Lakers Center Named One of NBA's Most Overrated Players

Deandre Ayton has struggled to live up to his No. 1 draft pick status since joining the league in 2018.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 10:07pm

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Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, has been named one of the most overrated players in the league by Bleacher Report. Ayton has bounced around the league, playing for three teams in his five-year career, and has failed to develop into the dominant big man many expected when he was drafted ahead of stars like Luka Doncic and Trae Young.

Why it matters

Ayton's struggles highlight the challenges of being a top draft pick and living up to lofty expectations in the NBA. As the league continues to evolve, traditional centers who lack versatility on both ends of the floor are becoming less valuable, putting pressure on Ayton to expand his game if he wants to remain in the league long-term.

The details

According to the report, Ayton has "long frustrated his teams with a lack of motor" and was even benched by former Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams in a crucial Game 7 playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks in 2022. The report notes that centers who can't protect the rim or shoot from three-point range are becoming "a dying breed" in the modern NBA, putting Ayton's future in jeopardy if he doesn't show significant improvement in his game.

  • Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
  • He was recently named one of the most overrated players in the NBA by Bleacher Report.

The players

Deandre Ayton

A 24-year-old center for the Los Angeles Lakers who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but has struggled to live up to expectations, playing for three different teams in his five-year career.

Monty Williams

The former head coach of the Phoenix Suns who famously benched Ayton in a crucial Game 7 playoff game in 2022.

Greg Swartz

A writer for Bleacher Report who named Ayton as one of the most overrated players in the NBA.

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What they’re saying

“The No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft has long frustrated his teams with a lack of motor. Former Suns head coach Monty Williams famously benched him in a Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 playoffs.”

— Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report Writer

“Centers who can't protect the rim and offer no three-point shooting are a dying breed in the NBA. Ayton needs to show some sort of development in any part of his game or else he'll be out of the league in a few years.”

— Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report Writer

The takeaway

Deandre Ayton's struggles to live up to his draft status as the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 highlight the increasing importance of versatility and development in the modern NBA. As the league continues to evolve, traditional big men who lack the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor are becoming less valuable, putting pressure on Ayton to expand his skillset if he wants to remain in the league long-term.