50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time

None of these underrated NBA players played in more than two All-Star Games, and they all flew well under the radar.

50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time

The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated.

A lot of the same names show up even though they were perennial All-Stars. (Here’s looking at you, Jack Sikma.) Some even starred in major markets. (Isn't that right, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones?)

Heck, in some cases, a guy has been underrated by so many for so long, he’s become a bit overrated. (Not to name names or anything, Sidney Moncrief.)

Now here’s the real list of all-time underrated NBA players. None of them played in more than two All-Star Games, and most flew well under the radar.

50. J.J. Redick

Position: Guard

Career: 17 seasons (1984-2001)

Teams: Orlando Magic (206-13), Milwaukee Bucks (2013), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-17), Philadelphia 76ers (2017-18), New Orleans Pelicans (1919-21), Dallas Mavericks (2021).

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: J.J. Redick

Whether you loved to hate Redick or hated to love him, the ex-Dookie could shoot the rock.

He didn’t steal any paychecks either.

49. Otis Thorpe

Position: Forward-center

Career: 17 seasons (1984-2001)

Teams: Kansas City-Sacramento Kings (1984-88, 1998), Houston Rockets (1988-95), Portland Trail Blazers (1995), Detroit Pistons (1995-97), Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-98), Washington Wizards (1998-99), Miami Heat (1990-2000), Charlotte Hornets (2000-01)

All-Star Games: 2001

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe

Otis our man performed the pick-and-shovel work about as well as anyone for the better part of two decades.

He ranks among the top 40 in minutes played, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds in league history.

48. Hot Rod Williams

Position: Forward-center

Career: 13 seasons (1986-99)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1986-95), Phoenix Suns (1995-98), Dallas Mavericks (1998-99)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Hot Rod Williams

Williams was the most overlooked player with multiple Cavaliers playoff teams.

The 6-foot-11 big was a dependable rebounder and double-figure scorer as well.

47. Toni Kukoc

Position: Guard-forward

Career: 13 seasons (1993-2006)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1993-2004), Philadelphia 76ers (2000-01), Atlanta Hawks (2001-02), Milwaukee Bucks (2002-06)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 3 (2006-08)

Bottom Line: Toni Kukoc

Oh, how Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan hated Kukoc for the way that GM Jerry Krause fawned over him.

The Croatian was no sensation, but he was a valuable movable piece with three championship teams.

46. Terry Cummings

Position: Forward

Career: 18 seasons (1982-2000)

Teams: San Diego Clippers (1982-84), Milwaukee Bucks (1984-89), San Antonio Spurs(1989-95), Seattle SuperSonics (1996-97), Philadelphia 76ers (1997-98), New York Knicks (1998), Golden State Warriors (1999-2000)

All-Star Games: 2 (1985, 1989)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Terry Cummings

As one of the top 50 career scorers in NBA history, Terry Cummings deserves a spot on this list. Throughout his 18-year career, he scored a total of 19,460 points, just short of the honorable 20,000-point mark.

Fun fact: Cummings actually grew up wanting to be a professional hockey player, but a high school growth spurt steered him into basketball.

45. Darryl Dawkins

Position: Center

Career: 1975-89 (14 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1975-82), New Jersey Nets (1982-86), Utah Jazz (1987), Detroit (1987-89)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Darryl Dawkins

Dawkins was one of those bigs who could have used college ball to develop his raw but considerable game. He entered the Association at 19 years of age.

“His talent never really got a chance to shine with us," ex-teammate Doug Collins once said. “He was the first to do what he was doing, and I think he deferred at times.”

44. Al Jefferson

Position: Center-forward

Career: 14 seasons (2004-1018)

Teams: Boston Celtics (2004-2007), Minnesota Timberwolves (2007-10), Utah Jazz (2010-13), Charlotte Bobcats-Hornets (2013-16), Indiana Pacers (2016-18)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Al Jefferson

Jefferson was one of the better players never to appear in an All-Star Game or NBA Finals.

He produced three seasons of 21 points and 10 rebounds per game.

