Every NBA Team's Hidden Gem Who Needs More Respect
We previously wrote about the NBA players who are getting a little too much love. Now, it's time to highlight the ones who aren't getting enough.
Every NBA team has at least one young-ish player flying under the radar who the casual fan may not recognize. We're looking at players who range from out-of-the-rotation to starters, so long as they haven't received a lot of public shine yet.
Rookies are fair game, although most of these selections have spent a few years in the league.
Here are players for all 30 NBA teams who need more respect.
Atlanta Hawks: Keaton Wallace, PG
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The brother of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, Keaton is another tough, physical guard who's become a good NBA defender.
After a few years of bouncing around on two-way contracts, Wallace is now on a standard deal with the Atlanta Hawks and has made the most of his court time. The Hawks hold opponents to 3.3 fewer points per 100 possessions with Wallace on the floor (76th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass) and the 26-year-old is averaging 1.9 steals per 36 minutes in his career.
Wallace is shooting 40.5 percent from three as well this season. He's probably never going to be a big-time scoring guard, but the league will always have a place for guys who can knock down threes, defend and are willing passers.
Boston Celtics: Neemias Queta, C
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Boston Celtics fans know all about Neemias Queta, although he still hasn't gotten the love he deserves on a national scale.
A big reason why the Celtics have surprised many with their 35-19 start, Queta has started all but one game at center while averaging 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 63.9 percent overall in just 25.1 minutes.
The 7-footer has been a defensive force in the middle, as Boston has allowed 10.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Queta on the floor (98th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass).
Brooklyn Nets: Day'Ron Sharpe, F/C
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Day'Ron Sharpe is a name most NBA fans should be familiar with, as he was a first-round pick by the Brooklyn Nets in 2021. While most of the focus in Brooklyn has revolved around the five 2025 first-round picks, Cam Thomas drama and the strong play of Michael Porter Jr., Sharpe is quietly having the best season of his career.
The 24-year-old big man is putting up personal bests of 8.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in just 18.5 minutes a game, primarily off the bench. He's shooting 61.1 percent overall, including 66.3 percent from inside the arc.
A good defender, Sharpe has now registered a positive swing rating in the 84th percentile or better in each of the last three seasons. Picking up his $6.3 million team option next year should be an easy decision for the Nets.
Charlotte Hornets: Moussa Diabaté, C
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Moussa Diabaté has become far more famous thanks to his part in a brawl against the Detroit Pistons. This shouldn't distract you from the fact that he's been a big part of the Charlotte Hornets' return to relevancy long before that.
Since Diabaté took over the starting center role on Dec. 23rd, the Hornets have gone 15-7 overall and climbed back into the play-in picture in the East.
Diabaté has been a glass-cleaning machine during this stretch, averaging 8.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 66.1 percent overall.
Chicago Bulls: Jalen Smith, F/C
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There's been a revolving door of guards in Chicago thanks to the trade deadline as the Bulls try to establish some core pieces moving forward.
Lost in this has been the play of big man Jalen Smith, who's become a steady frontcourt force with his consistent scoring, floor-spacing and defense.
The 25-year-old has now scored in double-figures in 12 straight games, putting up 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds in 26.8 minutes as a starter and reserve. He's shooting 61.1 percent from two and 45.5 percent from three over this stretch and has a swing rating of plus-14.3 this year, ranking in the 98th percentile.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Nae'Qwan Tomlin, F/C
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James Harden made all the headlines in Cleveland around the trade deadline, although the Cavaliers also made sure to open up a roster spot for the sole purpose of converting Nae'Qwan Tomlin from a two-way deal to a standard contract. He'd become too valuable to the team to not have available in a playoff series.
Tomlin brings a toughness to the Cavs frontcourt that this team has lacked for years. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are terrific players and elite defenders, yet neither play with the fire that Tomlin does on a nightly basis.
The 25-year-old will crash the glass, take on the toughest defensive assignments and isn't afraid to get in someone's face if needed. Cleveland needed his feistiness.
Dallas Mavericks: Brandon Williams, PG
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Brandon Williams has worked his way into becoming an NBA rotation player following years of 10-day and two-way contracts.
