After getting drafted, most rookies are subject to NBA player comparisons from fans and analysts. Believe it or not, most of these comparisons are completely wrong. Since most of these are wrong, they can be very funny looking back at them.

I’m here to give you some of the worst yet funniest NBA player comparisons of all-time.

#1: DeShawn Stevenson compared to Michael Jordan

Stevenson had a sub-par career and certainly didn’t meet his lofty player comparison. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

This one takes the cake as the worst NBA Player Comparison of all time due to Stevenson drawing a comparison to arguably the best player of all time.

Stevenson had a 13 year career where he averaged 7.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.6 APG. Now I am not a statistician, but that is no where near a 15 year career with averages over 30 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG.

DeShawn Stevenson had a fine career, winning a ring in Dallas. But on that Dallas team, he was far from the best player but was a key piece defensively. Sure he won a ring against LeBron in Miami, but was his career anywhere near the 6 time champion from Chicago? No. Did Stevenson ever have his own brand? No. Does he have any famous moments in the NBA? No. Did he ever lace them up along side Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck against the Monstars? No.

Verdict: Stevenson was no where near his airness.

#2: Eddy Curry to Shaquille O’Neal

Sure the size was close between Shaq and Eddy Curry, but it is tough to project any player to be as dominant as the Big Diesel. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

The scouts said Eddy Curry had more strength and polish than Shaq. Let me repeat that, scouts thought Eddy Curry had more strength and polish than SHAQUILLE O’NEAL. Curry was a serviceable big for his 11 year career. But was far from as dominant as the Hall of Famer.

Shaq nearly doubled up Curry’s career average. O’Neal had an MVP, 3 finals MVPs, won the scoring title, and was on the All-NBA team 14 times. 14! Curry had fine years, one year he almost averaged 20 PPG (19.5 PPG). In Shaq’s first 14 years in the NBA he never dipped below 20 PPG.

Verdict: C’mon man

#3: Adam Morrison compared to Larry Bird

Another player that fell well short of his NBA player comparison, Morrison didn’t live up to his hype coming out of Gonzaga. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

In his short 2 year career, Morrison averaged 7.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG. He won a ring with Kobe’s Lakers but came no where close to the caliber of player that Bird was. Mind you that Bird has a nickname ‘Larry Legend’ and the only thing that Morrison was a legend at was being a bust.

When Morrison was drafted 3rd overall out of Gonzaga, Charlotte fans were excited to get forward who was a proven scorer in college. I’d warrant to say fans were too excited, comparing him to Larry Bird? Come on. Morrison is seen as one of the biggest busts of all time, and Bird was a 3 time NBA champ, and had a hall of fame career. Looking back, whoever made this comparison probably wishes they could go back in time and bite their tongue.

Verdict: If we were comparing Mustaches, it’d be a lot closer. But Morrison never came close to the caliber of player Bird was.

#4: Kawhi Leonard to Luc Mbah a Moute / Gerald Wallace

Granted his progression into the superstar today is partially due to his development in San Antonio, but Mbah a Moute? Gerald Wallace? Safe to say this comparison can be thrown out the window. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

Both Mbah a Moute and Wallace were above average role players. But Kawhi is a much better player than an above average role player. Kawhi was drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan throughout last year’s playoffs. It seems Leonard is what scouts thought DeShawn Stevenson would become.

I don’t mean to take anything away from either Mbah a Moute or Wallace, both are above average wing defenders with their length. And like I said previously, Kawhi’s progression is partly due to the Spurs and Popovich’s tutelage. But I said Leonard is the best player in the NBA right now, and neither Mbah a Moute or Wallace came close to being a top 10 player when they were in their primes.

Verdict: Kawhi is becoming an all-time great, and has thoroughly outperformed his draft night comparisons.

