In their annual player poll, Josh Robbins, Sam Amick, Joe Vardon, and other reporters for The Athletic solicited opinions from players around the NBA about the league’s most underrated and overrated stars, which coaches have impressed them the most and the least, and the best defensive players among their peers.
No player earned more votes as “most overrated” than Rockets center Alperen Sengun, who was named by 10 out of 81 respondents. However, for what it’s worth, many players polled by The Athletic declined to answer that question.
“I was part of the group that said Tyrese Haliburton for most overrated (in 2025), and what he did in the playoffs last year was unreal,” one player said. “So I’m not saying (who I think is overrated). We have a lot of really good players in this league.”
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former NBA All-Star Adrian Smith, who earned All-Star Game MVP honors in 1966 as a member of the Cincinnati Royals and won an NCAA title in 1958 with Kentucky, has passed away at the age of 89, per the league (Twitter link). Smith spent 10 years in the league, averaging 11.8 points per game across 719 total appearances for the Royals and the San Francisco Warriors.
- Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State), Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State), and Malik Reneau (Miami) have been chosen as replacements for the upcoming G League combine, reports Jeremy Woo of ESPN (Twitter links). They’re stepping in for Isiah Harwell (Houston), Paulius Murauskas (St. Mary’s), and Alijah Arenas (USC), all of whom had been testing the draft waters. While it’s unclear if all three of those players are withdrawing from the draft, it sounds like Arenas, at least, has decided to remove his name.
- Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) questions whether the time is right for the NBA to implement its “3-2-1” draft lottery reform plan, pointing out that the changes will significantly impact the value of several traded picks for 2027 and arguing that the league might be better off taking another year to figure out a more effective long-term solution to combat tanking.
- Former Hawks finance executive Lester T. Jones Jr. was formally sentenced last week after pleading guilty to wire fraud in December, per an Associated Press report. Jones, who embezzled roughly $3.7MM from the team by submitting fraudulent expense reports and misusing corporate credit cards, received three years and five months in prison.
Alijah Arenas announced six days ago that he’s returning to USC for his sophomore year.
Trojans look good. They’ll have 3 McDonald’s all Americans on the roster, along with other top ranked players, giving them a top 10 recruiting class for next season.
Christian Collins & Arenas both look like future NBA all-star level talents. Eric Reibe should be a future NBA player. Plus they got a bunch of other dogs as well, esp KJ Lewis. And they have one of the most underrated coaches in the country in Musselman. The Big10 is gonna be stacked again but I wouldn’t be surprised to see USC at the top of that league next March.. link to m.youtube.com
They’re loaded, and if anyone can max the potential of these kids, it’s Muss. Thanks for the link, great video !!
I don’t think you move Sengun unless you’re getting back Giannis.
That being said if Giannis goes elsewhere, make a trade for Bobby Portis. Other frontcourt targets – Memphis Clark or Aldama. Send out DFS.
Sign KP and salary dump Capela.
FVV Reed and Dal pick swap for Kyrie makes too much sense.
Kyrie, KD, Amen, Jabari, Sengun
I like this 3 team
Blazers get Sengun, DFS, Capela, Portis
Houston gets Giannis
Mil gets Sharpe(have to be in the new NBA year so his extension makes the math work),Clingan, and FVV, Kris Murray,Jerami Grant
MIL get their 2 swaps and pick back from Portland, 28 frp from Orlando; Houston sends the better of their pick from BRK next year, 2 better picks from phnx and Dallas in 29
I believe this is a good starter
Possible 4th team Grant to Pelicans for Dejaunte Murray and the 28 Orlando pick
Possible 5th team Kuzma and Turner to Knicks for Kat saves Knicks ten million plus the worse of 29 picks from phnx and Dallas
Possible starting five D Murray, Sharpe,K Murray,Kat, Clingan if the 5 team trade went down
My mistake FVV wouldn’t needed to be added with DFS and Capela being added
Should have played Capella more in that series. Lakers were always going to win regardless
Meaningless survey, but I have to agree that Sengun doesn’t deserve to be an allstar which means he IS overrated.
