6 Most Underrated Basketball Players in NBA History

It takes a village of well-knowing basketball players to create a legend. It’s not always the work of a single man. Unfortunately, the name of the legends linger, and those who helped him become one are left in vain.

Here are the most underrated NBA players in history.

Manu Ginobili

Ginobili spends most of his playing career with the San Antonio Spurs. El Contusione is one in eight players who have four NBA Championship rings and an Olympic gold medal. The Argentinian also has a EuroLeague title under his belt.

Also, he paved the way for other NBA greats such as Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. In terms of win shares for the postseason, Ginobili comfortably sits at the 19th position higher than some Hall of Famers.

Even then, he seemed to be an underrated NBA draft pick as well at 57th.

Bernard King

King, who stands at 6’7”, has an average of 22.5 points per game. And there are only a few active players who can do that. At specific periods of his career, he even averaged 28 and 29 points per game. 

With that said, King has been regarded as the most explosive player during offensive plays. No other defender could stop him then.

However, King was not inducted in the Hall of Fame and would not be in the coming years to unknown reasons.

Dennis Rodman

Rodman was one of the greatest trios in NBA history, along with Scottie Pippen and, yes, the legend Michael Jordan. Rodman has three championships in total (Detroit Pistons, two and Chicago Bulls, three).

The Worm, as he was called, was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time NBA All-Defensive Team.

On the other hand, he was only chosen to be a part of the All-Star games twice.

Sam Jones

Jones was an ultimate champion, having been considered as one of the 50 greatest players ever. He has 10 NBA Championship titles—one title short of that of Bill Russell’s. 

One good thing about Jones was he played for teamwork rather than as an individual basketball player. Although, he made winning shots that catapulted Boston Celtics to greater heights.

Ask a basketball fan, however, and no one knows the name, though, he deserved all the respect he could get.

Scottie Pippen

The truth is, there is no Jordan without Pippen and Rodman. He had all the right stats: 16.1 points per game. 6.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.

Pippen was also one of the best defensive forwards to ever grace the NBA. Did you know that Pippen once contained Magic Johnson during the 1991 NBA Finals game? I bet you didn’t.

Fans are quick to say that Pippen wouldn’t win any championship without Jordan. But for Pippen fanatics, Jordan would never win a title without Pippen.

Dominique Wilkins

Wilkins was the dunk phenomenon of the 1980s NBA. He won at least two dunk contests on that decade. And no one can stop him when he was on the lane.

He averaged 25 points per game in 10 consecutive seasons. Only a few players can do that including Jordan, Karl Malone, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O’Neal. At one point, he scored 23 out of 23 of his free throws—he still holds the record.

However, for the NBA management, these records weren’t enough to include him in the league’s 50th Anniversary Team. 

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Who would you want to be included in this list? Les ut know.