Top 10 Most Overrated
1. Free Agent SF, Carmelo Anthony: NBA teams like to sell tickets. If Anthony was a 79-rated player - ie the same level as guys like Kyle Anderson, Patrick Beverley & Derrick White - then 15 teams would be lining up to sign him. Nah - this rating feels like Anthony's legacy/star factor weighing in.
t3. LAL SF, LeBron James: Over the course of last season, 32-year-old Damian Lillard saw his 2K rating fall from one of the league's best to the outside of the top 15. Some drop makes sense for Lillard after an injury-plagued campaign. Contrast that drop to LeBron's, whose 2K rating didn't change at all from last year - despite his Lakers missing the playoffs, and James of course being another year older. James playing in year 19 did not display the ability to pull games out when he needed to last year - despite his counting stats. Still great, yes - nowhere close to the top 5 in the league in my opinion.
t3. ORL C, Wendell Carter Jr: Since the draft, I don't understand the obsession with Carter Jr. from smart NBA folks. Whatever it is they see, I haven't seen it yet.
t3. LAC PG, John Wall: Not since 2018 has Wall been an above-average PG. With that extended layoff, and the way the PG position has changed over the last half-decade, emphasizing shooting more and athleticism less, I think it would be optimistic to assume Wall is even an average PG at this point.
5. PHI SG, James Harden: Two playoffs in a row, Harden's pedestrian playoff stats has been in part due to a hurt hamstring. At what point is that not just the new norm for Harden, the way it is for guys like Chris Paul down the stretch every year? Still a basketball savant, still capable of a lot - a far cry from the impact player he was even 2 years ago.
6. MEM PG, Ja Morant: The Grizzlies' 80% winning percentage (20-5 SU) without Morant last year is not nothing. Morant is still a defensive liability not unlike Trae Young. Additionally, Morant has limited outside shooting ability which can hamper the offensive output of his teammates if he is not generating the optimal space due to his defenders sagging off of him when he doesn't have the ball.
7. CLE PG, Darius Garland: Impressive 2nd year from Garland - I need to see more before I gave him a rating similar to that of Paul George like 2K does here.
8. CHI Zach Lavine: Ironically probably the best 2K-style Player (i.e. the best at wild long-distant threes and highlight dunks). Overrated on basketball ability.
9. NOP CJ McCollum: McCollum has been a consistent 20-points for a decade. He doesn't mean bring much else to the table, making him more of a complimentary player than a key franchise piece which an 88-rating would indicate.
10. RJ Barrett: This 85-rating puts Barrett on par with guys like Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday. No way jose.