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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 /
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Nov 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) drives through Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Al Horford/Paul Millsap

Horford 2015-16 Statistics: 15.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 BPG, .508/.339/.797 shooting, 21.5 PER

Millsap 2015-16 Statistics: 18.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.3 BPG, .480/.283/.779 shooting, 23.1 PER

It was impossible to choose between Al Horford — a player who just never seems to get enough love unless his team is winning 60 games — and Paul Millsap — who is quietly having the best season of his career while approximately five people have noticed — for the Atlanta Hawks, so we’re just going to include them both here.

In Horford’s case, his contributions extend far beyond the stat sheet as one of the team’s smartest players. Atlanta is still one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, but the Hawks’ offense hums thanks to Horford’s passing ability and the way he can spread the floor with those midrange jumpers that force opposing rim protectors to vacate the paint.

Horford is only shooting 33.9 percent from three-point range, but he’s also taking a career high 3.0 attempts per game. Before this season, that career high was 0.5 per game. With DeMarre Carroll gone, Horford’s willingness to diligently work at supplying Atlanta’s offense with a consistent three-point shot — at age 29, no less — is impressive.

As for Millsap, he’s easily been Atlanta’s best player this season, leading the Hawks in scoring, rebounding and steals. Though his three-point percentage has dipped to a cringeworthy 28.3 percent after posting a respectable 35.6 percent last season, Millsap continues to do the dirty work as one of the NBA’s perennially overlooked players that you’d love to have on your team.

It’s harder to call Millsap underrated given his three-year, $59 million contract extension over the summer, but this power forward somehow remains under the radar in the All-Star discussion.

Next: No. 7