1.) LaMelo Ball
A classic example of a flashy player overrated by the eye test: LaMelo Ball.
He looks the part, flashy passes, deep threes, creative bagwork, but when you strip away the aesthetics, the production doesn’t hold up.
He’s entering his sixth season, and since his rookie year, his efficiency has declined nearly every year, with the only exception being the 2023–2024 season. In 2024–25, he shot a brutal 40.5% from the field and 34% from three on high volume.
Despite all the hype, he has:
- Zero playoff appearances
- Just one All-Star selection
- And no clear trajectory toward winning basketball
His usage rate was 35.9% this season, higher than Giannis Antetokounmpo, but with nowhere near the same efficiency or impact.
LaMelo has been given every tool: the green light, the roster spotlight, and full offensive control. Yet his career so far has been defined by inefficiency, inconsistency, and injuries. The stardom fans assign him just doesn’t match the results.
2.) Derrick lively
This past year, Derrick Lively was ranked the 56th-best player in the NBA on ESPN’s Top 100 list, ahead of proven scorers and creators like Darius Garland, Coby White, and Desmond Bane.
Let’s be real: the media made it seem like Lively had some breakout rookie year. He didn’t.
He averaged 8.8 points and 7.5 rebounds which is solid, but far from spectacular, especially considering the minutes and opportunities he got.
That kind of stat line barely qualifies as a rotation player, let alone a top-60 guy in the league.
Yes, injuries held him back. But even before he got hurt (just 36 games played), there was no real leap in production or skill. He remained limited offensively, relied heavily on lobs and dump-offs, and wasn’t making reads or creating impact beyond the paint.
Ranking him 56th is absurd. He still has major development ahead before he deserves that kind of recognition. Right now, he’s a project and nowhere near a star.
3.) Brandon Podziemski
We’ve convinced ourselves that Brandon Podziemski is some high-upside, untouchable asset, a rising star Golden State has been “protecting” in trade talks for the past two years.
But the truth is, he’s been available, and teams simply haven’t valued him the way the media does.
Take the Jimmy Butler talks, Podziemski wasn’t involved. Not because the Warriors were refusing to include him, but because his value didn’t matter in the deal. He wasn’t a priority for either side.
On the court, the red flags are there:
- His shot is streaky, often looks hesitant, and lacks confidence.
- Sure, he had a standout 28-point game vs Minnesota, but followed it up with two games shooting a combined 4-for-24. That’s not consistency. That’s volatility.
This season, he averaged an inefficient 11.7 PPG, with no standout trait beyond occasional hustle and good passing instincts. He’s a solid rotation piece, not a core building block, and certainly not someone you build a trade package around expecting star-level return.
The hype simply isn’t matching the production.
4.) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Yes, I know this sounds crazy. But hear me out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP, Most Valuable Player.
But calling him overrated doesn’t mean he’s not great. It means he didn’t deserve that award. Let’s break it down:
What Does "MVP" Actually Mean?
- Most valuable to their team
- The best player in the league?
- Most valuable to the NBA brand?
- Or just the best regular season performer?
Let’s hit each one.
1. Most Valuable to Their Team?
No. That’s Jokic.
- Jokic had the highest Box Plus-Minus in the league, +13.3, which was over 4 points higher than Shai’s.
- The Thunder’s net rating with Shai: +16.4 (best in the league). Without him? +10.7. Still elite. Still #1.
- Nuggets’ net rating with Jokic: +9.3. Without him? -10.7, second-worst in the league. Only better than the Wizards.
Take Jokic off the Nuggets and they collapse. Take Shai off the Thunder and they’re… still the best team in the league.
2. Best Player in the League?
Still not Shai.
Jokic’s advanced stats weren’t just good, they were historic:
- PER: 32.1 (1st)
- Win Shares: 17.5 (1st)
- Box Plus-Minus: 13.3 (1st)
- VORP: 9.8 (1st)
Shai? Top 5, sure, but he didn’t lead a single metric.
Meanwhile, Jokic was top 3 in four, something no player has ever done.
Shai was efficient, clutch, smooth, but not dominant in a value-defining way.
3. Most Valuable to the NBA Brand?
Also no.
Just go on social media. Search “SGA” and what do you see? Foul-baiting complaints, push-off memes, and debates over whether his step backs are even legal.
The NBA's “starboy” isn’t a guy whose game is slow and methodical. It’s Giannis, it’s Jokic, it’s someone fun, with a story, and a unique style.
Shai doesn’t move the needle like that, not with fans, not with casuals.
Final Take
Shai is a superstar. But let’s stop pretending he's the most valuable player in the world.
- Jokic is better.
- Giannis is better.
- And Luka will remind everyone next season just how elite he really is.
Shai’s great. He’s just not MVP great. And that’s why, yes, even after an MVP and Finals run, he’s overrated
5.) Scoot Henderson
After being picked 3rd overall in the draft, people immediately crowned Scoot Henderson as the future of the league. Some even predicted he’d win Rookie of the Year over Wemby.
His rookie season? Productive, but wildly inefficient. Still, the media ran with the narrative: “Breakout incoming. Multiple All-Star appearances are coming soon.”
From the moment he was drafted, people made up their minds that Scoot would be a star and nothing he’s done since has changed that. The hype just kept rolling.
And after that rookie year, expectations were sky-high. But what did we get?
- Fewer points per game
- Fewer rebounds
- Fewer assists
- Nearly identical (and still bad) shooting splits
His advanced metrics? Still below average. His true shooting, efficiency ratings, and on/off impact didn’t improve.
He was handed a big role, a 24% usage rate, and every opportunity to grow. And somehow… he got worse.
Portland was a bottom-tier team. Scoot had the keys and stalled.
