The Ratings Game: Which NBA Stars Are Underrated, Overrated Or Rated Just Right?
I read an article about how Kobe Bryant was the most underrated player in the NBA. In it, he also said as an aside, that he was probably one of the more overrated players too. Can a person be both?
Since then I've been considering, what does it mean to be "overrated" or "underrated"? How come now is ever just appropriately rated? Often times it seems someone claims a person is "overrated" if they don't like the player and is garnering more attention than their own favorite player who is in turn, "underrated." If it weren't for the "overrated" player hogging all the limelight, then the player they deem more worthy of merit, would get that intention instead.
It doesn't seem to be the case very often, that one actually considers, what is the prevailing opinion of a certain player and then evaluate whether that opinion is fair or not. Now pause for a moment and consider that I'm very careful in my selection of the word fair.
Fair should be distinguished from correct. You might disagree with the prevailing opinion but that doesn't mean that the prevailing opinion isn't fair. For instance if you were to ask who's the best point guard in the NBA right now, there are a few names, Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul in particular that are in the conversation but are all fair answers, regardless of whether you agree with it. However if someone were to say Michael Conley, that's just unreasonable.
There are three things to consider then here. First, the "fair" reality, second the "reasonable" reality, and third, the distance between the two. The greater the distance, the more "overrated" or "uiderrated" a player actually is. So here is a list of six players commonly referred to as underrated or overrated, and whether the statements are true.
Kobe Bryant
1 of 6
Why not start with the obvious?
Reputation: One of the greatest five to ten players of all time.
Reality: He's been a key factor to winning five NBA championships. He's one of the ten greatest scorers of all time. He has a complete game, being both an excellent passer, and one of the better rebounders for his position ever. He's been named to eight All-NBA first teams, and eight ALL-NBA defensive teams. He's been a finals MVP twice, and the NBA MVP once.
In Fairness: It would be hard to find more than ten players with a better resume, but it's fair to say that there are five that are better. Anywhere between four and twelve is a fair placement.
Rating Judgment: Just right. If you find yourself offended by the notion that someone would deign put him below five, then you're giving him too much credit, but if you're thinking that it's over the top to put him in the top twelve, you're not giving him enough.
LeBron James
2 of 6
Reputation: An outstanding player, with a selfish attitude. He only cares about his numbers, and not about winning. Instead of sticking around and trying to win one in Cleveland he left for Miami to take the easy way out.
The massive influx of dislike for James seems to have influenced the perception of his skills. People don't have the same regard for James' skill-set, dismissing his ability as "just going for the numbers."
In Reality: The fact that the two perceptions listed above are inherent contradictions seems to elude people. If he is just interested in self-promotion and grabbing big numbers while not caring about winning then it was in his best interest to stay in Cleveland. If he took the "easy way out" he was sacrificing numbers and personal glory to do so.
In Fairness: Whatever your views on "The Decision" there's no reason to accept that he's somehow less of a basketball player than he was before. He's no less able to rebound, shoot, or pass. His defense didn't take a hit because he's doing it in South Beach.
Rating Judgment: Underrated. Even if you don't think he's a good person, that doesn't mean he can't be a good player.
Carmelo Anthony
3 of 6
Reputation: Top five generational player. The type of player who can make a champion.
Reality: Of the 34 forwards who have a career average of over 20 points per game, he's 24th in rebounding at 6.3, 24th in field goal percentage with .458, 23rd in turnovers per game with 3.1, and 19th in Assists with 3.1. If you're doing the math, you figured it out already, his assist/turnover ratio is 1/1. His PER is good for 59th all time. His defensive rating is 18th of the 24 forwards with the number available. He's also only been past the first round once in his career.
In Fairness: A top 20 player? Sure! A top ten player? A top five player? No. He's a one trick pony. He's a good scorer who can create his own shot and moves well with the ball. He also takes a lot of bad shots, doesn't rebound well for a man of his height and athleticism, doesn't commit to defense. He's never been named to an NBA first team, and never finished in the top five of NBA voting.
Rating Judgment: Overrated. He's not a top five player in the league, and it's only by stretching the definition that he's considered a top ten player. Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul, and Amare Stoudamire, just to throw some names out, are all players whose fans would be enraged if they woke up tomorrow morning to see those player's had been traded straight up for Anthony. There's probably a few more too, but that's just off the top of my head.
Lamar Odom
4 of 6
Reputation: The third or fourth option on a very deep Lakers team and key part of the last two rings.
Reality: In 2001 Odom averaged nearly 18 points. In 2002 he averaged nearly six assists. In 2008 he had a career high with over ten rebounds per game. His career defensive rating is 104. He's played small forward and power forward throughout his career. He won a gold medal at FIFA as the starting center.
In Fairness: Odom is one of the most versatile players in the league. Pretty much whatever you need from him he can provide, be it scoring, passing, rebounding, or defense. He brings it when he starts, he brings it as the sixth man. He puts winning above ego, and while he could have been an All-Star on several occasions with his talent, he never sought to depart LA. He's a champion.
Rating Judgment: Underrated. He's not just underrated, he might be the most underrated player in the NBA. He's every kind of intangible a champion needs. He's the guy who does the things that don't show up in box-scores, as well as the things that do. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's more important than Kobe or Pau, but I will say he's more than just another option. There is no option. The Lakers need him.
Mo Williams
5 of 6
Reputation: All Star point guard.
Reality: In his eight year NBA career, he's finished in the top ten in free throw percentage twice, and in the top ten in three pointers made twice. Aside from those showings, he's never finished in the top ten in any significant category. He yields a 22.1 PER on average to opposing point guards. T
In Fairness: I suppose it is accurate to say that when Williams is on the court, there's a point guard that looks like an All-Star, but it's whoever Williams is guarding, literally. A 22 PER is All-Star neighborhood and that's what kind of "defense" Williams plays.
Judgment Rating: Overrated. Williams is not only not an All-Star, he's just not very good. In fact, he may very well be the worst starting PG in the league.
Blake Griffin
6 of 6
Reputation: Rising young star, literally, and Rookie of the Year favorite.
Reality: He leads NBA rookies in scoring, rebounding, efficiency and total stats. Heck, he's even third among rookies in assists.
In Fairness: Described often as Karl Malone with a mix of 'Nique, that's precisely what he is. His ability to rise to the rim with power, is just breathtaking. He's also a strong rebounder, a better passer than you might realize. He is so strong and athletic it makes him a joy to watch.
Rating Judgment: Spot on! He's not only the front runner, with Wall being in and out of the lineup, he's lapping the field. I wouldn't be putting him among the best power forwards in the NBA yet though because there are still holes in his game, but the sky is the limit with Blake "I need a nickname" Griffin.
