The 10 most overrated NBA players right now, including one big surprise

The NBA has become a 12-month, 365 day per year league, with players’ standing in the league being constantly examined. As we make our way through the 2024 NBA playoffs, we’ll take a closer look at players who are viewed in a kinder light than they probably should be. All statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.

It’s hard to look at Sabonis’ numbers and say he’s anything less than one of the best big men in the NBA. In the last three seasons, he’s averaged 19.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists, contributing in nearly every important offensive facet of the game.

The Washington Times pointed out how close Sabonis was in triple doubles with Nikola Jokic, yet the former’s imprint on winning basketball games isn’t as consistent. Comparing anyone to Jokic is a difficult endeavor, but it feels like Sabonis’ Jokic-lite skill set should help his teams win more consistently in playoff or play-in formats.

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After many months of posturing with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard got his trade wish granted. He was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2023-2024 season, with the idea that he would help get the team back to the top of the league.

However, the Bucks didn’t make the jump many expected. CBS Sports wrote that Lillard played the worst defense of his career in the early part of the campaign, and Milwaukee had a tough time finding an identity. Lillard’s offensive prowess and shooting skills cannot be denied, but it hasn’t translated into winning at the highest level.

The New York Knicks are enjoying a resurgence during the 2024 NBA playoffs, but the longer the run goes, the louder the questions about Randle’s importance will get. The team has fared well without him, so much so that Sports Illustrated explored a trade of the power forward.

It’s hard to call Randle’s tenure with the Knicks a failure, considering he’s made three All-Star teams since signing. However, Sports Illustrated floated a potential deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, where the Knicks would get Paul George back in return.

There’s no disputing that Thompson is one of the best shooters the NBA has ever seen, and is a winner at the highest level. However, the back of his basketball card doesn’t reflect the type of player he is today.

Thompson can still be an outside shooting threat for a team moving forward, but Bleacher Report called his past season wildly inconsistent from an offensive perspective. He also used to be one of the best defensive players in the NBA, but injuries have sapped him of the mobility to stay in front of opponents.

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The 2023-2024 campaign was an arduous one for Beal. He had a tumultuous campaign in his first season with the Phoenix Suns, marred by injury and ineffective play when it mattered most.

The Suns are likely feeling a significant case of buyer’s remorse, as Beal’s annual salary is set to skyrocket. The guard will earn $50 million next year, $53 million in two years and $57 million in three years, which will make it difficult for Phoenix to find a taker for his services.

Embiid courageously battled through injuries during the first round of the playoffs against the Knicks, but the end of the story was still the same for him and the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite having a ton of talent, they weren’t able to make a deep run in the postseason.

The Washington Post wrote after Philadelphia’s defeat, “Embiid’s health, conditioning, mobility, mental composure and decision-making held him back against a quality opponent in the playoffs.” They also pointed out that the former MVP has never prevailed against a 50-win team in the postseason.

His shooting range and deft passing ability make Young a fun player to watch during the season, but his deficiencies are getting more and more attention. Sports Illustrated wrote in October 2023 that it isn’t time to panic with him yet, but that his defense was poor at best. CBS Sports wrote that the Atlanta Hawks have been better on defense each time Young has missed games in his six seasons.

The Ringer wrote in January 2024 about the Hawks potentially salvaging the Young era with the team, but that speaks to the lack of impact he’s had on winning. After an unforeseen Eastern Conference Finals run in 2021, Atlanta and Young have struggled to find relevance.

Durant’s array of offensive moves will rank him as one of the best bucket-getters in NBA history, but he’s been in a number of unenviable situations recently. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets thinking he would vie for a title, and forced a trade to the Phoenix Suns with a similar idea.

The argument that Durant could only win titles with the Golden State Warriors is a constant theme, and a narrative that the sharpshooting forward might not be able to change at this point in his career. This puts him just a cut below some of the all-time greats, who were clearly the leading force in their team winning it all.

Ball’s injuries the past few seasons have strangely allowed him to avoid conversations regarding an overrated perception, but the idea of the flashy guard far outweighs the production. When he’s on the floor, he can make highlight reel passes as well as anyone, but the consistency and availability just hasn’t been there.

The Hornets may also need to have a difficult conversation about whether they too dramatically overrated Ball’s impact. Give Me Sport thinks that the team should consider bringing in another viable guard this offseason, just in case Ball’s persistent injury rap sheet continues to grow longer.

Clutch Fans asked last year whether Harden or Embiid was the bigger playoff disappointment in their careers, and the chatter has only continued during the 2024 NBA playoffs. Unfortunately for Harden, his final game of this postseason run only reignited the discussion. He shot 2-12 in Game 5 and 5-16 in Game 6 for the Los Angeles Clippers in their loss to the Dallas Mavericks

Barstool Sports called Harden’s performance against Dallas a “disaster-class”, while the Los Angeles Times stated that the guard disappeared at the worst possible time. It’s a storyline that has followed Harden since his days with the Houston Rockets.

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