MOST POPULAR

ESPN Insider: Suns’ Brandon Knight one of five most overrated players in NBA

Feb 4, 2016, 3:45 PM | Updated: Feb 5, 2016, 12:11 pm

Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9), of ...

Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9), of Spain, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

(AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Since being traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to Phoenix last February, things haven’t gone very well for Suns guard Brandon Knight.

Sure, he got a five-year, $70 million contract last summer, but the previous statement goes beyond finances.

He’s struggled to stay healthy. Knight has played in only 53 of Phoenix’s 78 games since he’s been on the roster. Last season, the former Kentucky guard was slowed by an ankle injury. This season, it’s a groin issue that has caused him to miss the last eight ball games.

A cursory look at Knight’s stats paint a pretty nice picture. He’s averaging 19.7 points and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 42 percent — which is a shade above his career shooting percentage.

But ESPN Insider Jeremias Engelmann has identified Knight as one of the five most overrated players in the NBA. According to Engelmann, the fifth-year guard has two big problems. First, it’s his ability to get others involved in the offense.

Unfortunately, as a playmaker he has struggled. He hasn’t been able to get lobs consistently to Tyson Chandler for the center’s trademark alley-oop dunks. Overall, Knight’s 5.1 assists per 36 minutes are accompanied by 3.4 turnovers per 36, including the 11th-most live-ball turnovers in the league.

Among the ten players who average the most turnovers per game this season, Knight has the second-lowest assist per game average. Only Indiana’s Paul George (4.0 assists, 3.7 turnovers per game) has a worse mark.

And then, there’s the defense, or as Engelmann points out, the lack of defense.

Knight’s role in the Suns’ bottom-two defense is pretty clear. In addition to the turnovers, he’s not a stopper, he rarely blocks shots and he grabs only three defensive rebounds per 36 minutes.

For most of the season, the Suns have been about four points per 100 possessions better on defense with Knight sitting. While that number has improved of late (the Suns still rate as better without him playing), in large part that’s because of all the minutes Phoenix is giving to very young players like Devin Booker and Archie Goodwin.

Certainly Knight’s time in the Valley has to be labeled a disappointment, but he’s still only 24, and as Engelmann points out, still has time to focus on his defense.

The other four players identified as the league’s most overrated players are Miami’s Hassan Whiteside, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter and Sacramento’s Rajon Rondo.

Most Popular

Sean O’Malley throws a kick against Aljamain Sterling during their Bantamweight title fight at UF...

Associated Press

Phoenix fighter Sean O’Malley upsets Aljamain Sterling for UFC bantamweight title

In his first bid for the UFC bantamweight title, Sean O’Malley stopped defending champion Aljamain Sterling in the second round of the main event at UFC 292.

7 months ago

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States lifts the trophy as United States players celebrate winn...

Associated Press

US beats Canada to win CONCACAF Nations League title

The United States beat Canada 2-0 on Sunday night for the Americans' second straight CONCACAF Nations League title.

9 months ago

Associated Press

Arcangelo wins Belmont Stakes to make Jena Antonucci 1st female trainer to win the race

Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, making Jena Antonucci the first female trainer to win the race in its 155 years.

9 months ago

Associated Press

Kentucky Derby runs into more obstacles ahead of big race

The cast for the 149th Kentucky Derby was rewritten again hours before the race Saturday when early favorite Forte was scratched.

11 months ago

Jesus Ferreira #9 of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal in front of the American Out...

Associated Press

Ferreira goal gives USA exhibition tie against Mexico at State Farm Stadium

The United States tied against Mexico 1-1 on Wednesday night in an exhibition at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

11 months ago

Associated Press

Aryna Sabalenka wins 1st Grand Slam title at Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open women’s final.

1 year ago

ESPN Insider: Suns’ Brandon Knight one of five most overrated players in NBA