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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Dec 9, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Under-Appreciated Superstar

Russell Westbrook

27.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 2.3 SPG, FG% 45.4%, 3P% 29.3%
ORating 113, DRating 100, TS% 55.3%, WS/48 .266, VORP 5.7, RPM 6.09, PER 32.48

In a league full of polarizing superstars that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmello Anthony, James Harden and Dwight Howard, nobody and I mean nobody divides opinion like Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook is the Carrie Mathieson of the NBA. Alternating like the unbalanced heroine of Homeland between moments of brilliance and mind-boggling, head scratching brain farts.

The Russell Westbrook experience is one of extremes, recklessness, relentlessness, aggression, athleticism, competitiveness and yes sometimes decision-making. With Westbrook you take the good with the bad because the good far outweighs the bad.

Westbrook critics who choose to focus on the negatives would do well to remember that he leads the NBA in PER and assist percentage, is second in scoring if he qualified, third in WS/48, sixth in RPM and seventh in VORP; if Westbrook continues at this pace he will be a genuine MVP candidate at the end of the year.

By almost any measure Russell Westbrook is a top-ten player in the NBA and has been for a few seasons, so he may not be the most underrated player on this list but he is certainly the most under-appreciated superstar.

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