Ranking the 7 worst Wizards starters of the Gilbert Arenas era

CLEVELAND - APRIL 30: Caron Butler #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrates what turned out to be the game winning shot with Roger Mason #8, Brendan Haywood #33 and Gilbert Arenas #0 while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 30, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio. Washington won the game 88-87 but trail in the series 2-3. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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No. 3: Kwame Brown

Perhaps no player embodies the Washington Wizards organization and the fan experience as much as Kwame Brown does.

In 2001, NBA was beginning to be dominated by players coming straight-out-of-high school. Kwame Brown was supposed to be the next star to do so. The Washington Wizards drafted him no. 1 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft with expectations that he was going to be their franchise cornerstone for the next decade.

Things didn’t go according to plan.

Brown crumbled under the pressure of being the first-overall pick, and most importantly playing under Michael Jordan as a 19-year-old.

As part owner and the president of basketball operations at the time, Michael Jordan had a huge role in drafting Kwame Brown. So, when he made the decision to return to playing, he was harder on Brown than anyone else. In his mind, Brown wasn’t only making the team executive Michael Jordan look bad but he was also damaging the legacy of Michael Jordan the player.

Brown failed to thrive in these circumstances and finished his Wizards career with averages of 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 45.5% from the field in 94 starts in 253 games. Who knows what Brown could have been in a different situation but he certainly isn’t blameless as he failed to make an impression for the five other teams he played for after Washington either.

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