Who in your opinion are the most underrated players ever?

Post #1 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:11 am

You can be a homer on this one, because I think often times small market team stars who are difference makers get FAR less exposure and recognition than bigger market stars.

My homer example is KJ. He didn't start as a rookie because he was behind Mark Price, but got traded AS a rookie to a 27 win team for Larry Nance, who was a legit all star at the time.

KJ immediately put up unbelievable numbers, and in his first year as a full time starter they won 55 games and got to the WCF and averaged 20.4 ppg and 12.2 apg. Can you imagine that today? Kyrie, for example, has been compared to him, but he didn't sniff that.

In his third year, he averaged 22.5 ppg and 11.5 apg, and led the Suns once again to the WCF.

4th year 22.2 and 11.1. 5th year 19.7 and 10.7.

Then Barkley arrived and often dominated the ball and his stats dipped a bit, but he still had monster clutch games.

Can you imagine ANY pg coming into the league today and coming close to those numbers?

Another guy I always thought was underrated was KG. Of course he is highly regarded but wasn't nearly as highly regarded before his time in Boston, but I think if you switch his situation with Duncan, they probably have somewhat similar success in their respective situations. Not saying he is better than Duncan, but he is certainly close.

Webber is probably a bit underrated too, though he did seem to shy away from big time situations for whatever reason, maybe because of the NCAA championship fiasco, because had he had the confidence to take those shots, Sacramento wins at least one championship and maybe more. They were the best team in 2002 and 2003, but unfortunately he had a severe injury in the playoffs in 2003 (and I think we all know what happened in 2002).

Takingbaconback · Post #2 » by **Takingbaconback** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:15 am

I always thought Sam Cassell was underrated. He seemed to take his game to another level in important games and hit a lot of big shots. Gotta love the way he abused those guards on the block and he always played with intelligence and composure.

Post #3 » by **montestewart** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:26 am

Larry Nance, Mark Price, Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief, Jeff Hornacek, Horace Grant, Buck Williams, all well regarded during their careers, but their places in NBA history seem underrated to me. Hard to say. Maybe the most underrated is someone I never heard of at all, but should have.

raptor jesus · Post #4 » by **raptor jesus** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:27 am

I think a lot of people have already forgotten how great Ray Allen was. He won't slip into obscurity being the all time 3 point leader and hitting the shot in game 6, but he was also an incredible all around scoring weapon, facilitator, and the epitome of smooth during his prime. I found his game much more pretty to watch then say Kobe at the time.

Post #5 » by **bondom34** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:27 am

Well, til I came to RealGM, specifically the PC board, I never really appreciated how great Dirk is. I think everyone knows he's an all timer, but just HOW great he really is and has been is remarkable, and people don't realize it.

Kabookalu · Post #6 » by **Kabookalu** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:29 am

I felt like Erick Dampier was underrated because he self proclaimed himself to be the second best center in the league. He was nothing more than a good defensive center, but because of what he said it rubbed off people the wrong way and he was treated as a scrub instead.

Note I'm only going off by the reaction and opinions from RealGM.

snoopdogg88 · Post #7 » by **snoopdogg88** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:36 am

Any star who didn't play for a glamour franchise

We know all about the 80's Lakers and Celtics and Sixers

The Bucks had some great stars, The Suns, Cavs, 70's Bullets and Sonics

Ugalde · Post #8 » by **Ugalde** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:39 am

I get a feeling there will be a lot of good ones in this thread. I'd personally like to add Melo. I am not a Melo stan, I admit there's even times when I hate him. But when you watch him as much as I do you start to appreciate how much he cares about the game. He really plays hard, and his defense is way underrated. Its not amazing, no highlight blocks, or amazing help coming from him, but its not like he gets beat by his man, or gets caught out of position, often.

Really didn't like him when we first got him but I personally think he hasn't had a coach who has put him in the types of offenses that he would flourish in. I think the triangle will be perfect for him and Phil will really help him step his game up.

Who knows though. This season will be interesting for Melo I believe.

Post #9 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:40 am

raptor jesus wrote:I think a lot of people have already forgotten how great Ray Allen was. He won't slip into obscurity being the all time 3 point leader and hitting the shot in game 6, but he was also an incredible all around scoring weapon, facilitator, and the epitome of smooth during his prime. I found his game much more pretty to watch then say Kobe at the time.

