NBA Power Rankings: George Hill and the Most Underrated Player on All 30 Teams
In a league full of stars, big contracts, and shoe deals, it is easy to forget the guys that do the grunt work for each NBA team. These are the guys that come off the bench, get big defensive stops, or have slowly improved their games.
The forgotten art of hustle and the role player go unnoticed in today's game, so why not pay homage to those that are underrated in the association?
Here are the 30 most underrated players in the NBA, going team by team.
30. Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith
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Some might ask, how can Josh Smith be considered underrated? He has a big contract, and his highlight-reel dunks and blocks are some of the best in the league.
But it can be argued that he is underrated because of the improvements he has made in just one year's time.
He is shooting a career high from beyond the arc (where he made zero three-pointers last year), is one of the league's best shot blockers and defenders, and has raised his per-game averages in five different categories.
The East is more competitive than ever, and Smith will have to be a stable force in order for the Hawks to make a playoff run.
| 16.8 | 8.8 | 1.7 | .476 | .733 |
29. Charlotte Bobcats: Boris Diaw
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Diaw is one of the best passing big men in the game. For a team that has lost most all of its essential pieces over the last two seasons, Diaw has remained a constant force and a nice young player.
| 11.2 | 5.2 | 0.6 | .492 | .694 |
28. Boston Celtics: Glen Davis
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Now that Perkins has been traded, Davis will assume an even greater role in the Celtics offense. He has always played in crunch time and has proven that he can be relied on in big spots.
He is still behind the Big Four and does not always get the recognition that he deserves despite his role on a championship contender.
| 11.7 | 5.2 | 0.4 | .453 | .753 |
27. L.A. Lakers: Shannon Brown
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Brown is an example of a good player on an even better team. If he decided to sign elsewhere, there is no reason to believe that he wouldn't score around 15 points per game. He is very valuable to the Lakers because he is confident and can come off the bench and play both guard positions.
He can give Kobe a rest and keep the intensity up on the floor.
| 9.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | .366 | .892 |
26. Orlando Magic: Brandon Bass
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Bass is very important to the success of Dwight Howard and the rest of the Magic's group. He is an athletic PF that can stretch the floor and attack the rim. He has made nice strides from this time last year, and continues to improve and work his way into the Magic offense.
What makes him underrated is his importance to the Magic's ability to keep double-teams off of Howard and hit open mid-range jumpers.
| 11.0 | 5.7 | 0.6 | .505 | .825 |
25. Portland Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum
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The 22-year-old Frenchman can guard both small forwards and some power forwards. His athleticism and versatility make him a budding star, yet still not a household name. His skills are improving, and his contributions to the Blazers are becoming well known around the basketball world.
| 11.8 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | .442 |
24. Minnesota Timberwolves: Luke Ridnour
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The Timberwolves are a very bad team. Ridnour has been the starting point guard all year for a team with a position that reminds us of a revolving door. He has a good mid-range game, is a great free throw shooter, and a nice player.
That being said, I like him as a player, but he remains high up on the list because he was selected from the T-Wolves due to lack of other options.
| 11.9 | 5.4 | 1.2 | .444 | .907 |
23. Houston Rockets: Chuck Hayes
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How can you not like a guy that gets almost as many rebounds as he does points? Without Yao, the Rockets became a much smaller team. There has been a platoon of big men this season, but over the last few years, it has been Hayes that has remained one of the steadfast members of the Houston frontcourt.
| 7.4 | 7.2 | 0.7 | .562 | .680 |
22. Dallas Mavericks: Jose Juan Barea
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Ask any Mavericks fan and they will tell you the same thing: JJ Barea is more valuable to us that he is to you. Standing at 6'0'' (barely), Barea has become the primary backup point guard for the Mavs. He is a good shooter, passer, and can play the off guard occasionally.
