All Rights Reserved. Henderson averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 assists for G League Ignite in the 2022-23 season. Ramsey never was more clutch than in 1959, when he averaged 23.2 points, shot 49.5 percent in the field and led the team in win shares. Rivers did everything well except shoot the long ball. Many overrated NBA players have had successful careers. League championships: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). However, they haven't achieved as much as they could have. That translated well at the next level, where the combo forward did enough to carve a niche for himself. 18. The 2015 second-round pick continued to climb Torontos rotation in 2018-19. The 5'3" Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history. He has impressively won four scoring titles over his spectacular career. WHAT IS THE MOST UNKNOWN NBA PLAYER? His ability to play for quick stretches to allow Deandre Ayton to rest was pivotal to the regular season success the Suns saw. When Bobby Portis first entered the league as a Chicago Bull, he was praised for his high-motor and effort on both sides of the floor. Teams: Miami Heat (1991-94, 2005), Atlanta Hawks (1994-99), Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2001), San Antonio Spurs (2001-03),New Orleans Hornets (2003-04), Charlotte Hornets (2004-05). He averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in five seasons there. You would think that a player that short wouldn't be able to last long in the league, however he managed to stick around for 14 seasons due to his leadership, passing ability, and quickness. That was a quote from Hall of Famer Julius Erving speaking about LeBron James. One could even argue Morant is the most exciting player in the NBA heading into this upcoming campaign. Robinson has emerged as one of the NBAs most lethal long-range shooters in 2019-20, canning 44.8% of triples. Here are ten guys who could take home that title. Hey, look a 40-minutes-per-game player! He put up amazing numbers and completely changed his approach to passing and playing defense, reminding the league of the promise he showed before Jokic arrived in Denver. Dennis Smith Jr., Mavericks: This guy gets Steve Francis comparisons, and they're meant in a good way! In today's game, three-point shooting has become an important element of NBA offenses. Some even starred in major markets. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1966-68), Philadelphia 76ers (1968-71), Baltimore/Capital Bullets (1971-74), Detroit Pistons (1974-75), Seattle SuperSonics (1975-76). Atlantic Division Kemba Walker (Celtics), Jarrett Allen (Nets), Mitchell Robinson (Knicks), Danny Green and Seth Curry (76ers), OG Anunoby (Raptors) We don't yet. After the 1984-85 season, Auerbach asked Bird for input on a potential trade for veteran Bill Walton, the has-been center. Vote up the best basketball player ever, and those who follow close behind. Few knew about Robinsons potential after he earned a surprising roster spot in Miami. Larry Nance Jr., Lakers: Honestly, there's reason to be pumped about what all the young Lakers will look like next to Ball. The man-in-the-middle, Jarrett Allen, can be attributed with much of this success. But those players won't single-handedly swing the playoffs. A highly debated argument involving who is the greatest player of all time resulted with Michael Jordan (58.3%) topping the list ahead ofLeBron James(33%) and Kobe Bryant (6.8%). Career: 13 seasons (1969-1972, 1973-1983), Teams: Detroit Pistons (1969-71), Philadelphia 76ers (1973-82), ABA Denver Rockets (1971), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83), Los Angeles Lakers (1983). Regardless of how bad the Lakers will be, Ball is going to be super weird and worth watching. Herman "Helicopter" Knowings. They got all that and more in second year guard Desmond Bane. The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the most impressive young squads last NBA season. The guy was a scrappy defender and underrated ball retriever, particularly at the offensive end, where he ranks sixth in rebound percentage in league history. Teams: New York Knicks (2005-10),Golden State Warriors (2010-15), Boston Celtics (2015-16), Dallas Mavericks (2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016-17). Let's see if he can round out his game and win everybody over in his third season. However, many players are not well known to the general publicparticularly those who have not played . "He was required to cover a lot of ground at the back end, and there wasnt another big man with his length and mobility who could do it as well as he did.". At 6-foot-4, Pierce was a compact package of savvy and touch, a nonstop series of jab steps, reloads, fade-aways, and drives that translated into 14.9 points per game on 49 percent in the field. If not for his team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds in a tense Game 7 of the Eastern Division finals against the Syracuse Nationals, the Celtics would have one fewer championship banner in the rafters. No matter. If they don't, then he may end up in somewhere else, inspiring the same conversations we have been having about Cousins his entire career. Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (1995-98), Miami Heat (1998), Chicago Bulls (1999), Seattle SuperSonics (1999-2004), San Antonio Spurs (2004-08), Houston Rockets (2008-09). John Drew would become known as much for his cocaine addiction off the court as his dominance on it. The Polish Hammer was among the top 20 in field goal percentage (six), rebounds (six) and blocked shots (three) multiple times. He also has a EuroLeague title to his credit. How will this control freak handle playing in Houston's freewheeling system? Another high-impact guard that doesn't get enough shine is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. The longtime Dallas Mavericks' franchise player and 2007 MVP winner may not be one of the game's toughest bangers, but he can definitely burn defenders with his lethal fadeaway jumper. Robinson had a solid college career in Ann Arbor before going undrafted in 2018, leading to a Summer League stint with the Heat. Hes a key to Torontos Finals hopes. There are two big reasons why the Big Ticket belongs on the list ahead of . McGee was brought in for that role and fit perfectly. Phil Jackson was reminded of the latter in the 1995 playoffs, not long after Grant signed with the Magic as a free agent. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will dominate the headlines. Teams: Orlando Magic (206-13), Milwaukee Bucks (2013), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-17), Philadelphia 76ers (2017-18), New Orleans Pelicans (1919-21), Dallas Mavericks (2021). He made an unforced error about as often as he bricked an open shot. Kevin Garnett. Jokic isn't as bad on defense as some would suggest, and he was the reason the Nuggets had an elite offense last season. 2 How will the Heat & Nuggets approach the NBA Finals? Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1985-93, 1999-2000), Phoenix Suns (1993-96), Dallas Mavericks (1996-99), Miami Heat (2000-01), League championships: 3 (1987, 1988, 2000). He averaged 17-plus points per game in seven consecutive seasons and put up a .440/.358/.845 percentage line on more than 15,000 shot attempts. The 6'11", 265-pounder has an impressive 40-inch vertical leap. It's about how he works with Russell Westbrook, how much fun he appears to be having and the chance to do something special for one season, even if it is only one season. But perhaps the most unforgettable signature move ever belongs to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Payton had the ability to post up any point guard in the league, get his teammates involved, hit the jumper, and dominate any game with his tenacious defense. In 2002, the bigs were involved in a bruhaha, and just when a stark-raving Shaq was ready for the kill, right fist cocked, he thought better of it. Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1975-82), New Jersey Nets (1982-86), Utah Jazz (1987), Detroit (1987-89). 24. Sitting top 20 in the league for TS%, Matthews has earned the title of knockdown shooter. With combination of hesitations and quick step-backs, his bag runs deep. Thats right teams would look for opportunities inside the arc before the game morphed into so many 3-point shootouts. Frank Taddeo is Sports Illustrated's senior betting analyst and is a successful high stakes fantasy football player. Teams: Phoenix Suns (1986-92), Philadelphia 76ers (1992-94), Utah Jazz (1994-2000). Whether they live in the shadow of an older brother or were a top pick that didnt have instant success, athletes are plagued with expectations before they even step on the court. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves: Minnesota was disappointing in 2016-17, so I'm not sure Towns got the recognition he deserved for improving significantly after one of the best rookie seasons ever. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Teams: Phoenix Suns(1985-87), Sacramento Kings (1987-89), Boston (1989-94), Milwaukee Bucks (1994-95), Toronto Raptors (1995-96), Philadelphia 76ers (1996), Miami Heat (1996-97). Yet Sleepy Sam was a dependable scorer and rebounder for much of his career. And it wasnt until he was 33 that he played in the conference finals for the first and last time. The NBA has never seen a better lock-down defending point guard than Payton. 21. Back in his superstar days, Iverson, only weighing about 160 pounds, would get fouled hard often, but continue to light up the league on a nightly basis. Lewis was Kevin Durant Lite a 6-foot-10 swing forward who could hit the longball. Shaq has given himself several nicknames throughout his career such as Diesel, Shaq Daddy, The Big Aristotle, and Shaq-tus. Covington is more of a jack-of-all-trades in Houstons scheme. 