Fansided

Every NBA team’s most underrated player

By Tom West

Oct 31, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3), right, dribbles by Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3), left, during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Suns won 101-90. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3), right, dribbles by Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3), left, during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Suns won 101-90. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight (3) dribbles the ball up the court during the first half of the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight (3) dribbles the ball up the court during the first half of the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

Phoenix Suns: Brandon Knight

Remember the guy that DeAndre Jordan absolutely destroyed with that all-time monstrous alley-oop in 2013? Well, that player, Brandon Knight, isn’t just the victim of one of the best throw downs you’ll ever see. As his career continues, he’s improving into a solid young shooting guard.

He’s bounced around a lot during his five years in the NBA, and has already played for the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and now the Suns. For a player whose scoring style suits the position of shooting guard far better than point guard, though, he’s finding more success at the two with the Suns than he did during his point guard years with the Pistons and Bucks.

Despite being fairly inconsistent in the past, Knight is now averaging 21.9 points per game while going 44.6 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three, to go along with 4.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals. He’s even 6th in the NBA in made three with 42. On top of that, Knight recorded his first career triple double with 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds on November 16 against the Lakers, before scoring a career-high 38 points on November 20.

As for his flaws, besides some decision making on offense, it’s Knight’s defense that’s the problem. He can’t defend drives effectively and is often outmatched in the paint. Last season, he allowed opponents to shoot an entire 12 percent higher than normal within six feet, and 7.5 percent higher within 10 feet. This season, those numbers have somehow soared to 20.8 and 18.6, respectively.

That being said, at the other end of the floor as a quick-fire scorer, Knight is certainly underrated for the amount of offense he can produce (with passing and scoring) in sudden bursts at an efficient rate.

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