NBA drafts are an inexact science.
Certain players may look great on paper and in workouts but just don’t pan out in the league.
Other players do not show much on paper or in workouts but just have that “it” factor that is needed.
This is exactly why each year there are rookies who thrive and others who disappoint.
The 2022-23 NBA season has been no different.
Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, and Jaden Ivey have all shown flashes at the next level that made them top-five draft picks.
However, there are players on the other side of the scale.
These two rookies have yet to live up to their pre-draft billing.
Johnny Davis
Johnny Davis was the 10th overall pick coming out of Wisconsin.
He was seen as an athletic, strong wing that would play physical defense and penetrate the defense on offense.
His ascension from bench player as a freshman to All-American as a sophomore rocketed him up draft boards.
Davis has yet to show anything in the NBA that would display why he was a top-10 pick.
Things are, uh, not going well early for Johnny Davis. pic.twitter.com/B5gHohphG5
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) October 31, 2022
Johnny has appeared in just eight games, never playing for more than nine minutes.
He has scored a total of nine points on 3-11 shooting while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out 2 assists.
Davis has shown a bit more in the G-League this year, but still has a long way to go.
Mark Williams
The second player, Mark Williams, is on this list more so because of his team than his play.
Williams was selected with the 15th selection in the draft by the Charlotte Hornets to solidify the center position.
Instead, he has found himself behind Mason Plumlee, Nick Richards, and Kai Jones in the rotation.
Williams has thus far appeared in three games, scoring 11 points on 4-7 shooting, and grabbing eight rebounds.
All appearances came in garbage time during blowouts.
The question is why are the Hornets not playing him?
Mark Williams in the G-League (8 Games):
23.1 PTS
12.6 REB
2.1 BLK
62.7 FG%
68.2 FT% pic.twitter.com/CpM4apnJHG— Hornets Coverage (@hornetscoverage) November 30, 2022
They are 6-15 on the season – good for 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte has little hope of making the playoffs this season and yet continues to play a 32-year-old veteran in Plumlee at the center spot.
Those minutes would be better spent developing Williams.
NEXT: 2 Moves The 76ers Need To Make
