RealGM

The Most Objectively Underrated Players in the NBA

We know, we know—no one is talking about how awesome your favorite player is. But we figured out—based on Wikipedia pageview data—the NBA players who are actually the most overlooked relative to their production



1. Dewayne Dedmon -- Hawks

RPM (RPM Rank): 0.05 (142)
Pageviews (Pageviews Rank): 14,975 (406)
Actual Page Views [Logged]: 9.61
Expected Page Views [Logged]: 10.86
Difference: minus-1.25

Dedmon is the most underrated player in the NBA. It’s not because he’s an unheralded world-beater, it’s just that Dedmon has a pitiful amount of pageviews for being a decent NBA player. The Atlanta Hawks center has a better than average real plus-minus, but his Wikipedia page is one of the least-visited in the league. Dedmon’s Wikipedia page ranks 406th among all players that have logged at least one minute this season. There are more people at the average Hawks game (16,535) than visits to Dedmon’s Wikipedia page since the start of the season (14,975). Dedmon deserves better. Last week, he had one of the best all-around games of his career in a win against the 76ers, posting 19 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

Brook Lopez’s transition into “Splash Mountain” has received a lot of praise, but Dedmon has also added the 3-ball to his game without the same fanfare. Through his first four seasons in the league, Dedmon took just one 3-point attempt; in his two seasons with Atlanta, he’s attempted 241 3s and has made them at a 36 percent clip.

If the trade rumors surrounding Jeremy Lin are true, playoff-bound teams in need of a backup center may want to also ask about Dedmon, who, like Lin, has an expiring contract.

3. Marvin Williams, Hornets



RPM (RPM Rank): 1.86 (56)
Pageviews (Pageviews Rank): 27,867 (309)
Actual Page Views [Logged]: 10.24
Expected Page Views [Logged]: 11.38
Difference: minus-1.15

Kawhi Leonard, who can’t check the “I am not a robot” box on a CAPTCHA test, is the best player in the NBA that doesn’t use social media. Williams may be the second best. With no Twitter or Instagram, Williams lacks a national profile, but Hornets fans know exactly what they’re going to get from Williams on a nightly basis, and there’s value in a player who rarely doesn’t meet expectations, even if they aren’t high.

macd-gm wrote:I don't know if they are just talking about trade targets but damn seems like John Collins is way underrated.

personanongrata wrote:

macd-gm wrote:I don't know if they are just talking about trade targets but damn seems like John Collins is way underrated.

It's based on visits to their Wikipedia page and frequency of internet searches. Apparently no one goes to Dwayne D.'s page.

personanongrata wrote:It's based on visits to their Wikipedia page and frequency of internet searches. Apparently no one goes to Dwayne D.'s page.

Chris Guest wrote:Atlanta Hawks: In Contract Year, Dewayne Dedmon is Crushing It

A swift statistical exploration of another strong season for Dewayne Dedmon of the Atlanta Hawks.

Though Dewayne Dedmon has been in and out of the lineup for the Atlanta Hawks with recurring lower-body injuries, he has produced some of the best numbers on the team over the past month and is likely only increasing his trade value ahead of the February deadline.

Who do you think leads the Hawks in three-point percentage over the past month? Rookie sniper Kevin Huerter (aka Red Pepper)? Nope. What about #5 overall pick Trae Young, known for bombing from the logo on his triples? I’m afraid not.

It’s actually lanky seven-footer Dewayne Dedmon, who has shot an astonishing 48.9 percent from long distance on 3.9 attempts per game to pace the Hawks.

Even across the league, that number is excellent.

That near-50 percent clip is good for 4th in the entire league over the past month.