{"id":64296,"date":"2024-02-18T14:34:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T19:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=64296"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:34:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T19:34:11","slug":"anthony-edwards-dubs-thunder-jalen-williams-most-underrated-player-in-nba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/02\/18\/anthony-edwards-dubs-thunder-jalen-williams-most-underrated-player-in-nba\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Edwards Dubs Rising Thunder Star Most Underrated Player in NBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams<\/a> may not be wondering whether or not he has his peers\u2019 respect. However, after being given his flowers by a player in the running for \u2018future face of the NBA,\u2019 the rising star can rest assured that the league is taking notice.<\/p>\n

With the league\u2019s top talent in Indianapolis for the 2024 All-Star Weekend, Minnesota Timberwolves leader Anthony Edwards<\/a> took to the podium to answer questions from the surrounding media. Always ready to provide an entertaining interview, his presser was sure to be full of gems. He didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

When asked who he believes is the most underrated player in the league<\/a>, the Georgia native could have named a few players, from teammate Rudy Gobert<\/a> to Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young<\/a>. Instead, he named Williams, the 22-year-old who began his basketball career as a 3-star guard out of Gilbert, AZ.<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards dubs Jalen Williams \u2018the Most Underrated Player in NBA\u2019<\/h2>\n

Not many NBA players have come out of Santa Clara and dominated. In fact, out of the 16 players that have been drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent, only two have been named as All-Star selections: 1955 No. 5 pick Kenny Sears<\/a> and 2-time Steve Nash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams has a chance to become the third Santa Clara alum to earn that distinction and the first since 2012, Nash\u2019s last year as an All-Star.<\/p>\n

Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was a quick riser on mocks that summer and for good reason. Despite having average athleticism, he has solid length for his position at 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. Furthermore, Williams displayed enticing versatility and efficiency as a playmaking three-level scorer. To that point, players with exceptional physical attributes can often excel in the NBA. Nonetheless, those who are skilled and dynamic can often do just as well or better.<\/p>\n