In the world of constant media coverage and 24/7 access to sports coverage online or on TV (thanks to ESPN), it is difficult for anyone to be underrated. That's because if someone is good, people will generally know about it. However, there are still hidden gems out there, if you know where to look. I think that the most underrated NBA player is Leandro Barbosa from the Phoenix Suns. Everyone knows who he is, but I'm not sure people realize just how good he is.
He is an explosive and simply terrific scorer, who scores in a variety of ways. He's also a perfect fit for the Phoenix Suns offense, because the uptempo style of play is just perfectly suited for his strengths. For one, he is a very good outside shooter. He shoots around 43% from beyond the arc, and he gets lot of open looks because the Suns take lots of 3s, and the Steve Nash provides all of his teammates with good looks. If you are going to play for Phoenix and be very effective, you have to be able to knock down open shots, and Barbosa is a guy that can do that on a regular basis. He also has a quick release, which allows him to get his shot off in the blink of an eye before a defender can get to him.
The other thing about Barbosa is that he may be the fastest player in the NBA. He gets up and down the court in the blink of an eye, and again this is great for the Phoenix offense. But it's one thing to be fast, it's another to be able to finish when you get the ball in transition, and once again this is a strength of Barbosa's.He can get to the rim on the fast break, and then exercise enough control over his body to be able to finish the play off. Not a lot of guys can consistently do this very effectively.
To top it off, he has developed into someone that can play quality minutes at PG and spell Steve Nash. This was always a problem in the past, but he has developed this and is averaging 4 assists per game. This was huge being that the addition of Marcus Banks hasn't really worked out for the Phoenix Suns. Barbosa's versatility is key, as he can play a couple of different positions out on the floor.
So all in all, I would say Leandro Barbosa is the most underrated player in the NBA, because people don't know how good he is. He is the best 6th man in the NBA and a great pure scorer. Look out for him next time you see the Phoenix Suns play. Even with all of the media coverage that the sport gets, Barbosa deserves just a little bit more.