He will never take over a game, but don't leave him open in a big spot with a wide open shot.
| 9.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | .326 | .860 |
21. Phoenix Suns: Jared Dudley
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Dudley is a fan favorite and the logical successor to the Vince Carter/Grant Hill era. He is a big shooting guard or small forward and has improved his points per game every year he has been in the league.
| 9.5 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.9 | .466 |
20. Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles
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In games that the Jazz win, he scores 14 points per game while only 10 in losses. He is averaging a career high in points and rebounds and should see even more scoring with the departure of Williams.
| 12.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .407 |
19. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan
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DeRozan, in his second year, has almost doubled his point total for the Raptors. Barganani is still the leader of the team, but it is only a matter of time before he turns from the guy you saw in the dunk contest to a legitimate scoring threat.
| 16.1 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 0.9 | .071 |
18. Detroit Pistons: Austin Daye
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The Pistons are in turmoil, but at least they have the young forward, who has been a good second-year player for the team. He is one of the up-and-comers from the 2009 draft class and should continue to make strides.
He needs to become more consistent, but seeing that the Pistons' veterans may not play very much going forward, Daye may become a big contributor.
| 7.4 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | .413 |
17. New York Knicks: Toney Douglas
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Douglas is an important part of the Knicks' transition to the Carmelo Anthony era. He is one of the guards that will see more playing time and has shown that he can score in bunches.
He has been a nice player for the Knicks this season, but few will know his name with all of the star power the Knicks have accumulated.
| 9.1 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .345 |
16. Sacramento Kings: Omri Casspi
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The young forward has been hidden in Sacramento. It will be interesting to see how he does if he leaves the team, but for now, he is somewhat buried behind a lackluster team with shaky performances.
| 9.4 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | .410 |
15. Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee
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McGee averages almost three offensive rebounds a game in addition to career highs in points and overall rebounds. He is quickly asserting himself as one of the more athletic big men and someone who could, at times, simply go off.
| 9.0 | 7.7 | 2.3 | .536 | .597 |
14. L.A. Clippers: Ryan Gomes
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Gomes has bounced around the league in only five years of service, but has been a good role player for the Clippers. Blake Griffin runs the show in Los Angeles, but in order to thrive, the team needs role players like Gomes who can come in and play tough minutes.
He should take his lessons from guys like Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes (solid rebounders, good low-post scorers), and in time, could be a contributor on a contender.
| 8.1 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | .422 |
13. Milwaukee Bucks: Luc Mbah a Moute
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Mbah a Moute has only taken 10-plus shots in a game twice this season. What makes him valuable and underrated is his defense. The Bucks have plenty of guys that can score the ball, but few that have the speed and toughness to guard both small and power forwards.
Playing alongside Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas helped Mbah a Moute develop and learn the importance of roles on a basketball team.
| 5.7 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | .467 |
12. Indiana Pacers: Paul George
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Before getting injured, George was having a slow rookie campaign. Since his return, he is making a good case to the Pacers organization that he is the heir apparent to Danny Granger. He is still in the shadows of a deep Pacers squad, but his youth and upside are both in his favor.
The Fresno State product has good years ahead of him, and as he develops, he will inevitably push Granger out the door.
| 8.1 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | .456 |
11. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ramon Sessions
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Sessions has been one of the bright lights on a poor Cavaliers team. The Cavs have turned it around of late, showing respectability and even stealing a few games from some of the league's best.
Sessions has scored in double figures in every game since Jan. 30 and has been instrumental at the end of close games.
| 12.7 | 5.5 | 0.8 | .300 | .814 |
10. Miami Heat: Erick Dampier
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Dampier is not going to fill up the box score. Between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat have enough scoring to win games. What they do not have is toughness and interior defense. The Miami Heat are not going to win the championship without rebounding and defense.
