The NBA’s Most Underrated Players
Added on Feb 19, 2013 by Scott in
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Defining which players in a given sport are underrated is a subjective exercise. In NBA circles, San Antonio guard Tony Parker is considered by some pundits to be underrated, while others will point to his three rings, five All-Star appearances and 2007 Finals MVP as evidence to the contrary. LeBron, Durant, CP III and Kobe are superstars of the game, but the following five guys shouldn’t be undervalued.
Brook Lopez (C, Nets) – Earned his first All-Star invite last weekend replacing the injured Rajon Rondo. While his career 7.5 rebounds per game average is underwhelming for a seven-footer, he currently ranks 5th in PER, ahead of the likes of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant. He’s a skilled inside scorer and a key reason for Brooklyn’s resurgence.
Jeff Teague (PG, Hawks) – In his fourth season, Teague has established himself as one of the league’s most complete point guards. He’s tied for 11th in assists, is a top 15 free throw shooter and a solid ball defender. He’ll never be confused for Rajon Rondo or Russell Westbrook, but Teague is a rising backcourt talent.
Tyson Chandler (C, Knicks) – Chandler was somewhat of a bust for the first seven seasons of his career. Then he went to Dallas and won a ring. Since joining the Knicks in 2011, the 30-year-old has been named Defensive Player of the Year, made his first All-Star team and transformed himself into one of most respected low post defenders. He leads the NBA in field goal percentage and is 6th in rebounding.
Al Jefferson (C, Utah) – Jefferson has been a steady big man for the last six seasons splitting time in Minnesota and now Utah. He’s not flashy or especially dominant, but he rarely takes a night off, and is one of the best free-throw shooting centers in the league. He’ll never be a go-to number one option for any team, but he is a reliable contributor.
Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee) – At 23, Jennings is already an All-Star caliber talent. Only problem is he plays in small market Milwaukee and very little of the country knows about him. Like Teague, he is entering his prime and is proving to be a consistent scoring threat most nights.
