Who is the worst player in the league?

[J@3]

Based on last season.

I don't mean just anyone, there is a criteria for this:

Must have spent at least 4 seasons in the NBA
Must have averaged at least 15mpg in the NBA in their career
Had to have been picked in the first round of the draft
Has to have played more than 20 games in the last season

Here is my short-list:

Ricky Davis:
Played 38 games last season, averaged 21.8 minutes per game. His shooting percentages are atrocious, 45TS% and 41% eFG respectively... well not respectively, that is garbage. The only real saving grace for him statistically is that he didn't turn the ball over too much compared to previous seasons and did seem to pass the ball on occasion. Either way though, 10pp36 on 3.8/11 shooting? No thanks.

Stephon Marbury:
Right on the cusp of being included, he played 23 games for the Celtics at 18mpg. He shot 37TS% and 36eFG... for comparison sake, if I were to enter the NBA right now and play a game with both hands tied behind my back and a drunken homeless man offering to give me oral sex in exchange for crack, I would shoot a better TS% than 37. His assist % is obviously higher than the others but so are his turnovers, 24.1% on a 17.3 USG%... wtf? I'm not really into PER but for this who are, his was 4.4

As you can probably tell, Stephon Marbury is my selection for worst player in the league. Closely followed by Ricky Davis. I'm curious to see what others think though (there is a criteria remember, I'll just delete any posts that ignore it).

[Andrew]

Just had to name Davis and Marbury, didn't you?

Alrighty, with that criteria I'm going to go with Darius Miles: career averages of 26.3 mpg, 34 games played last season, first round pick in 2000 (at the time the highest a high school player had been picked if I recall correctly) and seven years in the NBA. He's had some seasons where his numbers haven't looked too bad, even respectable given his role, but he's probably just as raw today as he was when he came into the league, still stranded somewhere between the two, three and four without the skills to really be competent at any of those positions.

[Dan's Brain]

I would have picked Ben Wallace if it wasn't for the drafted in the first round criteria. That's a tricky one.

Ricky Davis shits me to tears, always has. So he'd absolutely make the list for me.

Juwan Howard was also pretty bad last year. His game has deteriorated faster than most players in the league.

EDIT: Ah spit. Wish I'd thought of Miles.

[Lean]

Kwame Brown and Marbury for me.

[Andrew]

Kwame's a tempting choice, but if nothing else he's a legit big man. There's a certain amount of stuff he can do just through his natural advantage, so his future in the league probably isn't too bleak. There's probably going to be someone who'll take a chance on him beyond his contract with the Pistons.

[Martti.]

Miles, Kwame, Marbury and Ricky as mentioned. And based on last season - Darko. Was very ineffective.

[Mayerhendrix]

Zach Randolph or JO, if you consider contracts as a contributing 'negative factor'. The fact that JO is getting paid 22mil [over a THIRD of a team's salary cap] to not do anything of value is pretty worthy of 'worst status'. The way I took this question was, "Which is the one player I would most hate to have on my NBA team" and honestly, If he wasn't expiring this year, Jermaine O'Neal would easily be the pick there. Zach Randolph is also $16 million dollars of useless stuff.

[Hedonist]

I'm going with Wally Szcerbiak. 74 games (20.8 mins) plus 12 in the post-season. Unrestricted free agent so no bad contract bonus factor lol.
Drafted 6th in 1999. Averaged 30.8 mins/game in 651 regular season games. All Star in 2002.

Couldn't buy a threepointer in the postseason even with the open looks he gets from his triple teamed teammate.

[benji]

You guys aren't looking low enough.

Now, I'm interpreting that "15mpg career" to mean that even though all the guys you picked were over 15mpg for last season.

