Call it a by-product of glamorizing the stars – or simply a mass underappreciation for the guys that that do their business quietly – but some athletes simply fail to get the attention they deserve.
This is not something that is restricted to basketball alone. Sports such as boxing, football, baseball, and soccer have their fair share of competitors that fail to make the hall of fame, all-time greats lists and fly under the radar of most fans.
In the NBA, there are a number of players that have simply never been appreciated enough. You would be surprised at just how many players there have been over the years that should have been nominated to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame but are consistently overlooked, year after year.
Put it this way: I could probably create and justify a list that stretches into the 50s rather than just 5.
Now, it is understandable that certain fans are attached to certain eras of the NBA. Fans that grew up in the 1950s and 1960s will probably tell you Bill Russell was the G.O.A.T, while those who were glued to the NBA in the 1990s will likely tell you that accolade belongs to Jordan.
Kids of the 2010s might spit their candy out laughing before telling you no one touches LeBron James.
The children and adults of every era will always be able to point out the greats. Even those who are not crazy about basketball will likely know who the stars of their day were and the standout players of the modern era are. The media and commercial interests ensure that these guys are at the forefront of our culture.
Their faces and brands can be seen everywhere, from billboard advertisements to TV endorsements.
And then, there are the other guys. Just like the five players below that I believe did not get the recognition their talents warranted.
To many cultured NBA fans out there, Dominique Wilkins is regarded as the most underrated player of any franchise in history. While Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and a whole host of other players are synonymous with the era in which he played, Wilkins barely gets a look in.
Granted, he never won a ring during his 15 season career but is this enough to pass him over?
Wilkins is remembered by many for his incredible dunking skills and his flair on the court. At the time of writing, he sits at 13th in all-time scoring with an impressive tally of 26,668 with an average of 25 points per game. They are some serious stats.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, he is one of a handful of players to average at least 25 points in a game for ten seasons on the trot. Prolific? Well, obviously.
And how about those dunks? Wilkins is, as I alluded to previously, one of the most spectacular dunkers in the history of the sport, which is partly why he was referred to as the “Human Highlight Film” throughout his career.
I mean, watching some of the clips of him in action is a treat that you will continuously come back to, time after time. Seriously, check out some videos.
Unfortunately for Wilkins, he lost out on a place in the Dream Team in 1992, much to the dismay of many fans. A ruptured Achilles tendon in January 1992 was the cause.
However, some argued that he was initially snubbed for the team and wouldn’t have made it anyway. This appeared to set a precedent of being underappreciated that he carried with him post-career. He never won a ring or an MVP award and is criminally underrated by most pundits, fans, and basketball historians out there.
Wilkins was admired by many in the 1980s and early 1990s for his flair and ability to pull off the spectacular. There is no doubt that his 47 points in Game 7 against the Celtics is the stuff of legend, and marks the talented Paris-born star as a big game player.
He was the real deal, but for a number of reasons, is one of the forgotten men of the NBA.
While Wilkins made the second Dream Team, if he had been there in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, things might have been different. The same could have been said if the LA Lakers had opted for his services in the Draft.
Yes, Wilkins made the Hall of Fame in 2006, which is something that one particular great on this list cannot boast. Unfortunately, that alone should not be enough for a man of such outstanding talent on the court.
The first of two legendary Celtics players on this list, the late, great Dennis Johnson is one of five here that is arguably the most underrated players in NBA history. Johnson was the consummate professional and enjoyed the greatest years of his career when he moved to Boston under Red Auerbach in the 1983-84 season.
A tough and durable defensive guard, he was the man the coach was looking for to add something extra to the team.
“DJ” helped his new team from the outset, eventually working to a 1st seed in the playoffs. From here, the Celtics would meet the Lakers in the Finals, slipping to 1-2 in the first 3 games. Game 4 saw Johnson putting serious pressure on Magic Johnson, negating Los Angeles’ star man’s panache and forcing mistakes.
Celtics would go on to take the title in Game 7, which provided Johnson with his first ring in the green shirt.
Johnson would continue to enjoy considerable success, averaging 16.9 ppg and 7.3 apg the following season. His contribution to the Celtics was incredible. His input, crucial, and the reverence earned from teammates and opponents alike were top drawer.