43. Alvan Adams

Position: Center-forward

Career: 13 seasons (1975-88)

Teams: Phoenix Suns

All-Star Games: 1976

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Alvan Adams

Statistically, Adams had his best season as a Rookie of the Year. It could be that it led to unrealistic expectations.

Whatever the case, the Suns lifer was on the shortlist of better all-around pivotmen for an extended period.

42. Rashard Lewis

Position: Forward

Career: 15 seasons (1998-2014)

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1998-2007), Orlando Magic (2007-10), Washington Wizards (2010-12), Miami Heat(2012-14)

All-Star Games: 2 (2005, 2009)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Rashard Lewis

Lewis was Kevin Durant Lite — a 6-foot-10 swing forward who could hit the longball.

A 20-points-per-game scorer in three seasons, Sweet Lew ranks 22nd in career 3-point percentage.

41. Larry Johnson

Position: Forward

Career: 10 seasons (1991-2001)

Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1991-96), New York Knicks (1996-2001)

All-Star Games: 2 (1993, 1995)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Larry Johnson

To those who say that L.J. was a disappointment, we say buzz off. Have we forgotten how he helped turn the Hornets into a legit playoff contender in only two years?

He averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in five seasons there.

40. Ed Pinckney

Position: Forward

Career: 12 seasons (1985-97)

Teams: Phoenix Suns(1985-87), Sacramento Kings (1987-89), Boston (1989-94), Milwaukee Bucks (1994-95), Toronto Raptors (1995-96), Philadelphia 76ers (1996), Miami Heat (1996-97)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Ed Pinckney

Pinckney learned how to win in his Villanova days.

That translated well at the next level, where the combo forward did enough to carve a niche for himself.

39. A.C. Green

Position: Forward

Career: 16 seasons (1985-2001)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1985-93, 1999-2000), Phoenix Suns (1993-96), Dallas Mavericks (1996-99), Miami Heat (2000-01)

All-Star Games: 1990

League championships: 3 (1987, 1988, 2000)

Bottom Line: A.C. Green

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Green almost never took a night off (he played in 1,192 games at one point), swore off booze even at championship celebrations and claimed to be a virgin well into his 30s.

No way could the guy play in the Association today.

38. Archie Clark

Position: Guard

Career: 10 seasons (1966-76)

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (1966-68), Philadelphia 76ers (1968-71), Baltimore/Capital Bullets (1971-74), Detroit Pistons (1974-75), Seattle SuperSonics (1975-76)

All-Star Games: 2 (1968, 1972)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Archie Clark

Clark wrote the book on Shake and Bake. Literally. He also gave us the step-back jump shot.

For that, the man deserves a place in the Hall of Fame contributors wing at least.

37. Michael Redd

Position: Guard

Career: 12 seasons (2000-12)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (2000-11), Phoenix Suns (2011-12)

All-Star Games: 2004

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Michael Redd

There was no backcourt player more fun to watch than Redd in the mid-2000s.

This is when he put up 23.5 points per game over five seasons.

36. Hersey Hawkins

Position: Guard

Career: 13 seasons (1988-2001)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1988-93), Charlotte Hornets(1993-95, 2000-01), Seattle SuperSonics (1995-99), Chicago Bulls (1999-2000)

All-Star Games: 1991

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Hersey Hawkins

A career 46/39/87 stat line puts Hawkins in an elite class of all-time shooters.

35. Clifford Ray

Position: Center

Career: 10 seasons (1971-81)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1971-74), Golden State Warriors (1974-81)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 1975

Bottom Line: Clifford Ray

It was no coincidence that, wherever Ray manned the middle, his team was among the league leaders in opponents' field goal percentage.

The Mule was an All-Star-caliber defender-rebounder even if he never played in the showcase event.

34. Kevin Martin

Position: Guard

Career: 12 seasons (2004-16)

Teams: Sacramento Kings, (2004-09) Houston Rockets (2009-12), Oklahoma City (2012-13), Minnesota Timberwolves (2013-16), San Antonio Spurs (2016)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Kevin Martin

When the 3-pointer took off in the mid-2000s, Martin was at the front of the line.

