15 Most Underrated Players In The NBA Right Now

By Chipper Murphy

We are at the halfway point of the NBA season, meaning that it’s now rational to grade the performance of an individual player or their team. Not all criticism has to be negative though, as there are players in the league who don’t get the attention they deserve earning them praise as underrated. These are the 15 players in 2015-16 who hold that title.

15 Most Underrated Players In The NBA Right Now

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Zaza Pachulia — Zaza Pachulia was the Dallas Mavericks' last-minute replacement for DeAndre Jordan, and he has exceeded all expectations. He's having the best season of his career, leading the team in rebounding and offensive rating. Dallas was expected to struggle this season, but Pachulia's play has helped keep them in the playoff hunt.

T.J. Warren — The Phoenix Suns are in turmoil but T.J. Warren is part of their future, and the former first-round pick is playing like it. He's currently shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc, with exceptional per-36 scoring numbers. If Warren can improve his defense, he has the ability to become a star.

Omri Casspi — Omri Casspi is having his best season amid another bad one for the Sacramento Kings. He's shooting over 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from downtown, in addition to ranking seventh among small forwards in real plus minus. If Casspi can keep up his impressive three-point shooting, he will be a great asset for a Kings offense with the highest pace factor in the NBA.

C.J. McCollum — After losing LaMarcus Aldridge and other talented players to free agency, the Portland Trail Blazers needed someone to step up. C.J. McCollum has filled that role with 2015-16 being his breakout season. His points per game and minutes per game averages have skyrocketed from last year, with McCollum playing nearly 20 more minutes and scoring nearly 15 more points per game.

Derrick Favors — Derrick Favors is essential to the success of the Utah Jazz due to his interior scoring and rebounding. He is Utah's most efficient player, shooting over 50 percent from the field and leading the team in offensive rating, also ranking among the league's top power forwards in real plus minus. Favors was a steal in the Deron Williams trade that Utah clearly won.

Thaddeus Young — The Brooklyn Nets have nothing to brag about this season, but Thaddeus Young does. Young is shooting over 50 percent from the field, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game. It has been the best start of his career and a great response to his brand new contract.

Avery Bradley — The Boston Celtics' stocked frontcourt gets a majority of the attention, but Avery Bradley should be getting All-Star buzz for the season he is having. He has been arguably their most valuable player, as the Celtics score their most points per 100 possessions with him on the court. Bradley has been the subject of trade rumors for years, but now it looks like he has found a permanent home in the rotation.

Clint Capela — Clint Capela has become one of the league's premier defensive big men, dominating the paint on both ends of the court. If he can develop an offensive game from beyond five feet from the rim, Capela will be one of the league's best bigs.

Nikola Vucevic — When it comes to the Orlando Magic this season, much of the attention has been focused on the success of new coach Scott Skiles' defensive-minded approach. Nikola Vucevic has become such a steady option for Orlando that he is expected to shoot 50 percent from the field, score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds. That's not a bad thing, but Vucevic deserves more attention than the little to none he actually receives.

Paul Millsap — Paul Millsap is a two-time All-Star with a tremendous contract who leads the Atlanta Hawks in scoring, rebounding, PER, offensive and defensive rating. He's second among power forwards in RPM and still doesn't get the respect he deserves. The Hawks were supposed to take a step back this season, but with Millsap's help they have remained at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Tony Parker — Tony Parker has been underrated his entire career; he couldn't help it playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the shadow of the great Tim Duncan. However, after being called out last season with claims that age was catching up to him, Parker has bounced back in a big way. He's shooting 53 percent from the floor and the Spurs are plus 11.8 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court. Parker's play has been overshadowed by MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard, but both men are big reasons for San Antonio's success.

Carmelo Anthony — Carmelo Anthony has completely changed his game this season for the New York Knicks, becoming a more willing passer and adapting to his new teammates more than in the past. Anthony has been a magnet for criticism since his arrival in New York, with many doubters and media types constantly calling him overrated. All of the negative attention that Anthony has received has made him an underrated player. It's easy to forget that he's an automatic 20 points per game scorer and one of the best rebounding forwards in the NBA.

Chris Bosh — After years of playing the third wheel, Chris Bosh has taken over the role of the top guy with the Miami Heat. After signing a max-contract in the offseason, Bosh has become the team's most complete and valuable player. With Dwyane Wade still on the squad, Bosh will never be the center of attention -- not even when he puts the team on his back for a win.

J.J. Redick — J.J. Redick is having the best season of his career, leading the vaunted Los Angeles Clippers offense by shooting 49 percent from downtown. He's second in the league behind just Steph Curry in true shooting percentage and Los Angeles is plus-13 per 100 possessions when he is on the floor. To say Redick is important to their success would be a huge understatement.

Paul George — The Indiana Pacers fell apart without their superstar last season, and with his return the entire feeling around that team has changed. Paul George is a rare breed, a selfless superstar willing to play multiple positions who is elite on both offense and defense. Indiana is plus-six per 100 possessions with George on the court, and they have an offensive rating of just 96.7 with him off the court, by far their lowest total. The two-time All-Star is certainly the Pacers' most valuable player and one of the best two-way players in the league.

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