The Sacramento Kings have had a rough season. They currently sit dead last in the Western Conference standings with no hope of qualifying for postseason play. It will be the third straight season that the Kings have missed the playoffs.
Not to pile on, but one of their stars was also recently named one of the most overrated players in the entire NBA this season by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.
Zach LaVine named one of the most overrated players in NBA
That player is Zach LaVine, who the Kings acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls prior to the trade deadline last year. Unfortunately for Sacramento, LaVine’s presence hasn’t equated to winning for the Kings, as has been the case for much of his career.
LaVine has made the playoffs just once in his 12-year career and has never won a postseason series. That lack of impact on winning combined with large contacts is why LaVine landed on the list of the league’s most overrated players.
“The two-time All-Star has a career swing rating of minus-3.2, registering a negative score in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons. That hasn’t stopped teams from paying him, however, as LaVine will have topped over $300 million in on-court earnings by the end of this season,” Swartz wrote.
“His athleticism hasn’t translated to any good, sustainable defense, wiping out any advantage LaVine may have given his teams on the offensive end. The Kings choosing to get him back as a main return in the De’Aaron Fox trade remains one of the most baffling front office decisions of the past few years.”
LaVine won’t positively impact winning any more this season for Sacramento, as he will miss the remainder of the campaign after undergoing surgery for a tendon injury in his right hand this week.
On the season, LaVine played in 39 games for the Kings and averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per performance. He’s making nearly $49 million for the season. Given those stats and Sacramento’s poor record, it’s kind of easy to see why he might be considered overrated.
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