Most Underrated NBA Players

Carmelo Anthony isn't overrated, but these NBA players are.

Carmelo Anthony to Visit Houston, Dallas, and Chicago - We’ve heard all about the teams interested in the services of Carmelo Anthony. Well now official team visits are coming to fruition for the New York Knicks small forward. ESPN is reporting that Melo has decided to first visit the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Chicago Bulls once teams are allowed to meet with free agents on July 1. In addition, also according to ESPN, even though the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t on Anthony’s current visit list, their superstar Kobe Bryant plans to recruit Melo to the team. Bryant, a close friend of Anthony’s, spoke to Melo earlier this week and plans to meet with him as well.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

1 / 12

Sorry Melo, But These Guys Are Really Underrated - Carmelo Anthony told ESPN on Wednesday that he thinks he’s “the most underrated superstar” in the NBA. C’mon, ’Melo. The facts that you have seven All-Star appearances to your name and won the scoring title in the 2012-13 season doesn't make you an underrated superstar. However, if Anthony wants underrated, we’ll will give him a list of unsung players in the league.(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Kyle Lowry - We begin with Kyle Lowry, a bulldog of a point guard for the Toronto Raptors. Don’t believe us? At just six feet, Lowry gave his competition that work last year, posting averages of 17.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. The kid’s thorough. He then upped his scoring average to just over 21 points per game during the playoffs.  (Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

2 / 12

Kyle Lowry - We begin with Kyle Lowry, a bulldog of a point guard for the Toronto Raptors. Don’t believe us? At just six feet, Lowry gave his competition that work last year, posting averages of 17.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. The kid’s thorough. He then upped his scoring average to just over 21 points per game during the playoffs.  (Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns - Under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, the Phoenix Suns battled for a playoff spot till the very end of the season before just coming up short in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Suns' aim now should be keeping its core intact, perhaps looking to add a veteran in the offseason, and making the playoff cut in 2015. By all means, their ambition should be to keep two-guard Goran Dragic (20 points per game this season) from leaving at the end of next season. There's also the matter of signing a long-term deal with restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

3 / 12

Goran Dragic - Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic was a Top 20 scorer last season, putting up 20.3 points per game. What’s best about Dragic is the flair that he plays the game with; a perfect component in the Suns’ high-powered offense. Let’s see if he can help lead the Suns to a playoff spot this year. Underrated, but undeterred.   (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Arron Affalo - Don’t’ sleep on Arron Afflalo. All the 6-foot-5, 215-pound shooting guard has done is improve his scoring in each and every season. Think about this…Afflalo went from averaging 3.7 points per game in limited action during his rookie year to posting a career-high 18.2 points per game last season with the Orlando Magic. Now back with the Denver Nuggets, just imagine what he has in store for 2014-15.  (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

4 / 12

Arron Affalo - Don’t’ sleep on Arron Afflalo. All the 6-foot-5, 215-pound shooting guard has done is improve his scoring in each and every season. Think about this…Afflalo went from averaging 3.7 points per game in limited action during his rookie year to posting a career-high 18.2 points per game last season with the Orlando Magic. Now back with the Denver Nuggets, just imagine what he has in store for 2014-15.  (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Paul Millsap - The stat line of 17.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game represent big-time numbers, so it’s amazing that Paul Millsap’s name doesn’t resonate amongst the best big men in the league. It should, though. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

5 / 12

Paul Millsap - The stat line of 17.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game represent big-time numbers, so it’s amazing that Paul Millsap’s name doesn’t resonate amongst the best big men in the league. It should, though. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Taj Gibson - The Chicago Bulls are so confident in Taj Gibson at the four-spot that they amnestied former power forward Carlos Boozer this past summer. Perhaps more than Boozer, Gibson is a bruiser. The Brooklynite is never afraid to mix it up in the paint and has a nice touch as evidenced by his 13 points per game last season.  (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

6 / 12

Taj Gibson - The Chicago Bulls are so confident in Taj Gibson at the four-spot that they amnestied former power forward Carlos Boozer this past summer. Perhaps more than Boozer, Gibson is a bruiser. The Brooklynite is never afraid to mix it up in the paint and has a nice touch as evidenced by his 13 points per game last season.  (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Zach Randolph - Be clear — Zach Randolph is an All-Star caliber player, having made the team twice in his 13-year NBA career. Yet, it’s a shame that he isn’t mentioned as flat out one of the best big men that the league has. Beside being a walking-breathing double-double — averages of 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season are proof — Z-Bo has great hands and the shooter’s touch of a guard. Finesse, power and don’t forget about his toughness. Sleep on him if you want…but he’s going to put numbers on the board night in and night out. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

