It should be said right off the bat that which players are underrated and why they’re underrated is going to be different for everyone. There are just too many talented players in the NBA for a list to do them justice. With that said, there are some that have earned stardom, but many seem to simply ignore them.
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For whatever reason, there are NBA stars that go completely unnoticed by the biggest fans of the league, and in some cases, do not even get the love of their hometown fans. Shockingly, even some NBA All-Stars are even underrated in the eyes of many fans.
10 Fred Vanvleet
One could say that the Toronto Raptors as a whole are often underrated, but one of their greatest and most underrated performers is absolutely Fred Vanvleet. The exciting point guard has always been underrated as he went undrafted and went on to earn the single-game point record for both the Raptors and all undrafted players.
He was a 2022 NBA All-Star, and somehow tons of basketball fans still have no clue who he is. He’s one of the men that helped the Raptors adjust after Kyle Lowry moved on, and his contribution to the team has kept them competitive.
9 Seth Curry
Everyone is always talking about the immense skill of Steph Curry, and rightly so, but a lot of people seem to forget about Seth Curry, Steph’s younger brother. He’s not nearly as legendary as his brother, but he’s far from a slouch in the NBA.
He’s always a presence that is felt on the court, and while his minutes per game have shrunk, his points per game haven’t, showing that with more playtime he could be even more effective. Of course, he’s a Curry, so he’s also got an incredible three-point shot.
8 Desmond Bane
While many seem to ignore the Memphis Grizzlies except to talk about Ja Morant, people really should also be talking about Desmond Bane. He’s right behind Morant as the most valuable player currently going for the Grizzlies.
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He’s a reliable player that has consistently had strong showings in both the regular season and the playoffs, showing that pressure doesn’t get to him. Many don’t know he holds the Grizzlies franchise record for three-point goals made in a season as well. In a few years, and a solid addition to the team, Bane could be a much more well-known name.
7 Isaiah Hartenstein
When most people are giving credit to NBA players it’s usually to guards or forwards, and rarely centers. One center that deserves a lot more credit is Clippers center, Isaiah Hartenstein. While he’s not the best center on the team in terms of stats, his playtime is much shorter than their lead center.
A lot of NBA fans may not pay attention to the G-League, so they may not be aware of just how impressive Hartenstein was during his play with the league, even earning an MVP distinction. With a bit more playtime, Hartenstein may be able to show his full capabilities.
6 Javale McGee
The thing about Javale McGee is that while he is rarely talked about when mentioning great players and teams, he is actually a three-time NBA Champion. The thing that seems to keep him from being widely known is his issues during his early career.
He’s managed to impress tons of people, but a bit of a bad decision involving a teammate who would go on to take a heavy suspension ended up with him facing a fine early on, and likely being looked at with less respect from fans because of it.
5 Jarrett Allen
It can often feel like whenever anyone wants to talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s either to complain about or thank LeBron James, or to speak about Kevin Love. Because of that, a lot of other Cavs don’t get their due, and one of those team members is Jarrett Allen.
He was a 2022 All-Star, so at least he’s receiving recognition in some form, but it’s still rare to hear anyone mention him. He put in the work in the 2022 season with his fair share of rebounds and points, ending the season as one of the top players on the team.
4 Saddiq Bey
To be fair, most people aren’t talking about the Detroit Pistons these days thanks to their less-than-stellar record, but small forward Saddiq Bey definitely deserves some more eyes on his games.
He holds the franchise record for three-point makes in a season and has even attained a career-high of 51 points. He often has to contend with Jerami Grant for attention, but it looks like Bey may be able to surpass him in terms of all-around play pretty soon. Saddiq Bey is definitely a player to watch.
3 Darius Garland
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Yes, somehow even one of the most exciting players on the Cavaliers is still an underrated player. Despite having only played five college games, Darius Garland was in high demand, and it’s pretty clear why when anyone sees him play.
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Unfortunately, Garland is still often passed up in name recognition for the likes of Colin Sexton and Kevin Love. Garland often spends the most time on the court for the team, and as a result, often makes the biggest impact, leading some to believe he deserves far more credit.
2 Dejounte Murray
The Spurs did okay in their last season, but not nearly well enough to really gain any attention outside the biggest Spurs fans. Their lack of attention is something that has one of the Spurs star players starving for more.
Dejounte Murray is absolutely a star in the making, and most people don’t seem to realize it yet. He was a 2022 NBA All-Star and the league leader for steals that same year. There aren’t a lot of people talking about him now, but a few key trades could see him leading a team to the championship.
1 Gary Trent Jr.
Beginning with a Toronto Raptor, and ending with one, Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and most underrated players in the NBA today. With the impressive season he just had with the Raptors, people are bound to take notice soon.
The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. The young man isn’t a well-known name yet, but if he keeps up his caliber of play, he may be one of the next greats, and he may even lead Toronto to a second NBA championship.
