Being a superstar in the NBA comes with a very heavy price: the better you are, the more people want you to fail unless you can prove otherwise. Over the last 20 years, we’ve watched NBA stars get heavily criticized.
Some were criticized because they didn’t win enough. Others were criticized because they won in a way people didn’t like. Some were labeled selfish, soft, arrogant, injury-prone, or simply impossible to root for.
That’s why we have compiled a list of the 20 most criticized NBA players ever over the last 20 years. Without question, vitriol has been a part of each player’s career in the league.
20. Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks is used to being one of the league’s most infamous villains. His reputation was built on his ability to get under people’s skins something fierce. His feud with LeBron James during Memphis’ 2023 playoff series only amplified that reputation, particularly after Brooks called James “old” before the Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies.
The problem for Brooks was that his antics sometimes became more memorable than his impact. His shooting efficiency (career 42.1% FG and 35.3% 3-PT FG), rough play, and offensive limitations have been criticized, while his reputation as a “dirty” or overly physical defender has followed him around the league.
But Brooks’ moves to Houston and then Phoenix (career-high 20.2 PPG) might have proven that he can impact the game beyond being a dirty enforcer. Still, the fact remains that Brooks is the quintessential “you love him when he’s on your team and absolutely cannot stand him when he’s not” player.
19. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant’s greatness was obviously never really questioned, but his style of play certainly was. Coming into the NBA as the heir apparent to Michael Jordan, Kobe was immediately compared to his idol, and that is not an easy situation to be in.
Critics accused him of being a copycat, a ball hog, and a player who cared more about individual brilliance than team basketball. Those criticisms became worse during the early 2000s, when Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal were winning championships while fighting for control of the Lakers.
The “selfish Kobe” label followed him for years. His shot selection was scrutinized, particularly during seasons when his efficiency wasn’t matching his enormous scoring. His relationship with Shaq became another major part of the criticism, with many believing Kobe played a role in the Lakers getting rid of the most dominant big man ever.
But Kobe ultimately changed the conversation, and we knew he would. He won two more championships with Pau Gasol, captured two Finals MVPs, won the 2008 MVP, and became one of the most respected competitors in American sports.
Still, up until he won those two titles without Shaq, Kobe was very criticized for most of his career, and it would be wrong not to place him on this list.
18. Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson was one of the most beloved basketball players ever, but that doesn’t mean he was immune to criticism. In fact, there was a period when Iverson was constantly attacked for playing “selfish basketball”.
He dominated the ball, took an enormous number of shots, and carried Philadelphia’s offense almost entirely by himself. The 2000-01 season is the ultimate example of why the criticism that came later feels a little unfair. It was over 20 years ago, but that set the standard of what was to come later for “The Answer”.
Iverson won MVP, led the league in scoring at 31.1 points per game, made First Team All-NBA, and dragged Philadelphia to the NBA Finals. But because the Sixers lost to the Lakers after winning Game 1, the conversation eventually became, “Iverson couldn’t win.”
His scoring declined after his Philadelphia peak, and his later stops in Denver, Detroit, and Memphis reinforced the perception that he was difficult to build around. The criticism wasn’t always fair, especially considering the talent around him in Philadelphia, but Iverson’s small stature, enormous usage, and lack of a championship made him an easy target.
17. Ja Morant
Ja Morant’s criticism is so frustrating because so much of it has nothing to do with his game. There aren’t many more exciting players than Morant when he’s healthy and looking like one of the all-time great dunkers.
He looked like a future face of the NBA, and Memphis had found its superstar. Then the off-court issues began to ruin everything.
Morant’s two incidents involving a firearm on social media resulted in NBA suspensions and raised serious questions about his maturity. He was also criticized for his approach to leadership, often beefing with his coach that ultimately forced his way out of Memphis.
That’s the frustrating part: Morant has already been an All-Star and All-NBA player, but he wasn’t reliable because he couldn’t stay focused. When you have that much talent, Morant has yet to consistently live up to that enormous expectation, and it’s truly a shame.
16. Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic has already accomplished enough to be a Hall of Famer (6-time All-Star, 6-time All-NBA, two scoring titles), but he is still a heavily scrutinized superstar in basketball. The biggest criticism is obvious: defense.
Opponents have repeatedly targeted him in isolation, and questions about his conditioning and lateral quickness have followed him throughout his career. Then there’s the complaining. Luka’s constant whining to the referees and flopping for fouls makes him unbearable to follow at times.
The other criticism is more serious: can Luka actually win a championship as the No. 1 option? He took Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals, proving that he can lead a team through the Western Conference, but the Celtics won the series in five games. He now has the heavy task of trying to lead the Lakers to a championship.
His enormous usage rate has also raised questions about whether his style can produce championship basketball over an entire postseason. None of this changes the fact that Doncic is one of the most gifted offensive players of his generation.
