Mathew
Huff
8/21/16
The NBA has always been a
league that has featured the best of the best. From franchise players, to solid
role players, all the way down to good players coming off the bench, the NBA is
filled with talent. As a result of this, sometimes a select few get overlooked
by the general fan base, or have their talent taken for granted by teams
throughout the league. Therefore, it is important for NBA fans to start paying
attention to these 5 players who are the most underrated players in the entire
league as of right now.
5. Gordon Hayward/ Utah
Jazz SF.
Hayward is a low-key solid small forward who can guard
the opposition’s best player. Unfortunately, since the Jazz haven’t gotten the
coverage lately that their used to getting normally, he has been massively
overlooked. The fact that the Jazz roster features a stockpile of youthful
talent like Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert, and Dante Exum has also had much to do
with Hayward’s development being overshadowed. Many people remember Hayward as
the guy who almost upset Duke in the NCAA championship by nearly nailing a
half-court buzzer beater which would have cemented his alma-mater, Butler, as
one of the best Cinderella stories of all time. While the shot did not go in,
it still caught many fan’s attention, and rightfully so since Hayward is now on
pace to becoming a top 10 small forward in today’s NBA.
4. Eric Bledsoe/ Phoenix
Suns PG.
The Phoenix Suns looked like a disaster last year, but
they were actually formidable at the beginning of the season. What was a major
factor in their downfall was losing Eric Bledsoe to a season ending knee
injury, which showcased just how important he is to his team. In a league that
is filled with more star point guards than ever before, it is easy to overlook
a nice talent like Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe may not have Russell Westbrook-like
athleticism, but he is still more than capable of breaking a couple of ankles.
Many people speculate that Bledsoe got overpaid with his new contract, but if
you have seen this guy play and how he can lead this Suns team, then you would
see why he demanded the contract he obtained. I firmly believe that Bledsoe
could be a great addition to many other teams in the NBA despite the fact that
point guards are elevating their level to superstar status. Any point guard
that can give you 20.4 points per game, 4 boards per game, and 6.1 assists per
game is not one to be taken lightly by opposing defenses.
3. Kemba Walker/
Charlotte Hornets PG.
Kemba Walker, much like Bledsoe, is also overshadowed by
an array of point guards at an elite level like Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and
Russell Westbrook. You combine this with the fact that Charlotte can be so
inconsistent at times, it’s easy to forget about their star Kemba Walker. You
may remember Walker as the clutch point guard for UConn that delivered in the 4th
quarter, something that helped fuel their run to a NCAA title and is now adored
by the UConn faithful. Walker has a very similar offensive stat line to Eric
Bledsoe’s averaging just a tad more points per game. Kemba Walker is already a
good defender, but yet still has more upside which could be frightening to
other teams in the near future.
2. Nikola Vucevic/
Orlando Magic PF/C
Here’s a shocking revelation for some NBA fans, but the
Orlando Magic actually have some nice pieces on their roster they have
constructed. A lot of people seem to discount the international big man in
Nikola Vucevic who is a rebounding specimen. When people think of the Magic,
they tend to think of Shaq and Dwight Howard leaving the franchise high and
dry, or they think of Victor Oladipo (before he was traded), and Aaron Gordon
right now, but they fail to recognize how much of a problem Vucevic can be on the
boards against the opposition. Even with Orlando trading for Serge Ibaka from
the Oklahoma City Thunder, one should not discount Nikola Vucevic making an
impact in the paint this upcoming season.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge/ San
Antonio Spurs PF/C
This may come as a surprise to many fans, and sting in
particular for Portland Trail Blazers fans, but I vigorously believe Aldridge
is still the most underrated player in the NBA. Before Damian Lillard’s arrival
to Portland, Aldridge helped anchor the Trail Blazers year in and year out
consistently, but quietly putting up all-star numbers along the way. Aldridge
is one of the toughest players in the league which was evidence by him having
surgery on his thumb one year and still finding a way not to miss any time at all.
Even though Aldridge doesn’t put up insane numbers during the all-star game
like Russell Westbrook or Paul George, the man is a 5 time all-star, and
continues to still be a star in the league even in Gregg Popovich’s system that
showcases more of a get the best out of every player approach, rather than
getting the star players the majority of the touches like most teams in the
league do today. The Chicago Bulls just have to be kicking themselves for
drafting this man and trading him away with the impact this player can bring to
any team.
It is safe to say that these 5 players can play with the
best of them. There should be no doubt about that, but the fact of the matter
is that when it comes a league as star studded as the NBA, there are bound to
be good players that go unnoticed. However, that does not mean NBA fans should
take these underrated players for granted due to the fact that many of these
athletes are vitally important to their respective teams. These 5 NBA players
have the potential to make or break an NBA team.
No comments:
Post a Comment