20 Most Overrated NBA Players in the League Right Now

20 Most Overrated NBA Players in the League Right Now

There are a lot of players in the NBA that receive a lot of attention every year, but the most overrated NBA players might receive a little too much attention. They enter the season with high expectations or large contracts, but never truly live up to the massive hype that surrounds them. 

In fact, it seems like every team has an overrated player these days and some of them have several. Relying on them too heavily generally leads to disaster and they’re often more effective in a ‘sidekick’ or No. 2 role, despite getting superstar attention and superstar-level contracts. 

Why these players get so much attention is beyond me. It’s not that they aren’t good basketball players and it’s not that they don’t have a place on the roster, but they certainly aren’t as good or valuable as people lead you to believe. Instead, they’re inconsistent or unavailable at best. 

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Who Are the Most Overrated NBA Players?

20 Most Overrated NBA Players in the League Right Now
Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock

You might be wondering who the most overrated NBA players are in the league right now. In fact, there are probably a couple of players that immediately come to your mind when you hear the term ‘overrated’ — I know I have a few names swimming around in my mind already.

Don’t worry, we’re going to break down our top 20 most overrated NBA players below. We’re going to take several things into consideration, including expectations vs. reality, their salary, their current role, how many minutes they receive, when they were drafted, and much more. 

Honorable Mentions: Zach LaVine, Joel Embiid, Nicolas Batum, Lauri Markkanen, Montrezl Harrell, Blake Griffin, Pascal Siakam, Dwight Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Jusuf Nurkić

20. Paul George

Seasons: 2010-present (11 seasons)

Teams: Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers

2020 Stats: 54 games, 33.7 minutes, 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $35.45 million

Career Stats: 706 games, 33.5 minutes, 20.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

Paul George was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He gradually improved over the first four years of his career, but a scary season-ending injury during the 2014-15 season brought an immediate halt to that improvement. 

That was six seasons ago and while George has posted more than 21 points per game in each season — including a career-high 28.0 points per game in 2018 — he has struggled to lead a team in the playoffs and frequently chokes under pressure. Great player, but not when it counts.

19. Kyrie Irving

Seasons: 2011-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets

2020 Stats: 54 games, 34.9 minutes, 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $35.33 million 

Career Stats: 582 games, 33.9 minutes, 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

Kyrie Irving is one of the most skilled dribblers of all-time and can score as well as anyone else in the league. Unfortunately, his frequent unavailability and constant drama causes a lot of unnecessary distractions to him, his teammates, and the city he’s supposed to represent. 

Irving was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft. He made an immediate impact in the NBA and has only posted below 20 points per game in two of his 10 seasons. His lack of leadership and frequent injuries are becoming a problem, though. 

18. P.J. Tucker

Seasons: 2006-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat

2020 Stats: 52 games, 26.1 minutes, 3.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $7.00 million

Career Stats: 706 games, 29.1 minutes, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

P.J. Tucker was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. He played in 17 games as a rookie, but played overseas for the next five seasons — including Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy, and Germany. He made a return to the NBA in 2012.

Since then, he has been a reliable player that rarely misses games. He’s best known for his defense, but doesn’t combine that with a lot of offensive prowess. Despite averaging over 29 minutes per game in his career, he has never averaged more than 9.4 points per game. 

17. Andre Iguodala

Seasons: 2004-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat

2020 Stats: 63 games, 21.3 minutes, 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $2.64 million

Career Stats: 1,193 games, 32.5 minutes, 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 setals, 0.5 blocks per game

Andre Iguodala entered the league in 2004 as the Philadelphia 76ers’ 9th overall draft pick. After averaging 9.0 points per game as a rookie, he would average more than 12.3 points per game in each of the next eight seasons — including a career-high 19.9 points per game in 2007.

Since then, he has failed to average double-digit points per game and is best known as a stout defender. He’s frequently haunted by air balls and doesn’t always make the best decisions on the floor. He was, however, the 2014-15 NBA Finals MVP, which is something to be proud of. 

