Fansided

The NBA’s underrated list

By Clint Pemberton

Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) goes up to make a basket as Brooklyn Nets forward-center Mason Plumlee (1) defends in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) goes up to make a basket as Brooklyn Nets forward-center Mason Plumlee (1) defends in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) dunks against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Warriors 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) dunks against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Warriors 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Who are the most underrated players in the NBA?

The NBA is a star driven league, always has been, always will be. Stars drive TV ratings, stars drive jersey sales, stars drive website hits and attendance and sell luxury suites. Its why LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin are always on our TV’s.

It’s also unfortunately part of the reason why are force-fed a diet of 20 nationally televised games of Kobe Bryant jacking up 30 shots for a putrid Los Angeles Lakers team. It’s also why Damian Lillard is somehow eighth in NBA fan balloting for a West All-Star guard spot and why the casual fan doesn’t know Kyle Lowry, Andrew Bogut or Jeff Teague.

Underrated can mean different things to different people, for me it’s some combination of not getting enough media recognition, being undervalued, underestimated or more simply, just better at basketball than the vast majority of people think.

This is my NBA Underrated List. Let me know who you think I have missed.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Players

* Mike Conley
* Nikola Vucevic
* Derrick Favors
* Tyson Chandler
* Jonas Valanciunas
* Tristan Thompson
* Ed Davis
* Darren Collision
* Nikola Mirotic
* Amir Johnson
* Gordon Hayward
* Tobias Harris
* Kelly Olynyk
* Andrew Bogut
* Tyson Chandler

Teams

* Toronto Raptors
* Portland Trail Blazers

Coaches

* Brad Stevens
* Jason Kidd

Next: Most Improved but Still Underrated

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