The NBA is full of stars and legends, but not all of them get the recognition they deserve. Some players are overshadowed by their teammates, their rivals, or their era. Some players are overlooked by the media, the fans, or the history books. Some players are simply underrated for their skills, their impact, or their achievements.
Top 10 Underrated NBA Players of All Time
In this article, we will rank the top 10 underrated NBA players of all time, based on various criteria such as statistics, awards, championships, and legacy. We will also provide some details about their careers and why they deserve more respect and appreciation.
10. Dennis Johnson
Dennis Johnson was a defensive specialist who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Phoenix Suns, and the Boston Celtics. He was a five-time All-Star, a three-time NBA champion, and a Finals MVP in 1979. He was also a nine-time All-Defensive team member and one of the best clutch performers in NBA history.
Johnson was often overshadowed by his teammates such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish in Boston, or by his rivals such as Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan in the league. He was also snubbed by the Hall of Fame until 2010, seven years after his death.
Johnson deserves more credit for being one of the best two-way guards of all time and for being a key contributor to three different championship teams.
9. Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins was one of the most explosive and exciting scorers in NBA history. He played for the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Orlando Magic. He was a nine-time All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, and a Slam Dunk Contest champion in 1985 and 1990. He was also a seven-time All-NBA team member and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Wilkins was often underrated because he never won a championship or an MVP award. He also played in an era dominated by Bird, Magic, and Jordan, who prevented him from reaching the Finals. He also suffered a devastating Achilles injury in 1992 that hampered his career.
Wilkins deserves more respect for being one of the most prolific and consistent scorers of all time and for coming back from a serious injury to continue playing at a high level.
8. Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen was one of the best all-around players in NBA history. He played for the Chicago Bulls, the Houston Rockets, and the Portland Trail Blazers. He was a seven-time All-Star, a six-time NBA champion, and an MVP runner-up in 1994. He was also a 10-time All-Defensive team member, an eight-time All-NBA team member, and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Pippen was often underrated because he played alongside Jordan, who is widely considered as the greatest player of all time. He was also criticized for some controversial moments such as refusing to enter a game in 1994 or demanding a trade in 1997.
Pippen deserves more recognition for being one of the best defenders and playmakers of all time and for being an essential part of the Bulls dynasty that won six titles in eight years.
7. Sam Jones
Sam Jones was one of the most successful players in NBA history. He played for the Boston Celtics for his entire career. He was a five-time All-Star, a 10-time NBA champion, and a Finals MVP in 1969. He was also a three-time All-NBA team member and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Jones was often underrated because he played on a stacked Celtics team that featured Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Tommy Heinsohn, and others. He was also overshadowed by his rival Jerry West, who was considered as the best shooting guard of his era.
Jones deserves more praise for being one of the best shooters and clutch performers of all time and for being a vital part of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years.
6. Bernard King
Bernard King was one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history. He played for the New Jersey Nets, the Utah Jazz, the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Washington Bullets. He was a four-time All-Star, a scoring champion in 1985, and an MVP candidate in 1984. He was also a four-time All-NBA team member and a Hall of Famer.
King was often underrated because he never won a championship or an MVP award. He also played in an era dominated by Bird, Magic, and Jordan, who prevented him from reaching the Finals. He also suffered a devastating knee injury in 1985 that hampered his career.
King deserves more respect for being one of the most unstoppable and efficient scorers of all time and for coming back from a serious injury to continue playing at a high level.
5. Fat Lever
Fat Lever was one of the most versatile and productive players in NBA history. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Dallas Mavericks. He was a two-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive team member, and a triple-double machine. He averaged 15.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for his career.
Lever was often underrated because he played on a fast-paced Nuggets team that was known for its offense but not its defense. He was also overshadowed by his peers such as Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Isiah Thomas, who were considered as the best point guards of his era.
Lever deserves more recognition for being one of the best all-around players of all time and for being one of the few players to average a triple-double for a season.
4. Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond was one of the best centers and defenders in NBA history. He played for the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, the Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a seven-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive team member, and a rebounding champion in 1967. He was also a five-time All-NBA team member, a Hall of Famer, and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Thurmond was often underrated because he played in an era dominated by Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, who were considered as the best centers of all time. He was also unlucky to never win a championship or an MVP award.
Thurmond deserves more credit for being one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers of all time and for being one of the few players to record a quadruple-double in a game.
3. Alex English
Alex English was one of the most prolific and consistent scorers in NBA history. He played for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Dallas Mavericks. He was an eight-time All-Star, a scoring champion in 1983, and an MVP candidate in 1982. He was also a three-time All-NBA team member and a Hall of Famer.
