Post by nova on Jul 28, 2011 20:44:21 GMT -5
The All-Underrated 1st Team:[/u]
Titus Alexander C 25 7'3'' 246 B- C- D A+ B+ C - Atlanta Hawks - Titus Alexander is one of the league’s largest players, as well as one of the most underrated. His stats aren’t gaudy in any category, and he’s hardly a dominant player, but he’s still quite good. A dominant post defender, Titus is also blocking shots at a higher pace this season. He’s a decent enough scorer, and a good FT shooter, so he won’t really hurt your team either. Just a very solid big man. He’ll never be a great starter, but he is a pretty damn good one.
Wayne Worthington PF 24 6'9'' 211 A- C C B- B- C - Houston Rockets - Worthington might be the most underrated player in the entire league. He’s been a key player for the Rockets for several seasons, winning two of the last three 6th Man of the Year awards along the way. This season, Worthington won his way into the starting lineup and has been one of the league’s biggest surprises. Averaging 17.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 3.6 BPG on 48% shooting and 86% FT shooting, Worthington is a key reason the Rockets have the best record in the league. One has to think that by season’s end, if he keeps up this level of production, he’ll no longer be underrated or overlooked.
Randy Sharpe SF 31 6'6'' 215 A- C+ B+ B+ C C - Washington Wizards - Randy Sharpe has long been one of the most under-the-radar players in BBS. By all accounts, he should be an in-demand player, and it seems as if he’s been perpetually on the trade block for the last four seasons, and yet, he’s stayed with the Wizards the entire time. A very good inside scorer, and a solid rebounder, passer, and defender, Sharpe doesn’t have any glaring holes in his game aside from not really being much of a 3pt shooter. The league does have an abundance of good SF’s which hurts his value, but he’s still an underrated player nonetheless.
Austin Campbell SG 30 6'5'' 209 B A- B A- C- C - Washington Wizards - Austin Campbell entered the league with a fair amount of hype, and for the large part, he didn’t live up to it during his rookie contract. It wasn’t until after he joined the Wizards that he really became a quality SG. The last five seasons though, he’s become a prototype SG: He’s a good scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. Much like Sharpe, it’s a shame he’s been stuck in D.C. where the management has just recently become more proactive. It’s intriguing to think about how good the Wiz could have been the last few years with Sharpe, Campbell, and Mack if they had any frontcourt to speak of. Regardless, Campbell is now one of the league’s better SG’s, but is almost never mentioned in the discussion, thus making him underrated.
Ethan Talley PG 24 6'5'' 193 C A+ C+ B+ D B - Toronto Raptors - Initially entering the league as a SG, Ethan Talley didn’t do a whole lot his first three seasons. Then, last season, he won Toronto’s starting PG spot, and since then has quietly become a very solid young PG. A great shooter, Talley is also a solid passer and ball handler. He doesn’t turn it over an excessive amount, and while he’s not a great rebounder, his shooting ability and his ability to not lose games with his decision making is big. He’s signed to an incredible contract and is still young, meaning further improvement isn’t out of the question. He should be a good PG for a long time.
The All-Underrated 2nd Team:[/u]
Patrick Stevens C 28 6'9'' 235 B- C+ C A- B+ D - Miami Heat - Stevens, similar to Alexander, is a decent scorer and rebounder, but won’t dominate in either of those aspects. He’s more of a one-trick pony though, as he is a great shot blocker. Stevens’ name isn’t usually brought up when talking about shot-block specialists, but he belongs in the conversation along with guys like Andrew Larson, Dalmar Ghedi, etc.. He’s a quality center, and could be an asset to any team trying to compete.
Ed Macauley PF 29 6'8'' 208 B C D+ A- A- C - Denver Nuggets Macauley is currently in his fourth season in BBS, and he’s been a consistent performer throughout his short career so far. He’s not a dominant player, he doesn’t do anything exceedingly well, but he’s still quite solid. He’s a quality scorer and is very efficient as an offensive player. He also does grab a steal and block a game which is nice. He leads a depth-filled frontcourt in Denver that has a lot of these types of undervalued players. If they had any sort of dominant big and two-three of these guys, they’d be in a lot better shape. Macauley is the best of the bunch though, and should get paid relatively well this offseason.
