Most overrated NBA players of all time

Figuring out probably the most overrated NBA gamers of all time is difficult because it’s subjective. Nonetheless, we will pinpoint which gamers are overrated by understanding additional their careers and taking a deep dive via their stats and accomplishments.

Most overrated NBA gamers of all time

Calling a participant overrated doesn’t make them a nasty participant. Actually, this NBA overrated gamers checklist consists of lots of the greatest gamers of all time. It simply implies that they’re usually regarded to be higher than they really are. Causes equivalent to hype, recognition, repute, and different components exterior basketball can overrate somebody.

Listed below are the 25 most overrated NBA gamers ever…

25. Bob Cousy

Recognized for profitable six championships in seven years, Bob Cousy was an awesome ballhandler and playmaker. Nonetheless, he was inefficient as a scorer as he solely related solely 37% of his subject objective makes an attempt all through his profession.

Furthermore, Cousy had the luxurious of taking part in alongside 9 different Corridor of Famers which inflated his stats and accomplishments as a participant. He was a particular participant however his accomplishments are tied to his teammates and the completely different type of basketball that was performed again then.

24. Invoice Laimbeer

Bill Laimbeer was glorified in the course of the “Dangerous Boy” Pistons period. He was an awesome function participant attributable to his toughness and physicality, averaging 12.9 factors and 9.7 rebounds per sport. However exterior of his function, Laimbeer didn’t excel at the rest.

His protection was non-existent, as he averaged lower than a block per sport all through his profession. Laimbeer additionally by no means registered a PER above 20 in any single season.

23. Jason Williams

Often known as “White Chocolate”, Jason Williams was an electrifying participant to look at attributable to his creativity in dribbling and passing the ball. Watching him play is like watching a magician do his tips.

Nonetheless, regardless of his flashy type of play, Williams was atrocious in capturing the basketball. He shot 40% from the sphere and 33% from three all through his profession. He additionally turned over the ball more often than not, averaging over two turnovers a sport in his first 5 seasons within the NBA.

22. Joe Johnson

Often known as “Iso Joe”, Joe Johnson was an elite isolation scorer who may persistently put up over 16 factors a sport. He was additionally a seven-time All-Star all through his 18-year profession. The query now’s: What else does he provide in addition to scoring?

Johnson was an awesome scorer but it surely doesn’t translate to profitable. He didn’t have an awesome playoff resume and didn’t get previous the Jap Convention Finals.

21. Robert Horry

Numerous followers overrate Robert Horry since he made some massive photographs within the playoffs and received seven championships. He was even given the nickname “Huge Shot Rob” attributable to making clutch photographs with completely different groups.

Nonetheless, he was a job participant who averaged 7.9 factors and 5.6 rebounds on 42% capturing. Let’s additionally not neglect that Horry performed with a bunch of all-time greats equivalent to Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

20. Antoine Walker

Antoine Walker was identified for his versatility. He may rating, rebound, and make performs. In his first seven seasons within the NBA with the Celtics, Walker averaged greater than 17 factors per sport. Nonetheless, his shot choice was questionable.

Regardless of his scoring potential, Walker was an expert shot-chucker. All through his profession, Walker shot 41% from the sphere on 16.5 photographs per sport and shot 33% from behind the arc. He additionally went three straight seasons with 7.4 or extra three-point makes an attempt per sport.

19. DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan is among the greatest midrange scorers within the NBA. Nonetheless, regardless of averaging 21 factors per sport, he has by no means contributed that a lot to his group in addition to his scoring. He’s a nasty three-point shooter (29% profession 3-point shooter) and a horrible defender.

He didn’t have that a lot success within the playoffs regardless of taking part in on groups with good programs and underneath nice coaches. DeRozan additionally tended to vanish within the playoffs when he was wanted probably the most. Nonetheless, lots of followers love him attributable to his Kobe-esque type of play.

18. Glenn Robinson

Among the finest scorers in NBA historical past is Glenn Robinson, averaging greater than 20 factors in his profession. His scoring potential allowed him to punish smaller defenders and rating wherever on the courtroom. Nonetheless, he did this with poor effectivity. He was a black gap on protection and didn’t contribute a lot else on the ground.

All through his profession, he solely earned 20.5 offensive win shares and completed with a profession PER of 17.5 That is relatively poor for a former first-round decide and franchise participant. Even with the poor effectivity, followers liked him attributable to his scoring prowess.

17. Tracy McGrady

Numerous followers love Tracy McGrady attributable to his athleticism and scoring potential. Throughout his time, he established himself as one of many league’s greatest scorers, even higher than Kobe Bryant. After he turned an All-Star, McGrady averaged greater than 24 factors per sport. After all, we keep in mind his heroics when he scored 13 factors in 33 seconds.