11. In a bigger role, he's shown he has the ability to put the ball on the floor and create offense as well. (Heres looking at you, Jack Sikma.) Unless you agree with me, in which case this was the most meaningful thing I've ever written. At 6-foot-10, Grant was a solid rebounder-defender who could knock down the mid-range shot. He could spot the open man, drain a flat-footed shot. Please logout and login again. Magic tops the list because he is the tallest point guard in NBA history (6'9") and could play all five positions. Seth can do just about everything Steph can do, just not quite at the same production level. The combo forward made a living off the offensive glass, where his quick ups and dogged pursuit translated into a crazy 42 percent of his rebounds. Supposedly, Brad Miller wasnt good enough to play major college ball, let alone professionally. Mix never could take a hint, though. Serving a perimeter role on offense Allen can be found roaming the perimeter most possessions. Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers: Who could resist Nurk Fever when the Blazers were pushing for a playoff spot late last season? Scal even has a championship ring as a member of the 2008 Boston Celtics, albeit without playing a single playoff minute that year. For a team that often encounters spacing concerns given Jimmy Butlers shaky jumper, Robinsons range is invaluable. However when he was in his prime, O'Neal had the ability to quickly get by his defenders before throwing down a monstrous dunk. It was in the 1961-1962 season, and in the colors of the Philadelphia Warriors, he achieved this feat. Players make their names in the postseason, though, and Drew spent too many them on his couch. He is a constant threat to knock down the three shooting 40.7% from distance on seven attempts a game. And none had a better-extended run than Andrei Kirilenko did with the Utah Jazz for 10 seasons, when he averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 1.4 steals per game. Teams: Sacramento Kings, (2004-09) Houston Rockets (2009-12), Oklahoma City (2012-13), Minnesota Timberwolves (2013-16), San Antonio Spurs (2016). On the heels of an epic 69-13 regular season and league title, the 1972-73 Lakers were even better. It could be that Hornacek's efficiency and drop-dead consistency was too boring for his own good. Griffin finally has the opportunity to show what he can do when the offense revolves around him. "I haven't seen anybody like him. This is when he put up 23.5 points per game over five seasons. . Portis has turned into an integral part of the Bucks championship rotation. If you turn on a Nets game its easy to spot Curry as he roams around the perimeter waiting for his catch-and-shoot threes. When the name Curry is mentioned its hard not to immediately think of all-time three point record champion Stephen Curry. 10. It's like Karl Malone out at the point running a team. Bol is also the only player to ever record more blocked shots (2,086) than points (1,599). How valuable was Happy (Harold) Hairston? 20. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1991-96), New York Knicks (1996-2001). . Now he enters a contract season with the pressure to prove those 20 games were no fluke. Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves: What happened to the fuzzy feelings everybody had about Wiggins? The Grizzlies have an exciting young core and Bane will be a highlight of that for years to come. But the list of better wing defenders doesnt extend far. Atlanta Hawkspoint guardTrae Younginterestingly topped the list as the most overrated player despite averaging 26.2 points and 10.2 assists per game this season. Barry was misplaced as a swingman. At 7'7", the late Manute Bol is tied with Gheorge Muresan as the tallest player in NBA history. This list was originally published in April 2014. 6. Pure shooters are at a premium, and for six consecutive seasons (1981-87), the points machine filled it up with the best of em. Barry makes this list simply because of his unorthodox free throw technique. It was there that he earned a Defensive Player of the Year Award and made his lone All-Star Game appearance. Perhaps Hardaways $18 million salary in 2019-20 is a bit bloated, but the discussion surrounding his contract has obscured his effectiveness as a player. After a few years playing for multiple different franchises, Burks elevated his game in New York. Ranked by votes from thousands of fans, this list features the all time NBA GOATs, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird. Like the NBA 2K badge deep range deadeye Matthews is unfazed by closing out defenders. No, make that a bagel bite. Different people may have different levels of familiarity with different players. Indeed, Mix was the ultimate grinder, a 6-foot-7 bundle of smarts and hustle whose game had to be watched regularly to be appreciated. In other cases, I'm sure some people have their favorite team's history memorized from top to. After shattering the backboard during a game in 1979, Dawkins dubbed the famous dunk "The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting-Wham-Bam-I-Am Jam. unknown 18-year-old from Greece turned into one of . His talent never really got a chance to shine with us," ex-teammate Doug Collins once said. Yet somehow, the Purdue product banged/clawed/elbowed/scratched/outworked his way through 14 seasons with a half-dozen teams, most of them not very