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All-NBA Underrated Team

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There are so many talented players in the NBA that it's easy to miss some of them. Not every player gets the same attention that LeBron James or Stephen Curry does, but that doesn't mean that they aren't talented enough to be put in the spotlight. So I thought I'd take a look at who I think are the most underrated players at each position in the NBA, along with a few honorable mentions. Let's get right into it, this is my All-NBA Underrated Team.

Point Guard: Mike Conley

The point guard position in the NBA is so stacked right now that there are definitely some really good ones that get lost in the shuffle. I was debating between Mike Conley & Bledsoe for this spot, but in the end, I went with Conley. Last season, Conley averaged 20.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 41% from three-point range and leading the Memphis Grizzlies in points & assists. Conley continued his great play in playoffs, averaging 24.7 points, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals during the Grizzlies six-game series against the San Antonio Spurs, shooting 49% from the field and 45% from three-point range.

 (Honorable Mentions: Eric Bledsoe, Dennis Schroder)

Shooting Guard: Tyler Johnson

Despite not making the playoffs this year, the Miami Heat have quite a solid team. Along with the best rebounder in the league in Hassan Whiteside and an above average point guard in Goran Dragic (who could also be considered underrated), they also have several good players that don't get the credit they deserve. Tyler Johnson is one of them. Last season, Johnson averaged 13.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field and 37% from three-point range. On top of that, Johnson has quickly built up a reputation as a solid defender, earning 2.7 defensive win shares this past season. At only 25, Johnson can only get better and could one day move out of the conversation of underrated players.

(Honorable Mentions: Gary Harris, Avery Bradley)

Small Forward: Harrison Barnes

Small forward is another stacked position in the NBA, which is probably why Harrison Barnes' stat line last season went relatively unnoticed, despite how much he improved. Barnes started his career with the Golden State Warriors, where he was the fourth scoring option behind Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. After leaving the Warriors, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks during the last offseason and quickly became the top scorer. Last season, Barnes averaged 19.2 points per game on 47% shooting, along with averaging 5 rebounds per game and shooting a solid 86% from the free throw line. Don't be surprised if Barnes is able to break 20 points per game this upcoming season.

(Honorable Mentions: Joe Ingles, Otto Porter)

Power Forward: James Johnson

Like I said earlier, the Miami Heat have a lot of talented players that fly under the radar in the NBA. Tyler Johnson was one of them. James Johnson is another. This past season, Johnson averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, one steal, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 48% from the field and 34% from three-point range. Also like Tyler Johnson, James Johnson has also developed into a great defender, putting up a 2.3 defensive box plus/minus rating and recording 3.2 defensive win shares last season. Johnson is a prime example of a very valuable player that doesn't get the recognition he deserves.

(Honorable Mentions: Cody Zeller, Markieff Morris)

Center: Greg Monroe

Fun fact: Out of every player drafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Greg Monroe has contributed the most win shares out of anyone with 45.2 over his career, beating out All-Stars like John Wall, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, and Gordon Hayward. That's how valuable Greg Monroe is to the teams he plays on. And yet, no one ever seems to notice just how good he is. As the 6th man for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, Monroe averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 53% from the field, being a solid defender, and helping the Bucks make it to the playoffs. During the playoffs, Monroe continued his solid play, averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 53% from the field.

(Honorable Mentions: Clint Capela, Jusuf Nurkić)

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