K-Mart drained at least 36 percent of his longballs in nine seasons and surpassed the big four-oh on three occasions.

33. Marcus Camby

Position: Center-forward

Career: 17 seasons (1993-2012)

Teams: New York Knicks (1998-2001, 2012-13), Denver Nuggets (2002-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), Portland Trail Blazers (2010-12), Houston Rockets (2012)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Marcus Camby

In any discussion about the best defenders in the game, Camby isn’t among the first names to roll off most tongues. Maybe it should be.

The one-time Defensive Player of the Year ranks 13th in blocked shots and 35th in defensive rebounds on the all-time list.

32. Happy Hairston

Position: Forward

Career: 11 seasons (1964-1975)

Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1964-68), Detroit Pistons (1968-69), Los Angeles Lakers (1969-1975)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 1972

Bottom Line: Happy Hairston

How valuable was Happy (Harold) Hairston? On the heels of an epic 69-13 regular season and league title, the 1972-73 Lakers were even better.

They got off to a 24-4 start before Wilt Chamberlain’s tag-team partner blew out a knee. They weren’t the same without his 16 points, 13 rebounds and dogged defense each game.

31. Sam Perkins

Position: Center-forward

Career: 17 seasons(1984-2001)

Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1984-90), Los Angeles Lakers (1990-93), Seattle SuperSonics (1993-98), Indiana Pacers (1998-2001)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Sam Perkins

Perkins played with some pretty fair players in his career — Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Gary Payton and Reggie Miller to name a few — and some would tell that he was the victim of low expectations as a result.

Yet Sleepy Sam was a dependable scorer and rebounder for much of his career. As his game moved away from the bucket, he became the rare big who could shoot the 3-ball.

30. Anthony Mason

Position: Forward-center

Career: 13 seasons (1989-2003)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (1989-90), Denver Nuggets (1990-91), New York Knicks (1991-96), Charlotte Hornets (1996-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Milwaukee Bucks (2001-03)

All-Star Games: 2001

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Anthony Mason

Hey, look — a 40-minutes-per-game player! Mason averaged as many over a five-year period.

Mase played hard and played tough and played at both ends. No wonder the human fireplug was popular wherever he played.

29. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Position: Center

Career: 13 seasons (1997-2011)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers

All-Star Games: 2 (2003, 2005)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Ilgauskas was the best of the LeBron James supporting cast who were swept in the 2007 NBA Finals. Which was sort of like being second to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Universe contest.

But the 7-foot-3 big deserves some love here. The guy had all sorts of health issues — included were two fractures of the same bone in his left foot — but he overcame them to have a solid career.

28. Doc Rivers

Position: Guard

Career: 13 seasons (1983-96)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1983-91), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92), New York Knicks (1992-94), San Antonio Spurs (1994-96)

All-Star Games: 1988

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Doc Rivers

Rivers did everything well except shoot the long ball.

The second-rounder spent his prime years in the shadow of teammate Dominique Wilkins, whom he fed for many a dunk.

27. Steve Smith

Position: Guard

Career: 14 seasons (1991-2005)

Teams: Miami Heat (1991-94, 2005), Atlanta Hawks (1994-99), Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2001), San Antonio Spurs (2001-03), New Orleans Hornets (2003-04), Charlotte Hornets (2004-05)

All-Star Games: 1998

League championships: 2003

Bottom Line: Steve Smith

Smith was one of the most consistent scorers of the 1990s decade.

He averaged 17-plus points per game in seven consecutive seasons and put up a .440/.358/.845 percentage line on more than 15,000 shot attempts.

26. Nene Hilario

Position: Center-forward

Career: 17 seasons (2002-19)

Teams: Denver Nuggets (2002-12), Washington Wizards (2012-16), Houston Rockets (2016-19)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Nene Hilario

Durability was a challenge, but when healthy, Nene was an efficient scorer in the paint at one end and competent rebounder-defender at the other.

