In the world of sports, the most under-appreciated athlete on a team is the X-Factor. Even when such a player is the star of the show, the value of their contributions are never truly understood until they’re displayed on a grand stage.
Either that or until they leave.
The X-Factor isn’t necessarily a star, but instead a player whose contributions can elevate or sink a season. For some teams, that’s the subjective best player on the roster. For others, it’s a role player whose contributions are key to keeping the motor running.
No matter their name value, these are the X-Factors on every NBA team.