#5: Alexey Shved to Penny Hardaway

Wait a minute, Who was compared to Penny Hardaway? Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

Alexey Shved, a Russian guard who came into the NBA with high hopes from scouts due to his elite scoring and quick hands shown overseas. Well Shved only played 3 years in the NBA and could never find his footing, so he went back to play overseas. Safe to say that Shved came nowhere near to the 4 time all-star career of Penny Hardaway.

Verdict: Shved did not live up to the lofty comparison to Penny.

#6: Draymond Green to Jared Dudley / Luke Harangody

Comparing Draymond was tough coming out of college, as his unique size at the forward position left a lot of unknowns, but Jared Dudley? Come on. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

Jared Dudley is certainly an NBA player, that is not in doubt. But scouts missed the mark when comparing Draymond Green to him and Luke Harangody. Between Harangody and Dudley there are 0 championships. Draymond 3 championships, a defensive player of the year, and has been an All-NBA player twice. Like I said, finding a comparison for Draymond was tough. But coming out of Michigan St. Green had too much talent and basketball IQ to compare him to Jared Dudley.

Verdict: Green has been a driving force of one of the best dynasties in NBA history. Has Jared Dudley ever been that? No. You know the answer.

#7: Giannis Antetokounmpo to Nicolas Batum

Similar to Draymond, projecting Giannis’s future in the league due to his unique size and skillset. But Batum is much smaller and plays a different style than the Greek Freak. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

Giannis’s size is unprecedented and cannot be compared to any NBA player, current or former. Coming into this season at 6’11” with a wingspan of 7’3″, it was and still is tough to draw a comparison for the Bucks forward. But I am here to tell you, Nicolas Batum is not it.

Batum has been a serviceable player throughout his career for the Blazers and the Hornets. But he has never reached Antetokounmpo’s level of stardom. Last year’s MVP started his career slow after getting drafted, but has continually progressed into the top 5 player we see today.

Verdict: It’s still early, as Giannis is only 24, but it is safe to assume that the Greek Freak will outperform his NBA Comparison.

#8: Klay Thompson to Marco Belinelli

Another player who’s career trajectory was tough to project coming out of Washington State, but he has shown that he is a much better player than Marco Belinelli. Photo Credits to nbadraft.net

Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters of all time. Belinelli is a fine shooter, but nowhere near the elite level of Thompson. Klay has won 3 NBA championships and was integral piece of what the Golden State Warriors wanted to do offensively. Belinelli won a championship in San Antonio alongside of all-time greats like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili. Thompson also played alongside of greats. But his impact on the Warriors dynasty dwarfs Marco Belinelli’s impact on any of the 9 teams he has played for.

Not to mention Klay is one of the elite guard defenders in the NBA. Marco Belinelli, well he has been a below average defender for most of his career. Klay Thompson is the best spot up shooter in the NBA, which is what Belinelli’s role is. So if Klay is the best at what Belinelli’s role is, why was he compared to him?

Verdict: Coming out of WSU, Klay wasn’t expected to be the player he is now, but Thompson has severely outperformed his NBA comparison.

All I am saying are player comparisons are very hard to do.

There are too many mitigating factors when it comes to comparisons. Injuries, how their game will adjust to the NBA, whether they join a good team, the list goes on and on about how players can boom or bust.

For guys like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the system they were put into allowed them to outperform their expectations and their comparison. But for guys like Stevenson, Morrison, and Eddy Curry, the lofty expectations put on them by scouts and analysts made their career look worse than what it is. Fans expect big things from players compared to MJ, Shaq, or Bird, and if they don’t perform up to snuff, the past comparisons will be looked at.

So stop trying to compare players the night they are drafted. Give them a year, see them in NBA action and form an opinion on what you have seen from them. Do not jump to conclusions.

There are plenty of bad NBA player comparisons from draft night, this is just highlighting some of the worst. Also thanks to nbadraft.net, as all the comparisons could be found on that site.

Featured Image. Top 5 Worst NBA Draft Comparisons of All-Time. Photo Credits to fadeawayworld.com