16. Tobias Harris

Seasons: 2011-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers

2020 Stats: 62 games, 32.5 minutes, 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $35.99 million

Career Stats: 680 games, 31.0 minutes, 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Tobias Harris was the 19th overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA Draft. He never played a game for the team and was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on draft night. Since then, he has played on five different teams and struggled to find a permanent home in the NBA. 

A large reason why is because he’s very talented and can score the ball with ease, but he’s not as consistent as you’d like to see and doesn’t have the leadership you want out of a $36 million player. He has found a home in Philly, but his contract limits their ability to build around him.

15. Aaron Gordon

Seasons: 2014-present (7 seasons)

Teams: Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets

2020 Stats: 50 games, 27.7 minutes, 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $16.41 million

Career Stats: 453 games, 28.5 minutes, 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

When you draft someone with the 4th overall pick, you expect them to be the face of the franchise for many years to come. That’s exactly what the Orlando Magic were hoping for when they drafted Aaron Gordon in 2014, but it’s far from what they ended up receiving out of him. 

He played in just 47 games his rookie season and didn’t average double-digit points until his third season. He scored a career-high 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 2017, but has been in a gradual decline ever since. — averaging jus 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 2020.

14. Russell Westbrook

Seasons: 2008-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers

2020 Stats: 65 games, 36.4 minutes, 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $44.21 million

Career Stats: 944 games, 34.7 minutes, 23.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

Russell Westbrook will go down as one of the most explosive players to ever step foot on the court, as well as one of the most versatile. He has averaged a triple-double in four of his last five seasons and has averaged more than 21.8 points per game in 11 straight seasons. 

With that said, he’s not much of a leader, lets his temper get the best of him, is on the wrong side of too many technical fouls, and fails to turn his team into a consistent winner. He might fill the stat sheet, but there’s a reason he has never won a championship and may never will. 

13. Andrew Wiggins

Seasons: 2014-present (7 seasons)

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors

2020 Stats: 71 games, 33.3 minutes, 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 block per game

2021 Salary: $31.58 million

Career Stats: 526 games, 35.4 minutes, 19.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.7 blocks per game

Not many people can say they were drafted first overall, but Andrew Wiggins earned that milestone in 2014 thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, he never played a game for the team and was traded for the likes of Kevin Love before his rookie season ever started. 

He started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and they had high hopes for him, but he could never help the team get over the hump. He can score pretty well, but has never shot better than 48% from the field in a season and is far from the player we all expected him to be. 

12. DeAndre Jordan

https://twitter.com/LakersSBN/status/1450130408709017600

Seasons: 2008-present

Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers

2020 Stats: 57 games, 21.9 minutes, 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.1 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $2.64 million 

Career Stats: 933 games, 27.4 minutes, 9.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.6 steals, 1.6 blocks per game

DeAndre Jordan was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers’ big three, which included Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. He was never expected to be a leader and played well in his role with the team, largely because Paul and Griffin demanded a lot of attention from opposing defenses. 

He averaged a double-double every year from 2013-2018, but hasn’t been the same since being traded. He’s not nearly as effective on the defensive end and frequently makes mistakes on that end of the floor. He can still rebound the ball, but that’s the case with most players 6’11’’ or taller. 

11. Al Horford

Seasons: 2007-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder

2020 Stats: 28 games, 27.9 minutes, 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $27.00 million

Career Stats: 881 games, 32.5 minutes, 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks per game

Al Horford was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in 2007. In 14 seasons, he has never posted more than 18.6 points per game and has only averaged one double-double in his career (2012-13). You would expect more from someone drafted right after Kevin Durant

For the most part, NBA teams sign Horford for his leadership and ability to control a locker room. While that’s certainly needed in today’s NBA, you would expect a little more on the floor from someone you’re paying $27 million per year. It doesn’t give the team much salary room. 

