I was thinking about how Nick Young turned into a legit 3&D guy in his last year in LA and his year for Golden State, and how he will always be a meme, but ended his career as a legitimately useful role player.

Rajon Rondo’s role in the Lakers title I think is overlooked, but he was also very good for the Kings and Pels. Shot above 40% from 3 for Lakers and Pels in the playoffs. Doesn’t get talked about enough that Rondo got much better as a shooter in his late career. Obviously he was never Steph, but got reliable.

Ish Smith is a guy who if he hasn’t played on your team you don’t understand why he’s still in the league, but everywhere he goes the fans of that team really appreciate him.

For my friend back in the day it was Biyombo for the Raptors.

I’m sure there are more egregious examples of players the general NBA fanbase doesn’t appreciate but fans of the team they play for recognise play a vital part. Any examples?

  • ImpossibleLeague9091@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Somehow I think it’s pascal siakam dude is a multi time all NBA player, but because of a bad bubble performance and a Tampa situation I find most fans value him as trash. Especially in trade offers. “We can’t include Josh green in a pascal siakam deal Pascale not that good” I’m not even a pascal fan overall but I think he’s the most disrespected all NBA level guy around

  • BobFrancisco@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    In general I like to point out the absurdity of getting mad at someone else whilst watching them doing their job.

    I am going to give a shout out to Ron the pandas friend mettaworldpeace Artest, though.

    • Eden_Burns@alien.topOPB
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      1 year ago

      Hahaha. I vividly remember his last year in LA, his comeback during Kobe’s farewell tour, him saying loudly ‘I love basketball’ during a free throw and thinking what a wholesome guy he turned into by the end. And there was a lot made of his attitude being a real positive to the young guys on the team at the time.

      Unfortunately Lebron arrived and blew up the entire young core (Randle, D’Angelo, Clarkson, Ingram, Nance, Zubac) but he did win a chip so hey. But I’m a Brit and got into NBA by watching the Lakers be terrible but being excited by their young core, so Lebron trading the entire team ruined it for me. I realised as a Brit I can’t support a team, I tend to support groups of players I really enjoy. Not that you asked, just a tangent.

    • CoachMorelandSmith@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Imagine people paying hundreds of dollars to watch you do your job just so they can call you an idiot and demand you get fired every time you misspell a word in an email

  • growsonwalls@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    About to get hate here but … Grayson Allen. He’s a perfect role player. He doesn’t attempt to be a superstar, he doesn’t play hero ball. He just knows his role as a good spot-up shooter/defender and plays that role perfectly. He was important for the Bucks and important right now for the Suns.

    I also know he’s hated for his dirty plays in college but in the NBA he really hasn’t been that bad.

  • Good_Attempt_1434@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    It used to be Grayson Allen, dude’s a sniper and pesty defender. We traded the wrong guy to the Suns. Either a smart move by PHX for not wanting Pat or dump move by BUX not offering him. Now I have to endure reg. season Pat and hope for Playoff Pat, while GA is already rolling in Phoenix.

  • RanchBourgeois@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Dwight Powell. He’s the longest tenured Maverick and catches a lot of flak for not being a great starting center. In reality, he’s a great bench big who’s been tasked as the starting center for too many seasons by an org incapable of finding a legitimate center (til this year with Lively). Casual fans (and even many non casuals) treat him like a fringe G-Leaguer.

    • Eden_Burns@alien.topOPB
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      1 year ago

      I just know him from years of seeing him in game highlights catching some nasty lobs so I’ve always thought he’s at least valuable for being a big body and good pick and roll option with pretty much every PG/ball handler he’s played with. Also just on the topic on Mavs, lot of love for JJ Barea and even Devin Harris. I liked them as role players in the mid 2010s, especially Barrea.

  • CatM3mes@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    The only one i can maybe think of is Chris Boucher, but idk what raps fans think of him so idk. Malachi Flynn is defo the most hated but i’m not a fan either so.

  • GoblinTradingGuide@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Unless you watch almost every Clippers game you have no clue how important Terance Mann is. He is probably the third most important piece behind PG and Kawhi.

    • Eden_Burns@alien.topOPB
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      1 year ago

      True, though that’s probably more of an indictment of Russ and Harden than it should be. Like, with those two players, Mann should not be your third most important. The fact that he is is testament to things not working as intended