Dampier will protect the rim, as he he did a few nights ago, committing a flagrant foul. The Heat will not publicly say they condone Dampier's actions, but privately, they liked that someone protected the hoop for a change.
| 2.5 | 3.2 | 0.9 | .614 | .516 |
9. Chicago Bulls: Kurt Thomas
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Thomas only has two games this season scoring more than 10 points. But like Dampier, Thomas' role on the Bulls is to back up Noah, play 20-plus tough minutes per game and rebound the basketball. He will teach Noah invaluable lessons and hopefully give a young Bulls team more experience.
His time as Noah's replacement during his injury has been completely overlooked; Thomas doesn't care, because he is all about winning.
| 4.7 | 5.9 | 0.9 | .524 | .643 |
8. Memphis Grizzlies: Sam Young
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When Rudy Gay went down with injury, Young averaged 13.3 points per game in the month of January. In only his second year, Young has had big-game experience, playing in the Big East, and at 25, is older than some players that have been in the league for years.
| 6.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | .459 | .824 |
7. Golden State Warriors: Reggie Williams
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Williams is a wonderful complement to Steph Curry and Monta Ellis because he is young, athletic, can get out and run, and can shoot the lights out.
He is the third wheel in the crowded backcourt and may thrive elsewhere. He is fearless, drives hard, and has a bright future ahead of him.
| 10.0 | 2.6 | 1.6 | .480 | .764 |
6. New Jersey Nets: Kris Humphries
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Humphries has had a resurrection. He came into the league after only one year in college, and it appears that he has finally found his niche in New Jersey. For those who do not believe in his skills, you better check your reservations at the door, because he is for real.
He has an uncanny nose for the basketball when it is above the rim, and though his offensive skills are limited, he is a good finisher and a beneficiary of Deron Williams.
| 9.2 | 9.5 | 1.0 | .526 | .676 |
5. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha
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This picture says it all. Sefolosha is the Thunder's defensive stopper and a major part of the future and current success of the team. He started all 82 games last season and makes KD's life easier by guarding the other team's best player.
Every great team has one guy who can rise to the occasion with the other team's best. Sefolosha is that guy for the Thunder, and he deserves some recognition.
| 5.0 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .472 | .758 |
4. Denver Nuggets: Aaron Afflalo
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Afflalo and J.R. Smith are the major beneficiaries to the 25 points per game that Carmelo Anthony left behind. Before Anthony's departure, Afflalo was a solid bench performer for the Nuggets and even had one of the best 15 game-winners of the year.
The platoon system was most likely keep Afflalo from stepping up as a major scorer for the team, and therefore, he will continue to remain under the radar for the potentially playoff-bound Nuggets.
| 13.0 | 3.7 | 2.5 | .504 | .858 |
3. New Orleans Hornets: Carl Landry
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The newest member of the Hornets, Landry was acquired because he is one of the most under-appreciated big men in the game. He plays tough minutes and is not afraid to do the dirty work against other, bigger forwards.
With enough playing time and touches, Landry could be one of the more spoken-about forwards; until then, he will remain undervalued.
| 11.8 | 4.7 | .4 | .523 | .667 |
2. Philadelphia 76ers: Louis Williams
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One of the odds-on favorites to win sixth man of the year award, Williams is one of the keys to the 76ers' resurgence. Due to the many storylines of the 2011 Eastern Conference, players like Williams get lost in the shuffle.
Relegated to bench duties, the sixth-year pro took this opportunity and has made himself into one of the best bench performers in the league.
| 13.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | .400 | .829 |
1. San Antonio Spurs: George Hill
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It is a high honor for an organization such as the Spurs to consider trading Tony Parker in order to make room for a young and somewhat unproven, yet budding star.
George Hill showed flashes both this year and last as a potentially elite point guard in the league. The Spurs are not flashy, and their young guys know this. Hill has stayed reserved and when given the opportunity, has thrived.
Though Parker has signed an extension, watch closely to see what the Spurs do with Hill, because he will not stay a secret forever.
| 11.3 | 2.9 | 2.5 | .446 | .874 |
*All statistics courtesy of ESPN.com
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