There's a lot of talent hidden in the NBA. Teams tend to build around superstars. When those teams win, the stars receive the credit. But a team can't win with just one guy. Role players need to step up for a team to be successful. Often, the best role players are first- or second-year players who are fighting for their NBA careers.
These five guys are some of the best players you've never heard of. They are not "underrated," per se, just inexperienced and out of the spotlight. None will be the next Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, or Allen Iverson. They will, however, make a few all-star teams before it's all over, and help a team or two win a championship. Expect to hear these names more and more in the coming years.Nenad Krstic
Krstic is having an impressive sophomore season for the New Jersey Nets. Nenad is a 22-year-old from Serbia and Montenegro. He was the 24th pick overall in the 2002 NBA draft, but played two years in Europe before signing with the Nets in 2004. He was selected to NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2004-05. This year, he is quietly producing for the Atlantic Division-leading Nets behind stars Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson.
Nenad Krstic is averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, while playing just 30 minutes per contest. That's 20.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per 48 minutes. On top of that, he has scored over 20 points 10 times and has seven double-doubles. Those numbers are all impressive given Krstic is playing on a team with three guys who like the ball in their hands.
Don't look now, but the Nets are starting to look like an Eastern Conference contender coming off wins over Detroit and Phoenix. Krstic has been a big part of these wins, scoring 37 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in the two games.
For the Nets to get back to the NBA Finals, they would most likely need to beat the Heat and the Pistons. That's unlikely but not impossible. The Nets are heating up at the right time and Jason Kidd is playing his best basketball of the season. If Krstic keeps playing like he has been over New Jersey's 9-game winning streak, the Nets are a tough team to beat.
There are only a few years left in the NBA career of Jason Kidd. No one knows what the Nets will look like in a couple years, but wherever Krstic ends up, he will have an impact.
Ryan Gomes
Gomes is the first of two Celtics on this list. This is partly because I am a Boston native and lifetime C's fan. It is also because the Celtics are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, with an average age of 24.8, and have seven youngsters with serious potential. Furthermore, it's not hard to find players who fly under the radar in Boston. The Celtics have drifted hopelessly into NBA irrelevancy and everything they do is under the radar.
Gomes did not become a starter until February 10. Since then, he has displayed the potential to be a star. Ryan was drafted in the second round of last year's draft — 50th overall. He was a four-year star at Providence, but it was believed that he was undersized for an NBA power forward. He has proven critics wrong and shown the ability to play with bigger guys in this league. He can do this because he is a crafty post player with good rebounding instincts.
The best thing about this guy is the smooth transition he has made from college. He doesn't get frustrated when he throws up a brick, nor does he give a cheap foul because he just turned the ball over. It's amazing how well college basketball prepares young players for the NBA.
In 22 starts, Gomes averages 12.8 points and 8.1 rebounds, shoots 52.3% from the field, and has six double-doubles. If he had started all season, these numbers would have put Gomes in the "best rookie not named Chris Paul" conversation.
On a team with Paul Pierce and Wally Sczcerbiak, precious few scoring opportunities arise for the role players. Gomes has worked hard to find ways to score. He runs the floor, gets offensive put backs, and hits open 15-footers. Ryan has a bright future in the NBA.
Sarunas Jasikevicuis
Jasikevicius hails from Lithuania. He is an undrafted 30-year-old rookie point guard with good basketball instincts. He played college ball at Maryland from 1995-1998, and has been one of the best international players since.
After leaving Maryland, Jasikevicius played in Lithuania and Barcelona before joining Maccabi Tel Aviv of the European League. He led Tel Aviv to back-to-back Euroleague titles in 2004 and 2005. Sarunas scored 22 points in the championship game in '05, and was named finals MVP.
