The Most Underperforming Player on Each NBA Team

The NBA is anything but predictable, yet expectations are set for the league's players each season. Many fail to meet, let alone surpass, what becomes the standard.

Every year, the Association boasts its fair share of pleasantly surprising accolades, but there are an equal number of athletes who become guilty of underperforming. The widely condensed schedule only increases the frequency of such occurrences.

While the shock-and-awe effect will remain prevalent as the abbreviated season progresses, we must be prepared to witness a greater than prescribed dose of the shock-and-awful as well.  

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

Last season, after signing a monster contract over the summer, Joe Johnson failed to impress on the basketball court, and little has changed on that regard.

Many believed Johnson would return with a chip on his shoulder, poised to prove his critics wrong. If anything, all Johnson has done thus far is proven his advocates are misled.

While the 30-year-old shooting guard has been good for over 35 minutes per game, his shot selection has been awful. He is knocking down only six out of 15 shots per game—good for the second-worst shooting percentage of his career—and lacks the overall offensive flair that enabled his claim to fame.

The Atlanta Hawks have been hampered by injuries to notable players such as Al Horford and Marvin Williams, so someone is going to have to step up if the team is going to continue keeping pace with the league's elite.

Don't expect that someone to be Johnson.

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett

The bar has never been set lower for these Boston Celtics, but Kevin Garnett has failed to even meet the lower expectations so far.

Garnett's 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds are his worst since his rookie season, and his defense hasn't been nearly as effective as usual.

At 35, regression is expected of Garnett. That being said, boxing out, intelligent defense and clever picks are intangibles that the power forward has always brought to the table.

At this rate though, those attributes seem to be ones of the past.

Charlotte Bobcats: Corey Maggette

Before Corey Maggette was sidelined with a strained hamstring, he was doing very little for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Maggette has always been known for his instant offense, and while his 12.2 points per game posting wasn't unexpected, the 30 percent he was shooting from the field was. The small forward has always taken high percentage shots, but was visibly forcing the action when he had the ball.

Maggette has an opportunity to be an offensive anchor for the young Bobcats, but if he doesn't tighten up his shot selection upon his return, his supporters in Charlotte may start jumping ship.

Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah

The fact that Joakim Noah is a top candidate to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team is incredibly absurd, even when taking into account he plays a position that boasts a shallow pool of talent.

Noah is having a lackluster season in terms of stats, averaging 7.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and one block per game. However, he has never been a stat line guru, so what is really disappointing is that the flair he usually brings on the defensive end is gone.

Combine that with the fact he is shooting under 40 percent of the field and you don't have an All-Star candidate, but a role-reduction candidate.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Omri Casspi

Omri Casspi wasn't supposed to be a savior when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the team surely expected more from the 23-year-old small forward.

Casspi's production is down in nearly every department, and he is having the worst season of his short career in terms of shooting; Casspi is knocking down only 29 percent of his three-point attempts, and under 38 percent overall.

The small forward has struggled in Cleveland's system, as his role has gone undefined, rendering his confidence shook. Keep in mind he is only in second year, so his development is crucial at this point.

If Casspi doesn't start adjusting to his environment and looking for his offense, he may never amount to the player most believe he can be. 

Dallas Mavericks: Lamar Odom

The Dallas Mavericks have been a disappointing bunch in general, but none more so than Lamar Odom.

Odom looks lost outside of a triangle offense, and has suffered on both sides of the ball as a result. He is averaging 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, numbers that pale in comparison to his career stat lines.

Dallas was up in arms over the loss of Tyson Chandler, but Odom was supposed to help the organization salvage the situation. At this point though, it doesn't appear he is going to provide much relief anytime soon.

Denver Nuggets: Arron Afflalo

While Arron Afflalo's offensive production is above his career average, it is not in line with what was expected.

Afflalo was widely viewed one of higher-class athletes in this past offseason's disappointing free-agency class, but he isn't playing like it. He is having his worst season from beyond the arc and seems to be looking for his offense less and less.

Afflalo may not be a liability on defense, but he is in the game to score, especially from long range, and that's something he hasn't done thus far.

Detroit Pistons: Tayshaun Prince

Thankfully, Jonas Jerebko and Ben Gordon have been pleasant surprises for the Detroit Pistons this season because Tayshaun Prince has been an unpleasant one.

After re-signing with the Pistons over the offseason, Prince was supposed to provide experience and skill on a young and inconsistent offensive squad. He hasn't done that.

Prince is averaging a meager 8.4 points and three rebounds per game, while becoming even more of a liability on the defensive end. No one was expecting Prince to average 20-plus points per game, but with Richard Hamilton in Chicago, there was a general belief he'd step his game up and help lead this team.

Apparently substantial regression would have been a better prediction.

Golden State Warriors: Dorell Wright

Nate Robinson's signing is not only crucial for the Golden State Warriors in terms of backcourt depth, but also because the compact guard replaces some of the offense the team thought they had in Dorell Wright.

After a monster 2010-11 campaign in which he put up 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and three assists per game, Wright has followed up a less impressive stat line of 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Wright's performance last season should have served as a breakout year, not the one-hit wonder it apparently was. 

