Take this for what you want, personally everytime i read his columns i dislike him more and more. (sorry if this has been posted already) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.. The numbers are misleading, and so is the hype. The truth is that too many "good" players are wrongly celebrated as being all-time greats. To set the record straight, here's an alphabetical list of the most overrated NBA players ever. Charles Barkley Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird ... Charley Rosen ranks the NBA's best players ever position by position. Power forwards | Small forwards Point guards | Shooting guards Centers | Sixth men | Coaches The Round Mound of Rebound was never in acceptable game shape. But reporting to one Houston training camp 20 pounds overweight didn't prevent him from chastising his teammates for not being serious about challenging for the championship. Also, he only played defense when the spirit moved him — which was very seldom. These days, he complains about not having played with top-flight teammates — left unsaid, however, is the fact that Barkley's self-involved style of play did nothing to compliment whatever talents his teammates did have. Over the course of his career, Barkley's selfishness and total lack of discipline made him a chronic underachiever. Walt Bellamy He was lazy, sloppy, soft, selfish, defenseless, and useless in the clutch. The media called him "Big Bells," but his fellow players had another name for him — "Tinker Bell". His career averages of 20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game notwithstanding, what's Bellamy doing in the Hall of Fame? Patrick Ewing Patrick Ewing wasn't exactly his best when the game was on the line. (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images) Had he played out of the spotlight in someplace like Orlando or Salt Lake City, Ewing would be remembered as a jump-shooting center who worked hard. Period. With the adulatory New York fans and media filtering their perceptions through the lens of their need to have heroes to celebrate, Ewing was celebrated as being far better than he really was. In truth, he couldn't handle, pass, move laterally, and do anything worthwhile when an important game was on the line. Moreover, his dim apprehension of what the game was all about precluded any thoughts of being unselfish. Except for the early days of the Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York sports fans rarely hitch their devotion to a loser like Ewing. George Gervin Double-G was a great scorer, smooth and virtually unstoppable. And that's all, folks. He couldn't (or didn't) pass, defend, or rebound. Gervin's idea of team basketball was when a teammate passed him the ball. Of necessity, his San Antonio teams played high-octane offense and flat-tire defense. That's why Gervin never played in a championship series. Connie Hawkins He could finish in spectacular ways, and he could make both plain and simple passes. Otherwise, he couldn't shoot, rebound, run, or play defense. How bad was the Hawk's defense? The first time he played in Madison Square Garden, the Suns tried to hide Hawkins' atrocious defense by matching him up with Dick Barnett. Too bad Barnett was so insulted by the ploy that he lit up Hawkins for 35 points. Also, nobody ever accused Hawkins of having a passion to play basketball: He once told the Suns that he couldn't play that night because he had a fever. A doctor was summoned, and Hawkins' temperature registered at 98.9. As a result, Hawkins felt justified to sit on the bench in his civvies. Hawkins was all flash and very little substance. Elvin Hayes He could do three things — rebound, block shots, and shoot a high percentage on turnaround jumpers from the left box. He couldn't pass, handle, play honest defense, or hit a clutch shot to get into heaven. In addition, he paid no attention to the basketball alphabet of Xs and Os. All he cared about was "me-ball-basket." Karl Malone I've been on this guy's case many times before, and for the same reasons. He found various ways to choke in the 1996 Conference finals and in the 1997 and 1998 Finals — missed free throws, damaging turnovers, ill-advised shots, losing gambles on defense, and so on. In addition, his passing skills and his defense were both overblown, and his assist-turnover ration was a horrendous 5:4. There are only two reasons why Malone is deemed to be an elite power-forward — John Stockton, and longevity. Bob McAdoo Here's all anyone needs to know about McAdoo's game: When he played against the Celtics, McAdoo was usually defended by Dave Cowens. Now Cowens was a legitimate tough guy who always played with intensity, power, and courage, and whose rough-house tactics on defense would often approach minor felonies. At the start of McAdoo's matchups with Cowens, B-Mac would assume his favorite position on the left box. Perhaps he'd even get a shot off. Perhaps he'd even get fouled. But Cowens would definitely assault him with elbows, knees, hips, forearms, and fists. By the middle of the first quarter, McAdoo would post-up five feet beyond the