When you think of the greatest backcourt players of all time, DJ has to be up there with the very best to ever play the game.
Johnson, in 1,100 games, ended his career with 15,535 points, 4,249 rebounds, and 5,499 assists. His career ended with 14.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 5 apg, making the NBA All-Defensive teams nine times in a row.
To the Celtics, he was a player that was seriously influential and important to how the team operated as a whole. So, why doesn’t he get more attention when it comes to wider NBA fanbase?
Johnson was the son of a bricklayer, which would go some way to explaining his hardworking attitude. Although he wasn’t the flashiest player out there, he had the heart of a lion and was a serial winner.
In 13 years as a pro, he consistently proved to the wider basketball community just how far hard work and commitment can go when backs are against the wall. He was as tough as they come.
Despite being a stocky player, he was very fast and had a great jump. He was a fantastic passer of the ball and had skills in pretty much every department… well, aside from his odd jump shot, maybe.
Regardless, he is among the most mentally tough and imposing players to ever take to the court. When putting the perfect ballplayer together, there are many attributes of Johnson’s that you would seriously consider.
Dennis Johnson passed away on February 22, 2007. Although he was greatly underappreciated both during and following his career, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, posthumously, in August 2010.
There is absolutely no doubt, despite his Hall of Fame induction, that Johnson is one of the most underrated players to have ever played in the NBA.
Until 2013, Bernard King was not inducted into the Hall of Fame. Many fans and pundits alike were incredulous. After all, King’s obvious talents and elite stats were more than worthy of being included among the greatest players to have ever featured in the NBA.
OK, so he got the nod in 2013 – which was many years overdue – but there is still a massive case to argue that King is one of the most underappreciated players of all time.
When we think of prolific scorers, the Brooklyn-native was up there with the best to ever throw a ball. With over 19,000 points scored in a 14-year career, it is easy to see why he is regarded as one of the best.
When you consider King’s MVP award and four All-Star games, it becomes even easier. Throw in his appearance in four All-NBA teams and you have a standout player in any era.
King’s greatest period on the court came in the midway point of the 1980s, although his career started with the New Jersey Nets. All in all, he played for the Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Washington Bullets. He stood at 6ft 7 in, possessed dynamic release, and was as tough as they come.
In his position (small forward), there were fewer that could match him for his prolific scoring and work rate.
What hampered King was his personal problems. Following just 19 games for the Jazz in the 1979-80 season, he was traded to Golden State due on account of his issues with substance abuse. There, he won the inaugural Comeback Player of the Year Award the following year.
By the next season, he was back in New York with the Knicks, making a huge impact for the Manhattan-based franchise.
King is widely remembered for his back to back 50-point games against San Antonio and Dallas. His extraordinary achievement was only matched over two decades later by Kobe Bryant, in 2007.
During the playoffs in 1983-84, King was responsible for pushing the Knicks up to 3-2 against the Detroit Pistons, scoring 44 points in Game 5. His dynamism was on display for everyone to see that season.
The next season was a mixed bag of fortune for King, which peaked with his 60-point haul against the Nets but ended with a torn ACL that kept him sidelined the following year.
King was released in his comeback season, joining the Washington Bullets in 1987-88. He averaged 17.2 points per game in two consecutive seasons. In 1990-1991, his average was up to 28.4 points per game, coming in behind some guy calls Michael Jordan and Karl Malone.
The following season, in 1992-93, King made another comeback with the Nets having missed the previous season with an injury, but would retire – this time for good – at the end of the season.
Another player that is certainly deserving of more respect is Boston Celtic’s Sam Jones. While Bill Russell is always remembered as one of the greats, contributing to an incredible 11 NBA championships. Well, guess what, Sam Jones deserves some credit for that incredible run of success.
Jones will always be in the shadow of Russell, granted, but there was more to the great dynasty than one player.
To say Jones was key to the great Celtics teams in ten seasons is akin to remarking that hot water is important to preparing pasta. Granted, he wasn’t as crucial in the first three championship seasons, but for the remaining seven, he was an incredibly important and valued player.