Houston Rockets: Kevin Martin

Kyle Lowry is slowly coming back down to earth, which may be a bad sign for the Houston Rockets should Kevin Martin not reestablish himself as the go-to guy he has always been.

Most likely due to the fact that he was traded away to the New Orleans Hornets before they essentially claimed a mulligan, Martin has struggled composure-wise. His numbers have started to climb, but he lacks the offensive fire he normally plays with. The shooting guard's defensive effort has been absent more than usual as well.

Lowry and Martin have the potential to be one of the most deadly backcourts in the NBA, but the Rockets must first find a way to prove to Martin they still want him so he can rechannel his notorious consistency. 

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

To be fair, the Indiana Pacers' newly revamped roster is partly responsible for Danny Granger's decline in scoring, but his accuracy from the field has been less than impressive.

Indiana is boasting an incredibly balanced offensive attack right now, and while that leaves less points up for grabs, Granger has been taking the same number of shots he did last season. The only difference is he is making nearly 10 percent less.

As the lone star on a team of strong role players, Granger needs to be the pillar of consistency on both ends of the floor. Thus far, he has not.

Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan has been a shot-blocking machine this season, but unfortunately that is the only aspect of the game in which he has excelled.

The new-look Los Angeles Clippers inked Jordan to a fat contract prior to the start of the season, as he was widely viewed as the next great center. To date, Jordan is averaging 7.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. The blocks per game are staggering, but the rest of his production is head-scratching.

At 6'11" and with a strong athletic build, Jordan needs to be more of a rebounding and scoring force in the paint. While he is the last option on offense, there is just no excuse for his mediocre rebounding.

Expectations soared for Jordan over the offseason, but he has yet to broach the bar for them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace's production has dropped off substantially over the past three seasons, but no one foresaw how much of a non-factor he would become this year.

After Lamar Odom's departure, World Peace's importance to the Los Angeles Lakers increased, and he has responded by playing himself into a diminished role. He is shooting poorly, nonexistent on the glass and his defense is no longer an attribute.

The good news for World Peace? He is a lock to exceed expectations next season as no one is likely to have any for him. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley

Rudy Gay's struggles were to be expected, but Mike Conley's were not.

Conley's defense is solid, but his offensive game hasn't had a flow to it. He is passing the ball fairly well, but only in spurts, and he is shooting poorly from the field.

Conley's numbers are anything but terrible, but he was expected to take his game to the next level this season, becoming one of the league's elite point guards. However, he hasn't done that, and needs to polish off his offensive game before he becomes locked into mediocrity.

Miami Heat: Shane Battier

Shane Battier's first season with the Miami Heat has been a roller coaster ride to say the least.

Battier has struggled all season with his shooting, and his defensive abilities are visible one night, but disappear the next. His free-throw shooting has also been abysmal.

Battier has added depth to a thin Miami roster, but it has been inconsistent, and the jack of all trades, master of some was supposed to be a pillar of consistency. Chalk it up to playing for a new team, but Battier's performance, even in terms of intangibles, has been disappointing.

Milwaukee Bucks: Stephen Jackson

Outside of the past two games, Stephen Jackson has struggled to find his rhythm with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Both Jackson's mid- and long-range shots aren't falling on a consistent basis, and his toughness on defense has faltered at times.

Like others, Jackson's numbers are horrible, but he has set the bar high for himself over the years, and right now, he just isn't meeting it.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley is highly volatile, but he is tolerated because he provides instant offense, or rather, he used to provide instant offense.

Before getting injured, Beasley was lackluster on both ends of the ball. He is still a defensive liability, his shots aren't falling and he is forcing the action whenever he can.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a lively bunch, but Beasley and the 7.4 PER posting look dead in the water.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

Nothing has come easy for Deron Williams this season—not his scoring, not his passing and not his defense.

Williams may be attempting to shoulder too much of the burden in New Jersey, but regardless, his play has not in line with the usual accolades we have come to expect from him. The point guard is averaging 16.9 points, 8.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per this season—stellar numbers, but not indicative of the player we saw last season.

Williams' performance on defense has been passable, but he is struggling on offense. His assists are down, largely due to a lack of weapons around him, and he is shooting only 35.4 percent from the field.

Acquiring another superstar would be great for New Jersey, but the Nets must first focus on getting their star player back on track.

New Orleans Hornets: Emeka Okafor

Emeka Okafor is never going to live up to his contract, but few expected him to become as ineffective as he has.

Okafor's numbers are down in nearly every statistical category, most importantly in the rebounds department. He has never been the dominant center many hoped he would turn into, but now he seems on a steady decline into basketball oblivion.

That was not expected, at least not so soon.

New York Knicks: Landry Fields

After hitting the rookie wall last season, Landry Fields came back this year in better shape and with some experience, yet neither has seemed to allow him to regain his composure on the court.

Fields' point totals are slightly down, and he hasn't found his rhythm from beyond the arc, knocking down under 20 percent of his attempts. His rebounding, which rendered him a New York Knicks fan favorite last season, has also suffered.

