Fans of sports often proclaim particular players to be overrated or underrated when they are debated on. This week, three notable players got to hear it from their peers.
On Monday, The Athletic posted their Anonymous NBA Player Poll for 2024. Two of the questions asked of the players involved who they believe is the most overrated and who they believe is the most underrated player.
Eighty-one players gave their responses for most overrated and 126 players made their choice for most underrated. Here are their top choices for the NBA’s most overrated/underrated players.
NBA Players Name Choices for Most Overrated/Underrated Players
Two Players Tie in Most Underrated Vote
There was a tie for the most underrated player in the league according to the poll. Two players received 13 of the 126 (10.3%) of the votes.
One of those is Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. When it comes to notoriety, White might be the sixth-most known Celtics player behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford.
The 29-year-old White is one of the best backcourt defenders in the league though. The seventh-year pro made the All-Defensive Second Team last season. He likely should find his way on an All-Defensive team again.
I watched all 87 Derrick White blocks and compiled my favourite ones. 87 blocks was good for 16th in the league among all players.
I honestly don’t understand how he does it. D White is a defensive sorcerer. pic.twitter.com/pRrQrFOzzO
— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) April 20, 2024
White also averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and shot 39.6% from beyond the arc.
The other who received 13 votes is Thunder forward Jalen Williams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (and, to a lesser extent, Chet Holmgren) receive more of the headlines for the Thunder than Williams.
Make no mistake about it, though. Williams made quite the jump in his sophomore season. The runner-up for the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year, Williams increased his scoring average by five points. He also shot a much-improved three-pointer and handed out more assists.
The 23-year-old Williams somewhat quietly was the second or third-best player on an Oklahoma City team that is the top seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Rounding out the top five are Jrue Holiday (7.8%), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5.6%), and De’Aaron Fox (4.8%).
Stifle Tower Considered Most Overrated
This poll made it clear that the peers of Rudy Gobert don’t think as highly of him as many members of the media and fans of the game do.
The 31-year-old Gobert has plenty of accolades in his career. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year (likely soon-to-be four-time), as well as a three-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA member.
Despite this, Gobert finished atop the poll for the most overrated player. He received 11 of the 81 votes (13.6%) in the category. The Timberwolves had a 56-26 record, but apparently his peers don’t give him too much of the credit.
This season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 76 games. The three-time leader in field goal percentage shot 66.1% from the field.
Rounding out the top five are Jordan Poole (8.6%), Trae Young (7.4%), Dillon Brooks (4.9%), and James Harden (4.9%).