But when you’re this talented, people are judging you against LeBron, Giannis, Jokic, and the other players who actually finished the job.
15. Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is, fittingly, one of the strangest cases on this list because his basketball resume is impossible to criticize. He won two championships with two different franchises, earned two Finals MVPs, and is one of the greatest two-way wings of his generation.
But the criticism revolved around his availability, load management, communication, and his relationship with the Clippers organization.
The Toronto years were almost the perfect example of what Kawhi can be when everything lines up. He played 60 regular-season games in 2018-19, then averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists during the playoffs while leading Toronto to its first championship.
But his Clippers tenure has been defined by injuries and missed time, making it increasingly difficult for Los Angeles to build around him and Paul George.
Kawhi’s personality doesn’t help either. He’s not relatable enough to make up for the lack of availability he has shown. When you’re rarely available and rarely explain yourself, people will criticize you heavily, and that’s what has happened.
14. Paul George
Why did Paul George ever utter the words “Playoff P”? George earned the nickname himself, but it became a weapon used against him whenever his postseason performances fell flat.
George has been a nine-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, and one of the best two-way wings of his generation. But we only focus on what has gone wrong for him.
The 2013 and 2014 Indiana Pacers nearly reached the Finals, and George’s 2018-19 season was extraordinary: he averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and a league-leading 2.2 steals while finishing third in MVP voting and third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
But then came the playoff disappointments, including the 2020 bubble collapse against Denver after the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead. George’s podcast career has also made him more exposed to criticism because fans now hear him explain his own career and decisions directly.
Add the fact that he has moved between several franchises while never winning a championship, and the criticism becomes inevitable: how can someone this talented have so little postseason hardware? Was he just chasing whoever paid him max dollars?
13. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony probably should be higher, but the love he received post-retirement means we can drop him a little lower. So why was he so criticized?
For one, Melo loved isolation basketball. He truly did.
He wanted to operate on his own and create his offense without any help. When it worked, it was beautiful. When it didn’t, critics saw a player who cared more about scoring (2013 scoring title) than winning.
The championship criticism became especially loud because Anthony never reached the NBA Finals. His best opportunity came with the Denver Nuggets, who reached the Western Conference Finals in 2009 before losing to the eventual champion Lakers.
He later joined the Knicks and became the face of the franchise, but New York never constructed a championship-caliber roster around him. As the NBA shifted toward the three-point era, Melo’s isolation-heavy style became outdated.
His late-career exile from the league only strengthened the criticism that he couldn’t adapt. Until today, the “great scorer who never learned how to win” label follows him almost everywhere.
12. Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert shouldn’t be this overlooked. The resume says one thing: four Defensive Player of the Year awards. The criticism says something completely different, from players and fans.
Gobert has been mocked for his lack of offensive skills and finesse style of play despite being 7’1″ and 258 lbs. Yes, the Frenchman isn’t exactly a tough-guy enforcer, and many hold that against him.
Then the infamous 2020 moment when Gobert touched reporters’ microphones and later tested positive for COVID-19 also became part of his public image. Then came the Draymond Green chokehold incident, which added another layer to the perception that Gobert is easy to target.
The irony is that he’s one of the greatest defensive regular-season players ever. His critics will argue that his defense doesn’t translate to the postseason, but it’s his lack of power that gets him the most hate until today.
11. Dwight Howard
At his peak, Dwight Howard was completely dominant. He won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, made eight All-Star teams, and led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. There wasn’t a better big man in the game at the time.
But Howard’s personality and career choices became almost as famous as his basketball. The Orlando departure turned ugly, the “Dwightmare” consumed the franchise, and his move to the Lakers with Kobe Bryant exposed just how difficult the fit could be.
Howard was criticized for being immature, goofy, and too unserious for someone expected to be the centerpiece of a championship team. It wasn’t the best move for him to team up with an assassin like Bryant.
Dwight eventually won a championship with the Lakers in 2020 as a role player, which helped fix his reputation, but the damage had already been done. The fact that he was initially left off the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team only reinforced the feeling that his greatness has been overlooked.
10. Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson is only 26 years old, but he is already one of the most criticized players over the last two decades. He entered the NBA with the biggest hype of any prospect since LeBron James. He was a physical phenomenon, 6’6′, explosive, and immensely powerful.
The problem is that staying on the court became the first challenge, and then staying in peak physical condition became another.
Zion’s injuries have turned his career into a giant “what if?” He has missed enormous chunks of seasons, including his entire rookie season except for 24 games, and has repeatedly struggled with conditioning. Over seven years, Williamson has played a total of 276 games. That is an average of 39 games per season.
The criticism surrounding his weight and diet has often been harsh and personal, sometimes crossing the line into unfair attacks about his body. But the frustration is understandable because the talent is so obvious.