7 / 12

Zach Randolph - Be clear — Zach Randolph is an All-Star caliber player, having made the team twice in his 13-year NBA career. Yet, it’s a shame that he isn’t mentioned as flat out one of the best big men that the league has. Beside being a walking-breathing double-double — averages of 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season are proof — Z-Bo has great hands and the shooter’s touch of a guard. Finesse, power and don’t forget about his toughness. Sleep on him if you want…but he’s going to put numbers on the board night in and night out. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Al Jefferson - Al Jefferson isn’t going to be held out of the All-Star Game for much longer. The Charlotte Hornets center’s 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last season represent his grown-man game aptly. And he’s likely to feast even more next season with the Hornets addition of Lance Stephenson and working with Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing. Underrated now, but not for long. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

8 / 12

Al Jefferson - Al Jefferson isn’t going to be held out of the All-Star Game for much longer. The Charlotte Hornets center’s 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game last season represent his grown-man game aptly. And he’s likely to feast even more next season with the Hornets addition of Lance Stephenson and working with Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing. Underrated now, but not for long. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

DeAndre Jordan - Think the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul or Blake Griffin come to mind first. Don’t forget about their 6-foot-11 anchor in the middle, DeAndre Jordan, who put numbers on the board (10.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks) like it was light work last season. All it will take is a string of All-Star appearances for DJ to permanently shed any thought of him still being underrated. (PhThearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)oto:

9 / 12

DeAndre Jordan - Think the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul or Blake Griffin come to mind first. Don’t forget about their 6-foot-11 anchor in the middle, DeAndre Jordan, who put numbers on the board (10.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks) like it was light work last season. All it will take is a string of All-Star appearances for DJ to permanently shed any thought of him still being underrated. (PhThearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)oto:

Wizards Slip Past Bulls, Up 3-1 - The Washington Wizards took a commanding 3-1 first-round playoff series lead over the Chicago Bulls after Trevor Ariza poured in 30 points to lead Washington to a 98-89 home victory over Chicago in Game 4 on Sunday. The Wizards franchise, which is seeking to win a playoff series for only the third time since the 1970s, can advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a Game 5 road victory in Chicago. (Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

10 / 12

Trevor Ariza - Trevor Ariza is one of those veteran role players who could be a cornerstone of a franchise if utilized right. That, and as a 6-foot-8, 220-pound shooting guard, Ariza is a matchup nightmare. He routinely punishes smaller guards, which most players at the position are, and has deceptive moves off the dribble. Nothing shabby about the 14.4 points per game he averaged last season for the Washington Wizards. Yeah, they’re going to miss that. The Houston Rockets are returning with a solid player. (Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Draymond Green - The Dancing Bear’s numbers (6.2 points, 5.0 rebounds), didn’t exactly jump off the page for the Golden State Warriors last season, but if one watches the 6-foot-7 small forward closely, you’ll realize he does a little bit of it all. Scoring, defending…and the dirty work. And he's only going to get better.  (Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

11 / 12

Draymond Green - The Dancing Bear’s numbers (6.2 points, 5.0 rebounds), didn’t exactly jump off the page for the Golden State Warriors last season, but if one watches the 6-foot-7 small forward closely, you’ll realize he does a little bit of it all. Scoring, defending…and the dirty work. And he's only going to get better.  (Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Wesley Matthews - There’s a good chance that Wesley Matthews will continue to fly under the radar playing alongside the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard on the Portland Trail Blazers. But it’s likely that none of the shooting guard’s defenders feel like he’s underrated. That’s because he gave opposing guards the business all last season, dropping 16.4 points per game on their heads with ease. That marked a career-high for the 6-foot-5, 220-pound two-guard.  (Photo: Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

12 / 12

Wesley Matthews - There’s a good chance that Wesley Matthews will continue to fly under the radar playing alongside the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard on the Portland Trail Blazers. But it’s likely that none of the shooting guard’s defenders feel like he’s underrated. That’s because he gave opposing guards the business all last season, dropping 16.4 points per game on their heads with ease. That marked a career-high for the 6-foot-5, 220-pound two-guard.  (Photo: Chris Covatta/Getty Images)