No. 4: Kyle Kuzma
It may be hard to argue that Kyle Kuzma is underrated. He is an immensely popular fashion icon who is regularly in the national press. However, it almost seems like his off-court persona has out shadowed his on-court abilities.
Not only is Kuzma an impressively consistent player who is largely healthy and available, but he has also been gradually improving throughout his career. Last season, he became a 20+ points per game scorer without seeing a decline in his efficiency. He was one of the most under-the-radar 20 points scorers in the NBA.
Perhaps more impressive than his scoring has been the improvement in the other aspects of his game, namely the playmaking and the defense. Over the years, he completely erased his reputation as a chucker and became a solid passer and playmaker for a combo forward, averaging a career-high 3.7 assists per game last season. He also improved to become an above-average defender for his position, providing remarkable size, rebounding, and mobility.
There simply aren’t too many 6’9 forwards in the league who can shoot, pass, dribble, and defend. He is a valuable two-way wing who can guard multiple positions. It is a travesty that he wasn’t included in the Top 125 Players list the Athletic published this week. Combine that with the fact that he is in his prime and only making $90 million for the next four years, he immediately becomes an underrated player. His value will be understood much better if and when he is part of a playoff team again.