Every basketball fan can name the top 10 greatest players ever. But what about the players who were great but never got their due? The ones who anchored championship teams, put up elite stats, or changed the game without the fame? Here are 20 of the most underrated players in NBA history.
The Defensive Anchors
Ben Wallace — An undrafted player who became a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and led the 2004 Pistons to a championship over the heavily-favored Lakers. Wallace proved you could be the most impactful player on the floor without scoring.
Sidney Moncrief — A two-time DPOY (1983, 1984) who was also one of the best two-way guards of his era. Moncrief didn't make the Hall of Fame until 2019, decades after his playing days.
Bobby Jones — The ultimate glue guy on the 1983 champion Sixers. Jones was a six-time All-Defensive First Team player who did everything asked of him without complaint.
The Playmakers
Mark Price — One of the greatest shooters of the pre-Curry era. Price was a four-time All-Star with the Cavaliers who shot 90% from the free throw line for his career and was a genuine point guard who could score at every level.
Tim Hardaway — His killer crossover was iconic, but Hardaway's overall game was elite. He made five All-Star teams and was the engine of those fun early-90s Warriors teams.
Rod Strickland — An elite playmaker who averaged 8+ assists per game multiple times but never made an All-Star team. Strickland could get to the rim against anyone.
The Scorers
Adrian Dantley — A two-time scoring champion who averaged 30+ points per game twice. Dantley was one of the most efficient scorers of his era but is rarely mentioned in conversations about the greatest scorers ever.
World B. Free — Yes, that was his legal name. Free averaged 20+ points per game seven times and once scored 20.3 points per game off the bench. He could fill it up from anywhere.
Alex English — The all-time leading scorer of the 1980s. English scored more points in that decade than Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, or anyone else. Yet he's rarely mentioned in "greatest of the 80s" conversations.
The All-Around Stars
Chris Webber — Five-time All-Star, one of the most skilled power forwards ever. Webber's Sacramento Kings teams were appointment television, and his passing ability at 6'10" was ahead of its time.
Pau Gasol — Kobe's championship partner and one of the most skilled big men in NBA history. Gasol's passing, shooting, and footwork made him a nightmare for defenses.
Rasheed Wallace — A 6'11" forward who could shoot threes, post up, and defend at an elite level. Wallace was the missing piece on the 2004 champion Pistons and the 2000 and 2001 Blazers teams that nearly knocked off the Lakers.
The Unsung Champions
Dennis Johnson — Won a championship with Seattle in 1979 and two more with the Celtics in the 1980s. Larry Bird called DJ the best player he ever played with.
Michael Cooper — The defensive stopper on the Showtime Lakers. Cooper won the 1987 DPOY and was tasked with guarding the opposing team's best player every night while playing alongside Magic and Kareem.
Horace Grant — The third star on the first Bulls three-peat. Grant was an elite defender and rebounder who sacrificed personal stats for team success.
The Modern Era
Mike Conley — For years, Conley was considered the best player to never make an All-Star team. He finally made it in 2021 after a decade of elite two-way play in Memphis.
Kyle Lowry — The emotional leader of Toronto's championship team. Lowry's toughness and playmaking were essential to the Raptors' success, but he never got the individual recognition of other championship point guards.
Jrue Holiday — A lockdown defender and savvy playmaker who has been the best supporting star on two championship teams (Milwaukee in 2021, Boston in 2024). Holiday does everything and demands nothing.
Khris Middleton — A three-time All-Star who hit the biggest shots of the Bucks' 2021 championship run. Middleton's smooth midrange game is underappreciated in a three-point era.
Tyson Chandler — The 2012 DPOY anchored the Mavericks' 2011 championship defense. Chandler's rim protection was the key to Dallas beating LeBron's Heat.
Underrated players are trivia favorites because they surprise people. Test your knowledge of these hidden gems in Who Am I? and NBA Bingo, where role players and unsung stars show up alongside household names.