good and in smaller cities. It was a bummer that Simmons didn't play in his true rookie season, but the bright side is that the Sixers have since surrounded him with the spacing and secondary playmaking he needs to be his best. Booker is probably the best shooting guard in the NBA now after helping the Suns to the Finals in 2021 and earning first-team All-NBA honors in 2022. A bright spot, however, has been Alec Burks. Then he had a cup of coffee with ABAs Denver Rockets. Acquired via a trade from Brooklyn, Allen has been an unstoppable force defensively for the Cavs. You must hope that the uncertainty about George's (and Westbrook's) future doesn't stop him from focusing on being great in OKC. In any discussion about the best defenders in the game, Camby isnt among the first names to roll off most tongues. Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive team, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, 2016-17 Most Improved Player, 2021 Finals MVP, 2021 NBA . The Detroit Pistons had cut the fifth-round draft pick only weeks into the 1972-73 season. No Russia-born player scored more points (9,431) in his NBA career. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. There are stretches when Matthews gets hot and the tape looks eerily similar to that of Klay Thompson on offense. This season has marked Powells true breakout. More and more today we see players reluctant to come off the bench. Jefferson was one of the better players never to appear in an All-Star Game or NBA Finals. The Clippers like to run a set where Kennard sets an on-ball screen for Paul George and either rolls to the free-throw line or out to the perimeter for an open shot. Dawkins was one of those bigs who could have used college ball to develop his raw but considerable game. The Most Unbreakable NBA Records Of All Time. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: The mere idea of him adding a reliable 3-point shot almost shot him to the very top of this list. Increasing his production from beyond the arc and being a menace on defense, Bobby Portis never truly gets the roses he deserves. While his counting stats are fairly modest, they belie his true impact. 16. Silly question. Some scouts werent sure if he could transition to the playstyle of the NBA. was a disappointment, we say buzz off. Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks: Looked awesome (and stronger!) Similarly to prime Le'veon Bell, he has a sense of patience on his drives that frankly cant be taught. 21. Chris Paul, Rockets: I love that Paul and James Harden have spent the summer making fun of the doubts about how they'll share the ball, and I'm much more curious about the Paul-D'Antoni dynamic anyway. The likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will dominate the headlines in Orlando, and one of the aforementioned trio will likely win Finals MVP. Due to the abundance of talent at his position, he often goes overlooked. An underrated aspect of Allens game this season has been his on-ball defending. His offense rating ranks 46th overall. Ball's ceiling, according to Zwicker: "I honestly have no f---ing idea." In the same breath of weird facts about NBA players, it is difficult to identify the most unknown NBA player definitively. No idea how much he will play or what he'll be able to do on offense, but Anunoby can legitimately guard all five positions. He put together seven seasons of at least 16 points and nine rebounds per game. Many hoops fans outside Texas will tell you their most cherished Ginobili moment took place in 2016 when the Houston Rockets Ryan Anderson accidentally kicked him in the privates, a low blow that would require testicular surgery. The Gonzaga product is shooting an outrageous 62.3% from the fieldthe third best mark of all players with at least 600 pointsadding a 40.4% mark from three. His three point shooting can be spotty at times, but Murray has shown to be an elite two-level scorer. Coming in at the sixth spot is another sharpshooter that deserves more credit. When Dario Saric fell to injury in the finals last season, the Suns knew they had to fill the hole of back-up center. Top 10 most underrated players in NBA in 2022-23 featuring Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins, and more. Following the electric point guard on the overrated list were Knicks power forward Julius Randle (7.4%), Toronto's Pascal Siakam (7.4%), Miami's Jimmy Butler (5.6%) and Minnesota's Rudy Gobert. LeBron James and Stephen Curry aren't mentioned here because, in September, the unknown is inherently more compelling. Nobody is cooler than Embiid, and if he stays healthy he could be the best center in the league in no time. Thomas once again has reason to feel overlooked, undervalued and disrespected, even after one of the more heroic individual seasons in recent memory. Smith was one of the most consistent scorers of the 1990s decade. Webb was considered unique because of his ability to dunk the ball despite being only 5'7". While his accurate shooting was quite unusual for a center, he led the league in defensive rebounds twice. Few did if any did it better than Pierce for the better part of 16 seasons. When Jordan Clarkson arrived in Utah he had shown to be an impactful NBA player, but his ceiling was still a mystery. Steph Curry may have more career 3-pointers, but Kerr shot them more accurately than anyone in league history. Nance is the choice here because of his athleticism, versatility and obvious ability to thrive in a fast-paced, free-flowing game. