Sports site ESPN recently released a list of NBA players that they claim to be overrated.
There is one common bind to all the players that they mentioned in the list: they pile up their stats, which makes them be considered as good, productive players. However, as the sport becomes more complicated, indicators reveal that their production do not really help their respective teams in the big picture.
Two of the notable names on the ESPN Insider list are league leaders in statistical categories. Rajon Rondo is the league leader in assists and Hassan Whiteside is the leader in blocks. Curiously, these two players on the list are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. They have also been involved in conflicts with their team officials and coaches.
Hassan Whiteside is very impressive and is bound to be given a max contract by some teams because a rim protector is a hot commodity in the league.
"Whiteside blocks 3.9 shots per game, and for his career he is the NBA's most prolific shot-blocker in two decades. He's also fifth in the league in rebounding, ranking in the top 10 in offensive and defensive rebounds per game."
However, as SB Nation also pointed out in December, the Miami Heat are better at defense when Whiteside sits.
"Why?" ESPN explored. "Whiteside apparently doesn't know -- or doesn't care -- that the opposing center is the biggest threat to grab offensive boards and that the most important job of any center, after a shot goes into the air, is making sure that opponent has no clear path to the basket for a rebound."
They add: "Instead of boxing out, Whiteside appears to want the rebound for himself, according to my video review of Whiteside's play. This boosts his totals but costs his teammates rebounds. At the same time, opposing centers actually see a bump in their rebounding numbers against Whiteside, who is often ball-watching once a shot goes up."
Seems like Whiteside has a selfish motive when he pads up his stat sheet-he has never had a big payday in his career before, so he pours on the blocks and rebounds when he can.
But how can assists be the mark of a "selfish" player as in Rondo's case?
ESPN's Jeremias Engelmann noted: "In each of Rondo's past three seasons, his teams have played two points better per 100 possessions when he has been on the bench."
But the impact of those assists do not translate into actual wins because Rondo would sometimes slow down the offense to look for his stat rather than go with the flow of their offensive set.
This is one reason why Rondo is sometimes benched in the end game and also why the Kings are better without him on the floor.
This raises questions on whether Rondo should be a building block of the Kings' future.