After looking at the NBA’s biggest surprises in the early going, I decided to examine the players who have been the biggest disappointments. While there are a few players who stand out, none of them do so than Atlanta Hawks Trae Young.
Unpopular Perennial All-Star Leads Biggest NBA Disappointments, Who Is Each of The 30 Teams?
Young has played just 10 games this season, sitting out the last three with a quad injury. Young has done some things well, but is shooting a career-low 30.5% from the 3-point line. He has been terrible on defense — not like he has been good on that end of the floor throughout his career — and has a minus-3.6 plus/minus rating.
Even more scathing is a recent report that Young is not fun to play with, per an NBA exec on the Ryen Russillo Show on YouTube.
“It’s hard to think of a team that’s trying to win this season that Trae would help, especially once you factor in what that team would be losing from the players they would have to send back as matching salary. He doesn’t defend. He doesn’t rebound. Guys hate playing with him.”
Still, it doesn’t look like the Hawks have any plans to trade their four-time All-Star, per former NBA player and current sportscaster Stacey King.
“News flash, the owner loves him,” King said. “He’s not going anywhere. When the owner loves you and the owner’s son loves you, Trae Young is not going anywhere.”
Tobias Harris, Pistons
Tobias Harris is who he is. Harris made the list not because he is having a poor start to the campaign, but because the Pistons have been better without him. Harris has sat out 11 games due to a hip issue, and the Pistons are 10-1 in those contests, compared to 15-8 in games he has played. He is also the only player who gets regular minutes to have a below a plus/minus rating of less than 1 (+0.7).
Guershon Yabulese, Knicks
Guershon Yabulese is a candidate to make the all-NBA worst free agent signings this summer. After a surprisingly strong season in Philadelphia, the 30-year-old French forward has been in and out of New York‘s rotation this year. While Yabusele has increased his scoring over the last three games, he is averaging just 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds.
Chris Boucher, Celtics
Chris Boucher was expected to be a key member of Boston’s frontcourt rotation. Boucher has only appeared in eight games and last played on November 23. He is a trade candidate.
Jakob Poeltl, Raptors
Jakob Poeltl signed a massive contract extension this summer. However, the 30-year-old has missed 14 games and played only 6 minutes over the last eight due to a back injury. He is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday.
Poeltl has seen his offensive role reduced due to increased talent around him. Poeltl is converting nearly 70% of his field goal attempts, but his rebounding and defense have fallen off. Fouling has been an issue for Poeltl, and his -2.1 plus/minus rating is second among regulars in Darko Rajakovic’s rotation.
Jonathan Isaac, Magic
Injuries have plagued Jonathan Isaac throughout his career. While Isaac has been pretty healthy this year, the 28-year-old has struggled mightily and is only playing a career-low 10 minutes a game.
Nikola Jovic, Heat
Nikola Jovic hasn’t played poorly. In fact, he is one of the Heat’s most important players off the bench. However, he made the list due to expectations. Shooting consistency and turnovers are the biggest issues for the 22-year-old.
Darius Garland, Cavs
Despite the Cavs’ regular-season success last year, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have proven they’re not a great pairing. Garland, who sat out 14 of the first 21 games, has picked up his play over the last month. Still, the 25-year-old isn’t playing at last season’s level, where he was an all-star for the second time and finished as the league’s No. 6 clutch player. His shooting (41.4% from the field), defense (-2.1 second-worst on the team), and the Cavs’ 10-10 record with him in the lineup are the most disappointing.
Patrick Williams, Bulls
Patrick Williams has been trending downwards since his career year in 2022-23. While the 24-year-old forward has seen an uptick in playing time over the last two games, Williams has struggled mightily this year and is averaging a career-low 19 minutes a contest. He is on pace for a career-worst season, averaging 6.7 points and 2.7 boards while shooting only 38% from the field. On the positive side of things, he is knocking down 1.2 threes a contest at a 40.4% clip.
Myles Turner, Bucks
Myles Turner is trending towards being the worst free-agent signing this year. Turner, who signed a four-year, $109 million deal this summer, is having one of the least productive seasons of his career. Known as being automatic around the rim, Turner is converting 58% of his attempts at the rim and has connected just 42% from the field and 38.1% from the 3-point line. He has also struggled on the boards, and his defense has dipped a bit. However, the 29-year-old is still a good rim-protector.
Tre Mann, Hornets
Tre Mann has struggled to remain on the court over the past few years. Mann has been relatively healthy this year, but his minutes and play have declined. He is shooting 35% from the field and 30.1% from the 3-point line, with a 2.5-to-1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. Additionally, he has a team-worse minus-4.8 plus/minus rating.
Ziaire Williams
Ziaire Williams, coming off a career season, was expected to be a leader of a young Nets squad. While the 24-year-old forward —who signed a two-year contract this summer—has had some good outings, he is shooting under 40% from the field and 30.1% from the 3-point line.
Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards
Bilal Coulibaly, known more for his defense, has regressed as a shooter, with consistency being a considerable issue. Coulibaly has scored in double-figures in 10 of 18 games, though he is shooting a career-low 37.8% from the field and 25.7% from the 3-point line.
Luguentz Dort, Thunder
Luguentz Dort hasn’t been terrible. But the 26-year-old wing is in the midst of the worst season since his rookie campaign in 2019-20. Dort is shooting just 37% from the field and 32.6% from the field. He is still defending well and has a +7.6 plus/minus rating, though opponents have been much better against him than in the past.
Jeremy Sochan, Spurs
Jeremy Sochan has seen his role reduce dramatically this year. After averaging 25+ minutes a game and starting most of the time over the past three seasons, Sochan has exclusively come off the bench and averages 15 minutes a game in his appearances. He has really struggled from shooting beyond the arc and owns a team-worst -3.1 plus/minus rating.
