The Biggest HIDDEN GEM On Every NBA Team

The best players on NBA teams are always the ones that get the most attention, have the most expectations placed on them, and tend to dominate the spotlight. This is of course for good reason, but it also results in quite a few of their teammates flying under the radar, and that brings us to today's video. Today, we will be going through all 30 NBA teams, and we'll be identifying the biggest hidden gem from each group. These are the players who I are way better than their public perception at the moment, and deserve more kudos than they are currently getting for what they contribute to their teams. Now with that being said, let's dive right in. We'll start with the teams in the Eastern Conference, then make our way over to the West. So first up, we have the Atlanta Hawks, and their hidden gem is Aaron Wiggins. Wiggins has spent the entirety of his career up until this point in Oklahoma City's rotation, lost in the mix of their incredibly deep group contending for championships. His best year came in 2025, when they won the title, but then last year, he got lost in the shuffle a little bit after the return of AJ Mitchell and the addition of Jared McCain to the mix. Now that he is in Atlanta, a team that actually needs his services off the bench as their sixth man, I think he'll be in for his best year yet, as someone who is capable of for big time scoring outings when he gets the green light, as a 41 point gain is already on his resume to prove it. Before we go any further though, this got me thinking. Surely so many of us have fond memories of growing up collecting trading cards of all kinds, and many of us probably still pursue this hobby to this day, and Courtyard is the perfect place for all of that. Courtyard is a marketplace and service that lets you open packs, own and trade physical collectibles that they store in their vault for you. You can vault graded cards, trade them digitally, and have them shipped straight to your door whenever you want them. 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Baylor Shiremen may not put up eye-popping stats right now coming off of a year where he only averaged about 5 points per game, but he is a very skilled player who shoots 40% from 3, has some sneaky passing talent, and is very solid as a rebounder for the position too. Next is the Brooklyn Nets, and their hidden gem is Daron Sharp. Sharp has been the team's backup center for a few years now, and with the current state of the team, it's no wonder why he doesn't get that much attention. His game isn't necessarily flashy, but he does the dirty work, embraces physicality, and does the job that's required of a center to do to a pretty strong degree. He averaged about 9 points and 7 rebounds per game last year, while playing only 18 minutes per game. So now as a starter, if he's playing anywhere from 28 to 30 minutes a night, I think he could easily average a double-double, which is not easy to do. Next is the Charlotte Hornets, and their hidden gem is Moussa Diabate. The Hornets really turned a corner last season in the second half of the year, and while there were a lot of factors that played into that, the insertion of Moussa Diabate into their starting lineup at center was arguably the biggest reason of all. Diabate is one of the most underrated defenders in the league right now, providing tremendous switchability inside and out. Plus, he has a non-stop motor crashing the glass, and is one of the best offensive rebounders in the entire league, generating second-chance points as well as anybody. Next is the Chicago Bulls, and their hidden gem is Jalen Smith. Smith has really started to come into his own as a stretch big man that rebounds well and provides the service the team's love from a modern backup center. His three-point volume steadily increases every year, and he knocks them down at an above-average rate. He also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds per game last season as a backup center, and he could be a sneaky trade chip for contending teams to go after around the deadline. Next is the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their hidden gem is Jalen Tyson. Tyson broke out in a big way last season to be a key member of their rotation out on the wing, but I don't think people quite realized just how good of a year he had. Tyson averaged about 13 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 45% from three, which ranked in the top 10 of the whole NBA last season. It's fair to have doubts about whether he can replicate that type of truly elite shooting long term, but if he's consistently a 40% shooter from three or better while being a big-bodied defender and a competent secondary creator, then he'll be one of the league's better role players for years to come. Next is the Detroit Pistons, and their hidden gem is Asar Thompson. Asar is pretty unfairly often relegated to being referred to as the other Thompson brother, as his brother Ayman on the Rockets is viewed as the better and more talented twin. While that may be true, it doesn't mean that Asar Thompson isn't a ridiculously impactful player in his own right. As we speak, it wouldn't be crazy to say that Asar is the best perimeter defender in the NBA, or at least one of them, as a freaky athlete with a six-foot-seven size and the type of instincts and aggression that just make life hell for opposing ball handlers night after night. Next is the Indiana Pacers, and their hidden gem is Andrew Nembhard. When the Pacers were making deep playoff runs in 2024 and 2025, Tyrese Halliburton was the face of that success, but next to him in the backcourt was Nembhard, quietly providing quality secondary playmaking, giving adequate help on both ends of the floor. Nembhard is also now coming off of the best year of his career, where he averaged about 17 points and 8 assists per game, which got overlooked because of how poorly the Pacer season went overall last year without Tyrese Halliburton on the court, but it feels like he's leveled up since two years ago, which could make this group even scarier than they were when they made the finals. Next is the Miami Heat, and their hidden gem is Pel Larson. Larson is one of the best players that the majority of basketball fans still don't really know much about. Last year, he served as a bit of a jack-of-all-trades type roleplayer for them finishing efficiently around the rim, operating as a useful passer in a secondary