be the case.

[@midgetman2251]

I thought i was having a stroke at 3:50

[@cmkasemichael]

Uh you need to edit the audio at the 3:45 mark buddy

[@TREESEhoops]

What happened?

[@TREESEhoops]

Oh jeez 😭

[@DigitalDash-]

Idk if we'll ever see another unicorn similar to KD

[@bigradwolf5001]

I want to get all these players in 1 team and they will be champs.

[@ericjohnorenciada5062]

So unfortunate! What about Wemby and Chet? What do you think?

[@AuburnFanSince2010]

I thought Thin Maker was going to be a KG KD hybrid.

[@JMX2323]

Thought i was going to see Mario Hezonja

[@homelesstogreatness6626]

KeBENDERant 👍

[@WcoopW]

Kevin Durant played shooting guard his rookie year at 6’11

[@jeffsy7941]

Thunder pick Poku? i see that it was the wolves

[@goldncheez8578]

Bol Bol had a poor work ethic but had he been given his initial slotted playing time he would have gotten injured and or been good(well never know)

[@markroze]

As an Israeli I can tell you that Dragan Bender was a PR project by Maccabi Tel Aviv, same claims were on arrival to the team, about this “wonder kid” from Croatia who can do it all, after his season on the team fans here knew this guy is super soft and has low basketball IQ with very limited athleticism, the NBA gives high reward for player acquisition for a euro league team especially if its a lottery pick. The NBA got fooled and for good reasons, European scouting in america was taken for a long time as an afterthought which lead to the hallucination of missing out on Luka Doncic after two finals (euro league and euro basket) where he did exactly what he’s known for but at the age of 18/19, Dragan was always a euro league rotation player at best.

[@markroze]

Love the content tho @TREESEhoops

[@LordGospelMusic]

Kristaps is back in his prime 🔥

[@1_bad.vibes_132]

dragon bender had me down bad as a suns fan

[@colemanmurray2817]

poku been hurt?

[@peterkonkoly8552]

Taco Fall?

[@ryand8412]

Deni Avidja is the next unicorn bust imo

[@Treadondeez]

Porzingis was drafted in 2015….

[@JayBe443]

3:43 he only got 2 seasons..

[@mackaroo5606]

If only golden state sign any of them. They could possibly be developed properly especially they are what the team needs right now

[@HFH-Official]

Why do these guys make videos as if the NBA started after 2010? Unicorns? They have been around forever, and not all of them are/were tall. Pete Maravich, then Bob Cousy, then Magic were perfect examples of "unicorns". The first tall one was Ralph Sampson back in the 80s. You kids need to go back and watch some videos or do better research or something. SMH! Edit: I can keep going Arvyidas Sabonis, Toni Kukoc, Darco Milic, hell... even Barkley is considered a "unicorn".... This was a good video, but it pisses me off that kids omit history as if the Nba started in their times.

[@ponypower8]

I think you forgot that Darko Milicic was the first NBA "unicorn"....unfortunately, his career was underwhelming.

[@damonchandler9887]

No he wasn't.

[@ponypower8]

@@damonchandler9887 so most likely, you were either too young or not deeply invested in basketball during the months leading to the 2003 NBA draft.

[@ronnielpapasin403]

Can y'all still compare Bol Bol to Wemby?

[@reflection3391]

KP shouldn't be on this list..

[@friction5001]

I wish the bucks sent him to the G league to develop

[@zacharytaylor7706]

Porzingis wasn’t the genesis for these types of players. It was Kevin Durant

[@honerabletate6334]

? Never ran okc offense it was Russ

[@robertcool2365]

Thon Maker - more like Thon Misser

[@michaelmayers3622]

Nba always been a tall man game not a curry ga😢me

[@DiorInEveryStore]

Bol Bol didn’t fail

[@brooklynbridges125]

Exactly, he just didn’t and up getting minutes

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

It’s year 5 and he has played a total of135 games. That’s pretty much failing.

[@c1dotzsxjigga940]

3:42-3:55 was a weird sentence

[@XcuzeTheMessDeer]

They all look so breakable. The physicality of the late 90s early 2000s needs to return real defense and dueling in the paint. These stickmen look so awkward and look like they might break

[@TSL14Ty]

Bol Bol should not be on here, he was a second round pick and he has played good in the nba

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

Players that play good aren’t on their third team by their 5th year.

[@benbengalykaba2957]

This trend started with KD. He is the real first unicorn

[@Snickerszn]

Yeah but we all knew he was gonna be great. We didn’t know anything about a lot of these guys.

[@Danxiong]

Dirk?

[@febalonzo9586]

✓

[@TheNorthRemebers]

3:39

[@beminem]

anyone remember kai sotto?

[@Danxiong]

Nikoloz Tskitishvili

[@Joefdgtr]

So many excuses for not making it. Oh, if the franchise gave them more opportunities then they could be a good player.... Please. Just call it like it is. They werent good enough but thats fine. Some of them will have a career in other leagues, some will fall out of basketball completely, some will bounce back. Such excuses to me just hides away from potential calling out players downsides and just focuses on their upsides.

[@Datdetox]

Thon maker career ended at the age of 28 not 23 😂😂😂 dude was a grown man playing against little kids got to play against men his age and was exposed

[@johnnyalvarez6792]

Where’s Michael Kidd Gilcrest

[@TREESEhoops]

Did you scroll through the video in 10 seconds

[@meech6848]

I think BOL BOL CAN succeed still. That younger Bol is a BEAST TOO!!!

[@moubak_]

Noti

[@TREESEhoops]

my man Mou!

[@DwayneIsKing]

I think Bender would have been what Franz Wagner is becoming in Orlando if he was drafted to Phoenix today. You can tell James Jones is putting a better emphasis on player development in Phoenix now. Phoenix had NO IDEA what to do with them. And they just lucked out on the aggressive player IQ that Booker came in the league with that allowed him to develop into one of the best NBA players in the league

[@jalendashaun3352]

yooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@yeali2705]

love ur videos bro, but its very premature to call Bol a bust. A bust is defined by your draft standing and ranking . he was a 2nd rounder lol that's like calling Carlos boozer a bust. he was a late 2nd round pic with a couple all star appearances. but he was so good in NBA, people thought he shouda been EVEN better .

[@teogotdasauce4233]

The reason bol dropped so far was he got hurt in college, if he would have stayed another year he would of been a lottery pick for sure !!

[@JaeSproo]

3:08 time stamp - "For some reason his three point shooting got even lower". This is causality. He got stronger, lifting weights. So he started finishing much better at the basket. If you arms get stronger and more muscular?? Most people lose "touch" on their jump shots. Stephen Curry is the only one I've ever seen BULK UP and not lose any touch at all.

[@nycnow811]

Why were teams going crazy for that black center from Madrid? I think he was like 6'9 or something and is it true the Celtics offered like 5 1st round picks for that small forward the suns drafted???