NBA rookie curse: Why Dante Exum should be worried

SOMEWHERE there must be a voodoo doll with the collective appearance of the much-hyped NBA draft class of 2014

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 5: Dante Exum #11 of the Utah Jazz watches a replay during their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at EnergySolutions Arena on November 5, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

SOMEWHERE there must be a voodoo doll with the collective appearance of the much-hyped NBA draft class of 2014.

Five of the top seven picks from June’s choose-em-up have been felled by sudden injuries, showing all the makings of a sports curse — perhaps for having the audacity to compare this year’s array of mostly one-and-done college stars to the legendary classes of 1984 or 2003.

Jabari Parker lies on the court after injuring his knee during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns.

The latest devastating blow was revealed Tuesday night, when scintillating Bucks rookie Jabari Parker — the No. 2 pick in the draft and the Rookie of the Year frontrunner — was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his season after 25 games.

The 19-year-old Parker was injured Monday when he took an awkward step before colliding with the Suns’ P.J. Tucker. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the upstart Bucks.

The wellwishing Embiid is spending the entire season on the shelf after he suffered a stress fracture to his foot in pre-draft workouts. The No. 3 pick by the wait-till-four-years-from-now 76ers likely won’t be a rookie until 2015-16; in the meantime, he can reciprocate Parker’s hospital visit from his own post-surgery recovery.

Wishing a speedy recovery to my brother @JabariParker

— Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) December 17, 2014

The ugliest injury turn happened in Los Angeles, where Lakers rookie Julius Randle (the No. 7 pick) broke his right leg in the fourth quarter of his NBA debut in late October. Rounding out the infirmary: No. 4 pick Aaron Gordon lasted 11 games with the Magic before breaking his foot, and No. 6 selection Marcus Smart missed 10 Celtics contests after suffering a sprained ankle in Game No. 5 that looked much worse.

Guess what we’re trying to say is: Dante Exum and Andrew Wiggins, be careful!

Originally published as NBA rookie curse: Why Dante Exum should be worried