This offseason, NBA FanHouse will address important questions about the league. It will be a Summer of Answers. First up: the biggest draft busts of the decade.Skita, née Nikoloz Tskitishvili, went #5 to Denver in 2002. As a product of the massive Euro hype which followed the strong entries of Peja Stojakovic, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol into the league, Skita gave journalists like Chad Ford night tremors of excitement. The big man who could step outside and stroke was not quite the holy grail of Europe, if only because there were plenty young Dirks out there. Skita, a 7-foot 19-year-old, fit the mold like Jello.
Skita, of course, was terrible. He received ample opportunity on an awful Denver team -- 16 minutes a night in 81 games. He did almost nothing in those minutes, scoring less than 9 points per 36 minutes on 29% shooting, with less than 5 rebounds per 36 added in ... despite often being the tallest fellow in uniform. Skita's woeful rookie year dried up much future opportunity in Denver, and the knight was shipped to Golden State midway into his third season. His greatest achievement since might be a glorious, infamous carriage ride through Central Park with Andris Biedrins and Zarko Cabarkapa.
Lucky for Denver, Skita's disastrous career was overshadowed by a certain Serbian who came out the following year. And though the bad pick helped (by way of continuing the team's suckage) earn Carmelo Anthony's services in 2003, it remains a rather dour memory for fans of the Nuggets and beautiful basketball. Imagine Amare Stoudemire in baby blue, galloping with Kenyon Martin and Andre Miller. That's beside the point, though. We will never forget you, Skita.