10. Lonzo Ball

Seasons: 2017-present (4 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls

2020 Stats: 55 games, 31.8 minutes, 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $18.60 million

Career Stats: 217 games, 32.1 minutes, 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

Lonzo Ball was the second overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. He was expected to be their point guard for the future, but that never materialized and he was eventually run out of town once LeBron James started having a say in what happens in Los Angeles. 

When you look at some of the players drafted behind Lonzo Ball — such as Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, and Bam Adebayo — you start to see just how overrated he has become. Now entering his fifth year, he still has yet to cement himself in this league. 

9. Julius Randle

Seasons: 2014-present (7 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks

2020 Stats: 71 games, 37.6 minutes, 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $21.78 million

Career Stats: 446 games, 30.5 minutes, 17.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

Speaking of the Los Angeles Lakers, they had a lot of hope for Julius Randle when they drafted him 7th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken leg in his NBA debut and missed the entire 2014-15 season as a result. That’s not a good way to start your career. 

While he has steadily improved every year since and is starting to reinvent himself with the New York Knicks, he’s still far too inconsistent and often shoots the ball far too much on a daily basis. I think he’ll continue to improve in New York, but that won’t stop him from being overrated. 

8. Kevin Love

Seasons: 2008-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers

2020 Stats: 25 games, 24.9 minutes, 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $31.26 million

Career Stats: 738 games, 31.7 minutes, 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

We mentioned Kevin Love earlier when he was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins. Although he won a championship with LeBron James in 2016, his move to the Cavaliers could be the worst thing that could’ve happened to his career. 

Love averaged more than 20 points per game in three of his six seasons in Minnesota. He hasn’t done that in any of his seasons in Cleveland. He also averaged a double-double in five of his six seasons in Minnesota, but has only done that in two of his seven years in Cleveland.

7. Kemba Walker

Seasons: 2011-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks

2020 Stats: 43 games, 31.8 minutes, 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $36.02 million

Career Stats: 704 games, 33.7 minutes, 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

Kemba Walker was drafted ninth overall in 2011 by the Charlotte Bobcats. After failing to average more than 17.7 points per game in his first four seasons, he finally made a big leap in 2015 when he averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. 

He would go on to average more than 20 points per game in five straight seasons, but that streak ended in 2020. He has been riddled with injuries over the past two seasons and doesn’t live up to his $36 million contract — making him the 11th-highest paid player in the NBA. 

6. Andre Drummond

Seasons: 2012-present (9 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers

2020 Stats: 46 games, 27.0 minutes, 14.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.1 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $2.40 million

Career Stats: 645 games, 30.7 minutes, 14.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.5 blocks per game

Andre Drummond will go down as one of the best rebounders the league has ever seen, especially in the modern era. It’s what he does best, but is perhaps the only thing he does well consistently. He has never averaged more than 17.7 points per game, which he did in 2019. 

His lack of versatility is why he went from being paid $27 million to $2.4 million in just a two-year span. He doesn’t add much value offensively, other than grabbing offensive rebounds — which is definitely needed, but being one of the worst free throw shooters in the league isn’t helping him. 

5. Kyle Kuzma

Seasons: 2017-present (4 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards

2020 Stats: 68 games, 28.7 minutes, 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $13.00 million

Career Stats: 276 games, 29.7 minutes, 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Kyle Kuzma quickly made a name for himself with the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded by the Brooklyn Nets on draft night. The 27th overall draft pick in 2017 played in 77 games his rookie season, averaging more than 31 minutes and 16 points per game — more than expected.

He had an even better sophomore season in the NBA, but has been on a steady decline ever since. He has averaged under 13 points per game in the past two seasons, shooting just 44% from the field in both 2019 and 2020. We’ll see if he can reinvent himself with the Wizards. 