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. I had fun writing this; hope you have fun reading it. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1991-97), Milwaukee Bucks (1997-98), Minnesota Timberwolves (1999-2002). 9. Webb was never an All-Star during his 12-year NBA career, however his name often pops up in the "greatest dunkers of all-time" conversation. No, not because he's the game's top center (sorry, Yao Ming fans), but because of his ability to make. 20. Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1988-93), Charlotte Hornets(1993-95, 2000-01), Seattle SuperSonics (1995-99), Chicago Bulls (1999-2000). A lot of the same names show up even though they were perennial All-Stars. Vandeweghe was a drop-dead good at the perimeter, and a quick first step allowed him to beat his man off the dribble. The game was much shorter . Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (2000-11), Phoenix Suns (2011-12). In the shadows of the two-time league MVP is his younger brother, Seth Curry. Bol hit 20 of his 91 three-point attempts during the 1988-89 season as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Its fair to say at this point in his career, McGee has championship DNA. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Chicago Bulls (2000-02, 2009-10), Indiana Pacers (2002-03), Sacramento Kings (2003-09), Houston Rockets (2010-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2011-12). Clarke is an elite rolling option in two-man dances with Morant. 01 Jun 2023 21:26:25 Milwaukee may have done it again. In each of six consecutive seasons (1984-90), he shot 51 percent or better from the field, almost unheard of for a backcourt player. Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1998-2007), Orlando Magic (2007-10), Washington Wizards (2010-12), Miami Heat(2012-14). 1 of 50 Todd Warshaw/Getty Images Antwan Jamison will always be underrated in my eyes, and the main reason lies within the fact that he was ninth in scoring during the 2000s among all players.. If not for Ginobili, people like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and coach Gregg Popovich would havent have won nearly as much in their careers. Mason averaged as many over a five-year period. Since he's never really gotten the chance to fully display his game, Curry lands near the top of most underrated players in NBA. Drew scored his biggest victory after retirement, it turned out, when he beat his toughest foe. After his emergence last season, he is by far one of the top underrated players in NBA. Torontos roster is stacked with homegrown success stories, led by Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. An argument can be made for Brandon as the best player not named LeBron James in Cavaliers history. Isaiah Thomas, Cavaliers: Oh, how I wish he was going to be healthy for opening night against his former team. But he was first Latvian born player to play in NBA (even if just for 13 games) way back so he will always have that to his name. De'Aaron Fox, Kings: It's not clear if he'll even start now that George Hill is on the roster, but Fox has to be on this list because of his charisma and astonishing speed. So what if the rest of his game was iffy at best? His impressive percentage doesnt tell the whole story. With Giannis in and out of the lineup for a 13-game stretch starting on March 22, Holiday averaged 25.7 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per 36 minutes of non-Giannis floor time. Brunson has proved all those doubters wrong, solidifying himself as one of the points guards in the league. The second-rounder spent his prime years in the shadow of teammate Dominique Wilkins, whom he fed for many a dunk. It's been an interesting ride for Kyle Kuzma throughout his NBA career. Everytime it feels like the Spurs are about to be written off, Greg Popovich finds a way to bring them back from the brink. Only after the 1990-91 season did Porter receive MVP consideration, and then only barely. Position: Small forward and power forward, Teams: New Jersey Nets (1979-80), Portland Trail Blazers (1980-84), Denver Nuggets (1984-89), San Antonio Spurs (1989), Indiana Pacers (1989-90). It remains amazing that the Sixers were legitimately solid with him on the court last season, and they should be much, much better now. 4. Hell be a key piece if the Heat want to make a Finals run. On the flip side, topping the list of most underrated players wasMilwaukeesJrue Holiday. And, oh, how the guy loved to compete. 