Brandon Ingram does it all for the Pelicans. Injuries have put a dent in his 2022-23 campaign, but the 6-foot-9 assassin still elevates NOLA to contender status when the team is at full health. He’s one of the best playmakers at his position, a dangerous pull-up shooter, and a disruptive defender thanks to his Stretch Armstrong wingspan.
Khris Middleton is the most perpetually underrated star in the NBA. Were it not for his absence last postseason, we might be talking about the Bucks’ second ring of the Giannis era. Middleton can torch defenses from 3 or from the mid-range, trading flash for footwork, fundamentals, and efficiency.
DeMar DeRozan continues to stuff the stat sheet for Chicago. While the Bulls seem to be going nowhere fast, it’s hard to place blame on DeRozan. Once criticized for his lack of postseason success in Toronto, DeRozan has silenced his critics by improving drastically as a facilitator and 3-point shooter.