4. Kristaps Porzingis

Seasons: 2015-present (5 seasons)

Teams: New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks

2020 Stats: 43 games, 30.9 minutes, 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $31.65 million

Career Stats: 286 games, 31.1 minutes, 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.9 blocks per game

Kristaps Porzingis was the New York Knicks’ fourth overall pick in 2015. He was one of the top prospects that year after proving his talent overseas. Over the next three years, he rose to stardom as the Knicks’ most promising player, averaging 22.7 points per game in 2017-18

Unfortunately, an ACL injury derailed his entire 2018-19 season and disagreements with the Knicks’ front office eventually led to him being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He hasn’t been the same since and has struggled to find consistent chemistry alongside Luka Doncic. 

3. John Wall

Seasons: 2010-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets

2020 Stats: 40 games, 32.2 minutes, 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $44.31 million

Career Stats: 613 games, 35.6 minutes, 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks per game

After a successful career at the University of Kentucky, the Washington Wizards selected John Wall first overall in 2010. He made an immediate impact on the team and gradually improved over the next four seasons. By 2013, he was averaging 19.3 points and 8.8 assists per game

In 2014, he averaged his first double-double — something he ended up doing three straight years. Unfortunately, he has been declining ever since and is always struggling with injury. As the third-highest paid player in the league, you need him to be more available and consistent.

2. Ben Simmons

Seasons: 2017-present (4 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers

2020 Stats: 58 games, 32.4 minutes, 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $33.00 million

Career Stats: 275 games, 33.9 minutes, 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks per game

Let’s be honest, Ben Simmons is slowly becoming the laughing stock of the NBA and it’s only getting worse. He was once touted as one of the most intriguing prospects the NBA has seen and had an opportunity to be one of the league’s most dynamic, versatile, and dominant players. 

He can do a lot of things well, including the work he does down low and his ability to get teammates involved. Unfortunately, he can’t shoot the ball from anywhere on the court, doesn’t know how to play well when it matters most, and doesn’t have any leadership skills at all. 

1. Draymond Green

Seasons: 2012-present (9 seasons)

Teams: Golden State Warriors

2020 Stats: 63 games, 31.5 minutes, 7.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.7 steals 0.8 blocks per game

2021 Salary: $24.03 million

Career Stats: 640 games, 28.5 minutes, 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks per game

Draymond Green is perhaps the most overrated NBA player in the league right now and potentially of all-time. He can fill a stat sheet up and does a lot of things well when on the court, but a majority of his success is a result of the future Hall of Famers he plays alongside. 

He hasn’t averaged more than 8.0 points per game in the past three years, has never averaged a double-double, doesn’t shoot well from long range, is shooting 44% from the field in his career, and is called for far too many technicals. All that aside, the Warriors seem to really like him. 

Who Are the Most Overrated NBA Players of All-Time?

Overrated players are nothing new to the NBA. In fact, there have been overrated players ever since the NBA began in 1946. It’s not unusual for a player to receive a lot of praise, heavy attention, and high expectations, just to underperform and come short when needed most.

For example, some of the most overrated NBA players of all-time include Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Isaiah Thomas, Allen Iverson, Pete Maravich, Amar’e Stoudemire, James Worthy, Joakim Noah, Rudy Gay, and Dominique Wilkins.

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There will always be overrated players in the NBA, but the most overrated NBA players will go down in history as the few that received too much hype — especially when it mattered most. The real question is, who would you have on your personal list of the most overrated NBA players?

20 Most Overrated MLB Players Right Now

Of all the baseball players that receive a lot of praise and attention in the league today, the most overrated MLB players are the ones that often receive too much. They never live up to the hype, frequently fail to meet expectations, and have an ego that doesn’t match their ability to execute.

Let’s be honest, we all secretly — or not secretly — hope the most overrated MLB players strike out every time they step up to the plate or give up a home run when pitching. For some reason, we love to see them fail, we love to see them frustrated, and we love to root against them. 

With that said, these players still receive the largest contracts and are beloved among owners, managers, and teammates, and the fans usually have no idea why. When it comes to the fans, they would take production over hype and execution over talent any day of the week. 