The 6-foot-11 big averaged at least 12 points and a half-dozen rebounds per game in six seasons.

25. Steve Kerr

Position: Guard

Career: 15 seasons (1988-2003)

Teams: Phoenix Suns (1988-89), Cleveland Cavaliers (1989-92), Orlando Magic (1992-93), Chicago Bulls (1993-98), San Antonio Spurs (1999-2003), Portland Trail Blazers (2001-02)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 5 (1996-99, 2003)

Bottom Line: Steve Kerr

Steph Curry may have more career 3-pointers, but Kerr shot them more accurately than anyone in league history.

He accepted his role and kept his mouth shut, which played no small role in his success.

24. Sam Cassell

Position: Guard

Career: 15 seasons (1993-2008)

Teams: Houston Rockets (1993-96), Phoenix Suns (1996), Dallas Mavericks (1996-97), New Jersey Nets (1997-99), Milwaukee Bucks (1999-2003), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-05), Los Angeles Clippers (2005-07), Boston Celtics (2007-08)

All-Star Games: 2004

League championships: 3 (1994-95, 2008)

Bottom Line: Sam Cassell

Sam I Am was so consistent for so long and with so many teams that he was taken for granted.

He ranks high on the all-time list in two important categories for point guards — assists (40th) and field throw percentage (47th).

23. Dale Davis

Position: Forward-center

Career: 16 seasons (1991-2007)

Teams: Indiana Pacers (1991-2000, 2005), Portland Trail Blazers (2000-2004), Golden State Warriors (2004-05), Detroit Pistons (2005-07)

All-Star Games: 2000

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Dale Davis

Every contender needs a rebounder and interior defender who they can count on every night. That was Davis for two decades.

His teams advanced to the playoffs 14 of 16 seasons.

22. Marcin Gortat

Position: Center

Career: 12 seasons (2007-19)

Teams: Orlando Magic (2007-10), Phoenix Suns (2010-13), Washington Wizards (2013-18), Los Angeles Clippers (2018-19)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Marcin Gortat

The Polish Hammer was among the top 20 in field goal percentage (six), rebounds (six) and blocked shots (three) multiple times.

His .551 field goal percentage ranks 24th in league history.

21. David West

Position: Forward-center

Career: 15 seasons (2003-18)

Teams: New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2003-11), Indiana Pacers (2011-15), San Antonio Spurs (2015-16),Golden State Warriors (2016-18)

All-Star Games: 2 (2008-09)

League championships: 2 (2017-18)

Bottom Line: David West

At 6-foot-9, West was a valuable two-way movable piece who could do everything except hit the long ball.

He was among the select few who took a sizable pay cut to play a lesser role with a championship contender.

20. Mehmet Okur

Position: Center-forward

Career: 10 seasons (2002-12)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (2002-2004), Utah Jazz (2004-11), New Jersey Nets (2011-12)

All-Star Games: 2007

League championships: 2004

Bottom Line: Mehmet Okur

Okur had a game that was far more consistent than it was pretty.

The second-rounder was good for at least 10 points and a half-dozen rebounds every season.

19. Brent Barry

Position: Guard-forward

Career: 14 seasons (1995-2009)

Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (1995-98), Miami Heat (1998), Chicago Bulls (1999), Seattle SuperSonics (1999-2004), San Antonio Spurs (2004-08), Houston Rockets (2008-09)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 2 (2005, 2007)

Bottom Line: Brent Barry

Barry was misplaced as a swingman. He had the tools to be an even better point guard — handle, instincts, athleticism, genetics and perimeter shot.

He still had a productive career, which featured contributions with two championship teams.

18. Carlos Boozer

Position: Forward-center

Career: 13 seasons (2002-15)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (2002–04), Utah Jazz (2004-10), Chicago Bulls (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15)

All-Star Games: 2 (2007-08)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Carlos Boozer

Critics were fond of the Boo in Boozer, but expectations were unrealistic. He put together seven seasons of at least 16 points and nine rebounds per game.

Only Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire averaged more Win Shares per 48 minutes in the 2002 draft class.

