The NBA's 10 Worst Starters Right Now

In the NBA, there are a number of starters who shouldn't be starting.

More often than not, subpar starters are out of necessity, a result of injuries or an unfavorable salary cap.

Given that a starting lineup sets the tone for the rest of a game, it can prove overly costly to have just one dud within it, let alone more.

With the better half of the season in the books, it has become clear that there is no shortage of ineffective starters throughout the league.

Daequan Cook, SG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

In the absence of Thabo Sefolosha, the Thunder have called upon Daequan Cook to fill the need at shooting guard. He has not delivered.

Cook is averaging just six points and 2.6 rebounds in an increased role for Oklahoma City. He is shooting just 36.8 percent from the field and has become a liability on the defensive end, an area in which Sefolosha excels.

The Thunder prefer to bring James Harden and his endless supply of energy off the bench, which was how Cook fell into the starting role, but he has failed to make the most of the opportunity.

Consequently, Harden is getting the nod earlier in games, his performance downplaying the poor displays by Cook.

Most teams are forced to start an athlete not fit for duty, but the Thunder choose to do so. Luckily for them, they are talented enough in other aspects that it doesn't have a significant impact on their success.

Derek Fisher, PG (Los Angeles Lakers)

In his prime, Derek Fisher would rarely post eye-popping stat lines, but he always got the job done. Now, not only does he post lackluster averages, but he hardly ever gets the job done.

On the season, Fisher is averaging 5.5 points and 3.4 assists in over 25 minutes per game. He is shooting just 37.7 percent from the field, and at just over 29 percent, he is hardly the three-point threat he once was.

What's worse is his presence on the defensive end, or rather, lack thereof. Fisher is 37 and routinely gets beaten off the dribble. His greatest asset on that side is his flopping, which isn't saying much.

The fact that the Lakers brass is pushing so hard to move a perennial All-Star in Pau Gasol to resolve the point guard situation says it all.

Jermaine O'Neal, C (Boston Celtics)

Jermaine O'Neal is currently sidelined with a bum wrist, but the Celtics have been better off with Brandon Bass starting alongside Kevin Garnett in his stead.

Few expected any kind of production out of the 33-year-old center this season, as his numbers began a steady decline almost immediately after the "Malice at the Palace" incident.

Currently, O'Neal is averaging five points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in just over 22 minutes per game. He is having the worst season of his 15-year career from the field and has lost nearly all of his athletic ability.

Despite a limited role, O'Neal has found himself in foul trouble almost on a regular basis. He takes unnecessary risks, which have bolstered his blocks per game, but they've also made him an easy target to attack in the low post.

O'Neal was once an All-Star, but now he's less than a fading star.

DeShawn Stevenson, SG (New Jersey Nets)

DeShawn Stevenson has rarely been a regular starter in the NBA, and for good reason.

Stevenson's hounding defense and penchant for causing turnovers are valued attributes, but his offense is nearly nonexistent. And so far this season, his career-making defense has been inconsistent.

The shooting guard is averaging 2.8 points and two rebounds per game while posting a ghastly 3.9 PER.

New Jersey's hope was for Stevenson to lock down the perimeter, a routine workload for the 30-year-old, but he is simply not moving as well as he used to. He defends with his hands more than anything, and he's fought over screens ineffectively.

A bounty of injuries has forced the Nets to experiment with their rotation extensively. This experiment is clearly failing.

Joel Anthony, C (Miami Heat)

Joel Anthony must be given credit to a certain extent on the defensive end, but when he's on the floor, the Heat essentially play four-on-five offense.

Thus far, Anthony is averaging 3.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. His rebounding abilities are underwhelming, and his lack of athleticism is disturbing for someone as undersized as he is.

The Heat more than manage to get by despite their starting center's ineffectiveness, yet it's impossible to overlook his shortcomings.

Anthony may be strictly in the lineup for defensive purposes, but such a narrow skill set dictates that one must be great at his limited craft, and Anthony's defense isn't worthy of the All-Defensive Team; it's barely mediocre.

Boris Diaw, PF (Charlotte Bobcats)

Boris Diaw has always had potential, but he's lazy.

Despite being able to play all five positions, Diaw has rendered himself little more than useless. His conditioning is poor, he's wildly inconsistent on offense and he tends to hack instead of actually defend.

Diaw has posted an average of 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in as prominent a role he will ever see, courtesy of the Bobcats. Those numbers aren't lukewarm; they're ice cold.

Potential will only get you so far in professional basketball, and more than eight years into his NBA career, it's clear Diaw has no intention of developing or honing his skills any further.

He's headed absolutely nowhere and has been for a long time.

Andris Biedrins, C (Golden State Warriors)

Upon entering the NBA in 2004, hopes for Andris Biedrins were high. Now, though, it would be difficult to find someone from whom his team expects less.

Biedrins is currently averaging 2.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He is a non-factor on offense, struggles to box out the opposition efficiently and is liable to get into early foul trouble.

The center also hardly ever uses size to his advantage. He can be a strong shot-blocker but collapses on the defensive end almost routinely.

Simply put, Biedrins is as soft a big man as there is.

If he didn't stand at 7'0", his NBA career would already be over.

Wesley Johnson, SG (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Wesley Johnson is simply not NBA-ready, at least not right now.

The 24-year-old shooting guard has struggled to put points on the board this season, and alongside the savvy Ricky Rubio, that's saying something.

Johnson is averaging 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He's shooting under 39 percent from the field and an unacceptable 22.5 percent from long range.

His footwork on defense is passable, but he's simply not strong enough to lock down the perimeter.

The good news for Johnson, unlike Boris Diaw, is that there's still plenty of time for him to develop his game.

That said, until he does, or until he gets relegated to the bench, he will remain one of the league's worst starters.

Aaron Gray, C (Toronto Raptors)

With Andrea Bargnani watching from the sidelines, Aaron Gray has emerged as the Raptors' starting center, putting Toronto at a severe disadvantage daily.

Gray's work ethic is evident, but he just doesn't have the necessary talent to succeed consistently on either end of the ball. 

The Raptors are receiving 3.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game from the 7'0" Gray. He has shown he can rebound, but not so much that it redirects the attention from his numerous pitfalls.

Gray's footwork is sloppy. He cannot block shots or run the floor, and his offensive awareness is less than visible.

As hard as Gray tries, he cannot escape the bottom of the barrel.

Metta World Peace, SF (Los Angeles Lakers)

Much like Jermaine O'Neal, Metta World Peace began to taper off after his involvement in the brawl at Auburn Hills.

World Peace has always been tolerated for his defense, with the years he spent putting points on the board merely being a bonus.

Now, however, the small forward cannot be tolerated for either, as he is officially adept at neither.

World Peace is averaging five points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Lakers, shooting an unimpressive 34.2 percent from the field. He is no longer a top-notch defender, nor does he create matchup headaches for the opposition.

While World Peace's obnoxiousness has subsided, so has his production, to the point where the Lakers have their sights set on another perpetual headache in Michael Beasley.

That's how bad he's been.

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