The NBA has produced several outstanding players over its history. Unfortunately, popularity comes with expectations, and being overrated is defined as not living up to these expectations. Even though most of the guys on this list are at least good players, they were nevertheless overrated - at least in our opinion.
Winning championships, doing well in the postseason, and a player's overall talent are more important than stats. Some great athletes experienced criticism for not winning a title, while others received criticism for doing so but not meriting the praise they finally accepted.
It's critical to remember that the athletes on this list are overrated due to the hype and expectations surrounding them. We'll repeat it: we do not doubt the skills and expertise of these athletes. So, without further ado, here are the all-time most overrated NBA players.
Winning championships, doing well in the postseason, and a player's overall talent are more important than stats. Some great athletes experienced criticism for not winning a title, while others received criticism for doing so but not meriting the praise they finally accepted.
It's critical to remember that the athletes on this list are overrated due to the hype and expectations surrounding them. We'll repeat it: we do not doubt the skills and expertise of these athletes. So, without further ado, here are the all-time most overrated NBA players.
Avery Bradley
The two All-Defensive Team selections for Avery Bradley are probably merited. On that part of the floor, it's challenging to measure impact precisely.
Bradley was last named to the All-Defensive Team in 2016, and it appears he has been riding that reputation ever since. His teams have typically given up more points per 100 possessions while he is on the floor throughout his career. Bradley has a defensive box plus/minus that's below average due to low block and rebound percentages. That figure should be regarded with caution, though.
Bradley was last named to the All-Defensive Team in 2016, and it appears he has been riding that reputation ever since. His teams have typically given up more points per 100 possessions while he is on the floor throughout his career. Bradley has a defensive box plus/minus that's below average due to low block and rebound percentages. That figure should be regarded with caution, though.
For Basketball Reference, Daniel Myers wrote, "Box Plus/Minus is good at measuring offense and solid overall, but the defensive numbers, in particular, should not be considered conclusive." When an individual is known as a bad or good defender, it's okay to disregard defensive values as a guide.
It's reasonable to utilize Bradley's mark as that reference, along with the aforementioned play-by-play information. There are other issues at play here besides a somewhat exaggerated defense value.
Bradley's shooting percentage has been higher than average only once in his career. That happened in the 2011–12 seasons, before the sample in question.
It's reasonable to utilize Bradley's mark as that reference, along with the aforementioned play-by-play information. There are other issues at play here besides a somewhat exaggerated defense value.
Bradley's shooting percentage has been higher than average only once in his career. That happened in the 2011–12 seasons, before the sample in question.
Jamal Crawford
For twenty years, Jamal Crawford was a fan favorite. He received three notable Sixth Man of the Year Awards and is still an ambassador for the sport today. Along with ranking eighth all-time in three-pointers made, 19th in games played, 58th in overall points scored, and 86th in assists, he earned more than $100 million in salary throughout his career.
Crawford had a career in the NBA that was extraordinarily successful by any standard. However, numerous statistics from the past ten years refute the claim that he was a valuable player. Since 2012–13, when he won two Sixth awards for Man of the Year, Crawford's teams had averaged plus–0.3 points / per 100 possessions during his time on the floor, as well as a plus–7.5 points per 100 possessions when he wasn't. The swings were minus-3.1 and minus-7.0 in his award-winning seasons, respectively.
Crawford had a career in the NBA that was extraordinarily successful by any standard. However, numerous statistics from the past ten years refute the claim that he was a valuable player. Since 2012–13, when he won two Sixth awards for Man of the Year, Crawford's teams had averaged plus–0.3 points / per 100 possessions during his time on the floor, as well as a plus–7.5 points per 100 possessions when he wasn't. The swings were minus-3.1 and minus-7.0 in his award-winning seasons, respectively.
Draymond Green, James Johnson, Patty Mills, and Manu Ginobili were backups who had higher box plus/minuses than Crawford in 2013–14. He was substantially lower on that leaderboard in 2015–16.
Crawford was well-known for taking difficult shots and scoring baskets that were worthy of the highlight reel, but he did so with an efficiency that was far below average. He scored about 90 points less on his shot attempts (including free throws) over the past ten seasons than an average player would have.
Crawford was well-known for taking difficult shots and scoring baskets that were worthy of the highlight reel, but he did so with an efficiency that was far below average. He scored about 90 points less on his shot attempts (including free throws) over the past ten seasons than an average player would have.