box. By the end of the fourth quarter, he'd be looking to receive the ball near the 3-point line. Anything to avoid contact. In other words, McAdoo was nothing more than a big, quick, soft, jump-shooter deluxe. Pete Maravich A one-man circus who wouldn't throw a pass unless it was behind the back or through the legs or in one ear and out the other. And his completion rate was barely above .500. His ball-hogging made him unpopular with his teammates, but scored big-time with the media. It's no accident that his teams were always pretenders and never contenders. It also says here that Maravich was the worst defender in NBA history. Gary Payton G.P. has always been a shoot-first point guard, favoring post-ups, open middles, and high-and-low screens to locate his shots. He was also a confrontational player, demanding perfection form his teammates and his coaches, but never from himself. Payton's reputation for playing outstanding defense gained him All-Defense honors for nine seasons, and a famous nickname, "The Glove." Even so, during the 1996 Finals, the Chicago Bulls set out to prove something that they already knew — that Payton's rep was mostly bogus. In lieu of playing solid contain defense, Payton routinely gambled for steals at every opportunity, and when he failed he put his teammates in jeopardy. The Bulls limited Payton's room to maneuver by posting Michael Jordan, who had little difficulty catching, shooting, driving, and generally having his way against G.P. Payton's game was, and is, less than meets the eye. David Robinson This guy was a cream puff. He could come from the weak-side to block shots, but he couldn't guard his own man. He could rebound, but rarely in a crowd. He could score, but only on foul-line jumpers, or only if a defender bought a head fake after he drove his left hand into the middle. He couldn't pass or handle. He couldn't stand his ground in the paint. And, according to one of his ex-coaches, he never worked on his game in the off-season simply because he really didn't like playing basketball. Had he not played alongside of Tim Duncan, The Admiral would have been lost at sea.
I have so many problems with this article it's not even worth the effort of listing them all. Link: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3882560
At least these guys got to a point where they could be overrated. Charley? Charley Rosen, former CBA coach Enough said.
I remember when Barkley came into camp complaining the team wasn't serious about winning a championship. That was a joke. Out of the guys I saw play the only guy I have to disagree with is Gary Payton. I think Gary is right with John Stockton as the best point guards of their era.
I cannot believe he called Ewing a "loser." I didn't like Patrick back in his heyday...but ONLY because he was one of the best centers in the league, and I wanted Hakeem to outdistance them all by a long shot (which he did eventually). Barkley, if anything, was an overachiever. Think about it, the guy was 6'4" and playing power forward, and was dicing it up with the best, and usually having his way. Had he not had his strength, smarts, and that wide body, he would have been another Corliss Williamson. He did more with less than many players. Otherwise, I have always thought the Admiral was overrated. I don't know about being a "cream puff," because he was no push over in his prime. But he had a shorter prime than other players due to his commitment to the Navy.
Thinking about it, I wouldn't say Barkley was overrated either. People knew what they were going to get from him. But I have to disagree with him being an overachiever or at least not having a lot of natural talent. Barkley was a freak athlete, sure he was short, but he's one of the strongest guys to ever play and one of the most explosive leapers. Think about, Charles Oakley was more of a protype pf during that time with his height and size, but do you think a guy like Oakley, or Otis Thorpe had more talent than Barkley?
Barkley: He overachieved, not underachieved. But I agree that he was not disciplined. Ewing: He was better than Ronsen's take. Gervin: He is not overrated. Everybody know that he was all O and no D. Hayes: Contrary to Rosen's take, he could hit a clutch shot. Malone: I would agree with anything bad said about him. McAdoo: Rosen is a bit exaggerating. Otherwise I kind of agree with Rosen. Payton: While Payton was a prick to everyone, his defense was not bogus. Robinson: Robinson being a cream puff is one of the biggest myths in NBA lore.
I do believe he had natural athleticism....very true. I don't think I said he didn't have natural talent. He did. But I was more speaking to his lack of size, especially going up against larger, seemingly stronger players (Oakley, Malone, Anthony Mason, etc.). Being 6'4" puts someone in the post at an extreme disadvantage, not just a marginal one. So yes, he did rely on athleticism, but also smarts, and basically could not be stopped. I did not mean to say he was in fact an overachiever, but if I have to pick between that and him being an underachiever....the choice is easy for me.
