Fansided

NBA Draft 2016: Every team’s most underrated pick ever

By Brad Rowland

Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 31
Next
LOS ANGELES – DECEMBER 25: Steve Francis #3 and Cuttino Mobley #5 of the Houston Rockets lean over next to each other during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 25, 2003 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Rockets won 99-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – DECEMBER 25: Steve Francis #3 and Cuttino Mobley #5 of the Houston Rockets lean over next to each other during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 25, 2003 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Rockets won 99-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets: Cuttino Mobley, No. 41 pick, 1998 NBA Draft

Even in the picture above, Steve Francis received top billing. The Rockets were highly entertaining when deploying Francis and Cuttino Mobley together in the early 2000’s, but Francis was “the guy” while Mobley served in a supporting role. One might even say that he was, wait for it, underrated.

Mobley was a second round pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, but that did not stop the shooting guard from launching his way into the hearts of Houston fans immediately. The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in only 49 games as a rookie, but he made 37 starts and averaged nearly 10 points per game while firing up three attempts per game from three-point distance. That “bombs away” attitude would only grow, to the point where Mobley where Mobley averaged 18.0 points per game (on 37.3 percent from three-point range) over a five-season sample, and he had a lot of fun doing it.

Following his exit from the Rockets franchise after the 2003-2004 season, Mobley declined to some degree. However, he averaged at least 12.8 points per game in ten consecutive seasons, and the Rockets extracted a great deal of value from their investment in the NBA Draft.

Did I mention that Cuttino Mobley was a lot of fun to watch? That matters, too.

Next: Indiana Pacers

Home/NBA