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Who Are the Most Overrated MLB Players?

20 Most Overrated MLB Players Right Now
Keeton Gale / Shutterstock

You might be wondering who the most overrated MLB players are at the moment. I’m sure there are several that come to mind immediately — don’t worry, we’re all thinking the same thing. On the other hand, there are several that might surprise you or some that you might not agree with. 

The most overrated MLB players are the ones that annoy us the most, so everyone’s list is going to look a little bit different. At the same time, there are going to be a lot of players that find their way on a majority of our lists and those are the ones that bring us all together in unity. 

With that said, there are several factors we’re going to consider when determining who the most overrated MLB players are in the league right now — including current salary, annual hype, draft position, player role, expectations vs. reality, jersey sales, popularity, and much more. 

20. Stephen Strasburg

Seasons: 2010-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Washington Nationals

Career Stats: 246 games, 1,465.1 innings pitched, 113-61 record, 3.21 ERA, 2 complete games, 2 shutouts, 1,718 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $35.00 million

Stephen Strasburg was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2009 and was hyped up to be the next best pitcher of all-time. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ligament just months into his MLB career. The injury required Tommy John surgery, which took over a year to fully recover from.

When healthy, he pitches better than most pitchers in the league. He has 113 career wins and 1,718 strikeouts, so it’s not that he isn’t talented. His ability to stay healthy — or lack of it — is why he’s featured on this list, which is not what you want from a $35 million per year player. 

19. Kyle Schwarber

Seasons: 2015-present (7 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox

Career Stats: 664 games, 522 hits, .237 batting average, 153 home runs, 350 runs batted in, 371 runs scored

2021 Salary: $7.00 million

Kyle Schwarber was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Cubs in 2014 and made his debut in 2015. He had a slow start to his career, but eventually hit 94 home runs in a three-year span from 2017-2019. Still, his batting average was never above .250 in any of those seasons. 

That has been a running theme with Schwarber — low batting average, frequent strikeouts, streaky play, and poor defensive play. While he has the power to go yard every time he steps up to the plate, he doesn’t do it as often as he should and often fails to get on base altogether. 

18. Joey Votto

Seasons: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Cincinnati Reds

Career Stats: 1,900 games, 2,027 hits, .302 batting average, 331 home runs, 1,065 runs batted in, 1,114 runs scored

2021 Salary: $25.00 million

Joey Votto was a second round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2002, but didn’t make his MLB debut until 2007. From 2008-2017, he hit more than 20 home runs in eight different seasons and batted higher than .309 in each of those eight seasons — so the talent is certainly there. 

With that said, he only hit 26 home runs in 2018 and 2019 combined. He had a decent shortened 2020 season and hit 36 home runs in 2021, but it’s unclear how sustainable that is. If he can’t continue that momentum into next year, then he won’t live up to his $25 million per year contract.

17. Jake Arrieta

Seasons: 2010-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres

Career Stats: 285 games, 1,612.1 innings pitched, 115-93 record, 3.98 ERA, 6 complete games, 5 shutouts, 1,433 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $6.00 million

Jake Arrieta was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 and Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 before finally being given a real opportunity by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. Even then, he didn’t make his debut until 2010 and was mediocre at best (24-27) during his first four years in the league. 

He started to turn a corner in 2014 and would go 50-19 over the next three years, but slowly started to digress in 2017. He most recently had his worst season ever, going 11-14 between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. He’s a free agent, but will likely sign somewhere. 

16. Eric Hosmer

Seasons: 2011-present (11 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres

Career Stats: 1,554 games, 1,629 hits, .277 batting average, 188 home runs, 835 runs batted in, 767 runs scored

2021 Salary: $21.00 million

Eric Hosmer was the third overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2008 and received a lot of hype leading up to his debut in 2011. He is slated to make $21 million next season, but has never hit more than 25 home runs in a single season and only hit 12 home runs last season. 

