Westbrook, Randle and the ‘antiquad

We are encouraged to choose our mid-tournament team, but with only one peculiarity: they are not the best of the best. On the contrary, they are a group of players who, either because more was expected of them or because they have harmed their respective teams, deserve a special mention.

Who have been the worst and why? Without further ado, here’s our NBA ‘anti-five’:

Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
First of all, let’s take this ‘analysis’ with a touch of humor.

While no one can argue with his talents, we can all ask him to use them better. Defined by Charles Barkley as “half man – half season” for not being able to play when his team is home because he is not vaccinated against Covid, the point guard is a player who can be considered as, at least, controversial.

His past also condemns him. Because of his jealousy with LeBron James, he asked to leave Cleveland to be the star of another team. Boston opened its doors to him, but from there he also left badly slamming the door. And now in Brooklyn he plays half the games. Confessed terraplanist, anti-vaccine and part-time player? Isn’t this enough to be a starter in this anti-ideal team?

Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Lakers)
When it was reported that ‘Mr. Triple-double’ was joining the Los Angeles Lakers to form a Big 3 with AD and LeBron James, expectations about his game and what he could bring to the yellow and purple were high. However, things have not gone as expected.

Russ’ production has been well below his career averages and in a development he was little to none accustomed to in his time with OKC, Houston and the Wizards, he has had to eat more minutes on the bench than he expected. Since his debut in 2008-09 and beyond, Westbrook is averaging his lowest points per night at 18.3, numbers close to his first two NBA seasons at 15.3 and 16.1 in his first two years.

The point guard’s assists average is the fifth worst of his career at 7.6. (He had 5.3 in 2008; 5.5 in 2011; 6.9 in 2013 and 7.0 in 2019). Nothing to do with the 11.7 he recorded last season with Washington. His boards percentage is also down with reference to the 2020-21 season where he had 11.5 per night; he now figures 7.8 rebounds per game.

Ben Simmons (Brooklyn Nets)
Ben Simmons figures in this group not because of how poorly he has played, but because he hasn’t played. And he hasn’t played because some physical factor has prevented him from doing so, but because he hasn’t wanted to. All season long, the Sixers explored several trade options without much luck until they were able to pull it off at the trade deadline. The Nets receive in Simmons a player with an extraordinary, unique talent, but with a questionable winning attitude and little desire to improve in areas where improvement is urgently needed.

Coach Steve Nash has already taken some pressure off him by saying he doesn’t need him to shoot threes because he helps in other areas, but what do we make of his 59.7 percent free throw shooting when he goes to the line over and over again in a quarter? The last memory Philly fans are left with is the player who didn’t make a single attempt from beyond the arc and went 45-15 from the free throw line – 33 percent!!! – in the 2021 playoffs.

Julius Randle (New York Knicks)The most improved player from last season has gotten worse this season. All the Knicks power forward conveyed in the 2020-21 campaign was hope for something new for the franchise, which made the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13. He went to the All-Star Game, averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, by far the best numbers of his career, and became a threat from beyond the arc, from where he shot for 41.1 percent.

After signing a well-earned extension prior to this season, his offensive numbers have taken a dip (19.6 ppg, 30.1 three-point percentage), but what’s most concerning is his attitude on the court. His gesture to fans at Madison Square Garden in a game against the Celtics in January, his body language on the court and on the bench and the continuous fights with referees, media and fans leave much to be desired from the man who is supposed to be the leader of that team in the absence of Derrick Rose. One city columnist couldn’t have described it better: “Randle has been a problem for the Knicks, not a problem for other teams.

Tristan Thompson (No team)
We continue with humor as a slogan: We needed a center and we chose Tristan Thompson. Since 2020 to this part, he has worn four uniforms: Cleveland, Boston, Sacramento and Indiana. On the first two teams, he had minutes to sweat them, but in Sacramento, he was responsible for holding down the entourage.

His minutes per game dropped from 32 to 15 and before being traded to the Pacers, he went 14 games without seeing action. He was cut by Indiana. Off the court he has had several affairs. He was even boyfriend of Khloé Kardashian who seems to always want to get back with him and is determined to forgive him for his infidelities. If on the court he showed the same decision as in his love life, maybe today he would not be part of this team of anti-heroes.

Sixth Man: James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers)
At first glance, it doesn’t make much sense to say that a player who averages 22-10-8 belongs among the league’s worst. But, it has been his behavior that has placed him on this list. For the second consecutive season, the star point guard forced his way off a team. He left the Houston Rockets at the time and now he did the same for the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden has 15 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists this season, third most in the NBA. He is also one of two players to be named an All-Star in each of the last 10 seasons, along with LeBron James. He arrives in Philadelphia looking for his first ring as, he is one of three players with at least 3,000 postseason points and no title. However, all his virtues also go hand in hand with his flaws.