With what Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden have done so far this season, it should be no surprise that they have dominated the headlines. However, with so much talk about the top superstars there have been a number of quality players that have not received the recognition they deserve for what they have done so far in 2016-17. Here is a look at the most underrated players in the NBA this season.
PG: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Walker has overcome questions about his size, vision and ability as a floor general to emerge as one of the best point guards in the NBA. He has followed up a breakout 2015-16 season with an excellent encore performance – one that very well may land him in the All-Star Game. Walker has posted even better numbers as he has averaged 22.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds with 2.7 three-point shots per game this season. Charlotte currently owns the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference and Walker is the biggest reason why they will have a chance to secure home court advantage for the opening round of the playoffs this season.
SG: Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Bradley has long been known as a defensive stopper but his all-around game has really come around over the last four seasons. Now it’s to the point where he has become a more complete player than most recognize. Bradley has still averaged 1.5 combined blocks and steals per game but his other numbers are up across the board as he has averaged 17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists through 34 games this season. He’s one of the most valuable assets in fantasy basketball, but now the non-fantasy people are starting to appreciate him. Bradley’s 48.2 field goal percentage and 2.0 three-point shots per game both represent career-highs along with his 40.0 three-point percentage. Bradley has emerged as Boston’s second-leading scorer behind Thomas and his dominance this season should have him on the radar as one of the most underrated players in the NBA.
PG: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
It didn’t take long for Russell to seize the spotlight following Kobe Bryant’s retirement and Byron Scott’s exit. At first, he had the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons. In his rookie season, he put fellow teammate Nick Young on blast when he accidentally outed him for cheating. Although many people felt this would be an egregious moment that would live with him forever, Russell has put this in the past with his excellent play.
The second-year point guard has averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Russell has hit 40.1-percent of his shots from the field while making 2.4 three-point shots per game on 38.9-percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Lakers have a lot of work to do when it comes to rebuilding a championship-caliber team but they clearly are in good shape at the point guard position with a franchise player to build around in Russell.
PG: George Hill, Utah Jazz
Utah’s acquisition of Hill remains one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. Hill was considered a throwaway for the Indiana Pacers. Remember, they felt that he was a player that didn’t fit their offense, that he had already reached his potential in the NBA and that he was more of a quality bench guy than a quality starter. All of those things have been proved wrong as he’s been the ideal fit in Utah.
The trade provided the Jazz with a veteran point guard that knows how to maximize the potential of the young players around him while thriving in a leadership role. Hill has held his own from a production standpoint as well by averaging 18.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game despite dealing with lingering hip and concussion issues. Hill still has a lot left in the tank at 30-years-old and if he can stay healthy this season, then he could help lead the Jazz back to the postseason. They have long had a cast of young, talented player but they needed someone to come in and lead. He’s done that and as a result, has been one of the most underrated players in the game.
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