After posting a career-high .318 batting average in 2017, he hit below .270 in 2018, 2019, and 2021. He seems to be striking out less, which is good, but he needs to get back to his 20+ home run and 90+ RBI self. If he can’t do that, then he will become a cap casualty real quick. 

15. Noah Syndergaard

Seasons: 2015-present (6 seasons)

Teams: New York Mets

Career Stats: 121 games, 718.0 innings pitched, 47-31 record, 3.32 ERA, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 777 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $9.7 million

Noah Syndergaard was a first round draft choice by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, but never lived up to the hype. He finally made his debut in 2015 for the New York Mets and was supposed to develop into a reliable No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher, but that has been far from true. 

Syndergaard had a career-best 13-4 record in 2018, but has gone 10-9 since and has been riddled with injuries — missing the entire 2020 season and only making two starts in 2021. He’s a free agent this offseason and someone will likely give him a chance, but it likely won’t end well.

14. Rougned Odor

Seasons: 2014-present (8 seasons)

Teams: Texas Rangers, New York Yankees

Career Stats: 960 games, 814 hits, .234 batting average, 161 home runs, 497 runs batted in, 471 runs scored

2021 Salary: $12.33 million

Rougned Odor spent his first seven seasons in the MLB with the Texas Rangers. While he hit 30 home runs in three of those seasons, he was wildly inconsistent — hitting 16 home runs in 2015 and 18 home runs in 2018. He also never batted higher than a .271 with the Rangers. 

When Odor made the move to the New York Yankees, it was supposed to be a fresh start for the second baseman. Unfortunately, he had a .202 batting average and hit just 15 home runs in 322 at bats. With a $12.3 million per year salary, the Yankees are going to need more from him. 

13. Hyun Jin Ryu

Seasons: 2013-present (8 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays

Career Stats: 169 games, 976.1 innings pitched, 73-45 record, 3.20 ERA, 4 complete games, 3 shutouts, 880 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $20.00 million

Hyun Jin Ryu made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and went 28-15 in his first two seasons with the club. Unfortunately, an injury kept him out of the 2015 season and most of the 2016 season. From 2016-2018, he only won 12 of his 40 starts (12-13 record). 

He made a bit of a comeback in 2019, going 14-5 in 29 starts, but decided to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays after the season. He has gone 19-10 over the past two years and is a good option to have in your starting rotation, but not exactly worth the $20 million per year contract.

12. Mookie Betts

Seasons: 2014-present (8 seasons)

Teams: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers

Career Stats: 971 games, 1,152 hits, .296 batting average, 178 home runs, 567 runs batted in, 753 runs scored

2021 Salary: $22.50 million

Mookie Betts was drafted in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox in 2011. He made his MLB debut in 2014 and became a regular starter in 2015. Over the next four years, he was one of the best players in the league with 375 RBIs, 116 home runs, and was even named MVP in 2018.

Today, he carries a steep $22.5 million salary and has largely underperformed in a Los Angeles Dodgers’ uniform. He batted just .264 and hit just 23 home runs in 2021 — including just 58 RBIs for someone who should be getting between 80-100. He definitely needs to step his game up. 

11. Kyle Gibson

Seasons: 2013-present (9 seasons)

Teams: Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies

Career Stats: 236 games, 1,336.1 innings pitched, 79-83 record, 4.45 ERA, 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 1,058 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $11.50 million

Kyle Gibson was originally drafted in the 36th round in 2006, but chose not to sign. He would later be drafted again in the first round in 2009, beginning his pro career with the Twins. He finally made his MLB debut in 2013 and became a regular part of the rotation in 2014 with 31 starts. 

Gibson ended up going 67-68 in his seven years with the Minnesota Twins and decided to sign with the Texas Rangers as a free agent ahead of the 2020 season. He went 8-9 in 31 starts with the Rangers before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he went 4-6 to end the year.

