The five most overrated players, is it reasonable?

The offseason is indeed a time for everyone to express their views, and recently, American media has identified the five most overrated players: LaMelo Ball, Tyler Herro, Jaren Jackson Jr., Austin Reaves, and De'Aaron Fox.

It’s worth noting that before last season began, some players voted for Tyrese Haliburton as the most overrated player, who ended up being just one game shy of winning the championship. The players' voting appears quite absurd, and the media's evaluations can be taken lightly.

Given Reaves' presence, the term "overrated" likely refers not to inflated salaries but rather to the mismatch between a player's stats and their actual abilities. Among these five players, who do you think fits this description the best?

LaMelo Ball's inclusion on this list is largely due to the fact that he has only played 105 games in three years, as it seems every time he is about to showcase his talent, he is sidelined for the season. Statistically speaking, there aren't many flaws in LaMelo's basic data.

In the 47 games he played last season, LaMelo averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, with a shooting percentage of only 40.5% and a three-point shooting percentage of just 33.9%. His true shooting percentage is merely 53.6%. His inefficiency is the most criticized aspect of his game, as his shot selection often includes a lot of careless attempts, showing a lack of respect for ball possession.

LaMelo's playing style is also filled with flashy moves that may attract some fans; last season's All-Star voting proved this point. However, at the same time, his casual approach on the court does not contribute to his team's success.

While averaging 7.4 assists, he also has 3.5 turnovers. Some of the passes he makes just to look "cool" easily turn into turnovers. Since the Hornets selected LaMelo, their performance has declined, and after giving him a max contract extension, his attendance has consistently been poor, all of which contribute to him being considered overrated.

Tyler Herro's presence on this list is certainly not due to his scoring ability, as he averaged 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. After taking on more ball-handling responsibilities, Herro's improvement in facilitating for teammates is evident. His shooting skills remain elite in the league, and his contract is still reasonable, with the next two years being just over thirty million.

However, if in October, Herro signs a three-year, $150 million extension with the Heat, the value of that contract in the future may be questionable. While his regular-season performance is solid, in the playoffs, he averaged only 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over four games, with a three-point shooting percentage of just 31%.

More importantly, there seems to be no sign of improvement in his defense. The scenes of him being repeatedly isolated by Jerome were quite embarrassing, and being dominated by Mitchell isn’t too surprising. Perhaps Herro's ideal role would be that of a pure scorer as he was in his first two years, but now the Heat need him to take on more responsibilities.

Jaren Jackson Jr.'s inclusion on this list isn't particularly surprising, considering that his Defensive Player of the Year award wasn't exactly convincing. Big men who prefer shooting from the perimeter are often labeled as soft, and with averages of 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists, his rebounding numbers as a core big man in the team are simply inadequate.

For a small market team like the Grizzlies, they don’t have many options. Trading away Desmond Bane and re-signing JJJ is a foregone conclusion. Fortunately, JJJ only signed a five-year, $240 million contract. If he had made an All-NBA team or won the DPOY last season, he would have qualified for a five-year, $345 million deal, and if JJJ demanded that price, the Grizzlies might have reluctantly agreed.

Just after signing the contract, JJJ got injured and underwent surgery on his right toe, expected to miss 4-5 months, possibly missing the early part of the season. This casts another shadow over the Grizzlies' upcoming season.

Reaves appears on this list largely due to his underwhelming playoff performance, averaging only 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 39.2 minutes per game. In contrast, his regular-season stats were 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.

However, to be fair, Reaves suffered a sprained left big toe during the playoffs and has been playing through the injury. His ability to handle pressure is indeed somewhat disappointing, but he is, after all, just the third option on his team.

Reaves started from a low baseline as an undrafted player, and it’s already surprising that such a player can make it to the NBA. He is becoming a top-tier player just below All-Star level; he may never make an All-Star team, but he has already demonstrated value far exceeding his contract.

Of course, there is also the possibility that Reaves' abilities are insufficient to meet fans' expectations of him; in that case, he would indeed be considered overrated.

The final player, De'Aaron Fox, finds himself in a somewhat awkward position with the Spurs. After all, last season, Victor Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year, and the Spurs drafted another guard, Harper, with the second overall pick, whose playing style is similar to Fox's.

Like Luka Dončić, Fox is eligible for a four-year, $229 million contract, and both were traded by their long-time teams last season. The Lakers chose to extend Dončić immediately, with a three-year deal that will allow him to sign a supermax contract in 2028.

However, there have been no reports regarding Fox's extension with the Spurs. Offering Fox a four-year deal could hinder the growth of the team's rookie guards; on the other hand, not offering him a deal could mean losing him for nothing.

I believe Fox has always been an All-Star caliber guard, with great speed and a reliable mid-range shot, justifying the Kings' investment in his development over the years. In his first eight seasons, he averaged over 20 points and 6 assists, with turnovers below three per game, a feat only he, Nikola Jokić, and Damian Lillard have achieved in history. Last season, Fox even had a game where he scored 60 points, showcasing his undeniable scoring ability.

However, one point to consider is that Fox has a career three-point shooting percentage of only 33%, and his inability to develop a consistent three-point shot is one of the reasons the Kings decided to trade him.

Besides these five players, who else is on your "overrated list"?