Zion has averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for his career, and when healthy, he looks like a player who can be the face of the league. Perhaps getting max dollars so soon ruined what could have been an all-time great career.
9. Chris Paul
Chris Paul will never be able to shake the label that he “can’t win.” It’s almost absurd when you consider the resume. Paul is one of the greatest point guards ever, having made 12 All-Star Teams, 11 All-NBA Teams, and nine All-Defensive Teams. But because he never won a championship, the playoff failures have often swallowed everything else.
There was the Clippers’ infamous 2015 collapse against Houston after Los Angeles blew a 3-1 series lead. There was the 2018 Western Conference Finals, when Paul injured his hamstring with the Rockets leading Golden State 3-2.
Then came the 2021 Finals, when Phoenix took a 2-0 lead before Milwaukee stormed back to win four straight. Paul has played for New Orleans, the Clippers, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio, and each stop has produced the same question: when is he finally going to win?
That’s incredibly harsh for a player whose impact is beyond dispute. But for better or worse, the lack of a championship has hurt Paul more than any other player from his era.
8. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons has experienced the biggest fall from grace of any player on this list. At one point, he looked like a top-10 player in the game. He was a three-time All-Star, made an All-NBA team, finished runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and was becoming a triple-double threat.
Then came the 2021 playoffs, when the Atlanta series changed everything. Simmons’ refusal to shoot became a storyline, and his infamous fourth-quarter pass instead of attempting a dunk against Trae Young became the defining moment of his career.
His free-throw struggles became almost impossible to ignore, and his confidence completely collapsed. The situation with Philadelphia deteriorated into a trade to Brooklyn, where injuries and offensive limitations prevented him from rebuilding his career. He only played 69 games over three seasons, averaging a putrid 6.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 6.3 APG.
Simmons has spoken openly about his mental health and back pain struggles, which deserve compassion. Still, the criticism of his basketball game remains valid: a player with his talent never developed the aggression required to become a franchise star.
That’s the frustrating part. We already saw the All-NBA version of Simmons for a brief moment and never saw it again. Simmons will go down as a forgotten star in the league and one of the most criticized players ever. But hey, at least he got his max contract.
7. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is a strange case. On the court, he is arguably the most gifted ball-handler and offensive point guard ever. But the off-court drama has made him heavily scrutinized.
His decision to leave Cleveland after winning a championship alongside LeBron James was heavily bashed, especially because the Cavaliers were coming off the first championship in franchise history.
Then came the Boston years, the controversy surrounding his time with Brooklyn, his extended absences, and his social-media activity. Critics questioned his leadership and commitment.
His supporters would argue that Irving has been unfairly judged because he doesn’t behave like the typical superstar. Both things can be true: Kyrie is an extraordinary talent and has made decisions that caused turbulence around his teams.
His 2024 Finals appearance with Dallas helped repair some of the perception, but the baggage remains. Can Kyrie ever get his just due? Maybe one day, but his haters (particularly in the media) are still far and wide.
6. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is one of the most dominant centers of the modern era. He’s won an MVP, made seven All-Star teams, and has no weakness in his game on either end of the floor. But there are two issues with him.
The first issue is availability. Other than only appearing in at least 65 games twice in 10 years, Embiid has almost always entered postseasons dealing with injuries, and Philadelphia’s championship hopes have often disappeared when he isn’t at full strength.
Then there is the playoff resume: despite winning the 2023 MVP and playing alongside several high-level teammates such as James Harden, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler, Embiid has never reached the Eastern Conference Finals. How can that be?
His conditioning has been questioned, although it’s important not to turn legitimate injury concerns into claims that he simply doesn’t care. Embiid’s relationship with the media, his constant battles with critics, and his willingness to engage with fans and opponents have also made him a lightning rod.
The expectations on Embiid are so high, and he hasn’t been healthy (or successful) enough to not be criticized year after year.
5. Draymond Green
Draymond Green may be the biggest example of a player who became famous for doing things other than scoring. His stats, particularly the “triple-single” jokes (career 8.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.6 APG), have made him an easy target for fans who don’t understand his value.
Green is also one of the most polarizing players in NBA history. His technical fouls, ejections, and physical altercations have produced an enormous amount of criticism.
The incidents involving Steven Adams, Jordan Poole and Rudy Gobert, among others, have kept him in the headlines for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball. Critics have repeatedly labeled him dirty, while Warriors supporters argue that his edge is part of what made Golden State a dynasty.
The funny thing is that the criticism often proves his importance. Golden State’s four championships during the Stephen Curry era don’t happen without Green’s presence. He won Defensive Player of the Year, made nine All-Defensive teams, and was a four-time All-Star.
His offensive numbers aren’t impressive because that was never his job. Draymond was the guy who did the dirty work, and unfortunately for him, he also became the guy everyone blamed when things got dirty.