capacity, defending hard, and rebounding well for the position. With Giannis Anadokoumpou now in Miami, more eyes will be on this team on a regular basis, and I'm pretty confident that Larson will be a player that starts to stick out to people and make them ask themselves, where did this guy come from? Next is the Milwaukee Bucks, and their hidden gem is Ryan Rollins. Rollins had an outstanding breakout season last year, but the magnitude of how well he played I don't think is quite sunk in for the masses. He averaged about 17 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, shooting 47% from the field and 41% from three. Those are borderline elite numbers for a starting point guard with a level of efficiency that very few others replicated. Of course, the Bucks overall were pretty bad last year, so I get why he's not crowned quite yet, but he's definitely a high-end starting point guard type of talent. Next is the New York Knicks, and their hidden gem is Myles McBride. The Knicks starting lineup is as talented and well-balanced as it gets, but what that lineup is truly missing is a bomber from three, and that's exactly what Myles McBride provides when he subs in off of the bench. McBride gets better and better every year and is coming off of a career season where he averaged about 12 points per game and shot 41% from three on about seven attempts from deep per game too. Next is the Orlando Magic, and their hidden gem is Anthony Black. It took a couple of years for Black to start to play up to his expectations as a former sixth overall pick in the draft, but last year he really started to put it all together, and consensus hasn't quite caught up yet. He's a smooth operator on the ball with strong finishing skills in the paint, he's a smart decision maker on the ball, and he's a great perimeter defender. He just averaged about 15 points and four assists per game and should be in the mix for the sixth man of the year this season. Next is the Philadelphia 76ers, and their hidden gem is Dean Wade. The Sixers put together an absolutely star-studded cast this summer, so while all of the big names on this team will get the attention, Dean Wade will be the one doing all of the unglamorous dirty work to keep things chugging along fluidly. Wade is a truly elite defensive talent as a 6'10 forward that moves his feet very well, and has a history of locking up some of the better guards in the league. That kind of versatility on defense in this group will be needed, and he doesn't have to stuff the stat sheet to make a major impact. Next is the Toronto Raptors, and their hidden gem is Colin Murray-Boyles. Murray-Boyles was one of the very best rookies in the league last year, but when the conversations about the best rookies go down, his name is often omitted. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him take over as the team's starting center at some point this season, because he's already one of the team's best defenders, he's way more skilled offensively as an interior scorer and passer than other options, and if he can show signs of improvement with his jumper, he could take his game to another level. Next is the Washington Wizards, and their hidden gem is Will Reilly. This is a Wizards roster with a lot of young talent throughout their rotation, and with the state of their rebuild, it's easy for some of these guys to have failed to garner any attention nationally at all, and Will Reilly has a ton of on high alert. He's a 6'9 shot creator, with the handles of a guard and smooth shooting stroke from all three levels. He'll need to improve his efficiency, but that's the case with pretty much every rookie, which by the way, he was just a rookie last season, and his tape shows off pretty high level creation skills to bank on improving. Now over to the teams in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks' hidden gem is Najee Marshall. When the conversation of best six men in the league pop up, there are quite a few typical names that get thrown into the mix, but Marshall rarely pops up as one when he absolutely belongs in that conversation. He is an assassin scoring talent in the midrange and around the post for a wing player, and he even has some nice secondary playmaking talent to play through as well. He's just not a consistent threat from three, which is one of his glaring weaknesses. Next is the Denver Nuggets, and their hidden gem is Julian Strother. The Nuggets are a group led by one of the league's biggest stars, and their starting lineup as a whole is one of the strongest in the game, but their bench is somewhat weak. Strother, however, is one of the actual positives off the bench for them as a role player who, to put it simply, does what is needed from a role player in this team. He's an active cutter, he's a 39% shooter from three, and he plays some solid defense, so while his game isn't very flashy, he's way more important than I think people realize. Next is the Golden State Warriors, and their hidden gem is Brandon Williams. Williams just signed with the team in free agency this summer, and last season he was on the Mavericks and was one of their hidden gems where they were beginning their rebuild out of the spotlight. Brandon Williams spent the first four years of his career mostly in the G League, getting a few brief opportunities in the NBA here and there, but he was fighting just for a place in the league. Last year, he had a huge breakout season averaging 13 points and four assists per game, showcasing strong driving tools and finishing ability, useful playmaking as a backup point guard, and an edge to him that helped him stick. He's not a big name signing for the Golden State Warriors this summer, but I'm confident he'll be a fan favorite quickly. Next is the Houston Rockets, and their hidden gem is Tari Eason. Tari Eason is a uniquely versatile forward who serves in a bunch of different roles in Houston's rotation and can acclimate himself to the players that he plays around. He's a very good defender, he's a useful ball handler on the wing, he rebounds well, he can create a bit for himself, and he's a competent shooter. With his shooting, he went through some red hot stretches and some ice cold stretches, so ideally things level out more consistently for him, but he is still a very good player nonetheless. Next is the Los Angeles Clippers, and their hidden gem is Derrick Jones Jr. The Clippers are in a whole lot of hot water right now unfortunately, and their future is looking