I agree. I think most probably don't remember how important he was for the Bucks when they probably should have gotten to the finals, and also how he almost single handedly got the Sonics into the playoffs and playing really well. He helped open things up for Lewis and Radmanovic on that team and was the leader....had he played with Shaq, he would have been more highly regarded than Kobe. What did Lewis and Radmanovic do after playing with him? Not much.

Post #10 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:42 am

bondom34 wrote:Well, til I came to RealGM, specifically the PC board, I never really appreciated how great Dirk is. I think everyone knows he's an all timer, but just HOW great he really is and has been is remarkable, and people don't realize it.

I agree with this. I actually thought he should have won the MVP when Rose did, and I felt that way before they won the finals. I remember some media arguments were that he missed games at the beginning of the season, but imo that just emphasized how mediocre the team was without him, and I think it wasn't even THAT many games he missed.

majortom71 · Post #11 » by **majortom71** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:44 am

2 quickly off the top of my head
Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen

dice · Post #12 » by **dice** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:47 am

Ugalde wrote:I get a feeling there will be a lot of good ones in this thread. I'd personally like to add Melo

oh for god's sake

really like the OP's choice. KJ could really break people down and get to the hole

NaturalBuns · Post #13 » by **NaturalBuns** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:52 am

majortom71 wrote:2 quickly off the top of my head
Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen

Scottie gets plenty of love IMO.
for me its Chris Webber

Post #14 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:55 am

dice wrote:
Ugalde wrote:I get a feeling there will be a lot of good ones in this thread. I'd personally like to add Melo

oh for god's sake

really like the OP's choice. KJ could really break people down and get to the hole

Thanks. If he would have had any sort of longevity, he would be a sure HOF guy, but it looks like he won't get in. But just what he did for the Suns and that drastic turnaround, was amazing.

Personally, as a die hard Suns fan, I think he made more of an impact (or at least in my eyes was more impressive because he was so young) than Nash, because he had a worse supporting cast those first four years before the arrival of Barkley. But he would have never in a million years had a chance of sniffing MVP with Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc in the league.

As a Suns fan, I don't want to diminish Nash's MVPs, but he did benefit from Kobe being on a Lakers team that just lost Shaq, Shaq taking a back seat to Wade, LeBron not quite there yet, etc. KJ did the EXACT same thing in 88-89 and 89-90 as a 2nd and 3rd year pro (turning the team around in a drastic way and getting them to the WCF twice, which, to me is still amazing).

Frank Dux · Post #15 » by **Frank Dux** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 4:59 am

Currently: Goran Dragic

I often see top ten position lists here where he's left off. Casual fans have no idea who he is either. He was arguably a top 5 guard last season.

Frank Lee · Post #16 » by **Frank Lee** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:01 am

here's two

I know the Missile did make the Hall.... but Alex English was about as smooth and clutch as they come.

Post #17 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:05 am

Frank Dux wrote:Currently: Goran Dragon

I often see top ten position lists here where he's left off. Casual fans have no idea who he is either. He was arguably a top 5 guard last season.

Yeah, many Suns fans agree. He made all NBA third team, so at least the media recognized him and even Zach Lowe said he was his favorite player to watch.

hands11 · Post #18 » by **hands11** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:06 am

For years back in the day it was Stockton.

Just got lost in the MJ, Magic, Bird and even his own teammate Malone... Noise

Wigginstime · Post #19 » by **Wigginstime** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:10 am

Adrian Dantley - put up +30ppg at his peak and was never considered a top 5 player in the league. Top 10 all time on the scoring list. Despite being one of the greatest scores ever most people on this board never watched and him and he was passed over multiple HOF ballots before finally getting in.

hands11 · Post #20 » by **hands11** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:12 am

dice wrote:
Ugalde wrote:I get a feeling there will be a lot of good ones in this thread. I'd personally like to add Melo

oh for god's sake

really like the OP's choice. KJ could really break people down and get to the hole

loved watching KJ.. Dude was sick. Unstoppable. And played like such a warrior.