7. The one-time Defensive Player of the Year ranks 13th in blocked shots and 35th in defensive rebounds on the all-time list. While his role as a big man is clearly defined, there are few who thrive in that role better than him. Not surprisingly, every player on this list played an integral part in his team qualifying for the 2023 playoffs. He may even turn the Kings into League Pass favorites. He continues to show greater comfort behind the arc at 5.4 attempts per game, and hes one of the NBAs top forces driving to the tin. 14. The Argentinian is one of eight players to have an NBA championship ring (four) and Olympic gold medal. Yep, served Ginobili right for all that moaning and non-stop floppery that cheapened the game, not to mention his reputation. While the Bulls coach stubbornly double downed on Shaquille ONeal in the low post, his former whipping boy drained open shot after open shot. After largely being a joke earlier in his career, JaVale McGee a.k.a Tragic Bronson is now a key contributor to any NBA team he joins. 1.). 23 in the draft, but that relatively late draft position may wind up being just another way he can be compared to Draymond Green. Clarke has the talent to become a truly valuable member of Memphis young core, beginning with an eight-game sprint in Orlando. Grayson Allen was one of the most scrutinized NCAA basketball players in recent memory, and many are quick to dismiss him because of this. I had fun writing this; hope you have fun reading it. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who havent gotten the credit they deserve. Teams: Detroit Pistons (2002-2004), Utah Jazz (2004-11), New Jersey Nets (2011-12). Come back tomorrow for the West. section: | slug: the-authoritative-indisputable-official-list-of-the-nbas-30-most-interesting-players | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | The 2017-18 season is right around the corner, which means it's time for predictions, projections, rankings and previews to get you ready for opening night. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. He is more than capable of being a 20-point-per-game scorer, and is a pesky defender at the guard position. His two-way play last playoffs was a key factor in Golden State adding another championship to their dynasty. As one of the top 50 career scorers in NBA history, Terry Cummings deserves a spot on this list. All Rights Reserved. The former Atlanta Hawks point guard possessed an amazing 42-inch vertical leap which aided him in winning the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest in his hometown of Dallas. Lee was a solid rebounder, particularly at the defensive end, and he packed solid mid-range game as well. Guess who had a team-high 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the clincher against the Los Angeles Lakers? Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason and will be paired up with Trae Young in the backcourt. Powell is averaging 16.4 points per game this season, nearly double last years clip. That's the foundation of this attempt to identify the most interesting NBA players for the upcoming season. All Rights Reserved. Clarke has emerged as a dynamic offensive force in his rookie season with Memphis. He shot 87.5 percent at the free-throw line. For nearly two decades, Chandler was among the most consistent rebounders and interior defenders around. They have some interesting young pieces, primarily Tyrese Haliburton, . The 2020 playoffs could change that. Coming in at No. That is why Luke Kennard of the LA Clippers certainly belongs in the discussion of most underrated players in NBA. They werent the same without his 16 points, 13 rebounds and dogged defense each game. Your login session has expired. The Trail Blazer drained every one of his 13 shots (all field goals) in a win at Portland. Its no wonder why he has the third-most blocks in the NBA since joining Houston on Feb. 4. In four consecutive postseasons (1957-1960), his field goal percentage and points average exceeded his regular-season output. The Knicks had a hot start last season but have cooled off significantly since then. We all know stars like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry and James Harden will . Matthews is a constant threat to knock down the deep ball. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (200204), Utah Jazz (2004-10), Chicago Bulls (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15). Former NBA guard and NBPA player wellness counselor Keyon Dooling is expected to be on-site once games begin, and mental health resources, such as 24-7 access to an on-site specialist, are . His usage . Over the years, Curry has become a highly-touted role player. 30, Carmelo Anthony, Knicks (for now): The man did nothing this summer but wear hoodies and get buckets. Look at the leaderboards for any of the best advanced stats and youll see a lot of the same names: Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler, Lebron Jamesand Isaiah Hartenstein. No, not because he's the game's top center (sorry, Yao Ming fans), but because of his ability to make others laugh and his rare athleticism for a big man. He ranks high on the all-time list in two important categories for point guards assists (40th) and field throw percentage (47th). One of the strongest aspects of his game is the confidence he shoots with. The Spurs played fast basketball sitting top 10 in the league in pace last season. Top 10 most underrated players in. K-Mart drained at least 36 percent of his longballs in nine seasons and surpassed the big four-oh on three occasions. But his skill is no secret anymore. If he and the Brow get it together, it will be a great story. 