a bit bleak, but the roster they currently have is also a lot better than I think people give credit for, and it's deep with hidden gems like Derrick Jones Jr. He came into the NBA purely as a ridiculously explosive athlete with a raw game, and over time he has developed into being a legit 3 and D wing who scores about 10 points per game and can make momentum swinging plays on both ends of the floor. Next is the Los Angeles Lakers, and their hidden gem is Walker Kessler. Walker Kessler is a sleeping giant literally and figuratively in the eyes of the general public of basketball fandom. The truth is, there weren't many eyes nationally on the Utah Jazz over the last few years, so when Kessler was emerging as one of the best rim protectors in the game with them, that work got overlooked. Now that he's in the bright Los Angeles spotlight playing alongside Luka Doncic, he's about to put a lot of people on notice that he is a top 5 shot blocker and top 5 rebounder in the game with a great scoring touch around the basket to convert chances provided to him by Luka Doncic. Next is the Memphis Grizzlies, and their hidden gem is Scottie Pippen Jr. Last season was a lost one for Pippen after struggling with a toe injury and only being able to play 10 games, but in the two seasons prior to that, he was sneakily becoming one of the better backup point guards in the whole league. He's an incredibly efficient scorer from all three levels and finishing in the paint, he's a confident initiator of the offense with solid playmaking instincts, and he also generates a ton of steals for the playing time that he gets on a permanent basis. Next is the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their hidden gem is Ayo Dasumu. Dasumu's coming out party truly went down last season, but people didn't really start to take notice of it until he was traded to Minnesota. Even then, it took a massive 43 point explosion of a game from him in playoffs for people to realize just how good he can be in the moment. He'll likely be the team's sixth man this year, and he should be one of the top contenders for the sixth man of the year award because he is a stout lockdown defender who every year improves a ton on offense as a slashing scorer, with a reliable three point shot to add to it. Next is the New Orleans Pelicans, and their hidden gem is Sadiq Bey. Bey tore his ACL, missed the entire 2025 season, and then somehow managed to return last year to the court and have the best year of his career. Last year, Bey averaged a career-high 18 points per game while shooting the ball more efficiently than he ever has in his career as well, and I don't think many people realized just how good he was because of how much of a disaster the Pelicans season was as a whole last year. Next is the Oklahoma City Thunder, and their hidden gem is AJ Mitchell. Mitchell is another guy who is good enough to be a starter on quite a few teams, but because he plays for one of the best teams in the league with a deep roster, he assumed their sixth man role, which was where he was at most of the season, and he dominated in that role. Mitchell actually did enter the starting lineup in the playoffs against the Lakers, and in that series he scored over 20 points in three of the four games, proving he could shine when the lights were brightest. And his situation kind of reminds me of Jalen Brunson early in his career, starting as a high level sixth man, developing into a starting caliber second option, and in a Next is the Phoenix Suns, and their hidden gem is Colin Gillespie. Gillespie was never expected to stick in the NBA, and yet he did anyway by working hard to prove that he can overcome his physical limitations. He may not be the quickest guard, nor is he the most impressive athlete, but he's very smart with the ball in his hands, making the right reads, he doesn't try to do too much, he's incredibly fundamentally sound, and he shoots the hell out of the ball. He just averaged 13 points in five assists per game, while shooting 40 percent from three, and is a big plus in the Suns offense. Next to the Portland Trailblazers, and their hidden gem is Chumani Kamara. Kamara is one of the best defensive front court talents in the league, and after he was named to the all defense team last season, people have become well aware of that. But I don't think he gets enough credit for how much he is continually improving on the offensive end. He's a sneakily good creator off the dribble, he knocks down threes at an above average rate, and his scoring output as a whole has improved in each of his three seasons too. Next is the Sacramento Kings, and their hidden gem is Maxime Reynaud. Reynaud was one of the very few bright spots for Sacramento last year, as a rookie drafted in the second round, proving he was even slept on back then. He's an outstanding rebounder of the ball, has very advanced post-scoring talent with great touch around the basket, and he excels as the role man in the pick and roll. He was a double-double machine for a stretch last season, and if the Kings do end up trading DeMantis a bonus at some point, I think Reynaud is ready for the starting center job. Next is the San Antonio Spurs, and their hidden gem is Julian Champagny. Throughout the Spurs' run to the finals, they are obviously a stacked roster with a lot of big names throughout their lineup, but on countless occasions, it was Champagny making some of the biggest plays. He's a fearless shooter of the ball who can heat up quick from three, he's a great rebounder for a wing player, and he's making all of the hustle plays that don't show up in the box score, and on championship contenders, you need guys like that that embrace this kind of role like he does. And finally, last up is the Utah Jazz, and their hidden gem is Bryce Sensabaugh. Sensabaugh is a bench player who immediately gets to work scoring the ball every time he subs in. Last year, he had two games where he scored over 40 points, showcasing how fast he can heat up on his day, and he's a genuine threat from all three levels. He averaged about 15 points per game off the bench last year, and while he's not necessarily a very versatile player, getting buckets will never go out of style. And with that being said, that's all I have for you today. Make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and comment down below who your favorite hidden gems are right now. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you all next time.