When teams ascend from the depths of the NBA, it’s easy to wonder how once-mediocre clubs orchestrated their rise.
For every NBA superstar or struggling squad, however, there’s usually an underrated player holding the core of a roster together or poised to unleash a breakout season.
Whether an under-the-radar talent or tremendous role player, 10 professionals aren’t given enough credit for their contributions on the court.
But it’s time to change that.
10. Rudy Gobert, Center, Utah Jazz
The Denver Nuggets selected Rudy Gobert with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft in order to acquire Erick Green from the Utah Jazz. Two years later, that trade is looking more lopsided by the day.
Gobert, a 7’1″ rim-protector from France, has earned a properly fitting nickname: The Stifle Tower. He’s swatted 2.3 shots per game—the fourth-best mark in the league—despite averaging a meager 22.7 minutes.
Since the Jazz shipped Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 20, however, Gobert has racked up 30.8 minutes, 9.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per outing.
The 22-year-old has started to establish himself as one of the league’s best interior defenders.
9. James Johnson, Forward, Toronto Raptors
Courtesy of USA Today: Johnson is a top-level bench player.
How underrated is James Johnson? He’s been in the NBA for six seasons yet still doesn’t have a picture on his Basketball-Reference.com profile.
A quintessential role player for the Toronto Raptors, the University of Wyoming product contributes as an efficient offensive complement and tenacious defender. Johnson boasts 118 and 103 offensive and defensive ratings, respectively.
What’s more, he has accrued the eighth-best true shooting percentage (.645) and buried at least 50 percent of his field-goal attempts during each of the Raptors’ last 10 contests. The 6’9″ forward has also tallied 1.2 blocks and 0.8 blocks per game.
Johnson isn’t and won’t be a superstar, but he’s a sensational bench asset.
8. Darren Collison, Guard, Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings allowed Isaiah Thomas chase the money in free agency last summer, instead bringing in Darren Collison for nearly half the price.
Unfortunately for the point guard, he’s likely out for the remainder of the year due to a hip injury sustained in early February. Nevertheless, that doesn’t diminish Collison’s impact on the Kings.
In 45 appearances this season, the sixth-year pro averaged a career-high 34.8 minutes, 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per contest alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.
7. Nikola Vucevic, Center, Orlando Magic
When the Philadelphia 76ers tabbed Nikola Vucevic as the No. 16 overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft, the left-handed center wasn’t expected to develop into one of the most prolific centers.
Now donning an Orlando Magic jersey after being involved in the Dwight Howard blockbuster trade in 2012, Vucevic has recorded 15.4 points and 11.5 rebounds in 189 career games with the team.
He’s one of only 12 players to have averaged a double-double since the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign. Vucevic is worth every bit of the $48 million extension that kicks in next year.
6. Paul Millsap, Forward, Atlanta Hawks
Courtesy of USA Today: Millsap is one of the reasons Atlanta is East’s best.
The Atlanta Hawks supposedly don’t have any stars. Two-time All-Star Paul Millsap challenges that notion, however.
A 6’8″ power forward out of Louisiana Tech University, he’s tallied at least 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game in each of the last two seasons.
Millsap is a predominant reason the Hawks tout the best record in the NBA, and Atlanta will rely on him for continued all-around production in order to make a deep postseason run.
5. Kyle Lowry, Guard, Toronto Raptors
Pop quiz! Name the only three players to register 10.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game in the last five NBA campaigns. The answers are LeBron James, John Wall and, yes, Kyle Lowry.
The Raptors’ point guard played four seasons as a reserve for the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets but has slowly emerged as a top backcourt talent. In 2013-14, Lowry helped lift Toronto to its first playoff berth after a six-season drought.
He was voted into his first All-Star game this year, earning the start alongside Wall. Lowry has tallied 18.0 points, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals per outing, propelling the Raptors to a 12-game lead in the Atlantic division.
Toronto will be without Lowry for a few games while he recovers from a hand injury, but the ninth-year guard should take his time. The franchise basically has a postseason spot wrapped up, and Lowry will make or break the team’s chances.
4. Gordon Hayward, Forward, Utah Jazz
Commonly remembered for nearly connecting on a half-court buzzer-beater in the 2010 NCAA national championship game, Gordon Hayward has put together an excellent NBA career. But too few fans know about it.
He’s evolved from an off-the-bench asset into a franchise player for the Utah Jazz, netting a career-best 19.5 points per contest. In each of his five professional seasons, the Butler product has increased his scoring output.
Hayward has also raised his personal-worst field-goal and three-point marks, Last year, he managed a meager 41.3 percent clip from the field and 30.4 beyond the arc. In 2014-15, he’s lifted them to 45.1 and 37.7, respectively.
Utah spent $63 million to retain Hayward last season, but between him and Gobert, the future is bright in Salt Lake City.
3. Draymond Green, Forward, Golden State Warriors
Courtesy of USA Today: Green is considered one of the top Defensive Player of the Year candidates.
He’s gaining recognition on the national scene, but Draymond Green doesn’t receive enough credit for being one of the most versatile players in the league.
The small forward is quick enough to defend point guards but can play center in clutch-time lineups, which allows the Golden State Warriors to play a version small-ball unmatched by any other roster.
When Green is on the court, the Golden State’s offensive and defensive ratings are 113.8 and 98.2, respectively. Without him, the numbers fall and rise to 107.0 and 105.5, a massive 14.1 total difference.
Green’s rookie contract expires after the season, and he figures to rake in a well-deserved eight-figure payday.
2. DeAndre Jordan, Center, Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin demand most headlines surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers. However, DeAndre Jordan is a critical part of the best basketball team that plays home games in the Staples Center.
The 6’11” center was deserving of an All-Star bid this season but was trapped behind the star-studded Western Conference frontcourt. Jordan has scored 11.2 points and snatched a league-high 14.4 rebounds per night, swatting 2.3 shots for good measure.
What’s more, he’s racked up at least 15 boards in nine consecutive games. One more 15-plus performance would give Jordan only the third streak in the last 10 years that reached double digits.
If the 6’11”, 250-pounder could raise his putrid 41.0 free-throw percentage, he’d be even more dangerous. But even without that improvement, Jordan’s 129 offensive rating and 99 defensive rating speak for themselves.
1. Mike Conley, Guard, Memphis Grizzlies
The point guard doesn’t deserve to be underrated. Mike Conley is the force that drives the Memphis Grizzlies.
He’s guided the franchise into perennial playoff contention, helping the team reach four consecutive postseasons for the first time in club history and leading them to No. 5 this year.
Conley has started 537 games since entering the NBA, averaging 13.4 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per appearance and shooting 44.2 percent overall. This year, he’s tallied 16.5/5.3/3.2/1.3, respectively.
It’s time for Conley to get respect as an elite point guard. After all, that’s what he is.
Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and are accurate as of March 3.
Photo: USA Today