The National Basketball Association has tremendous talent across the league. Whether they play point guard or small forward, or if they are the star of the team or the 6th man, there are tons of skilled players in the NBA. Some get the nod to take place in events, such as the All-Star game, as recognition for their play. Some players who are the top of the top get onto All-NBA Teams, where they are seen as a top player for their respective position. Then, there are the players in the league who are good, but who do not get the credit that they deserve. There are players who work as hard or even harder than others and help their respective teams, but who lack the credit they deserve due to playing in a small market. Sometimes, players are overshadowed by their teammates and are forgotten. Nonetheless, these players are all the most underrated for their positions. There are many underrated players throughout the entire league, but these guys are just a tad more under-appreciated (which is a thing):
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas
The 5’9″ Isaiah Thomas is usually underestimated due to being undersized. Thomas is one of the smallest players in the NBA, but do not let his small frame fool you. Thomas is one of the most fun players to watch in the league today. While he will not have the dunks that the other notorious small guard in the league (Nate Robinson) has, he still has the skill and determination to play with the best and hold his own, despite being smaller than nearly all of his opponents. He was picked dead last in the 2011 NBA Draft (60th overall). Now in his third season with the Sacramento Kings, Thomas is the clear number one point guard in Sac-Town. He has gotten better and better each year he has played. He scored 11.3 points in his rookie season, 13.9 in his sophomore year, and he’s now at nearly 20 points per game in his third season averaging 19.1 per contest. Thomas is shooting a respectable 45 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc, and 85 percent from the free throw line. He also dishes out 6.3 assists per game and gets a steal and a half. With DeMarcus Cousins having a career season, we can credit Thomas for commanding so much attention from defenses as well. The addition of Rudy Gay can slowly decrease Thomas’ points per game, but his playmaking will develop with a good scorer in Gay and a dominant big man in Cousins. It is hard to get recognized in a league with so many great players playing in your position, but Thomas is slowly creeping his way up the rankings.
Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan
While Rudy Gay can help some teams, he hurt the Toronto Raptors and this particular player. DeMar DeRozan has became a household name in Toronto for the past few seasons, and the whole NBA should take notice of the young man from USC developing into one of the better two-guards in the league. An ESPN panel was asked to pick between DeRozan and Chicago Bulls guard, Jimmy Butler, and all five of them took Butler over DeRozan. The 6’7″ athletic freak has been on a tear ever since Gay was sent to Sacramento. DeRozan is averaging career-highs across the board with 21.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. While his midrange jumper is not fully there yet, he has shown signs of improvement in that area and on the defensive side as well, and his length and versatility help him out on defense. The 24-year-old will be one of the prime faces for the Raptors’ future, and the Gay trade has benefited him extremely. Look out for him as being a possible reserve in the All-Star game for the Eastern Conference. If not, his backcourt mate Kyle Lowry is pretty underrated as well, and he could make a push to be there.
Small Forward: Nicolas Batum
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the best teams in the NBA today. While most credit will go to LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum is left out on the wing and not given enough credit. Batum is having great numbers with 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and has been consistent from the field and the free-throw line. He is also becoming better on the defensive end. He was one of the only players last season to be in the top-40 with steals and blocks, joining elite company: two guys who go by the names Kevin Durant and LeBron James. He is becoming one of the better play-making wings in the league and one of the few players who can notch 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on any given night, so his skillset makes him an x-factor for the ‘Blazers. His range also spreads the floor for a guy like Aldridge to take over in the paint. Batum will not get MVP chants from the line, but his hard work and play should be recognized as he is the X-Factor of the surprisingly successful Trail Blazers.
Power Forward: Chris Bosh
A few seasons ago, people were slowly regarding Chris Bosh as an overrated player. Fast forward to the 2013-14 season, and Bosh can be categorized as one of the most underrated players in the league. Bosh gets overshadowed by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and he is usually seen as an important part of the “Big Three.” Take in the fact that Bosh has not played with a legitimate starting center since joining the Miami Heat and how he is mostly playing out of his position. He is usually taking on the tough front-courts by himself, especially come Playoff time. He is alone in the front-court (with Shane Battier roaming the perimeter), and he clearly gets tired. His offensive game has actually gotten better in Miami. He has expanded his range to a point where he is consistent from the three-point line. Bosh’s play is much better than his numbers indicate, and he has played like the superstar we saw in Toronto in games where Wade and James have been out. He has shown that he can lead the team in their absence and hit the big shots time and time again. He deserves some help up front. Hopefully for Bosh and the Heat, Greg Oden can be healthy enough one day to be that guy, or the Heat can sign someone else. The 29-year-old, experienced Bosh still has tons of good basketball left in him. He does not make too many top-five power forward lists anymore, but he is in the group. He is just a hidden gem behind James and Wade.
Center: Nikola Pekovic
Speaking of players who are hidden behind other stars, Nikola Pekovic is hiding behind the superstardom of Kevin Love. Pekovic has emerged as one of the best centers in the league this season. He appeared in just 62 games last season, but has shown nothing short of monster in his play this year. With averages of 18 points and 9 rebounds, Pekovic is capable of explosion games where he scores over 30 points, grabs 15 rebounds, and then some. He shoots over 50 percent from the field as well as 73 percent from the free-throw line. Pekovic is strong at nearly 290 pounds and a 7-foot frame. He does not have too much athleticism, but Pekovic has the size and strength to be a good post defender in the league. Playing alongside Love helps him in the post when Love commands so much attention. You would imagine a guy who plays with Love would have trouble getting his own rebounds, but Pekovic has no problem showing aggression on the glass. He does so especially on the offensive boards, where he gets nearly as much on that end as he does on the defensive end. With Marc Gasol out for an extended period of time, Pekovic could be looked at upon as a possible All-Star reserve in the West. He might not get in, but he should be getting some attention as he has made his way into the “top centers in the league” discussion.
SYRY 
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