10 most underrated NBA players right now, including one big surprise

In most sports superstars soak up all the attention, and the NBA is no exception. With that said, there are several players around the league whose contributions tend to fly under the radar. We’ll rank the 10 most underrated players in the NBA, to shine a light on their impressive play. All statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.

How can a six-time NBA All-Star, who has taken his team to two NBA Finals, be underrated? Somehow, some way, Butler’s name remains outside the upper echelon when it comes to discussing the best the NBA has to offer. The Athletic wrote in 2023 that Butler is amongst the very best players of his time, and perhaps the most underrated player of this era.

While Miami deserves a ton of credit for building a stable organization dating back to the 1990s, Butler deserves credit for continuing the tradition of excellence that they’ve set. CBS Sports wrote about Butler’s unmatched toughness, which inspires his teammates to believe that they’re never out of a game or a series.

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DeRozan is another six-time All-Star who doesn’t get the attention he deserves. Fadeaway World also thinks his career has gone under-appreciated. Granted, he hasn’t catapulted teams to the same heights Butler or many of his contemporaries have. With that said, he’s stuck to what he’s done well despite outside pressures.

In today’s three point shooting obsessed era, DeRozan’s offensive game zigs while the rest of the league zags. The New York Times wrote in 2023 that 56 percent of his scoring came via pull-up jump shots from two-point range, and only nine percent of his scoring came from catch-and-shoot three pointers. DeRozan has shown that there’s still room for variety in the modern game.

Isaac’s road to relevancy has been littered with obstacles, but he’s overcome each and every one. He missed two full seasons due to complications from an ACL injury, and barely played in 2022-2023. GiveMeSport took notice of Isaac’s comeback campaign in 2023-2024, calling him one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told the NBA’s website in February 2024 that Isaac was “an elite, elite, elite, elite defender,” repeating the words for clear emphasis. Teammate Franz Wagner said, “He makes mistakes (by other players) not look like mistakes anymore. I think that’s way greater of an impact because it’s every possession, not just what he does on the ball.”

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the two cogs of the Denver Nuggets’ impressive machine, but Gordon is an important piece of that puzzle. The New York Times called Denver’s acquisition of Gordon “the steal that keeps on giving” in April 2024. They lauded his passing ability, which goes uncomplimented because of how great of a distributor Jokic is.

Gordon does whatever the Nuggets need in a given game. He takes on the toughest defensive assignments, and moves without the ball as well as anyone in the NBA. The New York Times also called out his transition ability, as he still has much of the same athleticism he came into the league with.

Allen has always been a solid offensive player who can stretch the floor. Before the 2023-2024 season, he was a career 38.5 percent three point shooter, which is a respectable clip. However, he took his performance up a notch this year.

Allen drained over 46 percent of his threes this season, which led the NBA. It remains to be seen whether he can keep this up, and whether the presence of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker helped him achieve that mark. However, for the simple fact that defender couldn’t afford to leave him this year, Allen has become one of the most underrated players.

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The New York Knicks have been beset by injuries during the 2023-2024 campaign, but that’s opened the door for players like McBride to make a huge impact. FanSided wrote in May 2024 that McBride has the chance to singlehandedly change the Knicks’ playoff fate. Sports Illustrated called him a hidden gem.

It can be tough for young players to crack Tom Thibodeau’s tight rotation, but McBride has proven that he’s more than worthy. New York traded Immanuel Quickley away in December 2023, which opened up rotation minutes for the physical guard. SNY said that he’s paying huge dividends for the Knicks.

Tyrese Haliburton is the unquestioned point guard for the Indiana Pacers, but the team is extremely fortunate to have a reserve that doesn’t back down when he goes to the bench. McConnell is far from the most talented player, but the New York Post believes that he’s gone from a nuisance to a game-changer during the NBA playoffs.

McConnell is always looking to set his teammates up for open shots, but has been solid at getting points of his own when the defense sags off him. Speaking of his own defense, McConnell told The Guardian in 2023 that his goal is to make life miserable for his opponents. He’s succeeded in that regard.

Anthony Edwards has been lauded as the second coming of NBA legends, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert receive accolades for their play in the paint. McDaniels has proven to be a critical piece to Minnesota’s rise to prominence this season. Paul George told the NBAs website last year that McDaniels is one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

Edwards has pounded the table for McDaniels to get more love. He told Basketball Network that Timberwolves teammates call him “seatbelt” because of how snugly he locks down opposing guards and forwards. He’s also stepped up offensively from time to time, like when he scored 25 points in Game 2 of their first round series against the Phoenix Suns.

NBA analyst J.J. Redick believes that Williams is already a star, given that he averaged 19 points per game in his second professional season. He also shot over 42 percent from the three point line. If that wasn’t enough, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons has applauded Williams’ defensive skills, fitting in as a glue guy on a talented Oklahoma City Thunder team.

Williams is pretty happy with where he’s at, telling Fadeaway World that there’s no reason not to be positive when his team is winning, and he’s getting paid millions of dollars to play the sport he loves. There’s little doubt that the small forward will earn hundreds of millions more in the years to come if his two-way play continues like it has been.

The Boston Celtics tried to bring in star point guards like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker to help take their team to another level. Instead, it was a trade for an unheralded San Antonio Spurs guard that has raised the ceiling of the team. Jaylen Brown told the Boston city website that White is the most underrated player in the NBA. GiveMeSport agrees with that take.

There’s nothing flashy about White’s game, but he can always be counted on to play well on offense and defense for Boston. GiveMeSport wrote about his efficiency in April 2024, shooting nearly 47 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three point range. He’s also second on the Celtics in defensive win shares, serving as the perfect compliment to his teammates.

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