The 26-year-old has been a rare bright spot for the Dallas Mavericks this season in a number of roles, including averages of 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals a game in his 12 starts.
The Mavs' offense scores 6.8 more points per 100 possessions with Williams on the floor this season (91st percentile). If he can improve his three-point shooting, Williams should get a nice raise in free agency this summer.
Denver Nuggets: Spencer Jones, SG
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Injuries have taken their toll on the Denver Nuggets this season. One reason they've been able to stay in the top-3 spots in a loaded West has been the play of Spencer Jones.
The second-year guard barely played as a rookie, yet has been thrust into starting duties for much of this season. The 24-year-old has been an extremely efficient shooter, making 63.8 percent of his twos and 41.4 percent of his threes.
He's especially thrived when placed between Denver's stars, as Jones is connecting on 46.6 percent of his threes off passes from Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.
Detroit Pistons: Daniss Jenkins, PG
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Daniss Jenkins has been a big part of the Detroit Pistons' rise to the No. 1 seed in the East this season and was just rewarded with a two-year, $7.8 million contract as a result.
Beginning this year on a two-way deal, Jenkins has been a reliable ball-handler behind Cade Cunningham, playing a role that Dennis Schröder thrived in last season. In nine starts, Jenkins averaged 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.1 steals and is shooting 38.1 percent overall from three this year.
A good perimeter defender at 6'4", the Pistons were wise to get Jenkins on a standard deal before the playoffs begin.
Golden State Warriors: Pat Spencer, PG
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The first overall pick in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft, Pat Spencer now wears No. 61 in the NBA, a nod to the fact that no team selected him when he declared back in 2021.
Now, Spencer has become an important role player and part-time starter for the Golden State Warriors at age 29.
He's made the most of his opportunities, even averaging 14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 steals in eight starts while shooting 44.4 percent from three. A fiery competitor, Spencer is helping to keep Golden State's playoff hopes alive.
Houston Rockets: Tari Eason, PF
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Arguably the best player on this entire list, Tari Eason deserves a far bigger role than the one he's currently playing for the Houston Rockets.
The 6'8" forward has mostly come off the bench for a Rockets team loaded at forward despite being one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. His 46.0 percent mark from deep ranks No. 4 overall.
Eason is averaging 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the 26 career games where he's logged 30 minutes or more.
We'll see if Houston will be able to afford the young forward in free agency this summer, as Eason already turned down a $100 million offer from the franchise. He's earned a starting role somewhere.
Indiana Pacers: Johnny Furphy, G/F
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Johnny Furphy was recently lost for the season due to a torn ACL, although his play before that should give Indiana Pacers' fans plenty of excitement for next year.
The 6'8" wing is one of the best dunkers in the entire NBA and was really beginning to bloom in Year 2. He started 21 games for the Pacers this season and made a positive impact on both ends (plus-4.5 swing rating, 77th percentile).
Assuming the 21-year-old makes a full recovery, Furphy is a reliable three-point shot away from becoming a regular rotation player on a playoff team.
Los Angeles Clippers: Jordan Miller, G/F
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Jordan Miller has been a steady contributor to the Los Angeles Clippers all season and was recently rewarded with a two-year standard deal after previously playing on a two-way contract.
The 26-year-old wing is averaging 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.8 minutes while making 59.5 percent of his twos and 35.7 percent of his threes.
Over a 13-game span from early January to early February, Miller enjoyed the hottest stretch of his career with 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 57.3 percent overall. The Clippers went 10-3 during this time.
With James Harden out and the team undergoing a semi-youth movement now with Bennedict Mathurin and Darius Garland, we should see even more from Miller.
Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Smith Jr., SG
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Nick Smith Jr. has been an offensive spark for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, giving them another knock-down shooter to put on the floor next to Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
While a little undersized at shooting guard (6'2), Smith is making a career-best 39.1 percent of his three-pointers.
He's thrived when given regular court time, as Smith is averaging 12.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 stocks and is shooting 44.4 percent from three when logging 20 minutes or more.
A first-round pick in 2023, Smith is still just 21 and has plenty of room to grow.
Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Spencer, PG
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The second Spencer brother on this list, Cam has been a stabilizing force at guard for the Memphis Grizzlies in a year where the position has been ravaged by injury.