You must be smokin' crack....no way is GP in the same arena as Stockton. Stockton is probably the second best point guard int he league ever behind Magic (who was just a freak of nature...6'-9" PG ). GP was a good PG but just not on stocktons level.
so Hakeem destroyed two players legacy(Ewing and robinson). If it was not for Hakeem both could have won a ring(robinson without Duncan), and nobody would call them overrated. Hakeem destroyed both in the play-offs, and that is what everybdy will remember from those two
so by his standards, the best players are the most well rounded? every player has weaknesses, if you focus on those and marginalize their strengths, you can make any player sound overrated. Makeup or exaggerate a few things in the middle and you got yourself an article.
Why does he mention that Malone's assist-turnover ratio was a "horrendous 5:4?" Since when was that a good indicator of a power forward's success?
People don't like Rosen because he only gives credit to certain player and a select few at that but if you read all his columns you get a sense of where he's coming from. Rosen likes winners. It ain't complicated. You can defend some of these guys on the list, but the bottom line is this, these players didn't have the will to get their teams over the hump (with the exception of Hayes). Ewing, no matter how you feel about him almost always failed at key moment in the NBA. That's his point, when the teams are evenly matched or your team is at a slight disadvantage, which superstar is going to make plays and which superstar won't. Barkley never did. And we can sit here an argue how talented this and that player is but that isn't his point. Which player shines when it matters most. There is a thread in the GARM forum about whether Jordan could have gotten the Rockets over the Hump against the Mavs. Jordan probably would have not because he is flat out more talented than McGrady, but because we know Jordan could will his teams to wins. You can argue about how great Jordan's teams were but the fact is Jordan just had more will than superstar on the other bench. When it comes to playoffs and championships, that's what separates the greats from the legends of their sports. That's it, and that's the point Rosen is trying to get across to you. That's the point your high school coach was trying to teach you when your team was having its butt handed to you by a team flat out better than yours and you came to the bench sulking and he yelled at you for not keeping your head up. What do these players do when their teams are down is the true testement of greatness. That's all Rosen is trying to say. I don't agree with all his choices but I understand where he's coming from.
While I despite Karl Malone a vile, disgusting excuse for a human being, calling him overrated is beyond stupid. He was the dirty, cheap shot artist, who was a threat to other people on the court. But the man could flat out play. He led Utah to an unprecedented 17 consecutive playoff appearances. He's the 2nd leading scorer in NBA history. The only reason he doesn't have a ring is because of Hakeem and MJ. I hate the guy more than anyone else who has ever played the game. I have a place in my heart for Larry Brown and Detroit since they kept him from getting a championship with the Lakers. But to call him overrated as a player is idiotic.
he has his opinions on these players and at least gives reasoning for how he feels. but based on what he writes here i don't see how he can rank shaq (#3) ahead of dream (#6) for the best centers ever.
Rosen is a freaking joke and hack artist. Lots of the greatest team sports players have been less than the most disciplined off the court. Barkley was one of the 20 or so best basketball players to ever play a top 3 PF. One could also make a strong case he (or maybe West) was the most dominating player to ever play who was under 6'5"--hard to call that overrated.
The fact that he puts Payton on this list and talks about him being over-rated on defense because he couldn't stop Jordan is just ridiculous. Jordan is widely regarded as the best basketball player of all time. I have to ask, how many people could stop Jordan in the 90's? I can't think of anyone. Most of these players are not over-rated.
Look, I'd hate on an NBA player as much as the next fan, and Karl Malone is a piece of crap bully (I guess guys that big are proud of being able to throw crippling elbows and such), but his work ethic was legendary, and I'd never call him overrated. David Robinson? Maybe a little overrated, sure. Remember the move Hakeem put on him in the WC Finals (fake, fake, fake, score)? Didn't we staple Robinson's jockstrap (the one he jumped out of) to the banner hanging at Toyota Center? Gary Payton might have no ring to show for all his hard work, and we're left with mostly memories of his constant yap-yap-yap, but the guy had talent, and we would have gladly added that to our team if we had the money. Barkley? Yeah, maybe a little overrated. But not too many power forwards have averaged 5 assists. MAN, if our Hakeem/Clyde/Charles team had met Jordan/Pippen/Rodman in the Finals.
pet peeve of mine when people say charles is 6'4. the guy was 6'7 and it's proven by his mug shot http://www.mugshots.net/charles_barkley/ sorry dunno how to post the image.
