One Unsung Hero/Under-Appreciated Player on Every NBA Team
- Luke Loew
- Nov 20
- 8 min read
Title tells it all and we got a lot of teams and players to get to -- so we'll keep the intro brief. The NBA season is a few weeks underway, and the big names like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been making waves in the early going. Even Lebron James is set to make his return to the Lakers on Tuesday Night -- so the Super Stars are well-represented thus far in 25-26 (despite some injuries). But there's plenty of guys on each NBA roster that don't make the headlines -- until today.. 30 teams, 30 under-rated and under-appreciated players having big years.
Atlanta Hawks - Nickeil Alexander-Walker
In the absence of Trae Young, who's been out with a knee injury, Alexander-Walker has stepped up in a big way scoring-wise in the backcourt. He's #2 on the team in ppg at nearly 18, has provided some secondary playmaking, and is a capable wing defender.
Boston Celtics - Neemias Queta
7-foot big man who's averaging career-highs in every category for the C's. Him and Luka Garza make up a frontcourt that's far from the best in the league -- but is exciting to watch, and a fun yin and yang. Queta's an explosive athlete that rebounds well and blocks lots of shots.
Brooklyn Nets - Egor Demin
The Nets are a disgusting team to watch as they're playing for a Top-4 pick next year -- but their 1st-round rookie Egor Demin is inspiring some hope. The 6'8 PG out of BYU is a match-up problem with his size and play-making, and his shot looks great after questions in draft prep.
Charlotte Hornets - Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Hornets are not very good, but are incredibly fun to watch. Kon Knueppel has already emerged as a stud and they have 8 guys averaging 10+ ppg -- one of which is Kalkbrenner. The 7-footer from STL has been a defensive anchor in the paint and is holding his own in PnR switches, and is #1 in the NBA in FG % at 81+%. (see below, pictures of me matched up w/ the big man in HS)
Chicago Bulls - Matas Buzelis
Josh Giddey is emerging into a star in this league, averaging a near-triple-double, but one of my favorite players to watch on the Bulls is Matas Buzelis. A long and athletic wing who's coming into his own as a 3-point shooter, Bud adds some versatility to this fun Bulls roster.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Jordan Tyson
Talk about a guy who came out of nowhere to be a contributor for one of the best teams in the league. I didn't even know who Jordan Tyson was coming into the season, but before a concussion sidelined him a few games in a row, he's Top-5 in minutes and has been key defensively for the Cavs.
Dallas Mavericks - Max Christie
Fucking Yikes. Mavs have been super unfun to watch and sit at 4-11, and outside of Cooper Flagg there's really nothing to be excited about. But Max Christie, who came over in the infamous Luka trade with AD, has quietly been very solid -- top 3 in minutes and shooting 46% from 3.
Denver Nuggets - Jonas Valanciunas
Was tempted to put Jokic here because I think he's somehow still under-appreciated despite a half-decade of being the league's best player. But part of the Nuggets 10-3 hot start has been trust in their bench unit -- anchored by having a component backup center in Valanciunas. 56/40/82 splits, and his per 36 number's are nuts -- 26/14/3.5.
Detroit Pistons - Daniss Jenkins
This Pistons team fucking RULES. My favorite team in the East to watch -- Cade and Duren have been awesome. But they've had some guys come out of the woodworks and be super productive -- most notably Daniss Jenkins. The VCU product has spot-started a few games recently, but even off the bench has rocked -- averaging 18 and 8 assists in his last 5 games.
Golden State Warriors - Will Richard
Hard to wrap my head around what the Warriors are trying to do with this roster -- they have a million guards and zero playable centers. I like Will Richard quite a bit -- won a Natty with Florida last season, good rebounder for his size, very solid shooting splits -- just needs to get more tick.
Houston Rockets - Steven Adams
There's a ton of young studs on this Rockets team -- but Steven Adams embodies unsung hero more than anyone on the team, maybe the whole league. He plays less than 22 minutes a night, but is averaging nearly 10 rebounds, over 5 a game on the offensive glass -- just a menace on the interior.
Indiana Pacers - Jay Huff
The 1-13, injury-riddled Pacers squad is awful. Quenton Jackson was my first choice -- but he's only played in 5 games, even though he averaged 12/3.5/3.5 in just 20 mpg in those 5. But I'm picking Jay Huff -- who admittedly hasn't been very good, but is a 7'1 floor-stretcher who blocks shots and dunks everything.
LA Clippers - Kobe Sanders
Clips are another team that's been super disappointing early at 4-10. This is more a prediction, Kobe Sanders has played in their last 6 games and I like him a lot. 6'8 with guard skills, only 23 out of Nevada, high IQ, just scored 17 in 30 minutes against Philly.
LA Lakers - Jake LaRavia
Lebron is back, Luka is balling out, Austin Reaves is dominating. Dare I say the Lakers are super fun? Off their bench and spot-starting in Lebron's absence, Jake LaRavia has been great for this team. Plays multiple positions at 6'7, can shoot and score down low, and is averaging 10.6/4.5/2.3 on good efficiency.
Memphis Grizzlies - Santi Aldama / Cedric Coward
Doubling up is rare on this list -- especially for a team as bad as the Grizzlies, who try to play 12 guys a night inexplicably. But I think Santi Aldama is the best example of under-appreciated player -- a do-it-all Spanish forward that scores, rebounds, shoots, defends. Cedric Coward is playing like a top rookie in this class out of Wazzu -- efficient scorer filling stat-sheets at 14/6.5/3.
