The Cleveland Cavaliers' latest answer for LeBron James has instead raised a lot more questions.
Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft arguably is off to the worst start for a top pick in NBA history.
After his 0-for-3 night from the field during the Cavaliers' 93-92 victory Monday night over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bennett has yet to score a basket during his four-game professional career.
Bennett, who spent one season with in college with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, is 0-for-15 from the floor this season. He has scored two points on free throws and is averaging 0.5 points per game.
"I just feel like there's a lid on the basket," Bennett told the Cleveland Plain Dealer after Saturday's game, Cleveland's third of the season. "Three games and no shots went in, but I just have to keep working."
The Cavs have had two No. 1 picks since losing James (Cleveland's No. 1 selection in 2003) to the Miami Heat in free agency before the 2010-11. Kyrie Irving, the 2011 No. 1 pick, is budding into a star for Cleveland with a 20.5 points-per-game average during his career.
The NBA season lasts 82 games, so Bennett and the Cavaliers need not hit the panic button yet, but at his current pace, Bennett would go down in history as the lowest-scoring No. 1 pick in the history of the draft among those who played. The NBA draft began in 1947, and two top picks never appeared in an NBA game.
Clifton McNeely, the original first pick in 1947 with the Pittsburgh Ironmen, eschewed a playing career for a high school coaching career in Texas. Gene Melchiorre, the top pick in 1951 by the Baltimore Bullets, was banned for life from the NBA for his involvement in the CCNY Point Shaving Scandal.
The No. 1 player with the lowest scoring average ever was Andy Tonkovich with the Providence Steamrollers in 1948. Tonkovich had a 2.6 points-per-game average. In the last 50 years, LaRue Martin (4.4 points per game in 1972 with the Portland Trail Blazers) and Kwame Brown (4.5 points per game in 2001 with the Washington Wizards) were the lowest-scoring No. 1 picks.
At least James will be available again as a free agent next summer.
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