He was also one of Boston’s most prolific point scorers and with that came a responsibility of its own.
I would argue that Jones was one of the greatest shooting guards of all time. He is certainly one of the most underrated and that is no up for debate.
After all, should a five-time All-Star with an average of circa 20 points per game in four seasons in a row sound like someone who should be ignored? In the 1964-65 season, Jones averaged 25.9 in the regular seasons and 28.6 in the playoffs. Big numbers.
All in all, Jones scored 15,411 points at 17.7 points per game. He shot .803 in free-throws. While he made the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983, it seems that there are many who still underplay his contribution to the Celtics and to the game itself.
This was a player that worked his behind off to get to where he was and should be a perennial ambassador of effort and dedication in the game.
Jones was regarded in his day for his excellent attitude and all-around skillset punctuated by pace, reflexes, and an incredible eye for reading the game. He was also known as an extremely dedicated player in training and a model professional.
As the legendary coach, Red Auerbach once remarked of Jones, “nobody works harder,” claiming that the shooting guard was ‘always prepared.’
Auerbach’s decision to pluck North Carolina Central’s Jones surprised many, given that he was essentially an unknown quantity. For most players in his position, this would have been a dream, but for Jones, he was ‘devastated.’
“I never felt so miserable in my life when I got the news,” Jones once said. “I really thought it was the end of my basketball career. Sure, I was thrilled with the honor … I never thought I’d be able to break into the game, let alone the lineup.”
Regardless, Jones turned into one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous green shirt of Boston. Despite his initial fears, he would make his way into the history books as a vital part of the most successful run of any organization in NBA history.
Even with his 1984 induction into the Hall of Fame, Jones is still not appreciated for just how good he was.
Was Sidney Moncrief a victim of his own professionalism and disregard for flashy displays and ego? It would seem that could be an explanation when it comes to questioning just how, in the name of Jeeps and Chryslers, Moncrief has not made the Hall of Fame.
The Milwaukee Bucks legend certainly has the resume and stats to be up there with the best players in NBA history but continues to be overlooked.
The Little Rock, Arkansas-native is a 5-time All-Star, All-NBA Team player, and All-Defensive Team player. The NBA arguably created the Defensive Player of the Year award on account of Moncrief being so damn good, and he won this in the first two years of it being “a thing.”
He was outstanding in almost every single department, making it just downright weird that he isn’t appreciated more.
Although he is known for his incredible defense, he also had a great shot and impeccable vision. Although his degenerative knee disease limited his playing to a decade in the NBA, he had the respect of his peers.
In fact, Michael Jordan, one of the greatest defensive players – well, the greatest player in the history of the game, if I’m honest – was a huge fan of Moncrief.
Moncrief had it all and played at a time when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were at the top of their games. Jordan was also on his way to establishing himself as the best player in the NBA. He was a modest player and one that could get the job done without making too much noise.
Moncrief was a model pro and this seems to, ironically, be the reason for him not getting his props.
Moncrief suffered from injuries throughout his 20s and 30s, but at 25 to 28 he put together a 21.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals average per game.
These stats are better than others who have inducted into the Hall of Fame, so the question persists: what does Sidney Moncrief have to do to get his induction? At this point, it beggars belief, as the Brits say.
Moncrief has to be the among, if not the absolute, greatest to ever play for the franchise. If he had been a part of the Celtics or Lakers, there is no doubt that he would have been inducted years ago.
The fact that he has no championship ring might be cited by some as a reason for never making it past the final nomination stage. Is this really enough to keep denying a great player his dues?
I would argue that Sidney Moncrief is one of the greatest players in NBA history. How and why he does not get more respect is beyond anyone’s guess at this point.
As you can see, being great doesn’t always get you the attention or love from fans or pundits of the game. The obsession with fame and fortune, especially in modern times, means that those who display a flashier and more ostentatious manner tend to get all the praise.
That is just how it goes, but should never be a deterrent to anyone who prefers to keep their heads down and get on with it.
These five men might not all have been the type you could refer to as quiet and keen to reject attention. What they do all have in common is that they are grossly underappreciated and deserve more respect.
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