NBA's 10 Most Underrated Players

The 2007-2008 season ended a few days ago with the Celtics beating the Lakers in the Finals. It was a great year that included the greatest regular-season conference race of all time (Western Conference), a great MVP race (Kobe finally winning over Chris Paul) and several teams becoming legitimate championship contenders (NO, Utah, Orlando).

Looking ahead to next season, here are the ten most underrated players in the NBA:

10. Andrew Bogut

This may be a surprise pick to some of you, but I think he is one of the five or six best centers in the league, but doesn't get much recognition at all.

He averaged 14.5 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots while shooting an efficient 51 percent from the field, and averaging only a little bit over two turnovers a game.

He was tied for 11th in the league in rebounding, and tied for ninth in the league in blocked shots. I think he will end up with a solid career, in which he will average over 15 points and ten rebounds over the next decade.

9. Tyson Chandler

Chandler is one of the most physical players in the whole league. He is a great defensive player—solid as a one-on-one defender in the post and excellent in helping and blocking shots.

He is also the best offensive rebounder in the game, averaging 4.1 offensive boards per game. He is one of the fastest and most athletic big men in the league, which is why he and CP3 have so many alley oops—most of which occur in transition when Chandler's defender can't keep up with him.

8. Monta Ellis

Ellis is one of the quickest and explosive players in the league. This past year, he averaged an impressive 20 points per game, while also grabbing five rebounds and averaging four assists.

He is also a solid perimeter defender and one of the most efficient players on the court. He shoots 53 percent from the field—incredible for a guard—while averaging only two turnovers a game.

7. Manu Ginobili

I have always thought that Manu has been underrated. I think he is much more important to the Spurs than Tony Parker, as he is an all-around offensive player and an above-average defensive player. He is also one of the most clutch players, and is always the player who makes plays for the Spurs at the end of games.

He is fearless in getting to the rim, he is an excellent finisher, and he is a good midrange and three-point shooter.

Finally, Ginobili is just a winner. He has won three rings with the Spurs, and has been extremely successful at the international level.

6. Andre Miller

Miller has been one of the most consistent point guards in the league for the last eight to nine years. He has always been on the top of the assist leaders, and he is a solid scorer who averages around 15-16 points per game.

He is a solid rebounder for a point guard (around four a game) and he is extremely efficient (shooting 49 percent from the field. He is also a solid defender who averages a solid one-and-a-half steals while committing only 2.5 turnovers.

He also rarely ever gets injured. Miller has played 80 or more games in every season of his career.

5. Shawn Marion

Marion is one of the most unique players in the history of the league. He is an excellent scorer (around 18 points per game), a superb rebounder (10 a game), and one of the most efficient and best all-around defenders in the league.

He averages around two steals and two blocks a game, while averaging only 1.5 turnovers. He shoots a good percentage from the field, the three-point arc, and the free-throw line.

He is one of the few players who can guard the anyone on the opposing team from their point guard through their power forward, and be effective.

4. Deron Williams

In my opinion, Williams is the best point guard in the league. He averages 19 points and 10 assists per game, while shooting an unbelievable 51 percent from the field, 40 percent from the three-point line, and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Williams is also a solid defender, who uses his size and strength to bother the point guard he is guarding. He is a fantastic player when it matters most—as he always does his best in the playoffs.

For him to have never been on an All-Star team is a travesty. He and Chris Paul are going to be the top point guards in the league for the next 10 years.

3. Elton Brand

Brand has been the epitome of consistency for the last eight to nine years. Prior to this season (when he was injured for the majority of the year), he was a lock for 20 ppg, 10 rpg, over two blocks, a couple of assists, and solid percentages from the field (over 50 percent) and from the free throw line (around 75 percent).

He is also a very good defender, and is known to be one of the nicest guys in the league, as well as a great teammate.

2. Josh Smith

Smith is one of the most explosive and athletic players in the league. He is an amazing defensive player who averages three blocks and 1.5 steals a game. He is also being a great rebounder, who averages over eight as a forward.

He has an improving offensive game, as he averaged over 17 points and three assists per game while raising his field goal percentage to 46. His future is extremely bright, as he is only 22 years old.

He will play in multiple All-Star games in his career, and will become one of best offensive/defensive players in the league.

1. David West

West has been a very good player for the last three years. He averaged 17 PPG and seven RPG in '05-'06, and 18 PPG and eight RPG the year after.

This season, West raised his game to be a 20 and nine player, while also improving his defense (1.3 blocks) and efficiency (49 percent from field and 85 percent from the free throw line—amazing for a power forward).

He didn't get as much recognition as he should have because of Chris Paul's amazing season, but without West making all of those midrange shots and being so good in the post, CP3 wouldn't have had as good of a year as he had—and certainly wouldn't have been a MVP candidate.

I am going to give you the top ten overrated players in the next couple of days. For now, though, I would like to hear your opinions on the most underrated players. Who do you think should be on the list, and who do you think shouldn't have been on the list?