The NBA is full of superstars — from Luka Dončić to Victor Wembanyama to LeBron James — but the best part of the league, personally, is finding the hidden gems.
Every year, whether it’s young players, second-year players, or veterans who finally find their groove, there’s always a wave of under-the-radar players who are extremely productive but don’t get the recognition they deserve.
We’re here to highlight exactly those players — the guys who may not be household names or dominate the highlight reels, but are truly pieces who can help a team win a championship.
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Phoenix Suns G Collin Gillespie (1/10)
You may not know his name, but Collin Gillespie has been incredibly productive through the first 20 games of the 2025 NBA season. The 6’1” guard out of Villanova is now 26 years old and playing 26.5 minutes per game.
When Grayson Allen went down with an injury, the Suns inserted Gillespie into the starting point guard role, allowing Devin Booker to return to his natural position at shooting guard.
As a starter, Gillespie has scored at least 15 points in every game and is averaging 18.5 points over his past six outings. He’s a high-quality passer at 4.9 assists per game, and he’s shooting a blistering 43% from three.
On top of that, he’s on just a one-year, $2.3 million contract — but you can guarantee he’ll earn a sizable extension this offseason. Whether teams view him as a TJ McConnell-type veteran guard or a long-term rotational piece, Gillespie has proven he’s an elite shooter and a reliable floor general.
New Orleans Pelicans C Derik Queen (3/10)
It might feel cheap to include a rookie who has already received national attention, especially after his breakout performance against Nikola Jokić and praise from Tim Duncan. But I still don’t think people understand how good Derik Queen can be. At 6’9”, 250 pounds, he may not be an elite defender yet, but his offensive upside is enormous.
Queen’s playmaking ability is already reminiscent of Jokić — he can be the hub of an offense and is already a top-five passer at the center position. Over his last four games, he has two outings with nine or more assists. Despite this, the Pelicans have oddly reduced his minutes in recent games, playing Yves Missi instead.
That won’t last long. In the limited minutes Queen has shared with Zion Williamson, they’ve shown they can run a rare big-big pick-and-roll, with Queen operating as the ballhandler. His touch, creativity, and feel around the rim are special.
By season’s end, expect him to be discussed as the league’s next breakout young star.
Utah Jazz G Keyonte George (4/10)
I’ve been following Keyonte George’s game for a while, but his arrival moment came against the Lakers on November 18, when he exploded for 34 points, including 23 in the first half.
While the NBA is moving away from the era of high-volume bench scorers like Cam Thomas, Norman Powell, Immanuel Quickley, and Jordan Poole, there is still a major role for microwave scorers — and George is one of the best.
Now 22 years old, he’s averaging 24 points and 7 assists per game. He’s one of the most gifted young scorers in the league, and in five of his past six games, he has topped 27 points.
George is the definition of a natural Hooper, and while his scoring hasn’t translated to wins yet, players with his baseline talent are extremely valuable.
Miami Heat F Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4/10)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. went from being one of the best rookies in the 2023 NBA Draft class to a disappointment last season. But through 19 games of the 2025–26 season, Jaquez is firmly in the running for both Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player. His game may look simple, but his fundamentals make him one of the league’s most valuable role players.
He’s shooting 53% from the field, largely because so many of his points come in the paint on strong drives. His three-point shot still hasn’t developed — he’s shooting just 21.9% from deep, but his 6’7”, 260-pound frame allows him to bully defenders in transition, and his passing instincts give him a point-forward feel similar to Aaron Gordon.
Playing 29 minutes a night shows how highly the Heat value him. If he ever develops a consistent outside shot, Jaquez — still only 24 — has the tools to enjoy a 10- to 15-year NBA career.
Miami Heat G Davion Mitchell (5/10)
Yes, this is the second Heat player on the list — but Davion Mitchell absolutely deserves recognition. On paper, he looks like a steady and efficient guard averaging 9.8 points, 7.4 assists, 51% from the field, and 37.3% from three. But the impact goes far beyond the box score.
In recent games, Miami has held opponents under 105 points multiple times while scoring barely above 100 themselves — and Mitchell’s elite on-ball defense is a major reason why.
He fits the mold of defensive guards OKC loves, like Cason Wallace and Lu Dort, but he also runs the offense well as a point guard and stays within himself as a scorer.
On a team with Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Norman Powell providing offensive firepower, Mitchell may take only five shots a game — yet still plays over 30 minutes because of how much he impacts winning. He summed up his role perfectly when he said:
“With our talented guys offensively, I try to make the game easier for them.”
Mitchell understands that his offense won’t always shine, but his defense, playmaking, and discipline make him the ideal role player for any NBA team.
Rest of the Top-10 Underrated NBA Players:
- Boston Celtics C Nemius Queta
- Los Angeles Lakers C Drew Timme
- Milwaukee Bucks G Ryan Rollins
- Portland Trail Blazers C Donovan Clingan
