Hedo Turkoglu Was The Magic’s Most Underrated Player

Friday, September 30, 2022

The Orlando Magic have been in the league for 34 years and haven’t had a lot to celebrate for quite some time.  During their time in the NBA, the organization has featured great athletes such as Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Nick Anderson, and Tracy McGrady.

However, the one player who never gets talked about is forward Hedo Turkoglu.

When Turkoglu joined the Magic in 2004, he played arguably his greatest basketball.  His development was recognized as he won the Most Improved Player award in 2008.  Averaging double-figures every year he was there, he was an efficient scorer, shooting 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from the three-point line.

Turkoglu scored a career-high 39 points against the Washington Wizards on Mar. 19, 2008.

He helped the Magic reach the playoffs on five separate occasions.  In the postseason, he averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

During his eight years in Orlando, Turkoglu averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists.  He is No. 7 on their all-time scoring list (7,216), No. 7 in rebounds (2,221), No. 6 in assists (1,927), No. 10 in steals (425), and No. 5 in three-pointers made (794).

Allan Houston was the Knicks most underrated player

Thursday, September 29, 2022

The New York Knicks have existed for 77 years, making them one of the oldest franchises.  They only have two championships to their name but had multiple great athletes perform for them such as Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and even Carmelo Anthony.

But the one player who gets overlooked time and time again is Allan Houston.

Right after Houston signed with the Knicks as a free agent, his presence was made known.  On a team that featured Frazier and John Starks, Houston averaged 14 points in the first year there (1996-97).  He continued to be a reliable scorer, posting an average of 18 points with the Knicks.  His biggest game with them was against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 16, 2003 when he scored a career-high 53 points.

Houston was so great that he made the All-Star team back-to-back (2000, 2001).

He helped the Knicks make the postseason five out of the nine years he spent there.  In the playoffs, he averaged 19 points.

Houston is No. 4 on the Knicks’ all-time list of points scored (11,165) and No. 2 in three-pointers made (921).

Shareef Abdur-Rahim was the Grizzlies most underrated player

Thursday, September 22, 2022

The Memphis Grizzlies have been in the league for 28 years, making them one of the youngest franchises in the league.  Although they made the playoffs 12 times, they haven’t had any luck at grabbing a championship.  In fact, they only been to the Western Conference Finals once.

The Grizzlies have had great players perform for them, though, such as Mike Conley, the Gasol brothers, and Zach Randolph.  But the one player that fans always seem to forget is Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Drafted by the inaugural Vancouver Grizzlies organization as the third pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Abdur-Rahim was actually the best player on the below average teams.  He was known for being a durable offensive threat who could get tons of rebounds.

In his first year, he averaged 18 points and six rebounds, earning himself a spot on the 1997 NBA All-Rookie First Team.  Although he never made an All-Star team during his tenure with the Grizzlies, he never averaged less than 20 points in a single season after his first.

Overall, he averaged 20 points with the Grizzlies, as well as eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

As of right now, Abdur-Rahim is the Grizzlies’ sixth all-time leader in points (7,801), fourth all-time leader in rebounds (3,070, ninth all-time leader in assists (1,081), seventh all-time leader in steals (416), and sixth all-time leader in blocks (374).

Otis Thorpe was the Rockets most underrated player

Saturday, September 17, 2022

The Houston Rockets have been in the NBA for 56 seasons.  Throughout those years, they have made numerous playoff appearances, winning two back-to-back championships in an era that featured stars John Stockton, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley.

The Rockets have also had amazing athletes performed for them such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Yao Ming, and even James Harden.  But power forward Otis Thorpe is one player that doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

Thorpe, who was traded to the Rockets by the Sacramento Kings, played arguably his best basketball in Houston.

Besides the numbers, the single thing he never gets enough credit for is the fact that he played all 82 regular-season games in six of the seven seasons there, averaging 36 minutes a game.  He did that without face any type of injury.

While playing with the Rockets, Thorpe made the NBA All-Star team in 1992 and never averaged less than 12 points in any season there.  Overall, he averaged 15 points in Houston, along with nine rebounds, two assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks.

Thorpe also assisted the Rockets with making the playoffs five out of the seven seasons there.  He even helped them win the 1994 NBA championship.  In the playoffs, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks.

As of right now, Thorpe is the Rockets’ tenth all-time leader in points (8,177) and fifth all-time leader in rebounds (5,010).