10 Most Underrated NBA Players You Need to Know Right Now

Let me tell you something about the NBA that doesn't get talked about enough - while everyone's obsessing over the next superteam or which superstar might demand a trade, there's an entire class of players quietly putting in work that fundamentally changes games. I've been watching basketball religiously since the early 2000s, and what fascinates me most isn't always the headline-makers but those subtle difference-makers who fly under the radar. The Western Conference's incredible diversity of champions recently - six different franchises making the Finals over six consecutive seasons, something we haven't seen since the 1972-73 through 1977-78 era - tells you everything about how depth matters more than ever.

That statistical nugget about Western Conference diversity between 1972-73 and 1977-78 isn't just trivia - it's evidence that when parity increases, role players and secondary stars become disproportionately valuable. During that 70s stretch, players like Bob Dandridge and Maurice Lucas didn't get the coverage of Kareem or Dr. J, but they were absolutely essential to their teams' championship DNA. Fast forward to today, and we're seeing the same phenomenon play out - which brings me directly to my list of the 10 most underrated NBA players you need to know right now.

I was discussing this with a scout friend recently who put it perfectly: "The gap between the 50th best player and the 100th best player in the league has never been smaller, but the impact gap between understanding how to use them versus not is massive." Take Derrick White of the Celtics - casual fans might not realize he's one of only five players last season to average at least 15 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block while shooting over 38% from three. The others? Jokic, LeBron, Paul George, and Mikal Bridges - pretty decent company. Yet White rarely gets mentioned among the league's elite two-way guards.

Then there's Trey Murphy III in New Orleans. I've watched this kid develop over three seasons, and his combination of size (6'8") and shooting (career 39.3% from three on high volume) is virtually unprecedented. The Pelicans are 17-3 over the past two seasons when he scores 20+ points, yet how many casual fans could pick him out of a lineup? The advanced metrics love him too - his player efficiency rating of 16.8 last season placed him in the 82nd percentile among forwards, yet he's never made an All-Star team and probably won't for another couple years.

What strikes me about compiling this list of the 10 most underrated NBA players you need to know right now is how many of them are big men who've adapted to the modern game. Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year, but did you know he's one of only three players 6'9" or taller to make 150+ threes at 38% or better last season? The other two are Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns - not bad company for a player who went undrafted. I remember watching Reid in summer league thinking he had nice touch but wondering if he'd ever find his role - now he's arguably the most skilled backup center in basketball.

The international pipeline keeps delivering these hidden gems too. Bogdan Bogdanovic (the Hawks version) has been so consistently excellent for so long that we've started taking him for granted. He's averaged between 16-20 points for five straight seasons while shooting 38% from deep on high difficulty attempts. When Trae Young was out last season, Bogdanovic actually increased his scoring to 22.3 points per game on elite efficiency - numbers that would make him a clear second option on most playoff teams.

Defensive specialists particularly get shortchanged in today's highlight-driven coverage. Alex Caruso made First Team All-Defense, but I'd argue even that undersells his impact. The Bulls' defensive rating improves by 8.2 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court versus when he sits - that's the difference between the best defense in the league and a bottom-five unit. I've charted his rotations during games, and his basketball IQ is just off the charts - he's consistently two steps ahead of the offense.

The financial landscape also creates underrated situations. Herb Jones is making less than $13 million annually through 2027 while providing All-Defense level performance - that might be the best non-rookie contract in basketball. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams in Oklahoma City gets overshadowed by SGA and Chet Holmgren, but his mid-range game is already among the league's best - he shot 51.2% from 10-19 feet last season, better than Devin Booker or Kevin Durant.

Looking at the Western Conference's champion diversity - with Denver, Golden State, Phoenix, the Lakers, and Dallas all making recent Finals appearances - the common thread beyond superstar talent has been these high-impact secondary players. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has now been a starter on two different championship teams with his 3-and-D excellence. Bruce Brown Jr. contributed meaningfully to Denver's title run before getting paid in Indiana. These aren't coincidences - they're evidence that building a contender requires both stars and strategically deployed role players.

As we head toward what promises to be another unpredictable season, keeping an eye on these underappreciated talents might give you the edge in understanding how the playoff picture will shake out. The next time your team makes a surprise Finals run, look beyond the headline names - you'll likely find one of these underrated difference-makers doing the dirty work that makes championship basketball possible.