I'll see your Ricky Davis and raise you DeShawn Stevenson. 8.6 points per 36. 41% TS. 39% eFG. 93 ORtg. 6.9 PER. -0.6 win shares. No defense. (They played him 28mpg and started him 25 times.)
Washington wasn't satisfied with one unplayable guard, they also had Juan Dixon. 11.5 points per 36. 48% TS. 44% eFG. 20% turnovers. 92 ORtg. 9.3 PER. -0.5 wins shares. Even less defense.

Jason Collins only played 13.6 minutes, but his career average is well over 20. Per 36 he averaged 4.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. He's 7 foot tall and shot 35% TS and 31% eFG. His ORtg was just 84 and PER was 3.3.
Malik Rose can be my power forward with his 42% TS, 34% eFG, 5.3 PER and 84 ORtg. (While he was in NY last year he was putting up a -1.3 PER and 61 ORtg.)

There's Desmond Mason with a 7.1 PER and 91 ORtg due to his 46% TS and 44% eFG. He averaged only 9.9 points per 36.

But if there's a "MWP" it might be Mike James. He shot only 48% and 45%. With 99 ORtg and 9.7 PER. But that didn't stop him from playing 61 games and logging 1649 minutes. Of course, where did he log 1575 of those and play 30 minutes a game? Where else but Washington.

[bee-boy]

Kwame Brown.

[vinceair]

Kwame Brown and Matt Bonner

[J@3]

Now, I'm interpreting that "15mpg career" to mean that even though all the guys you picked were over 15mpg for last season.

Yeah that's it... and Ricky Davis is going to fold against DeShawn Stevenson, though I think he's a stronger hand than Dixon and Mike James. I can't beat Malik Rose in NY though... I don't think anyone can.

[benji]

Matt Bonner

How can a guy who shot 61% with only 6% turnovers be the worst player in the league?

[shadowgrin]

You and your stats. Watch the games!

Wow, I didn't realize Stevenson sucked that hard last season.

[Andrew]

Now, I'm interpreting that "15mpg career" to mean that even though all the guys you picked were over 15mpg for last season.

Miles wasn't, but I'm going to have to give it up for Jason Collins.

[Alejandrov011]

I go with Kevin Ollie

[Diablo-]

Jason Collins..he makes kwame brown look like an allstar

[Jeffx]

Eddy Curry

[hova-]

Curry did not play last season and I guess when he is in shape (if you can say "in shape" to a 250 lbs guy) then he has quiet a game. No rebounding and shotblocking but not the weakest post scorer Ive seen.

[Mayerhendrix]

Curry did not play last season and I guess when he is in shape (if you can say "in shape" to a 250 lbs guy) then he has quiet a game. No rebounding and shotblocking but not the weakest post scorer Ive seen.

You said it -- no rebounding and no shotblocking. If I'm a coach playing a big man in the NBA big minutes, I need him to do the dirty work like rebounding and defense. Scoring, in the traditional sense of basketball, is more often relegated to the wings and guards while most big men are supposed to be adept at grabbing the boards and stuffing the opposition at every chance.

Still, there's worse players who just aren't good at ANYTHING.

[Alejandrov011]

Kwame Brown and Matt Bonner

Bonner is ugly and is shooting mechanic is more ugly. But he sanks shots

[Andrew]

The criteria Jae set may disqualify Curry based on last season since he only played three games, but if not for his personal issues - which are extremely unfortunate to say the least and I wouldn't wish on anyone, no matter who they are - he probably would've reached the criteria. He qualifies on every other count.

[IcemanOutlaw]

ill go for the 1st round draft pick - kwame brown

[Laxation]

What makes you guys think Kwame Brown was the WORST player in the league?
He was a solid backup centre, doing just as he was asked. Defence and rebounding...

[hova-]

I guess its the expectations that everybody put into him. Being the first highschooler drafted on number one. Still this is just the risk of the team. I mean, no one asked him to be the number one pick. That he could not keep up with the expectations you have of a top pick is not his fault. So worst player is definitely wrong. This guy has his ups and downs in his game and a decent body. Alright for a backup.