NY Knicks: Nerlens Noel listed as team’s most underrated player

Following a stellar regular season run in 2020-21, the NY Knicks find themselves in the midst of perhaps an even more impressive offseason, one that has seen copious amounts of transactions that have the team well-positioned for an even better campaign in 2021-22.

While the Knickerbockers may not be considered anywhere close to a super team like the Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Lakers are, they do have some quality talents surrounding their lone All-Star, Julius Randle, though outside of the metropolitan area, some may not be given the respect they deserve.

On New York’s roster, there are a few players that could be viewed as “undervalued” or “underrated” across the league, but the folks at Bleacher Report are under the impression that one man simply stands out amongst the rest with this distinction.

That player: Nerlens Noel.

In a recent article depicting who the most underrated player is on every NBA team, writer Dan Favale tabbed the backup center as being the talent most deserving of this moniker on the NY Knicks, citing his stellar defensive abilities as his main reasons for why :

"Noel has his limitations on offense—he grips the ball like it’s basted in butter—but he’s a defensive game-changer. He covers a lot of ground when defending pick-and-rolls; he can hold his own on switches and recover from the ball-handler to the basket in a flash.Opponents shot 51.7 percent of their looks at the hoop last season when getting challenged by Noel—the sixth-stingiest mark among everyone contesting five or more point-blank attempts per game. If he tops out as a second-string center, he’d be perhaps the best one in the league."

Despite the lacking enthusiasm by the New York faithful after Leon Rose and co. re-upped with the 27-year-old on a three-year, $32 million deal this summer, it is certainly a well-known fact amongst Knicks fans that having the big in tow is a great insurance policy at the pivot which, as well all know, is a must-have with a guy like Mitchell Robinson and his extensive injury history.