17. Jeff Foster

Position: Center

Career: 13 seasons (1999-2012)

Teams: Indiana Pacers

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Jeff Foster

So much did the Pacers value Foster off the bench, the career overachiever spent his entire time in Naptown.

The guy was a scrappy defender and underrated ball retriever, particularly at the offensive end, where he ranks sixth in rebound percentage in league history.

16. Calvin Natt

Position: Small forward and power forward

Career: 11 seasons (1979-90)

Teams: New Jersey Nets (1979-80), Portland Trail Blazers (1980-84), Denver Nuggets (1984-89), San Antonio Spurs (1989), Indiana Pacers (1989-90)

All-Star Games: 1985

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Calvin Natt

On March 18, 1982, Calvin Natt pitched one of the few perfect games in NBA history. The Trail Blazer drained every one of his 13 shots (all field goals) in a win at Portland.

The pug-nosed forward looked and played the part for 11 seasons, all with mid-market teams. A tenacious rebounder for his 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Natt combined fluid moves and a deft touch in the paint area. His offensive rating is 64th on the all-time list, ahead of James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving, among others at the position.

Unfortunately, Natt was a so-called 'tweener — not quite athletic enough at small forward, not big enough to be the prototypical power forward.

A Natt’s eyelash away from superstardom, one might say.

15. Ricky Pierce

Position: Point guard and shooting guard

Career: 16 seasons (1982-98)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (1982-83), San Diego Clippers (1983-84), Milwaukee Bucks (1984-91, 1997-98), Seattle SuperSonics (1991-94), Golden State Warriors (1994-95), Indiana Pacers (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1996-97), Charlotte Hornets (1997)

All-Star Games: 1991

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Ricky Pierce

Once upon a time, in an NBA not that long ago, there was something called a mid-range game. That’s right — teams would look for opportunities inside the arc before the game morphed into so many 3-point shootouts. Few did if any did it better than Pierce for the better part of 16 seasons.

At 6-foot-4, Pierce was a compact package of savvy and touch, a nonstop series of jab steps, reloads, fade-aways, and drives that translated into 14.9 points per game on 49 percent in the field. He shot 87.5 percent at the free-throw line. In each of six consecutive seasons (1984-90), he shot 51 percent or better from the field, almost unheard of for a backcourt player. His offense rating ranks 46th overall.

Even though Pierce was on the shortlist of best sixth men in his prime, he was taken for granted too often. For one, Pierce attended a football school (Rice) that hadn’t produced an NBA player in 14 years. He went on to play for eight teams, none in major markets. And it wasn’t until he was 33 that he played in the conference finals for the first and last time.

14. Steve Mix

Position: Small forward and power forward

Career: 13 seasons (1969-1972, 1973-1983)

Teams: Detroit Pistons (1969-71), Philadelphia 76ers (1973-82), ABA Denver Rockets (1971), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83), Los Angeles Lakers (1983)

All-Star Games: 1975

League championships: none

Bottom Line: Steve Mix

At 26, Steve Mix was at the crossroads. The Detroit Pistons had cut the fifth-round draft pick only weeks into the 1972-73 season. Then he had a cup of coffee with ABA’s Denver Rockets. No, make that a bagel bite. It lasted exactly four minutes.

Mix never could take a hint, though. After one season in the CBA, where his 31.1 points per game against a bunch of stiffs did wonders for his confidence, the swing forward made good on a tryout with the Philadelphia 76ers. Yep, those Sixers, the ones who finished a pathetic 9-73 the previous season.

Julius Erving referred to his vertically challenged roommate as "Sky" for obvious reasons. Indeed, Mix was the ultimate grinder, a 6-foot-7 bundle of smarts and hustle whose game had to be watched regularly to be appreciated. He could spot the open man, drain a flat-footed shot. He ran the floor deceptively well. He excelled at team defense, and few played the passing lanes better. And, oh, how the guy loved to compete.

That the Sixers reached the NBA Finals four times with Mix in the rotation said a lot about one of the biggest overachievers of his time.