Kwan Xi SF 25 6'10'' 224 C+ A C B A- C - Orlando Magic - Kwan Xi is one of the best role players in the league, if not the best. An efficient scorer who can be lethal from 3pt range, Xi is a fantastic rebounder at the SF position. He plays good defense and almost never turns it over. Essentially, he’s really really good. He’s recently started to get more praise, and it’s become clear why the Rockets have been so good in recent years with players like him, Russell, and Worthington leading the charge. Now with the Magic, Xi will play a key role in their playoff run, and look for him to receive a nice contract in Free Agency this offseason.
Nolan McCarthy SG 30 6'4'' 197 C A A+ B- D+ C - Milwaukee Bucks - Nolan McCarthy is an interesting player. He’s long been talented, but he’s either been on mismanaged or very deep teams for the last several seasons and thus hasn’t made a splash. This season though, his impact is being felt in Milwaukee. He is shooting lights out and is currently 2nd in the league in FG% and in the top 10 in 3 PT%. A solid ball handler as well, McCarthy is playing a key role in the Bucks resurgence in the East. They’re a very talented team, and it’ll depend on guys like McCarthy to continue producing if they’re going to make a long run into the playoffs.
Phil Martin PG 29 6'3'' 193 C A- C+ A+ C D - Dallas Mavericks - Entering the league as a 27 year old, Phil Martin was drafted 23rd overall in the 2025 draft. Hardly a ringing endorsement. And yet, he’s quietly become one of the most undervalued players in the league. A phenomenal defender, Martin won the Mavericks starting PG battle this season and has put up impressive numbers. His stats are far from gaudy and he’s never going to be an option caliber scorer, but he can score, rebound, pass, play defense, and he doesn’t turn it over. In essence, he’s the epitome of a good role playing PG. The Mavs got a steal in Martin, and it’s time for the league to recognize his talent and value.
The All-Underrated 3rd Team:[/u]
Xavier Russell C 27 6'6'' 226 B+ C C B C+ D - Houston Rockets - Russell is an intriguing player; he’s an extremely undersized center, but he oddly plays much better there than at Power Forward. A good scorer and shot blocker, if he were stronger and a better rebounder, he could be a very good starter instead of just a fantastic backup.
Jason Robinson PF 26 6'8'' 241 A C D B- B B - San Antonio Spurs- Jason Robinson is an interesting case. He’s not classically underrated, but he seems to be capable of much more and might be being misused in San Antonio. He could probably be a lot more dominant in an inside-focused offense, thus, in that sense he’s underrated by GM’s, as he’s oft been in the wrong type of system so far in his career.
Nolan Ellison SF 28 6'10'' 230 B+ A- C- A- C C - Atlanta Hawks - Nolan Ellison is a classic example of an underrated player. He’s a quality scorer without any gaping flaws in his game. Yeah, he could be more efficient, but he fills up the stat sheet offensively. He’s not a flashy player, he doesn’t get a lot of assists or steals, but he’s just solid all around.
Bob Donham SG 30 6'2'' 190 A- C C A- C+ B - Memphis Grizzlies - SG is not really a deep position in BBS right now. A lot of PG’s and SF’s are starting at SG, thus making only a handful of SG’s truly underrated. Donham is only in his second season in the league, but he’s playing fantastic off the bench for Memphis, averaging 7.6 points in only 12.4 minutes per game. Surprised more teams haven’t inquired about his services; could be a great backup SG/SF for playoff teams or a solid starter even.
Dick McGuire PG 31 6'0'' 180 C C+ A A C C - New York Knicks - At 31 years old, Dick McGuire is tied for the oldest on this list with Randy Sharpe. Much like Martin, he’s not great, but he’s incredibly efficient. He’s one of the league’s best ball handlers, almost never turning it over, and he plays very good defense. He’s a nice fit on the Knicks, and while he won’t have a long career, he’ll certainly make his impact felt.
