5 Underrated NBA Players Who Deserve More Recognition

In a league filled with superstar talent, it’s easy for some players to get lost in the shuffle. Here are five underrated NBA players who deserve more recognition.

De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft and he’s been a solid player for the Sacramento Kings ever since. In his three years in the league, Fox has averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game He was recently named to the All-NBA Third Team, and he’s only getting better.

Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo is a 6’10” center who plays for the Miami Heat He was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft with the 14th overall pick. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018 and has increased his scoring and rebounding averages each season. He was an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2020.

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected by the Jazz with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Mitchell led all rookies in scoring average during his first season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In 2019, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time.

Trae Young

Trae Young was one of the most exciting players to watch in the 2018-19 NBA season The Hawks rookie made a name for himself with his dazzling array of dribble moves and long-range shooting. He averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game figures that would have been even higher had he not been limited by injury down the stretch. Young also set a new NBA record for most three-point assists in a season, with 272.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is one of the most talented young players in the NBA today but he doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. Tatum was drafted 3rd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft and he’s already made a huge impact on the team. In just his second season, Tatum averaged 20.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range He’s also an excellent defender, and he has all the tools to become one of the best players in the league for years to come. If Tatum can continue to develop his game, there’s no doubt he’ll be an All-Star caliber player for many years to come.

Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He’s a great defender and rebounder, and he’s improved his offensive game in recent years Gobert deserves more recognition for his all-around game.

Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Texas A&M University, before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft with the 39th overall pick.

Middleton is a two-Ime Nba All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2019. He is also a two-time member of the USA Basketball Men’s national team winning a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He’s a great all-around player who does a little bit of everything on the court. He’s an excellent scorer, rebounder, and defender. He’s also a great leader and has been known to take over games in the fourth quarter

Butler is one of the best two-way players in the league and is often overshadowed by bigger names like Lebron James and Kevin Durant But make no mistake about it, Butler is one of the best players in the NBA and deserves more recognition.

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons the 6’10” point guard for the Philadelphia Sixers, is one of the most talented and versatile players in the NBA. He was drafted number one overall in the 2016 NBA Draft and he has been named an All-Star in each of his first three seasons. Simmons is a rangy defender with the ability to switch seamlessly between guarding multiple positions. On offense, he is a virtuoso playmaker with superb Court Vision and the ability to finish around the rim with either hand. In addition to being an excellent passer and rebounder, Simmons is also a gifted scorer, averaging over 16 points per game during his career. Despite his many accomplishments, Simmons remains largely underrated, due in part to the Sixers’ struggles to win games and advance deep into the playoffs.

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic the talented center for the Denver Nuggets is often overlooked when discussing the best players in the NBA. He doesn’t get the same press as other Top Players like Lebron James or Kevin Durant but he more than holds his own against them on the court. Jokic is a true all-around player, excelling at both ends of the court. He averaged 20.1 points per game 10.8 rebounds per game and 6.9 assists per game during the 18-19 season and was named to the All-NBA First Team as a result.

Jokic isn’t just a great individual player, he also makes his teammates better. He has a unique ability to find open teammates and make them better scorers. This was evident in Denver’s game against the Golden State Warriors on January 15th, 2019. In that game, Jokic had 16 assists, many of them leading to wide open three-pointers for his teammates. As a result of his outstanding playmaking abilities, Jokic is widely considered to be one of the best passing big men in NBA history

Jokic is also an excellent defender, despite being just 6’10”. He has quick feet and long arms, which allow him to guard players of all sizes effectively. His defensive contributions are a big reason why the Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference over the past few seasons.

So why doesn’t Nikola Jokic get more recognition? Part of it may be because he plays in a small market like Denver. But more likely, it’s because he isn’t flashy or outspoken off the court. He lets his play do the talking for him, and that’s just fine by him.