As for the NBA, the Pacers signed him last offseason with high expectations. He hasn't lived up to them yet, but he is getting there. He shoots well, over 40% from the field and nearly 90% from the free throw line, and can run an offense. Once he figures out how his game translates to the NBA, he will be a solid point guard. He has been playing professionally for many years outside the NBA. This eases the transition, but he still needs to learn the differences between the international game and the NBA.
Sarunas can be effective when he gets minutes, but has been struggling for playing time of late. For the season, he averages 8 points and 3 assists per game. He has shown that he is more than capable to produce at this level. On Jan. 2, he dropped 20 points on Seattle in an Indy win. Two months later, on Mar. 1, Jasikevicius recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 assists against the Wizards.
This guy can play, but the window is closing for him. At age 30, he has precious few years left. He might ride the pine in Indy until he's 35. If he can crack a regular NBA rotation in the next couple of years, he'll be a solid backup point guard.
Kevin Martin
Martin looks like he's too small for the NBA. He's listed at 6'7", but only 195 lbs. He would be too thin if he were a forward, but he plays the shooting guard position, which makes his weight less of an issue. In fact, his height makes him difficult to guard and helps him get rebounds. He will probably need to put on some muscle if he wants his body to hold up in the NBA.
Martin started 41 straight games for the Kings this season, before missing a couple lately due to a strained right thigh. In those 41 games, he scored in double figures 30 times, including 10 in a row from Jan. 29th to Feb. 15th. He also scored 20 or more points 13 times as a starter.
Martin has shown potential as a scorer and grabs a lot of rebounds for a guard. These strengths have helped the second year player from Western Carolina fit into the Kings' system. Sacramento's scoring comes from point guard Mike Bibby, center Brad Miller, and forward Ron Artest (previously Peja Stojakovic). Martin gets open looks, and makes them (just under 50% from the field and 40% from the three-point line), because of the attention paid to the other guys.
His wingspan allows him to steal rebounds. Kevin averages 4.7 rebounds as a starter — 12th among NBA guards.
Martin needs to limit turnovers. He averages 2.1 turnovers per 48 minutes, which is too high considering he is not a focal point of the offense, nor does he handle the ball regularly.
Having said that, he looks like he could develop into a dynamic scorer in this league. His ceiling is somewhere around that of Ricky Davis or Ron Mercer. He can play two-guard on a team with a scoring point guard. He could also develop into a bench scorer that anchors the second unit of a playoff-caliber team.
Delonte West
The second Boston Celtic on this list is having a terrific sophomore season. West is remembered for nearly leading St. Joseph's to an undefeated season in 2004. Like Gomes, West played four years of college basketball and has earned his time in the pros by playing hard.
For a point guard, there are a number of things Delonte does well. He is third among NBA guards in blocked shots per game, with 44 total on the season. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per game.
As he continues to look for his own shot, his offensive numbers will improve. Currently, he averages 11.9 points per game, and has gone over 20 seven times. He can drive to the hoop on almost anyone who guards him, but he is never the first option for the Celtics. As he begins to impose his will more with the basketball, his scoring numbers will increase.
Additionally, West has a way of filling up the stat sheet. He gets rebounds, steals, blocks, and assists. On Nov. 2nd vs. the Knicks, he put up 14 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds (5 def, 4 off), 3 steals, and 4 blocks. In another game on Feb. 15th vs. Cleveland, West had 15 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. This is what Delonte does. He hustles all the time, and he'll always get minutes playing as hard as he does.
West will be in the NBA for a long time if keeps improving. He is a terrific shooter (49.1% from the field, 39.9% from behind the arc, and 85% from the free throw line), but he needs to develop his point guard skills. He can run the offense, but he needs to improve his ability to locate the open man. If he does this, he will be a top-five point guard in the NBA.
Delonte's ceiling is somewhere in the area of Kenny Anderson or Sam Cassell. West makes any team better, and will have a productive NBA career.
Obviously, this list is incomplete. There is plenty of young talent in the NBA, and many other guys will emerge as time goes on. Feel free to add yours in the comments.
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