13. Terrell Brandon

Position: Guard

Career: 11 seasons (1991-2002)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1991-97), Milwaukee Bucks (1997-98), Minnesota Timberwolves (1999-2002)

All-Star Games: 2 (1996-97)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Terrell Brandon

An argument can be made for Brandon as the best player not named LeBron James in Cavaliers history. He practically carried them to a team-record five consecutive postseason appearances.

He also ranks high on the all-time list of league leaders in assists (58th) and steals (71st) per game.

12. Horace Grant

Position: Power forward

Career: 17 seasons (1987-2004)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (1987-94), Orlando Magic (1994-99, 2001-02), Seattle SuperSonics (1999-2000), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04)

All-Star Games: 1991

League championships: 4 (1991, 1992, 1993, 2001)

Bottom Line: Horace Grant

What set the Bulls apart in their heyday was pressure defense. Or the Dobermans, as coach Johny Bach called his three attack dogs Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Horace Grant.

Ho, Ho, Ho, it’s magic, you knooooowww.

Yeah, that’s him — Horace Grant.

"Horace was the most overlooked part of our defense," Bach once told me. "He was required to cover a lot of ground at the back end, and there wasn’t another big man with his length and mobility who could do it as well as he did."

At 6-foot-10, Grant was a solid rebounder-defender who could knock down the mid-range shot. Phil Jackson was reminded of the latter in the 1995 playoffs, not long after Grant signed with the Magic as a free agent. While the Bulls coach stubbornly double downed on Shaquille O’Neal in the low post, his former whipping boy drained open shot after open shot.

As Bach predicted before the 1992 draft, Grant would become a special player, albeit an undervalued one.

11. Kiki Vandeweghe

Position: Forward

Career: 13 seasons (1980-1993)

Teams: Denver Nuggets (1980-84), Portland Trail Blazers (1984-88), New York Knicks (1989-92), Los Angeles Clippers (1992-93)

All-Star Games: 2 (1983-84)

League championships: 0

Bottom Line: Kiki Vandeweghe

Vandeweghe was a drop-dead good at the perimeter, and a quick first step allowed him to beat his man off the dribble.

So what if the rest of his game was iffy at best? Pure shooters are at a premium, and for six consecutive seasons (1981-87), the points machine filled it up with the best of ‘em.

10. Brad Miller

Minnesota Timberwolves center Brad Miller

Position: Center

Career: 14 seasons (1998-2012)

Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Chicago Bulls (2000-02, 2009-10), Indiana Pacers (2002-03), Sacramento Kings (2003-09), Houston Rockets (2010-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2011-12)

All-Star Games: 2003, 2004

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Brad Miller

Supposedly, Brad Miller wasn’t good enough to play major college ball, let alone professionally. Yet somehow, the Purdue product banged/clawed/elbowed/scratched/outworked his way through 14 seasons with a half-dozen teams, most of them not very good and in smaller cities.

The Indiana country boy played like he dressed — all flannels and jeans — but he did a lot of things well below the rim for a long time. A combative rebounder who packed a mid-range game, he was agile enough to finish a fast break on occasion. Few centers could deliver the ball better from the high post.

As Miller put it later in his career, "My body ain’t worth spit, but I’ve got a heart."

Miller fun fact: He led the league in offensive rating in the 2004-05 season, when he produced a 15.6/9.6/3.9/1.2 slash line on 52 percent in the field and 81 at the charity stripe.

Miller overcame long odds to play as long as he did, and he can thank Shaquille O’Neal in part. In 2002, the bigs were involved in a bruhaha, and just when a stark-raving Shaq was ready for the kill, right fist cocked, he thought better of it. Or else Miller might have become the first on-court fatality in league history.

9. Terry Porter

Portland Trail Blazers guard Terry Porter

Position: Point guard

Career: 17 seasons (1985-2002)

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (1985-95), Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-99), San Antonio Spurs (1999-2002)

All-Star Games: 1991, 1993

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Terry Porter

Forget Blazermania and the one-hit wonders of 1977. For extended excellence, the Trail Blazers teams of the early 1990s were the best to set foot in Portland. While future Hall of Famer Clyde "The Glide" Drexler dominated highlight reels, Porter served as the heartbeat of a team that averaged 57.5 wins over a four-year period and included an NBA Finals appearance.

