Under the Radar

Every year, many players go under the radar of fans, players, and other coaches that have a significant impact on games night in and out. This list will use statistics to show why these players deserve more talk around their names.

Tyrese Haliburton- Point Guard, Indiana Pacers #0

Haliburton is the definition of a true point guard in today’s NBA. He can shoot, score, and, most importantly, assist his teammates. Haliburton is averaging 19.8 points, 3.7 rebounds 1.7 steals, and most impressively 10.2 assists per game, which is the second-highest in the entire NBA, only behind ΩJames Harden by 0.5 assists per game. Marc Benz thinks Haliburton’s game is similar to respected future hall-of-famer Chris Paul “Haliburton is a fun player to watch. he reminds me of a taller Chris Paul with his ability to shoot, pass, and create turnovers. He also is leading a Pacers team with a lackluster roster to a possible play-in tournament berth.”

There are two main reasons why Haliburton is still underlooked by many. The first reason that Haliburton is still overlooked despite his elite play is because of the team he plays for. The Indiana Pacers have been a very disappointing franchise with multiple seasons of missing the playoffs and being at the bottom of the eastern conference rankings.

The second reason Haliburton is not talked about enough is that fans nowadays like to see pure scoring more than anything. Haliburton averages nearly 20 points per game, which is still very good but is only 35th overall by guards throughout the NBA (PG, and SG). Haliburton is only 22 years old and will continue to play at a high level for the foreseeable future.

Anferee Simons, Shooting Guard, Portland Trailblazers #1

Simons has been a consistent scorer on a team that has been searching for that exact type of player ever since C.J. McCollum was traded to the Pelicans on February 8th, 2022. Simons has averaged 21.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game this season. Simons has been in the league for a total of four seasons but this is the first season he has played at a constantly solid level which is a reason he will continue to be an underrated player due to fans who don’t keep up with the NBA daily believing he has not improved his play.

Gabriel Okelloh believes another one of the reasons Simons is overlooked is because Damian Lillard is on the same roster. “I think with Damian Lillard on your team it is hard to be mentioned because of how good Lillard is currently playing and has played for the past five-plus years.” Lillard has been playing at a level that could put him into many fans’ MVP conversations, which makes more hype and talk around him compared to some of the other players on the roster who have had solid seasons. Just like the case of Haliburton, Simons is only 23 years old and with his play improving this season, it seems as if he will continue to only go up from here. 

Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, New York Knicks #11

Jalen Brunson was already an underrated player last season during his time with the Dallas Mavericks last season putting up 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game all while being the second option on a Dallas team with superstar Luka Dončić doing most of the teams heavy lifting. During the offseason, Brunson was traded to the New York Knicks due to his desire for a bigger role. Drew Klemsrud believes that Brunson was the main reason the Mavericks got passed the second round in the 2022 playoffs “I remember Brunson in the playoffs helped the Mavericks beat the Suns when Luka was out with his injury, Brunson was playing at an elite level.”

This trade has paid off for Brunson very well with his numbers and overall production skyrocketing. During this season Brunson has averaged 23.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game all while leading the New York Knicks to the current 5th seed in a tough eastern conference. 

Brunson continues to be underrated due to the main reason lots of players go under the radar. The amount of great guards in the NBA is at an all-time high and with players like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Luka Dončić, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving, and De’Aaron Fox dominating, guards will have to play at a near MVP level to get the recognition they deserve. 

All and all the NBA is a league where every player is capable of averaging great statistics and overall play but some who do still get overlooked due to what team they play for, the teammates they play with, and even the way they put up the numbers. The league is filled with many superstars but each superstar needs their own role players and all-stars that help win games.