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5. Dwyane Wade, Heat
Some may scoff at this ranking, pointing to the NBA Championship Wade won after being in the league just three seasons. But remember, he had something other young stars have not — The Big Diesel. Yes, Wade was struggling with injuries, but did you watch any Heat games this year? Without Wade, the Heat were pitiful. With Wade, they weren't much better. When he hung up the sneakers for the season, the Heat had an NBA-worst 11-54 record highlighted by a 1-26 stretch. Can you honestly imagine KG, LeBron or Kobe — even paired with 11 of the league's worst players — starting a season 11-54?
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4. Robert Horry, Spurs
Robert Horry doesn't get a whole lot of attention during the regular season, but when the playoffs come around he is getting more publicity than the Beckhams. Yeah, big names are born in the playoffs, but let's examine his career average stats: seven points and 4.8 rebounds. "Sure," you say, "but he saves his game for the playoffs when it counts." Horry's career averages for the playoffs are 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. He shoots 42 percent in the regular season and 43 percent in the playoffs. Those shots in the final minute have been clutch, no doubt, but what about the other 47 minutes in the game?
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3. Yao Ming, Rockets
Yao Ming has all the tools to be one of the most dominant forces this league has ever seen. He's 7-foot-6, yet his 85 percent-plus free-throw percentage is better than most guards. Problem is that Yao has been the victim of unparalleled hype. That being said, he is grossly overrated. Didn't the Rockets play their best ball while he was out of the lineup? He doesn't make his team worse, it's just that the Rockets continued to improve during his absence. At this point, Yao is an offensive force who is incredibly injury-prone and a defensive liability who picks up avoidable fouls. If this past season showed us anything, it's that the Rockets can be an elite team — with or without Yao.
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2. Shawn Marion, Heat
Marion is a rare player who has been called underrated so much over his career that he actually has become overrated. His pouting in Phoenix the past few years has been well-documented as he has called himself undervalued — despite being paid $16.4 million per year — and asked to have more plays called his way. Marion may be the best "garbage" player in the league, but his team will only be successful if he is surrounded by capable offensive threats and doesn't have to be a primary option.
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1. Shane Battier, Rockets
Battier is as consistent as winter rain in the Northwest — if by consistent you mean consistently mediocre. Despite playing nearly 37 minutes per game, he averaged only nine points and five rebounds last season. For a player whose consistency and fundamentals are constantly praised, he shoots a miserable 43 percent from the field and a below-average 72 percent from the charity stripe. The former Duke star has been a bigger beneficiary of his past reputation than any other player in the league. The fact that he was asked to represent the USA as one of the best 15 players is reason enough to call him the most overrated player in the game.
FOX Sports on MSN - NBA - Top five overrated NBA players - Number 1
Agree or disagree? Why?
Some may scoff at this ranking, pointing to the NBA Championship Wade won after being in the league just three seasons. But remember, he had something other young stars have not — The Big Diesel. Yes, Wade was struggling with injuries, but did you watch any Heat games this year? Without Wade, the Heat were pitiful. With Wade, they weren't much better. When he hung up the sneakers for the season, the Heat had an NBA-worst 11-54 record highlighted by a 1-26 stretch. Can you honestly imagine KG, LeBron or Kobe — even paired with 11 of the league's worst players — starting a season 11-54?
-----
4. Robert Horry, Spurs
Robert Horry doesn't get a whole lot of attention during the regular season, but when the playoffs come around he is getting more publicity than the Beckhams. Yeah, big names are born in the playoffs, but let's examine his career average stats: seven points and 4.8 rebounds. "Sure," you say, "but he saves his game for the playoffs when it counts." Horry's career averages for the playoffs are 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. He shoots 42 percent in the regular season and 43 percent in the playoffs. Those shots in the final minute have been clutch, no doubt, but what about the other 47 minutes in the game?
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3. Yao Ming, Rockets
Yao Ming has all the tools to be one of the most dominant forces this league has ever seen. He's 7-foot-6, yet his 85 percent-plus free-throw percentage is better than most guards. Problem is that Yao has been the victim of unparalleled hype. That being said, he is grossly overrated. Didn't the Rockets play their best ball while he was out of the lineup? He doesn't make his team worse, it's just that the Rockets continued to improve during his absence. At this point, Yao is an offensive force who is incredibly injury-prone and a defensive liability who picks up avoidable fouls. If this past season showed us anything, it's that the Rockets can be an elite team — with or without Yao.
-----
2. Shawn Marion, Heat
Marion is a rare player who has been called underrated so much over his career that he actually has become overrated. His pouting in Phoenix the past few years has been well-documented as he has called himself undervalued — despite being paid $16.4 million per year — and asked to have more plays called his way. Marion may be the best "garbage" player in the league, but his team will only be successful if he is surrounded by capable offensive threats and doesn't have to be a primary option.
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1. Shane Battier, Rockets
Battier is as consistent as winter rain in the Northwest — if by consistent you mean consistently mediocre. Despite playing nearly 37 minutes per game, he averaged only nine points and five rebounds last season. For a player whose consistency and fundamentals are constantly praised, he shoots a miserable 43 percent from the field and a below-average 72 percent from the charity stripe. The former Duke star has been a bigger beneficiary of his past reputation than any other player in the league. The fact that he was asked to represent the USA as one of the best 15 players is reason enough to call him the most overrated player in the game.
FOX Sports on MSN - NBA - Top five overrated NBA players - Number 1
Agree or disagree? Why?