When Porter didn’t run the attack — he averaged at least eight assists per game in five consecutive seasons — the career 46-percent shooter turned scorer at the off guard spot. In the process, the Moms Mabley look-alike elevated the combo guard position to another level.

No matter. Only after the 1990-91 season did Porter receive MVP consideration, and then only barely. He finished a distant ninth with 34-year-old geezer Larry Bird in the vote.

8. David Lee

Position: Forward-center

Career: 12 seasons (2005-2017)

Teams: New York Knicks (2005-10),Golden State Warriors (2010-15), Boston Celtics (2015-16), Dallas Mavericks (2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016-17)

All-Star Games: 2 (2010, 2013)

League championships: 2015

Bottom Line: David Lee

David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, Dwayne Jones

Lee was a solid rebounder, particularly at the defensive end, and he packed solid mid-range game as well.

He led the league in Offensive Rating (points produced per 100 possessions) in the 2006-2007 campaign.

7. Andrei Kirilenko

Position: Power forward and small forward

Experience: 2001-15

Career: 13 seasons 2001-15

Teams: Utah Jazz (2001-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13), Brooklyn Nets (14-15)

All-Star Games: 2004

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Andrei Kirilenko

No Russia-born player scored more points (9,431) in his NBA career. And none had a better-extended run than Andrei Kirilenko did with the Utah Jazz for 10 seasons, when he averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 1.4 steals per game.

Sad to say, it was until late in his career that Kirilenko escaped from Salt Lake City, where NBA careers are known to die. Until then, AK-47 might as well have been back in Izhevsk, since his all-around game received so little notice around the league.

6. John Drew

Position: Power forward and small forward

Experience: 1974-85

Career: 11 seasons (1974-84)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1974-82), Utah Jazz (1982-84)

All-Star Games: 2 (1976, 1980)

League championships: None

Bottom Line: John Drew

John Drew would become known as much for his cocaine addiction off the court as his dominance on it. That’s too bad. The second-round draft pick out of tiny Gardner-Webb had game even if we saw too little of it.

Drew ranks 54th in player efficiency rating, the highest of any non-Hall of Famer in his era. The combo forward made a living off the offensive glass, where his quick ups and dogged pursuit translated into a crazy 42 percent of his rebounds.

Players make their names in the postseason, though, and Drew spent too many them on his couch. He took part in only 29 playoff games and never advanced beyond the conference semis.

Drew scored his biggest victory after retirement, it turned out, when he beat his toughest foe.

5. Jeff Hornacek

Position: Shooting guard and point guard

Career: 14 seasons (1986-2000)

Teams: Phoenix Suns (1986-92), Philadelphia 76ers (1992-94), Utah Jazz (1994-2000)

All-Star Games: 1992

League championships: None

Bottom Line: Jeff Hornacek

Why isn’t this son of a coach in the discussion about the greatest pure shooters of all time?

In 14 seasons, Jeff Hornacek shot 50 percent in the field, 40 from beyond the arc and 88 at the free throw line. Among guards, his true shooting percentage (.582) ranks 16th overall. He also is 45th in postseason win shares.

The owner of one of the more creative free-throw routines around — before each shot, Horny wiped his right cheek three times as a way to say hello to his kids — he had basketball smarts that made up his lack of outrageous athleticism. He made an unforced error about as often as he bricked an open shot.

It could be that Hornacek's efficiency and drop-dead consistency was too boring for his own good.

4. Frank Ramsey

Boston Celtics guard Frank Ramsey in 1960

Position: Shooting guard and small forward

Career: 9 seasons (1954-64)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1954-64)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 7 (1957, 1959-64)

Bottom Line: Frank Ramsey

Before John Havlicek, there was Frank Ramsey, the Celtics' swingman whose standard for sixth men left a permanent mark on the game.

