$15 Players Who Wouldn\'t Be In The NBA If There Was an IQ Minimum$

15 Players Who Wouldn't Be In The NBA If There Was an IQ Minimum

By Frank Ewere

15 Players Who Wouldn’t Be In the NBA If There Was an IQ Minimum

Nick Young Lakers — There has been a common misconception that the NBA is full of criminals, thugs and people who might cause a disturbance in society. However, for the most part, NBA players are people who help their communities while being citizens who follow the law. But following the law doesn’t mean you have all your faculties together. Here are 15 players who wouldn’t be in the league if there was an IQ minimum.

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee 76ers

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee 76ers — There can only be one player at the top of this list, and that player is JaVale McGee. McGee has a body that screams elite big man. His mother played professional basketball. And yet, McGee regularly makes ill-advised plays and ends up on the “Shaqtin’ a Fool” television show. Hopefully McGee can prove himself with the Dallas Mavericks this season.

J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith Cavaliers

J.R Smith

J.R. Smith Cavaliers — Smith just opted out of his contract (it had a player option) and became a free agent this offseason. He wanted more money than he would have gotten from the Cavaliers, but now he is a free agent with nobody trying hard to sign him at the moment. With Smith’s past history as a player who can sometimes shoot too much and make dumb mistakes, it was a big mistake to opt out and try to get more money.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Bulls

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Bulls — Rose not only failed the ACT on multiple occasions, but he was also involved in a major scandal involving invalidated SAT scores. Rose might be a star player on the basketball court, but the grades he earned and his mental performance in school weren’t up to par.

Mike Scott

Mike Scott Hawks

Mike Scott

Mike Scott Hawks — Scott is one of those players who might be lacking in IQ on and off the court. Scott faces up to 25 years in prison on two felony drug charges coming from an arrest this offseason. Scott was just in the Eastern Conference Finals and he is making millions of dollars. There is no reason Scott should be involved in drugs or anything illegal.

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard Rockets

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard Rockets — Howard still has an underdeveloped low post game even though he plays under Kevin McHale and he lives in the city where Hakeem Olajuwon played. There is a reason the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once called out Howard and questioned his basketball IQ.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Thunder

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Thunder — Westbrook's “problems” aren’t as bad as one might think, but his decisions on the court are the real issue. Westbrook is a relentless player who only knows how to attack, and even when he should make the correct play, he chooses to attack anyway.

Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson Bobcats

Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson Bobcats — Stephenson is an instigator who can sometimes focus on his opponent more than his own play. If Stephenson can focus and not behave childishly, perhaps the Clippers can make Stephenson into a key role player down the line.

Josh Smith

Josh Smith Clippers

Josh Smith

Josh Smith Clippers — Smith has elite athleticism, but he doesn’t get it yet. He wants freedom, but there is a reason coaches tell him to stop shooting jump shots. Will Doc Rivers be able to finally reign in Smith?

Nick Young

Nick Young Lakers

Nick Young

Nick Young Lakers — Young is that player who brightens a locker room with his joviality. But on the basketball court, he is often involved in celebrations that aren’t so bright. Young is like many other players who shoot the ball too much, while still not taking responsibility for those shots.

Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay Kings

Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay Kings — Gay has the body of an NBA superstar, but he doesn’t have the IQ to match it. If he did, the Sacramento Kings might actually be playoff contenders. And perhaps DeMarcus Cousins could have someone on the team that he could consider an equal.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Timberwolves — Garnett is a weird case. Younger players seek his council because he knows about basketball and the business behind basketball. But on the other hand, Garnett is known as person who talks to himself. He also slams his head against the basket and the basketball before and during games.

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings Pistons

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings Pistons — When Jennings scored 55 points as a rookie, everybody thought he could be the next great point guard. Five years later, Jennings is on a different team and is essentially the backup point guard. As a point guard, having a high enough IQ is important, and Jennings just doesn’t have it yet.

Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters Thunder

Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters Thunder — Waiters had a great opportunity while with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was playing with LeBron James and he was the sixth man of the team. Unfortunately, Waiters started complaining about his use even though he is a player who takes too many jump shots.

Andrea Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani Knicks

Andrea Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani Knicks — Bargnani was selected with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. Now, Bargnani is known as a draft bust not because he doesn’t have talent, but because of his laziness and propensity to not make the right play at the right time.

Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer Lakers

Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer Lakers — Boozer used to be an All-Star caliber player. Of course, he was playing under the great coaching of Jerry Sloan and a former All-Star caliber point guard in Deron Williams. These days, Boozer is taking fade away shots outside of his range while still being a below average defender.

Frank Ewere is a Beat Writer for the New Orleans Pelicans on www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheFrankEwere, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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