10 NBA superstars who are not considered superstars

9. Harrison Barnes

Going back to his time as a high school sensation in Iowa, Harrison Barnes has done just about everything you’re supposed to do to be considered a superstar.

He was the top-ranked player and most coveted recruit in his national high school class. He committed to North Carolina on national TV in memorable fashion, surprising coach Roy Williams with a Skype call. He was an All-American and All-ACC performer for the Tar Heels. He went pro and was a top-10 draft pick. He won an NBA championship as a starter with the Golden State Warriors and and Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national team.

Barnes signed a max-level contract with the Dallas Mavericks in 2016, and has since been the leading scorer for the major-market franchise.

Off the court, Barnes is like the David Robinson of small forwards. He’s the quintessential nice guy with a clean reputation who never rocks the boat or creates controversy. He’s a talented, productive champion who should be a fan favorite and media darling.

So why isn’t Barnes a bigger star?

When WNBA standout Skylar Diggins-Smith — who is probably more famous than Barnes — recently spoke out on the NBA-WNBA pay gap, she called out Barnes specifically as an example of someone who makes a lot more money than she does, without the profile to match.

It could be that, for as good as he’s been in the NBA, Barnes still hasn’t lived up to the expectations he had in high school when he was being touted as a Grant Hill type of prospect. Maybe it’s that he’s too much of a nice guy and fans find him boring.

In Dallas, at least, one seven-foot obstacle in Barnes’ path to superstardom is Dirk Nowitzki.

The future Hall-of-Famer is allegedly winding down his career — he may even come off the bench this season — but Dirk is still the face of the Mavs’ franchise and has been for most of his two decades in the league. Even though Barnes produces more on the court than Nowitzki, many still view him as Dirk’s sidekick.

If Dirk ever retires, Barnes could still be overlooked as Dallas’ top star due to the presence of Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic, the Mavs’ 2017 and 2018 lottery picks who are being touted as the franchise’s future headliners.