The 25-year-old is giving Memphis 11.6 points and 5.6 assists per game overall and is dishing out 9.0 assists in his 14 starts.
Spencer also ranks No. 7 overall in three-point shooting (44.7 percent) and the Grizzlies have been noticeably better when the sharpshooting guard is on the floor.
Miami Heat: Pelle Larsson, G
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The Miami Heat are one of the best organizations at developing talent. Pelle Larsson, the 44th overall pick in the 2024 draft, is their latest success story.
A 6'5" guard, Larsson has improved nearly every aspect of his game in Year 2, becoming a mainstay in Miami's starting lineup. In 32 starts, Larsson is averaging 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 52.6 percent overall in 27.3 minutes.
With Tyler Herro limited to just 11 total games all season due to injury, Larsson has stepped up to help keep the Heat above .500.
Milwaukee Bucks: A.J. Green, SG
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The four-year, $45 million extension that A.J. Green received from the Milwaukee Bucks last season is starting to look like a real bargain.
Green has become a full-time starter for the Bucks now in Year 4, with career-highs of 10.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a sparkling 43.1 percent mark from three (11th-highest in the NBA).
The 6'4" shooting guard has also graded out in the 82nd percentile on offense and 90th percentile on defense, bumping his overall swing rating to plus-10.2 (94th percentile). The Bucks rank No. 2 overall in three-point shooting this season in large part due to Green.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Bones Hyland, G
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Major credit goes to Bones Hyland, as he's rebounded from failed stops with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers to becoming a valuable rotation piece on a good Minnesota Timberwolves squad now.
Given that Mike Conley Jr. is clearly nearing retirement and the Rob Dillingham experiment failed, the Wolves needed some real help at guard alongside Anthony Edwards. Hyland has done an admirable job by averaging 8.8 points and 3.2 assists on 39.6 percent shooting from three since he entered the rotation on Dec. 8.
The 25-year-old has cracked double digits in scoring 15 times in his 47 games, giving the Timberwolves an offensive spark off the bench.
New Orleans Pelicans: Saddiq Bey, F
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Is Saddiq Bey quietly on the best contract in the NBA? The 26-year-old originally signed his three-year, $19 million deal while rehabbing from a torn ACL that wiped out his 2024-25 season. Now, he's become one of the New Orleans Pelicans' leading scorers while taking up less than four percent of the cap ($6.1 million).
Bey is giving the Pels 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists while making nearly two three-pointers a game at a 34.8 percent clip.
Little has gone right in New Orleans this season, although the play of Bey coming off a major injury has been a silver lining.
New York Knicks: Tyler Kolek, PG
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A tremendous college point guard, Tyler Kolek struggled last season as a rookie in the NBA. Now in Year 2, he appears far more comfortable as a rotation floor general that the New York Knicks can rely on.
Kolek nearly tripled-doubled in his lone start of the season (20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals) and is giving New York 4.9 points and 2.9 assists against just 1.1 turnovers in his 13.3 minutes a night.
The 24-year-old's three-point shooting made a major leap from Year 1 to Year 2 (29.8 percent to 36.4 percent) and should only continue to get better with more court time.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Joe, SG
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have no shortage of players who need more respect on their roster. Perhaps no one is more underrated, however, than Isaiah Joe.
The 26-year-old is instant, high-efficiency offense every time he steps onto the floor, with the vast majority of his work done from outside the arc.
Joe is a career 40.4 percent three-point shooter and is up to 41.5 percent this season while averaging 10.5 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. Mix in a team-friendly contract that will drop to just 6.8 percent of the salary cap next season ($11.3 million) and it's easy to see why Joe has become so valuable to OKC.
Orlando Magic: Goga Bitadze, C
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Goga Bitadze's combination of rebounding, defense and passing is rare for someone who's nearly 7-feet tall, and it's a shame the Orlando Magic haven't found a bigger role for him.
The 26-year-old center is putting up 13.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.6 blocks per 36 minutes of play, making him the only player in the NBA to reach these figures.
While not a floor-spacer on offense, Bitadze brings enough juice on the defensive end to warrant a starting job somewhere.