4. James Harden
The final four belong in their own category because the criticism followed them everywhere. James Harden might be the most complete offensive system one player has ever created.
During his Houston peak, he was the entire offense, and it was insane to watch. We still haven’t seen a player get triple- and quadruple-teamed from the minute he stepped in front of half-court. Teams were that afraid of his ability to get to the rim for an easy layup or lob pass to his center.
He won an MVP, three scoring titles, and two assist titles while averaging 36.1 points per game in 2018-19, one of the greatest scoring seasons of the modern era.
And yet, people hated watching him play. The isolation-heavy style, step-back threes, and ability to draw fouls became synonymous with Harden basketball.
“Foul merchant” became one of the most common criticisms, while his playoff performances created an entirely separate debate. To us, that is the main issue.
Harden’s postseason struggles against Golden State, particularly his shooting issues and turnover problems, became too wide to ignore. Then came the trade demands in Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, creating a second criticism: commitment.
Harden has been one of the greatest offensive players ever, but his foul-heavy style, lack of postseason success, and poor games in big moments mean he will be more criticized than loved.
3. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant might be the most respected basketball player who is also one of the most criticized. Nobody disputes the talent because Durant is one of the greatest scorers ever (27.1 career PPG), a two-time Finals MVP, an MVP, and a four-time scoring champion. The criticism comes from everything surrounding that talent.
The 2016 decision to join Golden State changed his reputation overnight. After Oklahoma City blew a 3-1 lead to the Warriors, Durant joined the team that had just eliminated him, a team that had won 73 games and already had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Many fans considered it the ultimate shortcut. Durant won two championships and two Finals MVPs in Golden State, but critics argued that those titles were less impressive because of the roster he joined.
Then there are the burner-account accusations, Twitter arguments, and his willingness to respond to critics online. Durant, to his credit, sometimes actively engages with it.
That makes him fascinating, but it also makes him an easy target. Even after leaving Golden State, the question remains: why hasn’t one of the greatest players alive been able to win another championship as the unquestioned leader?
2. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook was one of the most spectacular players of his generation, but is easiest to criticize. That contradiction basically defines his career. He won an MVP, averaged a triple-double four times, made nine All-Star teams, and became one of the most explosive guards ever.
But critics will swear up and down that Russ cared about his stats more than winning. The “triple-double merchant” label became impossible to escape.
Critics pointed to his rebounding numbers, questionable shot selection, turnovers, and inability to consistently control the pace of a game. His relationship with Kevin Durant became part of the story after Durant left Oklahoma City, while his later stints with Houston, Washington, the Lakers, and Clippers gave critics plenty of material.
The Lakers years were particularly brutal. Westbrook struggled to fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and his $47.1 million salary meant every missed jumper was met with painful groans from the crowd.
But we can’t forget what Westbrook actually accomplished. He was the 2017 MVP, averaged a triple-double while dragging Oklahoma City to the playoffs, and was one of the most relentless competitors in the league.
He could be frustrating as well as spectacular in the same game. Sometimes he was both in the same five-minute stretch. That’s exactly why he became such a polarizing and heavily criticized figure.
1. LeBron James
If we’re talking about the most criticized NBA superstar of the last 20 years, LeBron James isn’t just No. 1. He’s in his own world.
LeBron entered the NBA with expectations that would have crushed almost anyone else. Sports Illustrated put him on its cover as a teenager and called him “The Chosen One.” He was compared to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson before playing a single NBA game.
Every playoff loss became the biggest talking point on his legacy. The 2010 decision to leave Cleveland for Miami and form the Big Three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh produced one of the most vicious media backlashes in sports history.
Then came the “Decision,” the “not one, not two, not three” comments, the 2011 Finals collapse, and years of criticism over whether he could actually close games.
And the criticism never really stopped. Leaving Cleveland a second time, joining the Lakers, forming entourages, “player empowerment,” flopping, complaining to officials, controlling the narrative around his teams, and his willingness to call himself “The GOAT” make it worse.
Even his incredible longevity creates another strange criticism: people constantly move the goalposts. Four championships, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, 22 All-Star selections, the NBA’s all-time scoring record and 23 years of elite production somehow aren’t enough for some people because the standard is Michael Jordan. That’s the price of being LeBron James.
The irony is that LeBron’s criticism is arguably the greatest evidence of his greatness. Nobody has been under the microscope for this long because nobody has remained this relevant for this long.
He went from teenager to MVP, from Cleveland disappointment to Miami champion, from villain back to hometown hero, from veteran superstar to 40-year-old All-NBA-level player. He has been bashed for more than two decades, and somehow he kept producing.
That’s why LeBron sits at No. 1 on this list. He has had an all-time great career, but the target on his back has been bigger, lasted longer, and generated more criticism than anyone else of his generation.