Nonetheless, McGrady didn’t have success within the playoffs. His scoring didn’t translate to profitable any championships and was riddled with accidents down the road. He nearly received the championship with the Spurs within the 2012-13 season because the final man on the roster however failed.

16. Allen Iverson

It’s no secret that Allen Iverson had a big impact on the basketball neighborhood along with his persona and elegance. He was additionally probably the greatest scorers of all time.

Nonetheless, he did it on an absurd quantity of quantity. He was ranked fourth in photographs per sport in NBA historical past however shot underneath 43% from the sphere and 31% from behind the arc. Regardless of his scoring potential, his sport by no means translated into profitable. This makes him one of the crucial overrated NBA gamers of all time.

15. Yao Ming

Yao Ming changing into a cultural icon of China made him one of the crucial overrated NBA gamers ever. The hype and a focus he acquired when he got here to the league have been via the roof, even evaluating him to Shaquille O’Neal.

All through his profession, Yao averaged simply 19.6 factors, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per sport regardless of being a 7’6″ middle. Furthermore, his profession was affected by lots of accidents, taking part in in simply 9 seasons within the NBA.

14. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson was the primary participant in NBA historical past to common a triple-double, averaging 30.8 factors, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per sport within the 1961-62 season. Whereas these are nice numbers, the sport was completely different again then. Statistics have been considerably inflated because of the variety of groups and gamers. Fewer gamers meant extra photographs which results in elevated scoring and rebounding.

That is the primary purpose why Robertson is among the most overrated NBA gamers ever. Followers overrate him since he put up whopping numbers within the 60s when the sport was fully completely different.

13. John Stockton

There’s little doubt that John Stockton had an awesome 19-year profession. His stats and accomplishments look good on paper. He averaged 13.1 factors, 10.5 assists, and a couple of.2 steals per sport and is the assists and steals chief. Nonetheless, individuals are overrating him and even placing him within the dialog as the very best level guard in NBA historical past, even earlier than the likes of Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson.

Stockton helped the Jazz attain the playoffs for 19 seasons. Nonetheless, they didn’t win any championships. Followers are likely to overrate gamers who’re good for lengthy durations since their longevity permits them to rack up massive numbers.

12. Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich was probably the greatest gamers out of school attributable to his ball dealing with, playmaking, and creativity. His sport was so forward of his time that followers began calling him “Pistol Pete”. In faculty, he averaged a ridiculous 44 factors per sport.

Within the NBA, Maravich’s flashy sport translated properly within the common season. He averaged 24 factors per sport in his 11 seasons within the NBA. Nonetheless, he coughed the ball up at a excessive charge and was a defensive legal responsibility. He had a repute for taking part in only for present since he was all the time taking part in on dangerous groups. His flashiness didn’t translate into profitable video games, particularly within the playoffs.

11. Karl Malone

Karl Malone is among the best power forwards of all time, rating third within the NBA All-Time scoring checklist. Nonetheless, his numbers could also be inflated since he performed with one of many best point guards in John Stockton and performed underneath system.

Most of his numbers will be credited to John Stockton since he fed him the ball many occasions. The 2 of them excelled on the decide and roll and abused it endlessly. Furthermore, Malone’s longevity allowed him to rack up factors and rebounds persistently till the tip. He’s second all-time in minutes performed.

10. Derrick Rose

Numerous followers love Derrick Rose attributable to him being the youngest MVP ever and having a plethora of posterizing dunks and athletic spotlight performs. Nonetheless, after profitable the MVP within the 2010-11 season, Rose’s profession went downhill attributable to his knee accidents.

In his MVP season, Rose averaged 25 factors and eight assists per sport whereas capturing 45% on the sphere. These have been good numbers and he was the very best participant on the very best group in that season. Exterior that season, nevertheless, he didn’t have any notable seasons and he was by no means the identical participant once more.

9. Invoice Walton

After we’re speaking about faculty basketball, there’s no denying that Bill Walton is among the greatest massive males of all time. Nonetheless, his faculty success didn’t translate properly within the NBA, principally attributable to his accidents. Other than two good seasons, Walton’s profession is nothing spectacular. All through his profession, Walton averaged 13.3 factors and 10.5 rebounds per sport.

Walton missed 468 out of 1,146 video games, that’s nearly half of his profession wasted attributable to accidents. He additionally had an enormous contract that handicapped two franchises financially. Regardless of this, he’s nonetheless glorified within the league even as much as this date, making him one of the crucial overrated NBA gamers ever.

8. Vince Carter

Vince Carter is arguably the very best dunker ever. He was even in comparison with Michael Jordan attributable to his scoring and dunking potential. Nonetheless, being nice at dunking doesn’t make you an awesome general participant. He wasn’t the chief nor had that killer mentality that Jordan had.

