National Basketball Association

Bucks' Dudley: 'Guys don't want to play with Kobe'

Published May. 27, 2015 8:30 p.m. ET

Jovan Buha

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jared Dudley is regarded as one of the more outspoken current NBA players, leading many to assume he'll join an NBA studio show or broadcast team upon retirement.

So it wasn't a surprise when Dudley decided to share his unfiltered opinion about several superstars, including Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony, during a recent appearance on ESPN's The Herd radio show Wednesday.

For starters, Dudley didn't hesitate to bring up Bryant's leaguewide approval rating — or lack thereof, when prompted.

"Most guys don't want to play with Kobe," the 29-year-old Dudley said. "He gets in this thing where he doesn't pass and then overpasses and then tries to get triple doubles every night ... that's why I think it will be a while for the Lakers to get good because they've got no stars. I would be surprised if Love goes there."

But Dudley did not stop there.

He also said that Harden went from being an "awful" defender last season to merely a "bad" one this season, and that "there's something wrong" with Love if he leaves LeBron for the "sun" in Los Angeles.

"You can buy sun," Dudley said. "At the end of the day, you're leaving a winner. You might want your own identity, but to be honest, he has to prove himself. Win one or two and then opt out."

When asked who the most underrated player in the NBA was, Dudley also didn't hesitate: "Zach Randolph. Zach's an animal. I mean, c'mon. 20-and-10 career."

Dudley was just as quick to point out the game's most overrated player.

"I would say Carmelo," Dudley remarked. "The reason? He's viewed as a top five player. He has the talent to be able to facilitate. He has the talent to make guys better and the triangle should fit him — he's just got to make other guys better. Defensively he has to take it the next level up. He's got to get out of the first, second round. He's got to get that the team to the playoffs. With that roster, LeBron would've been an eight seed. He's not LeBron."

That's a fiery — albeit logical — take from a bit role player on a middling playoff team. Regardless, if Wednesday's appearance was any indication, Dudley has quite the post-basketball career lined up.

(h/t SportsGrid)