Philadelphia 76ers: Adem Bona, C
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Adem Bona was the 41st overall pick in the 2024 draft and has become a productive big man off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 22-year-old puts a ton of pressure on the rim on both ends, as he's averaging 1.3 blocks in just 16.3 minutes this season while holding opponents to 55.1 percent shooting. For comparison, teammate Andre Drummond is giving up 71.0 percent shooting on an identical 3.3 defended shots at the rim per game.
Bona has 100 career dunks in 103 career games and is shooting 65.6 percent overall in his young career.
Phoenix Suns: Collin Gillespie, G
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Following a five-year career at Villanova, Collin Gillespie spent the beginning of his NBA career on two-way contracts. Now on a standard deal, he's been a huge part of the Phoenix Suns' turnaround this season.
The 26-year-old is averaging 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 42.3 percent from deep (No. 17 overall). His 3.0 made threes per game rank 17th in the NBA as well.
Gillespie has done an excellent job of running the offense and taking care of the ball, with just 1.6 turnovers per game for the Suns.
Portland Trail Blazers: Vít Krejčí, G
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Vít Krejčí going from the Atlanta Hawks to the Portland Trail Blazers certainly wasn't the biggest move of the trade deadline, although his presence at guard has helped his new team immensely.
The Blazers are scoring 14.2 more points per 100 possessions with the 6'8" guard on the floor since making the trade, good for the 99th percentile. The 25-year-old is putting up 9.1 points on 41.0 percent shooting in 52 games between both franchises.
Portland is 4-2 with Krejčí in the lineup, compared to a 23-27 start without him.
Sacramento Kings: Dylan Cardwell, C
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Dylan Cardwell is already putting up bigger numbers than he ever did in five years in college, giving Sacramento Kings fans something to cheer for in what's become yet another bleak season.
The 6'10" center had been on a roll before a recent ankle injury, giving the Kings 6.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 0.9 steals over his last 14 games while shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
He's a lob catcher and rim protector who just agreed to a four-year, $8.3 million contract that has the potential to age extremely well for Sacramento.
San Antonio Spurs: Julian Champagnie, F
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Julian Champagnie has been an ideal 3-and-D wing for a San Antonio Spurs team that needs his skill set alongside Victor Wembanyama and a collection of star guards.
The 6'7" forward is averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and is shooting 37.2 percent from three in his 40 starts while registering a swing rating of plus-9.4 (94th percentile). His role is to keep the floor spread on offense while taking care of the ball (0.9 turnovers per game).
Playing on a $3 million contract both this year and next, Champagnie has become one of the NBA's best bargains.
Toronto Raptors: Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C
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Sandro Mamukelashvili previously established himself as a quality backup big with the San Antonio Spurs and is now having the best season of his career in Toronto with the Raptors.
The 26-year-old has always been able to stretch the floor (38.3 percent from three this year) and has shot the lights out when given a starting opportunity. In his 11 starts for the Raptors, Mamukelashvili is averaging 16.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and shooting 55.7 percent overall and 42.6 percent from three.
Mamukelashvili has played well enough that he'll almost certainly turn down his $2.8 million player option next season while looking for a significant raise.
Utah Jazz: Isaiah Collier, PG
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Keyonte George has turned into a star at point guard for the Utah Jazz this season, although he's not the only floor general who's made a big leap.
Isaiah Collier, despite starting just 12 of his 48 games, ranks 12th overall in the NBA in assists this season (7.4), tied with LaMelo Ball and above players like LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson.
In those 12 starts, Collier's averages jump to 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 49.2 percent overall.
Washington Wizards: Justin Champagnie, F
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Justin Champagnie won't get the same eyes on his game as his brother Julian with the San Antonio Spurs, but the Washington Wizards forward is a better player in some areas.
One of the best rebounding small forwards in the NBA, Champagnie is pulling down 10.7 boards per 36 minutes of play. For comparison, 7-footer Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers is collecting just 9.4 over the same stretch of time.
Averaging 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and shooting 37.5 percent from three in his 14 starts this season, Champagnie will be a trade target to keep an eye on this summer due to the Wizards' plethora of wings.
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