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On Friday, Forbes Magazine released it's report on the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA Players.
Hoopsvibe's quick call: Aren't most NBA ballers overpaid? I mean they get paid millions of dollars to do something most people would do for free.
Anyway, thanks to Tom Van Riper, a business of sports writer at Forbes Magazine, we now have Forbes' list of the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA players.
But before we get into the list, this passage from the Forbes article will help you understand how they measure players as overpaid.
"Advanced metrics show that in the NBA, scoring is overvalued. Stats compiled by David Berri, economist and author of Stumbling on Wine, rates players' contribution to wins not only by scoring but shooting percentage, assists, rebounds and turnovers, all measured against opportunities to accumulate those stats (a faster paced game with more shots equals more rebound opportunities, etc.)"
Essentially, the main thing overpaid ballers have in common, according to Forbes, is that all they do is score (because they shoot so much) but lack in the other areas that help their respective teams win games.
So without further adeu, here are the most overpaid NBA ballers...
1.) Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Despite Melo's 28.1 points per game, his MVP-caliber season, and the Knicks second best Eastern Conference record of 48-26, Anthony is at the top of the list of Forbes' most overpaid. Forbes asserts that while Carmelo is a scoring machine, he takes more shots than anyone else and that means fewer shots for his teammates. He also rebounds less, assists less, and shoots more than Kevin Durant, for example. And he gets paid $19.4 million a year to do so; so the Knicks better win a championship this season.
2.) Ben Gordon, Bobcats
Gordon is a sick baller, no question, but the Bobcats are absolutely horrible. So horrible, in fact, that they have the worst record in the NBA, at 18-57. And Gordon is only averaging a modest 11.7 points per game. His 2 assists and 1.8 rebounds don't help his team much either, yet he's making $12.4 million this year.
3.) Joe Johnson, Nets
The Nets traded for Johnson as a guy to build a team around, and are actually having a pretty good year. Johnson's 16.3 ppg, however, is his lowest scoring average since 2004 and he's only adding a little over 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He makes $19.75 million this year.
4.) Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
It's been a tough few years for Turkoglu, who's only played 11 games this season due to injury. But in those 11 games, he only averaged 2.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. That's what Orlando is getting this season for the $11.8 million they're spending.
5.) Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Forbes notes that while Dirk is definitely a Hall-of-Famer and was injured earlier this season, his numbers are down. And he's 35 years old. His yearly salary is $20.9 million but Forbes figures he's worth about $13mill at 17.2 points per game. I guess when you're a billionaire owner like Mark Cuban, what's a few million extra right?
6.) Corey Maggette, Pistons
Maggette has always been a guy who can score, but he's also always been a guy who gets hurt. Forbes notes that Maggette hasn't played one full 82 game season in his 14 year career. (That's crazy and something I never knew.) He's set to make $10.9 million this year, although he's only played in 18 games and averaged just over five points, one assist, and one rebound. Oh, and the Pistons are 25-51 and not making the playoffs. On a positive note, the dude is jacked.
7.) Rudy Gay, Raptors
Gay was traded from Memphis to Toronto mid season this year, and is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Raptors which is up from the 17.2 he averaged with the Grizzlies. The only problem is all he really does is score. Granted he doesn't have much of a supporting cast around him, and I'll give him that, but the reality is Memphis is 23-9 since trading him away and the Raptors have no shot at making the playoffs. Gay will make $16.5 million this season.
8.) Stephen Jackson, Spurs
Jackson is an interesting one on the Forbes list because the Spurs are one of the best teams in the league and he plays a solid role on their squad. But I think Forbes is challenging whether or not the role he plays is worth the $10.1 million he makes a year when he's averaging just 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. I see their point.
9.) Chris Kaman, Mavericks
In the 2009-10 season, Kaman was a beast for the Clippers averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Forbes cites that his play has since dropped off, and they're right. They 7-foot big man is only pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game for the Mavs this season, while averaging 10.8 points and making $8 million.
10.) Arron Afflalo, Magic
Afflalo is known as a scorer and is averaging 16.5 ppg for the Magic this season. Forbes is all good with that; but they're not cool with the fact that he's making $7.8 million this year and only contributing 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. It seems they think he should be doing more than scoring for that kind of money.
So there's the list, Hoopsvibers! And a special thanks to Forbes and Tom Van Riper for a very thorough and interesting report!
What do the Hoopsvibers think? Should anyone else be on this list?? Leave your comments below!
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