Remember Dontrelle Willis’ Incredible Rookie Season?

Professional athletes who have a great start to their career achieve something incredible, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be able to sustain that success. Leagues adjust, injuries happen, and there’s also the mental side to playing professional sports. Here are 20 athletes whose careers tanked after a legendary start.

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1. Michael Carter-Williams

Carter-Williams' NBA career started with a bang. He won Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia 76ers, showcasing his defense, passing, and scoring abilities. Injuries and shooting woes hindered his career, and he bounced around the league, never approaching the lofty heights of his inaugural season. 

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2. Peyton Hillis

Hillis broke out with a 1,100-yard rushing season for the Cleveland Browns, earning the distinct honor of gracing the Madden cover. His career, however, was marred by injuries, and he had a quick exit from the NFL spotlight. 

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3. Mark Fidrych

“The Bird” took major league baseball by storm in his rookie season, winning 19 games and the Rookie of the Year award. His dominance was cut short by arm injuries, and he was out of the game in only a few years.

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4. Freddy Adu

At just 14 years old, Adu was dubbed the “next Pelé”, and his early performances dazzled. Unfortunately, he never met the lofty expectations that were thrust upon him. He spent the rest of his career drifting through minor leagues around the world.

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5. Jahlil Okafor

Okafor averaged 17.5 points as a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers and made the All-Rookie First Team. His lack of defensive skills and shifts in how big men were expected to play pushed him out of the rotation and eventually out of the league at a young age.

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6. Trent Richardson

Richardson was the third overall pick and scored double-digit touchdowns as a rookie. He quickly lost his effectiveness on the field due to poor vision and his physical decline. He was soon out of the league. 

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7. Dontrelle Willis

Willis was a Rookie of the Year and All-Star by 23, but his control disappeared, and he struggled with anxiety issues. This led to a surprisingly abrupt end to his MLB career. 

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8. Andrew Raycroft

As the starting goalie for the Boston Bruins, Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, but never recaptured that magic. He changed teams, but couldn’t handle the spotlight and pressure of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He struggled to keep his starting job and roster spot and eventually faded out of the league.

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9. Bojan Krkić

Bojan was a teen star footballer for Barcelona thanks to his record-setting scoring. Anxiety and other issues hindered his development, and he was relegated to playing out his career as a journeyman. 

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10. Tyreke Evans

As a rookie point guard for the Sacramento Kings, Evans joined the exclusive 20-5-5 club with LeBron James and Oscar Robertson. Suspensions for drug use and injuries saw his star fade considerably, and he was quickly out of the league.

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11. Eddie Lacy

Lacy was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Green Bay Packers. His career was undermined by injuries and weight issues, which forced his performance to suffer a drastic downswing. Ultimately, his career ended up being quite brief. 

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12. Rick Ankiel

Ankiel was a top MLB prospect and rookie pitching phenom, but his career was derailed by wildness and the “yips”. He did make a fun comeback as a position player, but his career never equaled his earlier expectations and performance. 

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13. Alexandre Daigle

Daigle was one of the most hyped NHL prospects of all time. He showed early flashes of brilliance, but couldn’t sustain any type of production. His poor work ethic and injuries were to blame for his lackluster career, which was far too short for someone of his talent.

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14. Giovani dos Santos

Dos Santos exploded onto the FIFA scene as part of Barcelona’s first team. He was a teen sensation, but injuries and inconsistency resulted in a nomadic career that had no lasting impact. 

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15. O.J. Mayo

As an NBA rookie, Mayo averaged 19 points per game. He was considered more than just a rising star. He could have been the face of the league for the next decade. However, drug use and off-court issues ended his career before he turned 30. 

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16. Robert Griffin III

RG3’s Rookie of the Year season was electric and gave Washington hope for the future. Sadly, his performance and career were derailed by knee injuries and team issues. His trajectory was of a Hall of Famer, but his era as even just a starter was short and not as productive as most thought it would be. 

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17. Eric Hinske

Hinske was the third baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays and was crowned the AL Rookie of the Year. His sharp regression at the plate and in the field made him a journeyman utility player. He did find his way onto a few winning teams, at least, but was never able to regain his rookie magic. 

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18. Sergei Samsonov

Samsonov was an impressive rookie for the Boston Bruins, forming a dynamic duo with Joe Thornton. His career plateaued due to nagging injuries and inconsistent performance. After his rookie year, coaches never knew which version of Samsonov would show up to a game. When he wasn’t scoring, he wasn’t helping his team, and the league grew frustrated with him very quickly.

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19. Keith Van Horn

Van Horn was an NCAA basketball legend because of his size, scoring prowess, and athletic ability despite being a big man. His career started strong as he averaged over 19 points per game as a rookie, garnering an All-Rookie nod. Injuries and a lack of defensive prowess forced him to become a journeyman. He was never able to regain his high level of performance and production from college.

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20. Saquon Barkley

Barkley topped 2,000 yards as a rookie, but suffered the same fate as so many young running backs in the NFL. Injuries and playing behind weak offensive lines led to diminishing returns. He was initially deemed a franchise savior, but that label was quickly stripped from him. 

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