The definition of a “bust�? when it comes to an NBA player is someone who doesn’t meet the expectations given to them when they come out of the NBA draft. It’s a common occurrence for players to be highly touted coming out of college securing them to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft, and then turning out to be an underwhelming NBA player. Michael Carter-Williams has found himself to be one of those players.
Rookie of the Year
The terms “Rookie of the Year,�? and “Bust,�? aren’t typically used to describe the same NBA player, but in this case they are. In the 2013 NBA Draft the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Michael Carter-Williams with the eleventh pick. During the 2013-14 season MCW averaged 16.7 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 1.9 steals per game. This stat line proved to be the best among the rookie class of 2013 as MCW won the Rookie of the Year award for that season. MCW also had one of the best rookie debuts in NBA history where he tallied 22 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds, and 9 steals. That steal total is the most ever by a rookie in a debut game. To someone unfamiliar with Michael Carter-Williams they would be questioning how a player with this stat line is a bust. Well, MCW’s rookie season is where he peaked. His stats and usage would only go down from the 2013-14 season to now.
MCW’s second season was also a solid season. Prior to the beginning of the 2014-15 season MCW underwent a shoulder surgery that forced him to miss the beginning of the season. He would come back on November 13th, and make his season debut against the Mavericks. In that game he tallied nineteen points, eight rebounds, and five assists. By the end of MCW’s second season he was averaging 14.6 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, and 5.3 rebounds per game. He also racked up two triple-doubles in his second season, giving him five career triple-doubles in his first two seasons.
The Beginning of the End
On February 19, 2015 Michael Carter-Williams found himself in a position that most NBA players dread being in. MCW was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2015-16 season MCW found himself missing five of the first nine games of the season due to an ankle injury. After returning to play on November 14th, MCW continued to start for the Bucks but was soon moved to the bench on November 29th. Jerryd Bayless would take his spot after MCW began to show he wasn’t good enough to be the starting point guard spot. On March 7, MCW was ruled out for the rest of the 2015-16 season with a torn labrum in his left hip. He finished the 2015-16 season averaging 11.5 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Traded Again
On October 17, 2016 Michael Carter Williams was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Tony Snell. MCW’s debut for the Bulls consisted of five points, six rebounds, and three assists coming off the bench. Later that season on November 1, 2016, MCW was ruled out to miss four to six weeks of game time due to a bone bruise on his knee and a wrist sprain. MCW finished the 2016-17 season with measly averages per game. MCW averaged 6.6 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 3.4 rebounds per game. These totals aren’t even the worst of his career. In just his next season his totals went down even more.
A New Team, Once Again
Michael Carter Williams’ tenure with the Bulls only lasted one season. After the 2016-17 season MCW thought a change of scenery would be best for his career and signed with the Charlotte Hornets for the 2017-18 NBA season. MCW hoped to find that spark he had with Philly in his rookie season in Charlotte but unfortunately for him, he never did. MCW performed poorly the whole season and on March 9, 2018, MCW found himself ruled out for the rest of the season with ANOTHER injury. This time the injury was a labral tear in his left shoulder. He finished the season with insanely mediocre stats per game. At the end of the 2017-18 season MCW averaged 4.6 points per game, 2.2 assists per game, and 2.7 rebounds per game. MCW averaged these stats while playing in only 52 games on the season.
New Beginnings
For some busts the cause of death for their basketball career is health. That seems to be the case for MCW as he can’t seem to get away from the injury bug. In hopes to revive his once solid NBA career MCW signed with the Houston Rockets on July 6, 2018, for the upcoming 2018-19 NBA season. MCW has shown once before that he has the talent to be a solid player in the league, and with him still being a young player, there is time for him to turn his career around if he can stay healthy. Let’s just hope for MCW’s sake, playing for a good team under a good coach allows him to have a breakout season and hopefully bring the title of, “Bust�? off of his name.
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