Feb 27, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) dunks the ball against Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton (5) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Jazz won 104-82. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
1. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz
2014-2015 Stats: 16.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.7 bpg, 53% FG, 21.8 PER
Not so long ago, this guy was considered a bust. He was the guy the Nets gave up on and sent packing to Utah to play behind Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. He is no longer that guy. He now has the title of the most underrated player in the NBA.
He plays in small market so he does not get the national attention he should, and his skills have progressed impressively over the past few seasons. His emergence has gone without noticing by the mainstream NBA observers.
This is just a snippet of how the guy has progressed over his first five seasons. He figures into nearly everything the Utah Jazz do both offensively and defensively, and he seems poised to continue his upward trend.
This is a guy who is still just 24-years-old, despite the fact that he feels as if he has been in the league forever. If people haven’t taken notice of him yet, they should because he could very well jump into the spotlight this season if the Jazz take the next step into the playoffs.
Mediocrity and exposure factor very heavily into good players being underrated and he could very well be the poster child for this. He is a throwback to the old school big man and if the Jazz see a resurgent success this year, he could finally get the attention he should.
For now, he may be the best kept secret in the NBA.
Next: Analyzing some of the NBA's biggest overreactions from the off-season