The NBA playoffs are here and the bright lights are on the league's biggest stars. But let's take a moment to give love to some players who are every bit the equal of those aforementioned "stars but never seem to receive their due accolades. To wit, here is the NBA's "Somehow Still Underrated" team comprised of guys who have been flat out balling for a minimum of five seasons but haven't gotten nearly enough headlines, press or All-Star consideration.
The Starters
Karl Anthony Towns - Minnesota Timberwolves - 7 seasons
True centers that are legitimate three-level scorers are a rarity. Towns is one of the few and also gets it done on the boards, averaging more than 11 per game over his seven seasons. And get this, when it comes to their career numbers, Towns has outperformed 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic in scoring, rebounding, three point shooting AND free throw percentage, and also bests Joel Embiid in all of those categories, with the exception of rebounding where he barely trails (11.4 to 11.3.) Towns also averages more rebounds and assists and has higher field goal, free throw and three point percentages than Anthony Davis. Plus Towns is the only center to win the NBA All-Star Game 3-point contest AND skills challenge. Yet with all that, the guy has only made All-NBA one time (and that was third team selection way back in 2018.)
Nicolas Batum (14 seasons)
His numbers aren't super impressive but it's the Frenchman's ability to fit in and contribute no matter the team (he's been a Blazer, Hornet, and a Clipper) or how many minutes he gets. "Three & D" players have become a necessity in the NBA and Batum is one of the best. He's been a double figure scorer eight times and is also a great passer -- averaging more than five assists per game in four different seasons. A true "glue guy" Batum never fails to crack the rotation regardless of changes to his team's roster and he always seems to be on the floor during those critical last five minutes of the game. If that's not enough, he's regularly called upon to defend the opponent's best wing and has emerged as a feared shot blocker.
Jaylen Brown - Boston Celtics - 6 seasons
Reggie Jackson - Los Angeles Clippers - 13 seasons
The Clippers combo guard has spent most of his career playing second fiddle to guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard. Jackson finally broke out during last season's playoffs when he upped his scoring average to 18 a game as the Clippers bounced top-seeded Utah in the conference semis. Jackson then topped that by scoring over 20 a game and giving the Phoenix backcourt all they could handle in the conference finals. This year, with Leonard out for the season and George missing 51 games, Jackson filled in as the team's number one option by averaging 16.8 and doling out close to five assists. Jackson also routinely closed games for the Clips and led them to wins where they came back from 20+ point deficits an astounding five different times.
21 points... 8 rebounds... 9 assists... That's what Murray averaged this year. The young (25-year-old) star has improved his stats in each of these categories every (full) season he's played and oh by the way, he also led the league in steals this year. Murray only made his first All-Star Game appearance in 2022 as a replacement selection for an injured Draymond Green -- which was a travesty because Murray's points, assists and rebounds were all better than All-Stars Fred Van Vleet and Jimmy Butler, who were both voted in.
The Bench
CJ McCollum - New Orleans Pelicans - 9 seasons
It's no surprise McCollum makes this list; he's been overlooked since his college days at Lehigh, where he finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in the Patriot League and was a 2-time conference player of the year. Despite playing in the same Portland backcourt as Damian Lillard, McCollum developed into a midrange assassin offensively and averaged 19.2 on 45.5% shooting and nearly 40% on threes) while providing leadership and great on-court decision-making. Since moving on to New Orleans, McCollum has upped his game to 24.3 and 5.8 assists over 26 games and led the team to the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Steven Adams - Memphis Grizzlies - 9 seasons
Adams is the epitome of a lunch pail guy and good for a minimum 10 points and 10 rebounds every single night he's out there. He's also one of the strongest big men in the league, which helps make him a force down low on both ends of the court. A perennial top five offensive rebounder and superior passer from the post, Adams has been selfless player in OKC, New Orleans and now Memphis, where he reliably rebounds, fires outlets to initiate the offense, sets great screens, and facilitates for superstar Ja Morant.
Brandon Ingram - New Orleans - 6 seasons
Coming to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade is the best thing that ever happened to this former L.A. Laker. Since that deal, Ingram has won most improved player and become one of the league's most versatile scorers, pouring in 23.4 a game this season -- nearly ten more than he was averaging in Los Angeles. Ingram also length, which makes it difficult for opponents to get good looks against him. Though he did make the All-Star game last year, Ingram's skill and production has been too often ignored since Zion Williamson became his teammate, but make no mistake, right now Ingram is the overall better player.
Spencer Dinwiddie - Dallas Mavericks - 8 seasons
Maybe it's the fact that his name makes him sound less like an NBA player and more like a social studies teacher but Dinwiddie is the perfect third guard. With the exception of 2020-21, when he only played three games for Brooklyn, Dinwiddie has been a double figure scorer for six straight seasons. He's also proven he can carry a team offensively. In 2019-20, he averaged 20 points, 7 assists and was the Nets leading scorer before Kyrie Irving came to the squad late in the season. Dinwiddie plays in Dallas now and when Luka Doncic is off the court, Dinwiddie is the team's clear go-to guy, in part because he's unafraid to take big shots late in games.
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