The NBA Player Poll: Unveiling the League's Most Overrated and Underrated Players and Coaches
The Athletic's 2026 Anonymous NBA Player Poll has once again shed light on the league's most underrated and overrated players, as well as the most impressive and least impressive coaches. The poll, conducted from late February to early April, surveyed 161 players, a record high for this project, and revealed some interesting insights into the NBA's current landscape.
Most Underrated Player
Derrick White of the Boston Celtics has once again been named the most underrated player in the league. White, who tied for the win with the Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams in 2024 and finished second last year, has consistently been a top vote-getter in this category. His versatility on both ends of the court, as well as his leadership, have made him a key contributor to the Celtics' success this season, despite the absence of Jayson Tatum.
Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks has also been named among the most underrated players, having led the team to a No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. His improved production, including career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists, has made him a standout player this season.
Most Overrated Player
Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets has been named the most overrated player in the league. While his stats are impressive, with 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, as well as four triple-doubles, his peers have expressed skepticism about his playstyle. One player who voted for Şengün commented that he "cries every play," suggesting that his emotional expression may be seen as a negative trait.
Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Trae Young of the Washington Wizards have also been named among the most overrated players, with Young finishing first in this category last year and Gobert finishing first in 2024. The low number of votes cast for this category may be due to the players' reluctance to criticize their peers.
Most Impressive Coach
Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics has been named the most impressive coach in the league. Mazzulla's tenacity and ability to fire up his team, as well as his intensity as a coach, have been praised by players. The Celtics' success this season, despite the absence of Tatum and the trade of Kristaps Porziņģis, has been attributed to Mazzulla's leadership.
Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder finished second, with his defending-champion team ending the season with the league's best record. J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons placed third, with his ability to turn around a struggling team and lead them to a strong regular-season record.
Least Impressive Coach
Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards has been named the least impressive coach in the league. The Wizards' poor performance this season, with the league's worst record, has been attributed to Keefe's leadership. The lowlight of the season was Bam Adebayo's 83-point performance against the Wizards, which was cited by one player as a reason for Keefe's vote.
Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors has also been named among the least impressive coaches, with 6.0 percent of respondents voting for him. Kerr's handling of the Jonathan Kuminga situation, as well as the team's injuries and poor performance this season, have been cited as reasons for this vote.
Best Defensive Player
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has been named the best defensive player in the league, despite only receiving 41.1 percent of the vote. Wembanyama's ability to cover up mistakes and protect the rim, as well as his height and versatility, have made him a standout defensive player.
Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors finished in a tie for third, with his ability to guard multiple positions and protect the rim earning him some love from voters.