Julian Strawther, Nuggets
Julian Strawther took a step forward in year two, but has taken a step back in the early going of 2025-26. Strawther has dealt with injuries this year, but he did not play against Toronto on New Year’s Eve despite Denver being so shorthanded. He averages just 3.9 points on 36.4% shooting from the field and 20% from deep in 16 contests.
With the Nuggets being deeper than in the last few seasons, Strawther is projected to see limited time as the team gets healthier.
Clint Capela, Rockets
Another kind of unfair choice, but there really is not a Rockets player who has been a disappointment. Clint Capela has provided the depth the Rockets expected from him. However, Capela is seeing just 11 minutes as Steven Adams has solidified himself as the Rockets’ top big man off the bench. His countable stats are the worst of his career, while his plus/minus of +0.4 is the fourth-worst on the team.
Dalton Knecht, Lakers
Dalton Knecht has been shooting the ball well over the last two months. However, the 24-year-old forward has seen inconsistent playing time due to his defensive inefficiencies. Knecht hasn’t seen more than 15 minutes in a game since December 1 and has received two DNPs. He has the fourth-worst plus/minus rating on the Lakers at -2.2.
Unless Knecht, who is averaging 5.7 points in 13.3 minutes while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.8% from the 3-point line, catches fire, he figures to get only garbage time minutes as long as the Lakers are healthy.
Rob Dillingham, Timberwolves
While it was known that Rob Dillingham needed his rookie season to develop, he just hasn’t taken the step in year two. And the Timberwolves needed the No. 8 pick in 2024 to do just that, especially after Mike Conley took a huge step backward. He is currently fourth on the Wolves point guard depth chart and sixth guard overall.
Nick Richards, Suns
Nick Richards has found it challenging to get on the court, just one season after starting 34 of his 36 appearances after being acquired in January from Charlotte. Richards, a viable third-string center, has averaged fewer than 10 minutes in 26 appearances, including two starts. While Richards is still rebounding the ball well, he is producing just 3.3 points on 47.6% shooting from the field, and the Suns are being outscored by over two points on the court.
Al Horford, Warriors
Al Horford is not the only Warriors player who could have been given this unwanted distinction; Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield were also candidates. But Horford was the Warriors’ biggest offseason free agent signing, and he was expected to solidify the frontcourt. While it was known Horford would miss games, the 39-year-old has sat out more than he has played.
When available, Horford has struggled. He averages 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 20 minutes in his 17 appearances. More significantly, the Warriors have been outscored by 3.1 points when he is on the court, which is the worst on the team, and he is shooting a career-low 38.5% from the field and 35.1% from the 3-point line.
GG Jackson II, Grizzlies
GG Jackson II has seen his role and production reduce over the two seasons. While injuries have been part of Jackson’s story, 13 of 20 of his absences this year have been DNPs. He has seen an increase in playing time lately due to the plethora of Grizzlies injuries. But, he is still averaging just 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds with shooting splits of 39/14.8/70.6 in 12.5 minutes.
Matisse Thybulle, Blazers
Putting Matisse Thybulle here is a little unfair. Thybulle, who exercised his $11.5 million player option this summer, has only appeared in four games due to a thumb injury and 19 contests since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. He is not expected to return any time soon.
Cody Williams, Jazz
Cody Williams was expected to be a major part of the Jazz core after being selected with the No. 10 pick in last year’s draft. But after seeing action in 51 games last year, including 21 starts, Williams has appeared in only 19 this year. He averages 2.8 points on 34.8% shooting from the field and 10.3% from deep.
Williams has seen an increase lately with all of Jazz’s injuries. The Jazz did pick up the 21-year-old forward’s third-year extension.
D’Angelo Russell, Mavs
D’Angelo Russell was expected to take over for Dallas’ starting point guard job while Kyrie Irving was out. Russell has struggled immensely, averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.9 turnovers with splits of 40.5/30.0/71.1.
Russell has had some big games, though he hasn’t seen 20 minutes or more since November 20. He has received five DNP’s in the Mavericks’ last 15 contests.
Chris Paul, Clippers
Chris Paul’s last hurrah was not expected to go like this. Paul, currently sitting at home while still under contract, averaged a measly 2.9 points and 3.3 assists, along with just 1.0 turnover, in 14 minutes over 16 appearances. He shot a career-worst 32.1% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
The Clippers would like to trade Paul. But, there doesn’t seem to be much of a market, so he will likely be bought out.
Devin Carter, Kings
The Kings have been trying to trade the 2024 No. 10 first-round draft pick since this offseason, but have not found any takers. Devin Carter has barely seen the court this time, seeing nine minutes of action in 10 contests. Granted, Carter’s career has been derailed by injuries, including this year. But, he has not played in 20 of the Kings’ last 22 contests. He averages 3.6 points and 1.3 assists while shooting 33.3% from the field and 25% from deep.
Carter, a defensive guard, is a trade candidate at the trade deadline or this summer. He may see time down the road as the Kings sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with New Orleans.
Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans
Jordan Hawkins was expected to be a key part of the Pelicans’ rotation, but he has struggled mightily. The No. 14 pick in the 2023 draft has struggled shooting the ball since leaving UConn after his sophomore season.
Hawkins averages a career-low 4.9 points and 1.0 three with shooting splits of 33.8/33.3/71.4. Hawkins, who has only scored in double-figures just three times, has been a DNP-coaches decision in five of the last nine games. However, he has been part of the team’s second unit the past two games, averaging 12:30 minutes of playing time.
Hawkins is a trade candidate. The Pelicans have exercised Hawkins’ fourth-year option this summer.
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Image