10. Salvador Perez

Seasons: 2011-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Royals

Career Stats: 1,140 games, 1,161 hits, .270 batting average, 200 home runs, 656 runs batted in, 491 runs scored

2021 Salary: $14.20 million

Salvador Perez made his MLB debut in 2011 with the Kansas City Royals and has spent his entire 10-year career with the club. He was a consistent player up until 2018, hitting more than 20 home runs in four consecutive seasons. He does a lot of things well, but has some flaws. 

An injury kept him out of the 2019 season, but he returned during the shortened 2020 season and played well. He followed that up with an incredible 48 home runs and 121 RBIs in 2021 — which led the league. Despite that, he strikes out too often and doesn’t draw enough walks. 

9. Aroldis Chapman

Seasons: 2010-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees

Career Stats: 624 games, 603.2 innings pitched, 40-31 record, 306 saves, 2.36 ERA, 1,002 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $17.20 million

Aroldis Chapman made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, but didn’t become a regular part of the bullpen until 2011. He would eventually become the Reds’ closer in 2012 and recorded more than 33 saves in the next five seasons — despite being traded in 2016. 

He has been the New York Yankees’ closer ever since and while he has recorded 30 or more saves in three of the past four seasons, he’s widely regarded as the most overrated closer in the league right now. He packs a wicked fastball, but lacks versatility and isn’t very clutch.   

8. Cody Bellinger

Seasons: 2017-present (5 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers

Career Stats: 601 games, 546 hits, .257 batting average, 133 home runs, 354 runs batted in, 364 runs scored

2021 Salary: $16.1 million

Cody Bellinger was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 draft and made his debut in 2017. He won rookie of the year with 39 home runs and 97 RBIs and later won MVP with 47 home runs and 115 RBIs in 2019. He was one of the most talked about studs. 

Unfortunately, he hasn’t been the same since and is quickly losing his credibility. He batted just .239 and hit 12 home runs during the shortened 2020 season, followed by an even worse campaign in 2021 — posting a .165 batting average, 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 315 at bats. 

7. Rick Porcello

Seasons: 2009-2020 (9 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets

Career Stats: 355 games, 2,096.1 innings pitched, 150-125 record, 4.40 ERA, 10 complete games, 3 shutouts, 1,561 strikeouts

2021 Salary: free agent

Rick Porcello was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 27th overall pick in the 2007 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2009, pitching 170.2 innings his rookie year and posting a 14-9 record. He spent the next five years with Detroit, winning more than 10 games in each season. 

Unfortunately, he has been wildly inconsistent ever since. Despite winning a Cy Young Award in 2016 and having a productive 2017, Porcello went 73-55 in his five seasons with Boston from 2015-2019. He then went 1-7 in a poor 2020 campaign and has been a free agent ever since.

6. Aaron Nola

Seasons: 2015-present (7 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies

Career Stats: 171 games, 1,023.1 innings pitched, 67-49 record, 3.68 ERA, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 1,145 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $12.25 million

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Aaron Nola seventh overall in 2014 and had high hopes for him as a future starting ace. He made his debut in 2015 and went 6-2 in 13 starts. Unfortunately, he would go 18-20 over the next two years, which is not the type of development they wanted.

They stuck with him and he delivered a decent season in 2018 with a 17-6 record. Again, that success didn’t last long and now the Phillies are paying $15.5 million for a pitcher that has gone 26-21 in his past 78 starts. With a team option in 2023, he might not be in Philly for long. 

5. Anthony Rendon

Seasons: 2013-present (9 seasons)

Teams: Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels

Career Stats: 1,026 games, 1,100 hits, .287 batting average, 151 home runs, 611 runs batted in, 624 runs

2021 Salary: $28.07 million

The Washington Nationals drafted Anthony Rendon sixth overall in 2011. Despite a mediocre rookie season in 2013, Rendon broke out in 2014 with 21 home runs, 39 doubles, and 111 runs. Another mediocre year followed that, hitting just five home runs in an injury-riddled season. 