Miami Heat - Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Miami Heat are a top-5 most fun team to watch. Yes, you read that correctly. And I like a ton of their players, but think Jaime Jaquez Jr is #1 -- 17/7/5 coming off the bench, looking like a 6th man of the year. But if he's too much of a household name at this point -- how bout Simone Fontecchio? Another bench gem that spaces the floor at 6'7 and is very skilled.
Milwaukee Bucks - Ryan Rollins
I don't think there's another player in the league who averages 17+ ppg and is less known than Ryan Rollins. The 23-year old guard out of Toledo has been the catalyst for the Bucks all year. Also averaging over 5 assists and nearly 2 steals while shooting 46+% from deep.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Jaylen Clark
The Wolves Starting 5 + Naz Reid are basically all household names and properly appreciated in my book. I'll go with Jaylen Clark, who has been their 7th or 8th man much of the season and has been a solid enough shooter/defender -- but this is a boring pick for Minnesota.
New Orleans Pelicans - Saddiq Bey
The Pelicans are a super not good team -- making me look foolish for my surprise playoff prediction out of NOLA. But I do think both rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have shown flashes. But I'll go with Saddiq Bey, who has bounced around in this league but is someone I've always liked a lot -- shooting 40% from 3.
New York Knicks - Landry Shamet
From the ashes of obscurity rises Landry Shamet. With the Jalen Brunson injury, he's being called upon for more minutes and is showing he still has some juice. He just dropped 36 in a win over the Heat last Friday and figures to continue seeing an uptick in usage.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Ajay Mitchell
The OKC Thunder rarely miss on draft picks. Early rounders like Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace, and late finds like Lu Dort and Ajay Mitchell. Mitchell barely saw the court for last year's championship team, but has emerged as a legit bench guy / spot-starter this season. 16+ ppg and just under 4 boards/4 assists and almost 2 steals a game.
Orlando Magic - Tristan Da Silva
Has been a slow start for Orlando with a recent Paolo injury to boot, but I like what I've seen from the youngster off the bench in Tristan Da Silva. TDS had the makings of a bust as a rookie, but has taken a step in his soph season efficiency-wise and scoring at 12 ppg.
Philadelphia 76ers - Quentin Grimes Jr.
Tyrese Maxey is 2nd in the league in scoring at 32.5 ppg, but someone you don't hear much about is 6th man of the year candidate Quentin Grimes backing him up. He bounced around the league for years, exploded onto the scene in Philly last year -- scoring 22 ppg in 28 games with the 6ers. This year he's at 17/4/4 on 48/40/83 off the bench.
Phoenix Suns - Grayson Allen
The Suns have been a bit of a surprise this year after many wrote them off following the KD departure. And with injuries nagging the roster, no ones been more integral to that early season success (outside DBook) than Grayson Allen. He erupted for 42 points in a win last week, and is averaging nearly 19 ppg on 45% from 3 shooting for Phoenix.
Portland Trail Blazers - Deni Avdija
The only player on this entire list where my under-appreciated pick is leading their team in scoring -- but there needs to be some love shown to the massive jump Avdija's made so far. He's at 25.5 ppg and averaging a career-high 4.8 assists. He's dynamic attacking the rim and hitting 37% of his nearly 7 3-point attempts a game.
Sacramento Kings - Russell Westbrook
Russ Westbrook is a known commodity in this league -- but his signing with the Kings was pretty under-the-radar. And the Kings downright stink -- so most didn't think much of it. But Russ has been as good as fans could have hoped thru 14 games, averaging 14.4/6.6/6.4. He's also shooting 40% from 3 on 5+ attempts a game, which he's never done in a season.
San Antonio Spurs - Keldon Johnson
The Spurs are stacked with Young talent -- Wemby, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper. But it wasn't too long ago that Keldon Johnson was the lone wolf on this team, forced to shoulder the load offensively. Now with the new talent, he's accepted and excelled in bench role for this team -- taking less 3's and attacking the rim/rebounding.
Toronto Raptors - Sandro Mamukelashvili
Who had the Raptors being the 3 seed in the East almost a month into the season? The starting 5 is playing monster minutes and are the only 5 on the roster scoring 10+ ppg -- but a sneaky bench contributor has been Sandro Mamu. He's been super efficient and is providing some muscle on the boards coming off the bench.
Utah Jazz - Keyonte George
Lauri Markkanen is playing like an All-NBA guy, but the most unexpected jump on the Jazz has been from Keyonte George. The 3rd year pro from Baylor has always been a scoring threat, but he's up to 23 ppg and over 7 apg on the season. His steady hand at the PG spot has allowed the Jazz to go deep into their bench and get other young guys minutes around him and Lauri.
Washington Wizards - Kyshawn George
Unfortunately when you do these lists alphabetically, you have to end with the worst team in basketball.
The Washington Wizards are a dumpster fire, but they do have a couple young guys playing decent ball -- 1st round pick Alex Sarr being one of them. But 2nd year player Kyshawn George has been better than anyone could have expected -- 2nd on the team in scoring at 17, leading in assists per game, knocking down 45% of his 3's.
My Top 5 Under-Appreciated, Under-Rated Players Right Now:
Ajay Mitchell (OKC)
Ryan Rollins (MIL)
Grayson Allen (PHO)
Daniss Jenkins (DET)
Santi Aldama (MEM)
Comments