For the Blazers it's got to be Channing Frye. He stays classy and loves the city. He has had plenty of DNPCD but is always ready to contribute if needed (foul trouble or injuries). By all accounts he is a positive locker room presence and all around good guy. Thanks Channing!

I think for the Houston Rockets, an unsung hero is Aaron Brooks. He has filled in nicely at the start of the season as a point off the bench, while still being a great shooter/scorer. He also has nice handles and ridiculous speed. Once Rafer was gone, he has started and has just been outstanding for Houston and has been critical for their playoff stance this year, when most wrote them off cause of not only the T-Mac season ending injury, but also all the injuries the team has incurred.

(Not saying that Brooks is more of an unsung hero than others around the league, just one I felt I should mention. Let's not forget Roger Mason Jr. of the San Antonio Spurs, Zydranus Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boris Diaw of the Charlotte Bobcats, Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers [Not really unsung, but I think goes by unnoticed, but has been ridiculously efficient and reliable this year], and many, many more)

(That was a long ass parenthetical statement)

Chris Anderson.
By far the best player in the NBA on a minimum-level contract (I challenge someone to name a better player). In fact, you could get 2 Birdmen for the same cost as 1 Starbury!

The description above of what a 'unsung player' is just screams CHRIS ANDERSON. He comes off the bench, hustles and crashes the boards with the best of them, then comes off and lets JR and Melo get the praise. He's filled in for Camby tremendously, in fact his the 2nd top shot blocker behind HowardSmash despite playing 15-20 minutes.

Birdman, you are my hero...

I love April 5th. Thanks for doing this, Don.

For the Philadelphia 76ers, their unsung hero, is Reggie Evans. Sadly the home announcers have coined the horrible phrase, "lunchpaling it." I said it was horrible. Reggie is not the most talented player in the league, actually, he's probably the 2nd least talented, only behind Greg Oden. Unless looking old and clumsy is a talent.

Soph

Great work Don. Props.

Hey there, great article here and I love that there is an unsung player day! I have an unsung player article up but he's a former NFL-er and not an NBA-er (Isaiah Kacyvenski), hope that's okay. Either way, this is a really cool concept and I'm glad everyone is getting into it!

http://outsidetheboxscore.blogspot.com/

"Unsung Player Day: Fantasy Edition" is up on 2RR.

Great job, Don!

Well done Don - I love the blog collaborations!

Definitely a nice touch to salue the guys who don't get the spotlight!

I just saw a quick piece on 'Real NBA' that Channing is involved in environment awareness initiatives as well - Well done Mr. Frye!

I totally respect that he's gotten his life back on track and is doing the things that made him a great team player before his ' forced sabbatical'...

Louis Amundson is the NBA's Most Unsung Player. Amundson does not get the minutes he deserves with Shaq, Robin Lopez, Matt Barnes, and Stromile Swift in the rotation, but he makes the most of his minutes. Amundson, averaging around 13 minutes played per game, is second on the Suns in blocked shots. He gives the Suns a touch of defense that is absent throughout the rest of the rotation. Even more incredible is his prowess in the paint. He is tied with Amar'e for second on the team in offensive rebounds. Amundson is tough, evidence by the fact that he is third on the team in games played. He may not get very many minutes, but he takes full advantage of what he DOES get and gives the Suns a lot of help as a defender and an offensive rebounder.

Love this day! Darn, I was the first to comment at 5am, but it didn't show up

Tarence Kinsey is the man...

For the Miami Heat, it's three point specialist Daequan Cook. Everyone now knows that he can hit the three ball, but his solid fundamentals are also a key part of Miami's success this season. Heat fans no longer have to worry when D-Wade goes to the bench... wait, nevermind. ; )

Louis can PLAY! Too bad it won't be past April 15th...who knows what that Suns roster wil look like next season...

My favorite team, the Cavs has a couple of unsung players, The first is Tarrence Kinsey. He does not get many minutes, if any at all. but when he plays, he plays with heart, alot of it. He goes out and throws his body on the floor for loose balls. He is also a good locker room influence. ?y second is J.J. Hickson, he is rookie which is tough. He gets some minutes, but not to many, he is a good spirit with great basketball abilities, When he does something wrong, he takes his punishment. And my third and final is Eric Snow. There is not much to say about his season. He has been ingured all year and for alot of his career. But he continues to keep working, he helps kids all over the Cleveland area, with his b-ball camps and his charity. He is an overall great guy, and a great influence, teacher to the younger players.

me and sports2debate think alike

Thanks so much for the link! You run a good site, and I lovvvve unsung players!

have really enjoyed the submissions so far. But dammit, some one beat me to Walter Hermann!

Better late than never!! A Stern Warning has an entry for Martell Webster as my vote for Unsung Player Day.

Yes, you heard me.

http://www.asternwarning.com/20090406171/articles/nba/unsung-player-day-martell-webster.html

I don't think it's any coincidence that Will Bynum, small guard out of Georgia Tech, breaks the Pistons franchise record for most points in a quarter with 26 and finishes with 32 points in a much needed victory for the 'Stones all on UNSUNG PLAYER DAY. Walter Hermann was the wrong choice by both of us haha

I think you're right Bob! Damn, Will just killed it. I don't remember any Pistons player EVERY scoring 26 in a quarter. Insane