While many of his Hall of Fame teammates in the Celtics dynasty overshadowed Ramsey, his immense value should not be underestimated. From the time he shed his unbuttoned warm-up jacket — "I could rip it off as I ran to the scorer’s table the second (coach) Red (Auerbach) called my name," he explained in the book "Tall Tales" — he represented an impossible matchup for opponents’ reserves.

Know this: No Celtics player came up bigger than Ramsey in the biggest games. In four consecutive postseasons (1957-1960), his field goal percentage and points average exceeded his regular-season output.

Ramsey never was more clutch than in 1959, when he averaged 23.2 points, shot 49.5 percent in the field and led the team in win shares. If not for his team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds in a tense Game 7 of the Eastern Division finals against the Syracuse Nationals, the Celtics would have one fewer championship banner in the rafters.

3. Tyson Chandler

Position: Center

Career: 19 seasons (2000-2020)

Teams: Chicago Bulls (2000-06), New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2006-09), Charlotte Bobcats (2009-10), Dallas Mavericks, (2010-11, 2014-15), New York Knicks (2011-14), Phoenix Suns (2015-18), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19), Houston Rockets (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 2013

League championships: 2011

Bottom Line: Tyson Chandler

For nearly two decades, Chandler was among the most consistent rebounders and interior defenders around. His three seasons in New York were the best of his career.

It was there that he earned a Defensive Player of the Year Award and made his lone All-Star Game appearance.

2. Cedric Maxwell

Position: Small forward

Career: 11 seasons (1977-88)

Teams: Boston Celtics (1977-85), Los Angeles Clippers (1986-87), Houston Rockets (1987-88)

All-Star Games: 0

League championships: 2 (1981, 1984)

Bottom Line: Cedric Maxwell

Maxwell coulda, woulda, shoulda been an all-time Celtics great. Instead, he’s widely known as the loose cannon who stole the Most Valuable Player Award from Larry Bird in the 1981 NBA Finals.

Maxwell showed lots of promise in his first two seasons, except that president Red Auerbach already had eyes for Bird, whom he drafted with a year of college eligibility left. Convinced that the golden boy had been signed to take his place, Maxwell never felt the same about the organization again.

In the 1980 draft, Auerbach stole Kevin McHale, another forward. It wasn’t long before Maxwell became the odd man odd, but not before he supposedly told his teammates, "Hop on my back, boys, I’ll carry you home," before Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals.

Guess who had a team-high 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the clincher against the Los Angeles Lakers? After the 1984-85 season, Auerbach asked Bird for input on a potential trade for veteran Bill Walton, the has-been center. Silly question. Bird and McHale were Walton fans from way back. Maxwell was shipped to the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers, and three years later, at 32, he left the league a bitter man.

So ended the saga of Maxwell, good enough to be an NBA Finals MVP, not good enough to be a Celtic.

1. Manu Ginobili

Position: Guard

Career: 16 seasons (2002-18)

Teams: San Antonio Spurs

All-Star Games: 2 (2005, 2011)

League championships: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)

Bottom Line: Manu Ginobili

Many hoops fans outside Texas will tell you their most cherished Ginobili moment took place in 2016 when the Houston Rockets’ Ryan Anderson accidentally kicked him in the privates, a low blow that would require testicular surgery. Yep, served Ginobili right for all that moaning and non-stop floppery that cheapened the game, not to mention his reputation.

Funny, but many of those same fans would give their right one to have another El Contusione on their team. Ginobili might have been a bad actor, but the longtime Spur also was an all-time winner. The Argentinian is one of eight players to have an NBA championship ring (four) and Olympic gold medal. He also has a EuroLeague title to his credit.

If not for Ginobili, people like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and coach Gregg Popovich would haven’t have won nearly as much in their careers. He ranks 19th in career postseason Win Shares, ahead of Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Julius Erving and Oscar Robertson to name a few.

Whether or not you believe that Ginobili belongs on the list, most can agree on this: He’s the best 57th draft pick ev-er.