I recently asked the middle school players I am coaching who their favorite NBA player is. 

The list consisted of: 

• Ja Morant
• Anthony Edwards
• Luka
• Steph
• Devin Booker
• Jayson Tatum
• Donovan Mitchell
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

An impressive list. All of them are indisputably among the 15-20 best basketball players in the world.

And while there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be like those guys, they might not be the best players to model your game after.

Why? Because they have a combination of basketball gifts and athletic abilities that most mortals will never approach.

Not only that, their roles on their team empower them to do things that most players will never get to do. Most players won’t get the same green light that Steph gets. Most players won’t have the ball in their hands for the majority of every possession like Luka.

If you’re watching solely as a fan, keep following and supporting those players.

But, if you’re watching to learn and grow as a player, here are a handful of lesser heralded players whose games and roles are likely more applicable to your situation. (Note: I chose one from every position so that every player would have a model.)

5 NBA Players You Should Be Watching And Learning From

• PG - Payton Pritchard - Celtics

Pritchard’s improvement has made him a front-runner for the 6th man award. When you watch the Celtics play, his impact is obvious. Some of his major areas of contribution are:

• Elite shooting
• Physical play
• Hard-nosed on the ball defense 
• Relentlessly pushing the ball up the floor

All of those are areas players can become elite in. Yes, Pritchard is quick and strong. But not one would look at him and think he is the most physically gifted player in the league. And yet, through his hard work, he has gotten better every single year - so can you!

Honorable mention: Jrue Holiday, TJ McConnell

• Josh Hart - Knicks

Two years ago, the Knicks acquired Josh Hart at the trade deadline. The deal didn’t garner much attention. It should have.

By the playoffs, Hart was playing almost every minute of every game (he actually did play all 53 minutes in an OT playoff game). Why? Because he is a winner. Hart is one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA.

His competitiveness is obvious. He will guard anyone and backs down from no one. That mentality and relentlessness makes him a player coaches don’t want to take off the floor. It can do the same for you.

Honorable mention: Derrick White, Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

• Jaden McDaniels - Timberwolves

McDaniels is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA. Last year he did a tremendous job limiting Devin Booker and Jamal Murray in the NBA playoffs.

He’s also an efficient offensive player. He takes great shots and plays within himself. This understanding of his role makes his natural skills show up that much more.

If you can model that same self-awareness when it comes to your game, your efficiency will rise, earning you more minutes.

Honorable Mention: Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, OG Anunoby

• Aaron Gordon - Nuggets

Playing with the best player in the world who also happens to be the best passer in the world makes the game easier. That said, it helps to have a game like a swiss army knife - adaptable to whatever is needed.

Aaron Gordon does a little bit of everything for the Nuggets. He is a tremendous rebounder and defender. While not a great shooter, he shots a solid percentage - because he takes great shots.

One thing that stands out about him is how well he plays off Nikola Jokic. He is an incredible cutter, consistently seeking openings when Jokic has the ball. This commonly leads to dunks and layups.

His ability to adapt his game to the strength of his best teammate stands out, and is something players would be wise to replicate.

Honorable Mention: Draymond Green (minus the antics), Al Horford (this list reinforces why the Celtics are so good), Jonathan Isaac

• Brook Lopez - Bucks

Most of you know Lopez as the 3 & D Center for the Bucks. He was a huge part of their 2021 NBA championship. He has consistently finished in the top 5 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

All that makes him worthy of this list. But I want to point out another aspect of his game. In his first 8 NBA seasons, Lopez made three 3 point field goals.

In the last 9 seasons, he’s made almost 1,000.

How many players would put in the work to completely remake their game halfway through an already successful career? Not many.

What about you? Will you adjust your role and skill set to the needs of your team? If you have the flexibility and growth mindset necessary to do that, you will always be valuable to your team.

Honorable Mention: Jarrett Allen, Isaiah Hartenstein, Dereck Lively II

Are You a Winning Player? Here's How to Tell

There is no higher compliment a coach can pay you than saying you’re a winning player.

Would your coach say that about you?

Every single player on the list above is a winner. Every single one has gotten to their current level of success because of the traits we discussed.

The best news is, all those traits are attainable for every player - it doesn’t matter if you’re 5’8 or 6’8. So as you watch games the remainder of this season, study players that will show you the best path towards reaching your full potential.

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

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