His numbers have been good, scoring greater than 20 factors per sport in 11 seasons all through his first 13 years within the NBA. However that additionally didn’t assist Carter win within the playoffs as he shot an abysmal 41% from the sphere. Regardless of being an electrifying dunker and scorer, Carter didn’t win a championship. Followers overrate him because of the numerous highlights he had all through his profession.

7. Steve Nash

It’s no secret that Steve Nash is among the greatest pure level guards in NBA historical past attributable to his environment friendly scoring and playmaking potential. He was an environment friendly scorer, scoring at over 50% from the sphere, 40% from past the arc, and 90% from the charity stripe. He was additionally an awesome playmaker, averaging 8.5 assists per sport all through his profession. Nonetheless, are these numbers sufficient to make him a two-time MVP?

First, Nash was one of many worst defenders throughout his time. Second, he was a turnover machine, averaging round 4 turnovers a sport. And lastly, he didn’t win any championships. The truth that followers love him even along with his obvious weaknesses makes him one of the crucial overrated NBA gamers of all time.

6. Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas had a monstrous three-year stretch with the Wizards, averaging over 25 factors per sport. It appeared that he was the franchise participant that Washington desired and so they signed him to a 6-year, $111 million deal. Nonetheless, the whole lot went downhill after signing this contract.

As a consequence of accidents and different off-court points, Arenas performed in only a whole of 47 video games within the subsequent three years. Even when taking part in, his sport didn’t make any of his teammates higher and he wasn’t a lot of a frontrunner. That is the massive purpose why his 6-year $111-million deal is among the worst NBA contracts of all time.

5. Dominique Wilkins

Additionally referred to as “The Human Spotlight Reel”, Dominique Wilkins is among the greatest scorers and dunkers of all time. He averaged 26.4 factors and 6.9 rebounds per sport all through his 9-year profession with the Hawks. However what he’ll all the time be remembered for is that he received two Slam Dunk Contests, even going head-to-head with Michael Jordan again then.

Nonetheless, Wilkins didn’t have an awesome playoff resume. He solely made the second spherical of the playoffs thrice in his profession and by no means acquired to the Jap Convention Finals. Furthermore, he was a legal responsibility on protection. All he did was rating and dunk and that didn’t translate to profitable when it mattered probably the most.

4. Stephon Marbury

All of us hear Stephon Marbury as one of many proficient level guards within the 2000s. His general numbers have been strong, scoring greater than 15 factors and dishing greater than 7 assists per sport within the first 11 seasons of his profession. Nonetheless, his scoring effectivity was atrocious, capturing round 43% all through his profession. To not point out that his protection was equally poor.

Within the playoffs, he was even worse, capturing underneath 40% from the sphere. Other than his inefficiency on the courtroom, he had some off-court points along with his teammates and coaches. Because of this, Marbury didn’t win any championships, making him one of the crucial overrated basketball gamers in NBA historical past.

3. Steve Francis

Often known as “The Franchise”, Steve Francis averaged greater than 20 factors per sport in his first 4 seasons and was a three-time All-Star with the Rockets. We additionally keep in mind him for profitable the Rookie of the Yr award and being a runner-up within the Slam Dunk contest.

What makes him overrated is that Francis solely made the playoffs as soon as and solely received one playoff sport all through his 9-year profession. His explosiveness and skill to complete on the rim have been certainly nice. However that didn’t translate to profitable. Regardless of being referred to as “Stevie Franchise”, Francis by no means gave success to any groups that he performed for.

2. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony is among the most prolific scorers of all time, rating ninth within the NBA All-Time scoring checklist. Nonetheless, his iso-centric type of play didn’t equate to profitable video games. Certain, he can put up lots of factors, however does it translate to profitable? Furthermore, he was a legal responsibility on the defensive facet which turned extra evident later in his profession.

All through his profession, Anthony made the playoffs 13 occasions and solely superior past the primary spherical twice. Regardless of not having an awesome playoff resume and never profitable a championship, followers are likely to overrate him attributable to his scoring potential.

1. Kobe Bryant

There’s no denying that Kobe Bryant is among the greatest shooting guards of all time, rating fourth within the NBA All-Time scoring checklist. Nonetheless, he was inefficient as a scorer, rating first in whole photographs missed in NBA historical past. He shot underneath 45% and 33% behind the arc all through his profession.

Among the many prime 25 all-time scorers, Kobe ranks fifteenth in true capturing, fifteenth in win shares per 48, and twenty first in subject objective share.

Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” additionally contributes to overstating his general abilities and accomplishments. Followers love this because it’s a mindset that they’ll apply to their on a regular basis lives. This made Kobe an iconic participant within the NBA. However not sufficient to incorporate him within the GOAT dialog alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James.