10 Most Underrated NBA Players in 2024-2025 Season.

The 2024-25 NBA season was no less than a roller coaster ride so far. As the regular season concluded, we got to see several action filled, dramatic, and thrill inducing moments which makes this season one of the most memorable so far. There were some highlight moments this year, such as Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis being traded by the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks which gained the most spotlight this hoops season. However, what most fans must have missed is some of the players hooping well enough to establish themselves as mainstays of their teams. They either become the sixth men or the glue that help in building championship-contending teams. Here are some of the underrated stars who deserve all praise and recognition for their hoops this season in the NBA.

Top 10 underrated NBA players this season

Sometimes, the underrated gems of an NBA roster can be the make or break for any franchise. Andre Iguodala in 2015 helped the Golden State Warriors win the championship, despite no one expecting the same from him. In this article, we explore some of the underrated NBA players of this season, the one's that we shouldn't be sleeping on in the years to come. We assess these players' capabilities based on the following factors:

• Their averages in this season,
• Their contributions to the team,
• Their output they have been able to put up to lead their team into playoffs and title contention.

#10 Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija has shown remarkable improvement this season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field. Although he did not have a great start in the beginning of this season, Avdija adapted quite well with the system at Portland and seems to have found his footing in the team. Undoubtedly, he is one of the most underrated NBA players to consider this season.

Since turning 24 this year, Avdija has turned around his stats to embrace a playing style with far greater sense of freedom, probing defenses, initiating pick-and-rolls, and showing quite Luka Doncic-esque moves. In fact, Avdija was one of the leading shot takers and play makers for the Blazers this season. If the 24 year old continues this pace in his career, he might even make a good All-Star case for next season.

#9 Toumani Camara

Toumani Camara is one of the rising defensive forces in the league at the moment. He was one of the key athletes to elevate the Portland Trail Blazers from being a bottom-dwelling team to a near-playoff finish. Though it would be a stretch to call Camara the best player for the Blazers, he has been extremely consistent as a starter in his sophomore season this year.

Since March, he ended the Blazers' regular season campaign with double digit scores in 16 of 20 appearances, while also contributing in other categories as well. So far, Camara has shown brilliance in his game, averaging 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 78 starts.

#8 Moses Moody

One player that we got to credit for the Golden State Warriors making it to the playoffs this season is Moses Moody. Though Moody's numbers were generally restricted last season, he has received consistent playing time within the rotation from coach Steve Kerr.

In his last 10 regular season games for the Warriors, Moody averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. Perhaps, the Warriors could very well utilize the power forward in their rotation in the playoffs to provide extra energy from the bench for scoring, especially during crunch moments and final minutes of close games.

#7 Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren was going neck-to-neck with Victor Wembanyama for the Rookie of the Year honors last season. However, not everyone was paying attention to the OKC Thunder big man who was quietly raking numbers and helping his team in garnering wins. OKC has once again proven to be one of the strongest contenders of the title this season and Holmgren has been a major factor contributing to the same.

Although sidelined by an injury, Holmgren nevertheless averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 32 games this season. He is a versatile player who can combine moves, handles, shots, and jumps quite fluidly, displaying abilities of a guard in a big man. With a 7'6" wingspan, Holmgren contributes immensely with his standout blocking and rebounding abilities. He is also a great three-point shooter for his size, having shot 37.5% from the arc this season.

#6 Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero is a former first overall pick and the Rookie of the Year of 2023. Yet, he never received the flowers he deserved, despite putting up considerable numbers to lead Orlando Magic to playoff contention. Despite injuries ravaging the Magic roster, Banchero led the franchise to a seventh seed in the East this season.

This season, Banchero became the third player in Magic's franchise history to average 25+ points since Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal. Banchero is a special one, touted to be one of the brightest stars of the league in the near future.

#5 Tyrese Maxey

Although the Philadelphia 76ers could not come any closer to clinch a playoff spot, that does not hinder the fact how Tyrese Maxey proved himself to be one of the brightest stars of the league. Having played 52 games this season, Maxey averaged a career high 26.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game and was one of the most productive players despite Philly's sluggish season campaign this season.

In the final one week of the regular season, Maxey injured his sprained right finger, thus being ruled out for the rest of the season. With Embiid's absence and Paul George's lackluster performance throughout, Maxey being ruled out was one of the last blows the Sixers needed to here. If there is one player who had somehow kept Philly to win games this season, it was most definitely Maxey.

#4 Amen Thompson

Amen Thompson is one of the main reasons why the Houston Rockets are now Playoffs bound for the first time since 2020. With Thompson starting on the floor, the Rockets have amassed a 52-30 record this season and earned the second seed in the Western Conference. He averaged 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 3.8 assists from 56% shooting this year and shows all signs of becoming a future star with his performance. Many fans even agree Thompson is a potential DPOY and has also earned All-Defensive nods for the season as well.

This postseason, one of the biggest assets that the Rockets could utilize from Thompson would be his rim-running, facilitation, and point-of-attack defensive skills. Furthermore, as a consistent player throughout, Thompson could even be the catalyst for the Rockets' advance to the second round this postseason.

#3 Austin Reaves

From going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft to becoming one of the Big 3s in the Lakers, it was a long journey for Austin Reaves. Reaves has become a staple on JJ Redick's roster, utilizing abilities to both be a 3-and-D shooter as well as drive inside the paint. He has also passed Kobe Bryant to score the most three pointers in Lakers history in a single season.

This season, Austin Reaves is averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, while shooting 46% from the field. He has been a major factor in the Lakers' playoff contention this season and could be one of the X-factors alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James for the Lakeshow to push for a deep playoff run.

#2 Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham was always a touted star as the first overall pick in 2021. However, the Detroit Pistons quite literally never lived up to the expectations, despite Cunningham putting decent numbers to his stats. Last season, the Pistons tied for the worst record in league history and Cunningham was very much dismissed as a player, despite his stats proving otherwise. However, this season, it was redemption arc for the former first overall pick who carried his team to playoff contention.

This season, Cunningham is averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field. The Detroit Pistons made a solid comeback under his leadership, clinching the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. This is one of those rare moments where a team with an abysmal record comes back to clinch a postseason berth. One of the main catalyst for the Pistons' unexpected resurgence is Cunningham's ability to lead and control both ends of the floor, resulting in winning results.

#1 Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson has been one of the constant names since last season, especially when we talk about playoffs. Despite missing most of the games in March due to an ankle injury this season, Brunson seems determined to be the ‘Captain’ for the New York Knicks in this playoffs. The Knicks point guard averaged 26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists this season, shooting 48.8% from the field, which are quite commendable numbers for a guard of his caliber.

Furthermore, after returning from the injury, Brunson averaged 21.0 points in his last four appearances to complete 65-games played for All-NBA awards. He is also the only player since Michael Jordan to score 40+points in three consecutive games in the playoffs. With Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges also on the roster, the Knicks are expected to push for a deep playoff run. And for that campaign, Brunson surely is one of the most crucial players in leading the team further.