The second-year shooting guard thrives along a true point guard, something the Knicks don't have right now. That being said, hopes were high for him coming into the season, and his performance so far has been a major letdown.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook got himself into a funk last postseason that he has been unable to come out of so far this year.

Westbrook is averaging 18.8 points and 5.3 assists per game. Solid numbers, yes, but far from what we have come to expect after his breakout campaign last year. The point guard is shooting just over 17 percent from beyond the arc and struggled to establish chemistry with Oklahoma City Thunder cornerstone Kevin Durant.

One year after emerging out from behind Durant's shadow, Westbrook is playing his way back into obscurity.

Orlando Magic: Jameer Nelson

The Orlando Magic are winning basketball games, but could probably win more if Jameer Nelson was meeting expectations.

For the season, Nelson is averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 assists per game while posting a lowly 9.6 PER. Nelson is not alone in underperforming, thanks to the not-so-terrific play of Jason Richardson, but as the starting point guard, his struggles are more crucial.

Additionally, Richardson was known to be on the decline. Nelson, on the other hand, has always been consistent, and it has come as quite a shock that he is currently having the worst statistical season of his career.

The Magic better hope that Dwight Howard's ties to Nelson run deeper than on the hardwood, because the point guard's play is not making a case for the center to stick around. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand

Elton Brand has dropped off the radar almost completely this season.

The oft-injured, yet usually effective power forward is averaging 9.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, the lowest totals of his career.

Brand's minutes are down, but the trade-off in production does not line up. He has always found ways to score and be a force on the glass, yet those abilities have been wavering.

This type of drop-off was bound to happen, but few expected it to be this year.  

Phoenix Suns: Channing Frye

Channing Frye has thrived in his time alongside Steve Nash, until now.

Offensively, Frye has been inconsistent. He isn't shooting as high a percentage from the field, and he has not moved well without the ball in his hands.

While Frye's rebounding has improved, his overall defensive demeanor has taken a turn for the worst. He was never known as a lock-down defender, but his opponents have been able to walk all over him thus far.

While the aging Nash continues to exceed expectations, Frye has begun to render himself ineffective.

Portland Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum

It is extremely difficult to point a finger at any one of the Portland Trail Blazers for failing to meet expectations, but Nicolas Batum hasn't evolved as rapidly as many would have hoped this season.

Batum's numbers are only slightly down, but he has struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive end, and his ball-protection has been murky on occasion.

The Blazers are a strong team, but one would hope Batum regains his knack for efficiency, as it will only help them in the long run.

Sacramento Kings: Jimmer Fredette

Jimmer Fredette may only be a rookie, but he has not lived up to the hype surrounding his outside shooting touch.

On the season, Fredette is knocking down only 35 percent of his shots and hasn't proven to be a major long range threat, as he hits only 30 percent of his three-point attempts.

Defensively, Fredette has shown he is not incapable, but he was drafted for his scoring ability, and the 8.5 points in over 24 minutes per game just isn't cutting it.

San Antonio Spurs: T.J. Ford

T.J. Ford's attempt to rejuvenate his career with the San Antonio Spurs has not gone as well as he would have hoped.

Before being sidelined with a tear in his left hamstring, Ford was averaging only 4.2 points and 3.8 assists in just over 15 minutes per game. While he all but disappeared with the Indiana Pacers, his shortcomings were attributed to the team's failure to utilize him properly.

Based off his performance thus far, though, it seems that Ford is simply no longer the caliber of player he once was.

There were hopes that Ford would turn things around in San Antonio, but at this rate, those will vanish by season's end.

Toronto Raptors: Jerryd Bayless

Jerryd Bayless' season has been hampered by an ankle injury, but his performance early on was extremely disappointing.

Bayless was supposed to challenge Jose Calderon for the starting point guard duties, but instead, he found himself playing barely 14 minutes per game and with an inability to create for his teammates.

The Toronto Raptors sorely need a competent backup point guard, and depending upon which version of Bayless returns from his injury, he may or may not be the answer.

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

Devin Harris has never been notorious for his playmaking abilities, but he has struggled even more to create for his teammates this season.

Harris is dishing out 4.5 assists per game, an extremely low number for a starting point guard. In addition to his offense-directing deficiencies, he is not scoring as much as he used to, is taking low-percentage shots and has a tendency to turn the ball over in bunches.

No one expected Harris to fill Deron Williams' shoes, but he was expected to adequately handle the point guard duties.

The Utah Jazz have managed to maintain a winning record thus far, but have done so in spite of Harris, not because of him.

Washington Wizards: John Wall

John Wall was pegged to have a breakout year, but instead he has people wondering whether or not he will become a perennial All-Star.

After an incredible rookie season, Wall has been less than impressive for the lowly Washington Wizards this year. He is averaging only 13.4 points per game, and both his mid- and long-range games need some serious work.

What is most troublesome about Wall thus far, though, is his lack of confidence. His shot is flat and he is passing up open opportunities much more than usual. He has been able to redeem himself defensively, but has flaked on that end of the floor as well far too often.

Like the Wizards, much improvement was expected of Wall this season, but once again, like the rest of his team, he has crashed and burned.

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