Yip he’s just another player that’s disappeared in the playoffs, along with Fox, Braun, Jalen Johnson
Fox has played pretty well. 18.5 ppg 3.8 rpg 6.7 apg+/- of +6.7 while leading the Spurs in minutes played
Na Fox is garbage now, doesn’t know how to shoot since he left the Kings.
Fox is about to get run out of town if they can’t get past Minny. He’s a very unique asset to the Spurs specifically.
One game lol.
Has nothing to do with game 1 man. Has everything to do with an abundance of guards who make less money. Why would you not trade Fox and his salary to upgrade your front court? That is hands down the best option for San Antonio, especially if they want to prevent OKC from waltzing to the finals every year from now to 2030.
They don’t have the stones to do it but a Giannis deal makes this team unbeatable. If Minny takes them out, I think this vision becomes much clearer.
Acting like I’m a Fox hater is hilarious.
Fox definitely needs to go
You are babbling about nothing. It’s the playoffs. He had a decent game. TWolves earned it. It’s one game. You don’t really think TWolves will win. Spurs need everyone to win.
Fox has earned his pay. All his teammates know it. And all know they will get their opportunity.
You can cheer they all fail. Makes you feel better.
Have you been watching Fox’s shooting? He’s had more bad games than good since he went to the Spurs. He’s the guy they need to trade, clearly. Wolves win the series.
Do you still think the Wolves can win the series after last night?
Fox rarely has good games, he used to be one of the best clutch players in the league. Fox needs to come off the bench and let one of the rookies start.
You two should get a room.
Why are you so negative all the time?
Fox doesn’t think so. You understand why he is the leader of this team. Or you just got an account.
You seem to like attacking others when they don’t agree with you. I’ve said nothing about you…
Fox ain’t the leader at all, he’s along for the ride. Used to like watching him in the Kings, but not so much now, even though hes on a much better team
Yeah ok raz …. You got me.
Fox should be coming off the bench. Everyone agrees with h that lmao. Chiho cheap lol
The Spurs disagree. His positive impact in the playoffs this season has been obvious.
He’s a troll only here to flame.
Fox is absolutely not the leader of the Spurs. That is an asinine thing to say. He came to San Antonio specifically to be the number 2 behind a 21 year old. He’s quickly become the number 3 behind 2 under 23 year olds.
You have no idea who Fox is and you show that with every comment. I’ve watched more Fox minutes than anyone on this board. If you don’t want to accept my opinion that’s fine but don’t you for a second act like my opinion is less informed than yours.
A vet and PG is always a leader on the team. …..
Leadership and Maturity: Following a “rocky” period, the team sought stability. Fox was brought in to provide both vocal leadership and lead-by-example play.Unselfishness: Despite his high-scoring background, Fox has embraced a role of setting up younger players while still having the ability to take over games.”Win Now” Move: The move aimed to transition the team from a rebuilding phase to a playoff contender immediately.
Spurs Players & Staff on Fox’s Leadership
Mitch Johnson (Acting Head Coach): Praised Fox’s “balancing act” of being an All-Star-level player while being a “superb leader” who “nurtures” the younger players’ growth.Stephon Castle: Highlighted how Fox takes immense pressure off the team’s young guards and tells them to “attack and never shy away from the moment”.Team Impact: Observers and teammates have noted that Fox brings “light into a room” and has contributed to a strong, cohesive team culture.
link to expressnews.com
link to sportingnews.com
How could you possibly understand what a real thinks.
@washington__bonercats
Well, he leads the Spurs in minutes/gm in both the reg season and the playoffs, and leads them in playoff FGA’s gm.
And he’s doing exactly what he was expected to do when the trade happened.
He’s a hater lol. Hates everything. Kings fan who can’t see the league ght anywhere. A good PG a real PG is always a leader on court. Then there is the vet leadership on team. He only looks for worst case scenarios lol.
It’s weird to see a Kings fan talking bad about Fox. The Spurs wouldn’t be where they are (in their progress) without him.
Send Fox to the Blazers for Grant, Murray Krecji should be close in salary to work for the 28 Orlando pick