No. 4) Derrick Favors
He’s still on his way up at just 25 years old, but make no mistake about it — Derrick Favors is already one of the game’s best power forwards and one of the more underrated players in the NBA. For the record, he even came in one spot higher than this on my personal list.
In looking at how his now five-and-a-half-year tenure with the Jazz has progressed, it’s not hard to see why. Each season Favors has added depth to his game; he’s improved his presence and footwork in the post, he’s become one of the more capable mid-range shooters you’ll find and is a nightmare for the opposition when defending the screen-roll.
For consecutive seasons now, he’s been playing at an All-Star level, averaging better than 16 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. One could even argue that he’s currently Utah’s best player, Gordon Hayward‘s presence on the team notwithstanding.
Although he was mired by injuries last season, we can probably expect Favors’ game to reach new heights once again this season. Rumor has it we may even see him venture out beyond the three-point line.
If that comes to fruition or the Jazz can improve their win total to meet some elevated expectations, we could see Favors snagging that elusive All-Star nod this February.
Utah Jazz Stats: 373 GP, 12.5 PTS, 7.6 REB, 1.5 BLK
Next: Paul Millsap is No. 3