Rendon was very productive over the next four years, tallying 103 home runs, 167 doubles, and 403 RBIs from 2016-2019. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played very well the past two years and missed most of 2021 due to hip surgery. He’s the second-highest paid player in the MLB.

4. Yu Darvish

Seasons: 2012-present (9 seasons)

Teams: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres

Career Stats: 212 games, 1,293.1 innings pitched, 79-67 record, 3.56 ERA, 2 complete games, 1 shutout, 1,591 strikeouts

2021 Salary: $22.00 million

Yu Darvish made his MLB debut in 2012 for the Rangers and played well through the first three years of his career — posting a 39-25 record from 2012-2014. Unfortunately, Darvish hasn’t been the same since electing for Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2015 season. 

He went 24-28 over the next four seasons before bouncing back during the shortened 2020 season, going 8-3 in 12 starts. Once again, that didn’t last long and he would go on to have a down year in 2021 with an 8-11 record in 30 starts. That’s not exactly worth $19 million per year.

3. Javier Baez

Seasons: 2014-present (8 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Cubs, New York Mets

Career Stats: 862 games, 804 hits, .264 batting average, 149 home runs, 465 runs batted in, 451 runs scored

2021 Salary: $11.65 million

Javier Baez was the ninth overall draft selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2011. He made his debut in 2014, hitting a home run in his first MLB game — despite going just 1-6 on the night. He wouldn’t become a regular starter for the Cubs until the 2016 season, playing in 142 games.

After a productive next four years, Baez was very productive and hit 100 home runs, 330 RBIs, and 121 doubles. He had a down 2020 season, but bounced back in 2021 with 31 home runs and 87 RBIs. He’ll likely get a much larger contract than he’s worth in the upcoming offseason.

2. Trevor Story

Seasons: 2016-present (6 seasons)

Teams: Colorado Rockies

Career Stats: 745 games, 768 hits, .272 batting average, 158 home runs, 450 runs batted in, 463 runs scored

2021 Salary: $18.50 million

Trevor Story was a first round draft choice by the Colorado Rockies in 2011. He didn’t make his debut until 2016, but didn’t waste any time getting acclimated to the major leagues. He hit 123 home runs, 347 RBIs, and 133 doubles in his first four years in the MLB — which is incredible!

After hitting 11 home runs in the shortened 2020 season, he only hit 24 home runs and had a .251 batting average in the full 2021 season. He strikes out often and has never had a batting average above .294. He’ll likely receive a big contract, but who knows if he will live up to it. 

1. Bryce Harper

Seasons: 2012-present (10 seasons)

Teams: Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies

Career Stats: 1,283 games, 1,273 hits, .279 batting average, 267 home runs, 752 runs batted in, 850 runs scored

2021 Salary: $27.54 million

Bryce Harper was the first overall draft pick of the 2010 draft and is possibly one of the most hyped prospects of all-time. He made his debut in 2012 and has been one of the most lethal hitters since. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2012 and Most Valuable Player in 2015. 

Unfortunately, his numbers don’t make up for his lack of leadership and immaturity. He has never been on a team that has gotten past the division championship series. At a certain point, you want to see him put his team on his back, but he hasn’t been able to live up to that hype.

Who Are the Most Overrated MLB Players of All-Time?

Overrated players are nothing new to the MLB and they certainly aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. While the 20 players listed above are some of the most overrated MLB players right now, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t mention some of the most overrated MLB players of all-time. 

If we’re going there, we’d be wrong not to mention Mike McGwire, Darryl Strawberry, Nolan Ryan, Jose Canseco, Chris Davis, Josh Hamilton, David Price, Ozzie Smith, Mo Vaughn, Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Jason Giambi, Joe Carter, Roger Maris, and Barry Zito.

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No matter what we do, the most overrated MLB players aren’t going anywhere, so we’re better off appreciating them while they’re still in the league. Who knows, maybe they’ll one day live up to the hype and prove us all wrong. Then again, that’s something that doesn’t happen too often. 

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