Hoops Habit
Fansided

The 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season

By Michael Shearer

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 20: Malcolm Brogdon #7 of the Indiana Pacers passes the ball in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 20, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 20: Malcolm Brogdon #7 of the Indiana Pacers passes the ball in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 20, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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NBA Players
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 21: Alec Burks #18 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half at United Center on November 21, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: SF – Alec Burks, New York Knicks

Dwyane Wade tried telling us years ago. He knew:

It’s been five and a half years since that tweet, yet Burks still receives no love.

As a major part of the Knicks’ insanely effective bench mob, all of the lineup data and on/off numbers love Burks. He’s had higher-scoring seasons, but he’s never been this efficient, scoring 10.5 points per game on a fire emoji 45% from three. He’s jacking up more than seven triples per 36 minutes, and he spaces the floor beautifully for Derrick Rose’s jaunts into the lane.

Burks rebounds well for his size (6’5″, on the short end for a small forward), and like every bench player on a Tom Thibodeau-coached team, battles hard on defense. His ability to play up a position lets the Knicks play Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley together.

His unshakeable confidence raises his ceiling as a playoff performer. He memorably scored 27 off the bench in Game 1 of the Knicks’ two-point loss to the Hawks in last year’s playoffs, and he ended the series with a positive +/- in four of the five games in that series.

Like Grayson Allen, Burks has been chiefly a catch-and-shoot guy for the Knicks, as 60% of his shots come in two or fewer dribbles.

As this was being written, it was reported that coach Thibs will be inserting Burks into the starting lineup for the struggling Kemba Walker. Burks will likely be receiving a lot more attention from the masses in the near future.