Titus Alexander C 25 7'3'' 246 B- C- D A+ B+ C - Atlanta Hawks - Titus Alexander is one of the league’s largest players, as well as one of the most underrated. His stats aren’t gaudy in any category, and he’s hardly a dominant player, but he’s still quite good. A dominant post defender, Titus is also blocking shots at a higher pace this season. He’s a decent enough scorer, and a good FT shooter, so he won’t really hurt your team either. Just a very solid big man. He’ll never be a great starter, but he is a pretty damn good one.
Wayne Worthington PF 24 6'9'' 211 A- C C B- B- C - Houston Rockets - Worthington might be the most underrated player in the entire league. He’s been a key player for the Rockets for several seasons, winning two of the last three 6th Man of the Year awards along the way. This season, Worthington won his way into the starting lineup and has been one of the league’s biggest surprises. Averaging 17.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 3.6 BPG on 48% shooting and 86% FT shooting, Worthington is a key reason the Rockets have the best record in the league. One has to think that by season’s end, if he keeps up this level of production, he’ll no longer be underrated or overlooked.
Randy Sharpe SF 31 6'6'' 215 A- C+ B+ B+ C C - Washington Wizards - Randy Sharpe has long been one of the most under-the-radar players in BBS. By all accounts, he should be an in-demand player, and it seems as if he’s been perpetually on the trade block for the last four seasons, and yet, he’s stayed with the Wizards the entire time. A very good inside scorer, and a solid rebounder, passer, and defender, Sharpe doesn’t have any glaring holes in his game aside from not really being much of a 3pt shooter. The league does have an abundance of good SF’s which hurts his value, but he’s still an underrated player nonetheless.
Austin Campbell SG 30 6'5'' 209 B A- B A- C- C - Washington Wizards - Austin Campbell entered the league with a fair amount of hype, and for the large part, he didn’t live up to it during his rookie contract. It wasn’t until after he joined the Wizards that he really became a quality SG. The last five seasons though, he’s become a prototype SG: He’s a good scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. Much like Sharpe, it’s a shame he’s been stuck in D.C. where the management has just recently become more proactive. It’s intriguing to think about how good the Wiz could have been the last few years with Sharpe, Campbell, and Mack if they had any frontcourt to speak of. Regardless, Campbell is now one of the league’s better SG’s, but is almost never mentioned in the discussion, thus making him underrated.
Ethan Talley PG 24 6'5'' 193 C A+ C+ B+ D B - Toronto Raptors - Initially entering the league as a SG, Ethan Talley didn’t do a whole lot his first three seasons. Then, last season, he won Toronto’s starting PG spot, and since then has quietly become a very solid young PG. A great shooter, Talley is also a solid passer and ball handler. He doesn’t turn it over an excessive amount, and while he’s not a great rebounder, his shooting ability and his ability to not lose games with his decision making is big. He’s signed to an incredible contract and is still young, meaning further improvement isn’t out of the question. He should be a good PG for a long time.
The All-Underrated 2nd Team:[/u]
Patrick Stevens C 28 6'9'' 235 B- C+ C A- B+ D - Miami Heat - Stevens, similar to Alexander, is a decent scorer and rebounder, but won’t dominate in either of those aspects. He’s more of a one-trick pony though, as he is a great shot blocker. Stevens’ name isn’t usually brought up when talking about shot-block specialists, but he belongs in the conversation along with guys like Andrew Larson, Dalmar Ghedi, etc.. He’s a quality center, and could be an asset to any team trying to compete.
Ed Macauley PF 29 6'8'' 208 B C D+ A- A- C - Denver Nuggets Macauley is currently in his fourth season in BBS, and he’s been a consistent performer throughout his short career so far. He’s not a dominant player, he doesn’t do anything exceedingly well, but he’s still quite solid. He’s a quality scorer and is very efficient as an offensive player. He also does grab a steal and block a game which is nice. He leads a depth-filled frontcourt in Denver that has a lot of these types of undervalued players. If they had any sort of dominant big and two-three of these guys, they’d be in a lot better shape. Macauley is the best of the bunch though, and should get paid relatively well this offseason.