DeMar DeRozan
This prologue ought to sound very similar to the one for Jamal Crawford. Even by the standards of the NBA, DeMar DeRozan is an excellent basketball player. You don't average more than 20 points for more than a decade and make five All-Star teams without having a ton of talent.
Back in 2018, when he joined the San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan's more well-rounded play better reflected the reputation he has built through time. However, he was negatively impacted by inefficiency, a lack of defense, and a refusal to adjust to the ongoing three-point revolution for most of the last ten years. DeRozan's clubs have gained 1.6 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and 3.8 points per 100 possessions without him since the 2012–13 season began. The only season in which he had a positive swing, in fact, was his most recent one with the Chicago Bulls.
Back in 2018, when he joined the San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan's more well-rounded play better reflected the reputation he has built through time. However, he was negatively impacted by inefficiency, a lack of defense, and a refusal to adjust to the ongoing three-point revolution for most of the last ten years. DeRozan's clubs have gained 1.6 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and 3.8 points per 100 possessions without him since the 2012–13 season began. The only season in which he had a positive swing, in fact, was his most recent one with the Chicago Bulls.
DeRozan has recorded a below-average effective field-goal % in nine of the previous ten years, partly because he is so dependent on the mid-range, one of the most challenging areas of the floor for efficiency.
DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan was considered one of the league's influential centers in the middle of the 2010s. The Los Angeles Clippers were plus-9.5 points/per 100 possessions from 2012–13 to 2016–17 while he was on the court and minus-1.3 points per 100 possessions when he wasn't. However, a closer examination of those figures reveals exciting information.
L.A. was minus-1.9 points / 100 possessions during the same time when Jordan played Chris Paul. That figure aligns more with Jordan's performance during the previous five years. Since 2017–18, when Jordan plays his teams average 3.4 points less per 100 possessions and 1.8 points more. Jordan ranks 966th among the 1,002 players with at least one minute of playing time in an NBA game over those five seasons with a raw plus-minus of minus-576.
L.A. was minus-1.9 points / 100 possessions during the same time when Jordan played Chris Paul. That figure aligns more with Jordan's performance during the previous five years. Since 2017–18, when Jordan plays his teams average 3.4 points less per 100 possessions and 1.8 points more. Jordan ranks 966th among the 1,002 players with at least one minute of playing time in an NBA game over those five seasons with a raw plus-minus of minus-576.
A lack of offensive effort beyond finishing spoon-fed dunks or the occasional putback, carelessness on defense (particularly off the ball), and a laughably poor free-throw % (48.2 over the last ten years) are all factors in those scores. Yet he keeps being signed year after year.
It gets harder and harder to understand why people still trust him. It isn't easy to imagine the aforementioned tendencies changing as he approaches his age-34 season.
It gets harder and harder to understand why people still trust him. It isn't easy to imagine the aforementioned tendencies changing as he approaches his age-34 season.
Julius Randle
Julius Randle joined an exclusive group of only six NBA players in 2020–21 who averaged at least 24 points, ten rebounds, and six assists per game. The others are Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson (who did it twice), and Oscar Robertson (who did it three times).
Being one of six players on a list with five future Hall of Famers is an incredible accomplishment, but Randle's statistics declined to career averages in 2021–22. That can make people think that his breakout was unusual. In 2020–21, Randle had a 3.8 box plus/minus. Before that, the highest point in his career was 1.5, and in three of the seven seasons in which he played at least 1,000 minutes, he had performed below average.
Being one of six players on a list with five future Hall of Famers is an incredible accomplishment, but Randle's statistics declined to career averages in 2021–22. That can make people think that his breakout was unusual. In 2020–21, Randle had a 3.8 box plus/minus. Before that, the highest point in his career was 1.5, and in three of the seven seasons in which he played at least 1,000 minutes, he had performed below average.
Even after accounting for his All-NBA season, Randle has a career net rating of minus-4.6. When he is off the court, his teams have a more respectable minus-1.3. Randle has demonstrated his capacity to rack up raw numbers over the eight years since being selected, but they frequently come with an ineffective shot profile and subpar defense.
Key Takeaways
So, there you guys have it! These are some of the most overrated NBA players in history. While there are times when their score sheet shows that they've outdone themselves in terms of skills and expertise, there are other times when they haven't really performed up to the mark or as highly as their fans expect them to.
Key Takeaways
So, there you guys have it! These are some of the most overrated NBA players in history. While there are times when their score sheet shows that they've outdone themselves in terms of skills and expertise, there are other times when they haven't really performed up to the mark or as highly as their fans expect them to.