English was often underrated because he played on a high-scoring Nuggets team that was known for its offense but not its defense. He was also overshadowed by his rivals such as Larry Bird, Julius Erving, and Magic Johnson, who were considered as the best forwards of his era.
English deserves more respect for being one of the most durable and efficient scorers of all time and for being the leading scorer of the 1980s decade.
2. Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman was one of the best rebounders and defenders in NBA history. He played for the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks. He was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a seven-time rebounding champion. He was also a two-time All-Star, an eight-time All-Defensive team member, and a Hall of Famer.
Rodman was often underrated because he was known more for his eccentric personality, his controversial antics, and his off-court issues than his basketball skills. He was also criticized for his lack of scoring, his poor free-throw shooting, and his frequent technical fouls.
Rodman deserves more recognition for being one of the best role players and teammates of all time and for being one of the few players to win championships with different teams.
1. Jerry West
Jerry West was one of the greatest players in NBA history. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for his entire career. He was a 14-time All-Star, an NBA champion, and a Finals MVP in 1969. He was also a scoring champion in 1970, an assist leader in 1972, and a 10-time All-NBA first team member. He was also a four-time All-Defensive team member, a Hall of Famer, and the logo of the NBA.
West was often underrated because he lost eight times in the Finals, mostly to the Celtics dynasty. He was also overshadowed by his teammates such as Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul
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-Jabbar. He was also compared unfavorably to his rival Oscar Robertson, who was considered as the best guard of his era.
West deserves more praise for being one of the best shooters and clutch performers of all time and for being one of the few players to average 30 points and 10 assists for a season.
Conclusion
These are our picks for the top 10 underrated NBA players of all time. Of course, there are many other players who could have made this list, such as Bob Pettit, Adrian Dantley, Sidney Moncrief, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Manu Ginobili. We respect and appreciate all of them for their contributions to the game.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about these amazing players. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading!
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: Who is the most underrated NBA player of all time? A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different people may have different opinions and criteria. However, based on our research and analysis, we think that Jerry West is the most underrated NBA player of all time, followed by Dennis Rodman and Alex English.
Q: Who is the most underrated NBA player right now? A: Again, this is a subjective question that depends on various factors such as statistics, awards, media coverage, and fan support. However, based on our observation and evaluation, we think that some of the most underrated NBA players right now are Mike Conley, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Vucevic, Khris Middleton, and CJ McCollum.
Q: Who is the most overrated NBA player of all time? A: This is a controversial question that may spark a lot of debate and disagreement among basketball fans. However, based on our perspective and reasoning, we think that some of the most overrated NBA players of all time are Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard.
Q: Who is the most overrated NBA player right now? A: This is another contentious question that may cause a lot of argument and conflict among basketball fans. However, based on our viewpoint and logic, we think that some of the most overrated NBA players right now are Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Q: What makes a player underrated or overrated? A: There is no clear-cut definition or formula for determining whether a player is underrated or overrated. However, some possible factors that may influence this perception are:
- Statistics: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his numbers such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, efficiency, etc.
- Awards: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his accolades such as MVPs, championships, All-Stars, All-NBA teams, All-Defensive teams, etc.
- Media: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his exposure and coverage by the media such as TV networks,
- Media: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his exposure and coverage by the media such as TV networks, newspapers, magazines, websites, podcasts, etc.
- Fans: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his popularity and support by the fans such as votes, jerseys, social media, etc.
- Era: A player may be underrated or overrated based on his competition and context in his era such as rivals, teammates, rules, style of play, etc.
Q: How can a player improve his rating or reputation?
A: There is no guaranteed way for a player to improve his rating or reputation, as different people may have different expectations and standards. However, some possible ways for a player to improve his rating or reputation are:
- Performance: A player can improve his rating or reputation by improving his performance on the court such as scoring, rebounding, assisting, defending, winning, etc.
- Leadership: A player can improve his rating or reputation by improving his leadership off the court such as mentoring, motivating, inspiring, communicating, etc.
- Character: A player can improve his rating or reputation by improving his character as a person such as being humble, respectful, honest, generous, etc.
- Legacy: A player can improve his rating or reputation by improving his legacy as a legend such as breaking records, winning awards, making history, etc.
Q: Who are some of the best sources or experts to follow for NBA analysis and opinions?
A: There are many sources and experts to follow for NBA analysis and opinions, depending on your preference and interest. However, some of the best sources and experts to follow for NBA analysis and opinions are:
- ESPN: ESPN is one of the most popular and reputable sports media outlets in the world. It offers a variety of NBA content such as news, highlights, podcasts, documentaries, etc. Some of its notable NBA analysts and personalities are Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe, Rachel Nichols, Stephen A. Smith, etc.
- The Ringer: The Ringer is one of the most innovative and influential sports and culture media platforms in the world. It offers a variety of NBA content such as articles,