Atlanta Hawks: 5 worst NBA Draft lottery picks in team history

Atlanta Hawks worst lottery pick No. 3: DerMarr Johnson life was almost very different

DerMarr Johnson was, in a lot of ways, ahead of his time. A 6-foot-9, 201-pound forward with crazy athleticism, he might have thrived if he were playing in the wide-open style of today’s NBA. As it stands, he mediocre career even for a journeyman, after being drafted sixth overall in 2000.

It might not be all his, or anyone’s fault after he was forced to miss the entire 2002 season with a neck injury suffered during a car crash. It nearly ended his life but it definitely stunted his growth and career.

Johnson averaged 5.1 points and 2.3 boards as a rookie but saw those numbers increase to 8.4 points and 3. rebounds in his second season. He also averaged 1.1 assists that season.

There was clearly progress being made.

The accident fractured several vertebrae in Johnson’s neck threatening to keep him off the court forever. He returned in 2003 with the Suns, playing another four seasons after that; three of which were with the Denver Nuggets.

Johnson averaged just over three points in each of his final two seasons, the last coming in a five-game cup of coffee with the San Antonio Spurs.

This is obviously not the typical “bust” story because of the accident. It’s fair to wonder what could have been. But it’s also fair to note the numbers never quite getting to the levels many expected of him.

He was a one-and-done at Cincinnati but averaged 12.6/3.8/1.4 with a steal per game to boot. Perhaps the athleticism jaded the Hawks decision-makers too much.