Keeping Score: Anthony Bennett, Cut by Nets, Stands Out Among N.B.A. Busts

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Forward Anthony Bennett appeared in 23 games for the Nets, averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

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Chris Young/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press

In the final N.B.A. draft he presided over, in 2013, David Stern, then the league’s commissioner, shocked the crowd at Barclays Center when he announced that the Cleveland Cavaliers had taken Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick. A 6-foot-8 power forward who had played one year at Nevada-Las Vegas, Bennett was a surprise selection over Nerlens Noel and other top prospects.

Shortly after the pick, Bennett sat in front of the assembled members of the news media and tried to make sense of it all.

“I’m just as surprised as everyone else,” said Bennett, the first No. 1 pick from Canada.

While many people tried to justify the pick, it quickly proved to be a huge mistake. On Monday, the Nets announced that they had waived him after he had played 23 games for the team, averaging 5 points and 3.4 rebounds. They became the fourth team in four years to give up on Bennett, who is quickly…

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