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The latest edition of the NBA season is dawning upon us, inching closer with each passing day. With the rise in excitement, there has been an obvious rise in expectations from players. The conversation of who's-going-to-play-how has already begun and with it, criticism has seeped in.
Criticism is the whetstone upon which all greats sharpen their will to win. Michael Jordan did it, Kobe Bryant did it, even Larry Bird did it. The rule for criticism is simple - it does not matter who or what you are or what you have accomplished. The only thing that matters is your performance. Any criticism rooted in even scarce amounts of logic is a criticism worth taking note of.
Top five NBA players who need to prove their critics wrong
The 2020-21 NBA season was a blessing for many. Players like Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, and Trae Young rose through the muddy, difficult to traverse top rankings. They established themselves as players who'll become the face of the league in the near future.
And yet there were some that were ignored by lady luck. These players were heavily criticized for their performances. The critics left no spell of lousy performances go untouched. However, like always, these players will be awarded the opportunity to answer their critics in the season to come. So today, we look at the top five players who need to prove their critics wrong in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Julius Randle
Julis Randle was awarded the NBA's most improved player award of 2020-21. Within a matter of weeks, critics and fans were already on his case. Randle highlights how quickly stellar performances can be disregarded in the face of not-so-stellar performances.
Julius appeared in his first NBA playoffs, leading the New York Knicks to a well-deserved spot in the battle against the Atlanta Hawks. Randle's performance did not suit the playoffs series.
His low field goal percentage and stubborn non-stop attempts were heavily criticized. Randle will have to work on his efficiency and shot selection in the coming season in order to give a fitting reply to all that questioned his skill and capability.
#4 Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is not a Laker anymore. The LA Lakers traded him for Westbrook after a disappointing performance from Kuzma in the 2021 playoffs. The criticism, though, began way before the playoffs for Kyle.
The kind of criticism Kyle gets as an NBA player is harsh enough to be a nerve wreck for any individual. He is hated and criticized for his good and bad performances. The main criticism pointed at Kuzma is his low IQ in high stakes matches. A tag he needs to scrub off before it sticks for good.
#3 Paul George
Paul George is an absolute beast on the court, easily one of the best in the NBA. Even with Kawhi's presence on the LA Clippers roster, Paul George is arguably the best Clippers player presently. He is phenomenal in mid-range. In 2020-21 NBA season, George averaged 46.7 FG percentage and 41.1 3P percentage. These are some serious numbers worthy of praise and the whole nine yards.
The majority of critics attacked PG13's lack of reliable free throw conversions and a range of shooting problems during the playoffs. While it is true that Paul's numbers do fall slightly during the post-season, the drop isn't considerable enough to justify such strong criticism.
George has already improved his free-throw shooting by leaps and bounds. His stats are a clear decleration of his growth and his effort. Next NBA season will hopefully be the one where the player finally receives the universal praise and acknowledgement he deserves.
#2 LeBron James
LeBron James, due to his predicament of being one of the greatest to ever play the game, is never free of criticism. Vonnegut once said: 'We are healthy as long as our ideas are humane.' In sports, there is a dire need to discern healthy criticism from unhealthy criticism because while the former elevates the level of a player, the latter wrecks havoc upon the mental health and well-being of a player.
That being said, LeBron is one of those players who has taken the brunt of unlimited, often unjustified, criticism head-on. Critics and their doubts make him stronger and stronger with each passing year.
A recent barrage of doubts have been raised over his fading speed, inefficient arc shooting, and abysmal free-throw shooting. Despite being one of the best mid-range shooters of all-time, James averaged 60.9 percent from the free-throw line. He needs to improve his stats from the FT and work on arc-accuracy to quieten down all critics and remain one of the best in the NBA.
#1 Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons had a very difficult and disappointing 2020-21 NBA season. Going into the playoffs, his substandard shooting became visibly frustrating for Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Ben is, without any doubt, a killer inside the paint. Of his 406 attempts from less than five feet, Simmons registered 257 counted buckets. That's a whooping 63.3% conversion rate.
The conclusion of our assertion is this: Ben Simmons is not the worst player in the NBA. In fact, in the paint, he might be one of the best in the league. However, the criticism regarding his shooting and free throw conversion is well justified.
In order for the number one spot on our list to have a more profound impact on the NBA, he has to improve his mid-range and three-point shooting and become a decent free throw taker.