Kwan Xi SF 25 6'10'' 224 C+ A C B A- C - Orlando Magic - Kwan Xi is one of the best role players in the league, if not the best. An efficient scorer who can be lethal from 3pt range, Xi is a fantastic rebounder at the SF position. He plays good defense and almost never turns it over. Essentially, he’s really really good. He’s recently started to get more praise, and it’s become clear why the Rockets have been so good in recent years with players like him, Russell, and Worthington leading the charge. Now with the Magic, Xi will play a key role in their playoff run, and look for him to receive a nice contract in Free Agency this offseason.
Nolan McCarthy SG 30 6'4'' 197 C A A+ B- D+ C - Milwaukee Bucks - Nolan McCarthy is an interesting player. He’s long been talented, but he’s either been on mismanaged or very deep teams for the last several seasons and thus hasn’t made a splash. This season though, his impact is being felt in Milwaukee. He is shooting lights out and is currently 2nd in the league in FG% and in the top 10 in 3 PT%. A solid ball handler as well, McCarthy is playing a key role in the Bucks resurgence in the East. They’re a very talented team, and it’ll depend on guys like McCarthy to continue producing if they’re going to make a long run into the playoffs.
Phil Martin PG 29 6'3'' 193 C A- C+ A+ C D - Dallas Mavericks - Entering the league as a 27 year old, Phil Martin was drafted 23rd overall in the 2025 draft. Hardly a ringing endorsement. And yet, he’s quietly become one of the most undervalued players in the league. A phenomenal defender, Martin won the Mavericks starting PG battle this season and has put up impressive numbers. His stats are far from gaudy and he’s never going to be an option caliber scorer, but he can score, rebound, pass, play defense, and he doesn’t turn it over. In essence, he’s the epitome of a good role playing PG. The Mavs got a steal in Martin, and it’s time for the league to recognize his talent and value.
The All-Underrated 3rd Team:[/u]
Xavier Russell C 27 6'6'' 226 B+ C C B C+ D - Houston Rockets - Russell is an intriguing player; he’s an extremely undersized center, but he oddly plays much better there than at Power Forward. A good scorer and shot blocker, if he were stronger and a better rebounder, he could be a very good starter instead of just a fantastic backup.
Jason Robinson PF 26 6'8'' 241 A C D B- B B - San Antonio Spurs- Jason Robinson is an interesting case. He’s not classically underrated, but he seems to be capable of much more and might be being misused in San Antonio. He could probably be a lot more dominant in an inside-focused offense, thus, in that sense he’s underrated by GM’s, as he’s oft been in the wrong type of system so far in his career.
Nolan Ellison SF 28 6'10'' 230 B+ A- C- A- C C - Atlanta Hawks - Nolan Ellison is a classic example of an underrated player. He’s a quality scorer without any gaping flaws in his game. Yeah, he could be more efficient, but he fills up the stat sheet offensively. He’s not a flashy player, he doesn’t get a lot of assists or steals, but he’s just solid all around.
Bob Donham SG 30 6'2'' 190 A- C C A- C+ B - Memphis Grizzlies - SG is not really a deep position in BBS right now. A lot of PG’s and SF’s are starting at SG, thus making only a handful of SG’s truly underrated. Donham is only in his second season in the league, but he’s playing fantastic off the bench for Memphis, averaging 7.6 points in only 12.4 minutes per game. Surprised more teams haven’t inquired about his services; could be a great backup SG/SF for playoff teams or a solid starter even.
Dick McGuire PG 31 6'0'' 180 C C+ A A C C - New York Knicks - At 31 years old, Dick McGuire is tied for the oldest on this list with Randy Sharpe. Much like Martin, he’s not great, but he’s incredibly efficient. He’s one of the league’s best ball handlers, almost never turning it over, and he plays very good defense. He’s a nice fit on the Knicks, and while he won’t have a long career, he’ll certainly make his impact felt.