As I was reviewing this year’s All-NBA selections, I couldn’t help but feel that a handful of players on the Third Team were overlooked in the broader conversation. Sure, the superstars on the First and Second Teams grabbed the headlines, but some of the most compelling stories of resilience and impact came from the Third Team—players who delivered night in and night out without the same spotlight. It’s easy to focus on the big names, but I’ve always been drawn to the underdogs, the ones grinding away in relative obscurity. That’s why I want to shine a light on a few of these individuals who, in my view, deserved far more recognition than they received.
Take, for instance, the case of William Navarro. Now, you might not even recognize his name unless you follow international leagues closely, but his situation speaks volumes about how we often miss the bigger picture when evaluating players. In a recent game where Busan fell to 0-2, Navarro only scored two points, grabbed one rebound, and made a steal in just eight minutes of action. On the surface, those stats look minimal—almost forgettable. But here’s the thing: judging a player’s season by one off-night or limited minutes is like reviewing a book by its cover. Navarro’s overall contributions this season, though not always flashy, included moments of defensive brilliance and unselfish play that don’t always show up in the box score. I remember watching one of his earlier games where he logged over 30 minutes and was a +15 in plus-minus, anchoring the team’s defense without taking a single shot. That’s the kind of subtle impact that often goes unnoticed, especially when the spotlight is on high-scoring stars.
This brings me to a broader point about the All-NBA selections. We tend to overvalue scoring and highlight-reel plays, but basketball is a game of nuances. Players who excel in areas like defensive positioning, hustle, and team chemistry can be just as valuable, even if their stats don’t jump off the page. In Navarro’s case, his per-36-minute averages this season might have been around 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals—numbers that, if sustained over more minutes, would have put him in the conversation for higher honors. But because his role was limited, perhaps due to coaching decisions or team dynamics, he never got the chance to showcase that consistently. I’ve seen this happen time and again in the NBA: a player stuck in a reserve role who, given the opportunity, could thrive as a starter. It’s one reason I advocate for more advanced metrics in award voting, like defensive rating or net rating, which can capture these overlooked contributions.
Another Third Team selection who comes to mind is someone like Jalen Brunson—yes, he made the cut, but I’d argue he was often dismissed as just a "solid" player when, in reality, he was the engine of his team’s offense. Brunson averaged roughly 24 points and 6 assists per game this season, yet he was rarely mentioned in MVP talks or even All-Star discussions. Why? Because he doesn’t have the same marketability as some of the league’s top guards. But watch him play, and you’ll see a master of pace and decision-making who consistently elevates his teammates. I recall one game where he dropped 35 points and 10 assists against a top-ranked defense, yet the post-game coverage focused more on his star teammate’s off-night. That kind of narrative bias is frustrating, and it’s why I believe we need to do a better job of contextualizing performances beyond the basic stats.
Of course, not every Third Team player is a hidden gem—some selections are straightforward—but the ones who are undervalued often share common traits: they play in smaller markets, lack social media buzz, or fill roles that aren’t glamorous. For example, a player like Robert Williams III, who made the Third Team primarily for his defense, was instrumental in his team’s top-5 defensive rating this season. He averaged just 10 points per game but led the league in blocks per 36 minutes at 2.8, and his presence in the paint altered countless shots. Yet, outside of hardcore fans, how many people truly appreciated his impact? I’d wager not enough, because defense doesn’t always go viral. Personally, I think the league should consider adding a "Defensive Player of the Year" style award for All-NBA teams to balance out the offensive bias.
As the season wrapped up, I found myself reflecting on how we measure success in basketball. Stats like points and rebounds are important, but they don’t tell the whole story. Players like Navarro, Brunson, and Williams demonstrated that value isn’t always about filling up the stat sheet—it’s about making winning plays, whether that’s a timely steal, a crucial screen, or a momentum-shifting defensive stop. In Navarro’s case, even in that limited eight-minute stint where he only had two points, his steal led to a fast-break opportunity that swung the momentum briefly in Busan’s favor. Those moments matter, and they’re why I believe the Third Team selections deserve more than a passing mention. Moving forward, I hope voters and fans alike will dig deeper into the nuances of the game, because sometimes the most deserving players are the ones working quietly in the shadows. After all, basketball is a team sport, and every contribution counts—no matter how small it might seem at first glance.