Hoops Habit
Fansided

The NBA’s 10 Most Criminally Underrated Stars

By Gerald Bourguet

January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
NBA
Dec 26, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Grizzlies 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Nicolas Batum

2015-16 Statistics: 16.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, .424/.367/.847 shooting, 17.0 PER

After starting the season 17-13, the Charlotte Hornets were on a roll. They were a borderline top-10 team in both offensive and defensive rating, they were getting along without Al Jefferson AND Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and it was starting to look like they’d shock the world by contending for a playoff spot.

With the Hornets currently on a seven-game losing streak, is it any surprise that the driving force behind their early season success — Nicolas Batum — has missed four of those games with a toe injury? But even bearing Charlotte’s recent losing skid in mind, Batum’s well-rounded numbers are worthy of All-Star recognition.

Last year, Batum had the worst season of his NBA career since he was a rookie, averaging a meager 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three-point range. Now his numbers are up across the board and he’s been able to fill in for MKG on the wing on the defensive end.

Batum, a Frenchman, also reminded us why sports can be such a great distraction in times of tragedy. After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, Batum earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors by averaging 25.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He led the NBA in made three-pointers (15), field goal percentage (56.9 percent) and three-point percentage (57.7 percent) that week as well.

With Batum heading for free agency this summer, the Hornets will be aiming to re-sign him and keep his well-balanced services around. His value wasn’t particularly high after last season, but Batum is quickly reminding the world that he’s one of the most underrated, versatile wings in the game.

Next: No. 8