Milwaukee Bucks: 5 reasons D.J. Wilson was a bad pick

5. D.J. Wilson was a one-hit wonder at Michigan

D.J. Wilson had a strong junior season at the University of Michigan, showing off a versatile skill-set. He hit over a three per game, blocked 1.5 shots per game, and turned in an exceptional offensive rating of 123.9.

Over his first two seasons at Michigan, Wilson scored 72 points. Total, over two seasons, Wilson scored just 72 points. In 1991, guard Kevin Bradshaw scored 72 points in a single game, yet Wilson took two seasons to reach 72.

The reality is that Wilson was little more than a bit player for two seasons, playing more than 10 minutes just five times and breaking 20 just once. Only during his junior season did Wilson grow into a role where he saw more dependable minutes – and even then he ranked fourth on the team.

Narrowing the sample size even further, Wilson’s leap from a second round prospect to a first round pick occurred in large part because Michigan won six straight postseason games in the Big Ten Tournament and then the NCAA Tournament. Without success on the biggest stages, Wilson may never have gone as high as he did.

If Wilson’s heightened play at the end of the year is indicative of lasting growth, this may become a smart pick. But if one season of good basketball turns out to be an outlier, it will be one that earned him a larger paycheck than he would have earned otherwise.