3 Former Number 1 Overall Picks Named as Most Overrated Players in the League

What makes a player in the NBA overrated? Is it that they are paid more than they are worth? Maybe they aren’t living up to the hype that they came into the league with. There are a ton of different reasons why someone might be considered overrated.  

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report recently came out with a list, “Ranking the Most Overrated NBA Players Right Now,” and three of the players named were former number one overall picks. 

Swartz named Zion Williamson fifth on the list. He named DeAndre Ayton sixth. Most surprisingly, however, is that he named Anthony Davis as the second most overrated player in the league. 

“Davis is tied for the fifth-highest paid player in the NBA this season and has another $58.5 million owed to him in 2026-27 followed by a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. Davis and agent Rich Paul reportedly want a lucrative extension and another big payday this offseason as well.

This should be terrifying for the Washington Wizards or any other team that has interest in trading for Davis.

Once one of the NBA's great big men, injuries have wrecked Davis' career. He's played over 62 games just once since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2019 and will end his 2025-26 campaign at just 20 total contests.”

While Davis could be considered overrated, especially because of his injury history, he is still (when healthy) one of the best players in the league. He just got traded for pennies on the dollar, so it is hard to think that he is as overrated as Swartz believes he is.