17. The list includes All-Stars, NBA Champions, all-time record holders, and award winners. 7. It's not at all surprising that he is one of the league's greatest shot blockers off all time. Amidst a litter of great young guards, Dejounte Murray stood out as one of the best. NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks looks on prior to a . I'm sure that some of you out there have every year's champion memorized from past to present. Since joining the Toronto Raptors, Gary Trent Jr. has emerged as one of the league's top shooters. Whether you loved to hate Redick or hated to love him, the ex-Dookie could shoot the rock. It lasted exactly four minutes. A combative rebounder who packed a mid-range game, he was agile enough to finish a fast break on occasion. If he does develop one, then Spoelstra can play him pretty much anywhere. Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves: Motivated by the Bulls' decision to trade him and the opportunity to be on a better-than-mediocre team, Butler is in a great position to build on his career season. Kicking off the list is someone that most might feel doesn't belong on a list like this. Convinced that the golden boy had been signed to take his place, Maxwell never felt the same about the organization again. Brogdon can really do anything on the floor and fits the mold of a modern day point-guard excellent. Okur had a game that was far more consistent than it was pretty. Best undrafted NBA players of all-time: 10. Throughout his 18-year career, he scored a total of 19,460 points, just short of the honorable 20,000-point mark. 1 pick, it's impossible to be considered underrated. Have we forgotten how he helped turn the Hornets into a legit playoff contender in only two years? Atlanta Hawks . Which was sort of like being second to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Universe contest. Miller overcame long odds to play as long as he did, and he can thank Shaquille ONeal in part. While many of his Hall of Fame teammates in the Celtics dynasty overshadowed Ramsey, his immense value should not be underestimated. He took part in only 29 playoff games and never advanced beyond the conference semis. Here is a look at the NBA's 14 most unique players of all time. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Norman Powell marks another Ujiri hit. To put it simply, Holiday is just a winning player. 5. Devin Booker, Suns: Sorry, Michael Beasley; Booker is every player's favorite player. The Milwaukee Bucks gave up a lot to acquire him, and it paid off handsomely. Rounding out the top five is another Raptor in Fred VanVleet. It just isn't fair. He finished a distant ninth with 34-year-old geezer Larry Bird in the vote. Ja Morant has been a true phenom since the second he entered the NBA, torching defenses as perhaps the most athletic point guard in basketball. Clark wrote the book on Shake and Bake. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images), (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images). Only Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire averaged more Win Shares per 48 minutes in the 2002 draft class. Robert Horry (7 rings) The most interesting player on this list has to be Robert Horry. Williams was the most overlooked player with multiple Cavaliers playoff teams. It was no coincidence that, wherever Ray manned the middle, his team was among the league leaders in opponents' field goal percentage. To those who say that L.J. At 22-years-old, he is well on his way to being one of the top point guards in the league somewhere down the road. One thing is for sure, McGee signing with the Mavericks was one of the best this off-season. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: Somehow the Jokic hype train has gone mainstream, even though nobody really watches Denver play. Only two players have hit more catch-and-shoot triples this season, and no Maverick has hit more threes. A tenacious rebounder for his 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Natt combined fluid moves and a deft touch in the paint area. He took the seventh-most mid-range attempts in the league last season with the Spurs, and knocked down 47 percent of them, helping him become one of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA. If Winslow doesn't develop a jumper, it's complicated to figure out how coach Erik Spoelstra should use him on this roster. To shine with us, '' ex-teammate Doug Collins once said whether loved. But have cooled off significantly since then featuring Kyle Kuzma throughout his career, has... Well known to the regular season and league title, the most unknown nba players center veteran Walton. 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