Ranking The Past Five “Unsung Heroes”
In every NBA Finals, there is the “unsung hero," the one role player or third star who makes or breaks the team. Whether it’s their elite shot-making abilities or their defensive prowess on the other team’s star, fans will remember those names forever. In the past five NBA Finals, we have seen stars born and former lottery picks change their career trajectory. Today, we rank the past five“unsung heroes” of the NBA Finals.
5. Rajon Rondo, 2020 LA Lakers
Rajón Rondo is one of two players ever to win a championship with both the Boston Celtics and the Los Angelos Lakers. Photo Credit: ESPN Twitter
Rajon Rondo had a fantastic series for the Lakers. His ability to provide defensive leadership and playmaking abilities off the bench allowed LeBron James to get into a primary scoring role when needed. Rondo averaged eight points per game (PPG), five rebounds, and five assists off the bench.
The reason Rondo comes in at five is that the Lakers team relied on all rotational guys to step up alongside James and Anthony Davis. While the stars were lighting up the scoreboard, it was an all-around team effort from the others to defend, rebound, and make the scrappy plays. Rondo was the chosen one out of these great role players for his much-needed playmaking.
4. Fred VanvLEET, 2019 tORONTO Raptors
Fred VanVleet famously tweeted “Bet on yourself.” in 2016. By doing so, he was rewarded a new contract after the NBA Finals. Photo Credit: Obertauern.Net
The Toronto Raptors resorted to a rare box-and-one defense against the Golden State Warriors in the Finals. Fred VanVleet had to guard Stephen Curry off the bench. In 185 possession against Curry, VanVleet held him to 30 percent from the field and 28 percent from three. Not only did he give Curry the business on the defensive end, but VanVleet also averaged 14 PPG while shooting 40 percent from three. The Raptors would not beat this Warriors team without VanVleet.
VanVleet slides in at four because he wasn’t a starter like the next three players, hence he was tasked with less offensive responsibility. That is no shot at VanVleet, the other guys just always had larger roles which led to better output.
3. Aaron Gordon, 2023 Denver Nuggets
Aaron Gordon was traded to the Nuggets in hopes of reviving a disappoint career. He is now an NBA champion. Photo Credit: Getty Images/The Sporting News
Just a year ago, the name Aaron Gordon was attached to the man who arguably got robbed in two dunk competitions. Now, he is known as the lockdown Swiss army knife of the Denver Nuggets. For this entire run, Gordon took on the responsibility of the other team’s best player and did a good job. Gordon held Jimmy Butler to under 50 percent from the field, but that doesn’t take into account the shots he made Butler pass up. Along with this, Gordon averaged 14 PPG while shooting 67 percent on effective field goals.
Gordon earns this number three spot for his overall duties as a glue guy for this Nuggets squad. He didn't exactly lock down the opposing team's star, but he was a disrupter on that end, along with a scoring outburst during the NBA Finals.
2. Jrue Holiday, 2021 Milwaukee Bucks
Jrue Holiday’s steal led to a Giannis Antetokounmpo alley-top in one of the most famous plays in modern NBA Finals history. Photo Credit: Mike De Sisti/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jrue Holiday is an all-star, so calling him an “unsung hero” may be a bit wrong. However, Holiday could not get his shot to fall no matter how hard he tried. Other all-stars would either keep shooting or lose confidence. Holiday decided to turn into an all-time defender and control the offense through his playmaking. Holiday averaged nine assists and two steals during the 2021 NBA Finals. Not only that, in 164 possessions against Devin Booker, he held Booker to 30 percent from the field, 14.3 percent from three, and forced nine turnovers to only four assists. An all-time defensive performance on one of the best scorers in the NBA.
Holiday has a very strong argument for the best “unsung hero” in the last five years, His defense and playmaking were special in this series, and he is the best player of the bunch. The number one player had one of the most iconic series for a role player ever.
1.Andrew Wiggins, Golden State warriors 2022
Andrew Wiggins found his home in Golden State and his play in the 2022 NBA Finals got him a new contract. Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.
Andrew Wiggins was labeled as a bust by many. He wasn’t finding any success in Minnesota and got traded in 2021 to the Golden State Warriors. This new city reinvented Wiggins as a player. Wiggins scored 18 PPG and was the second-leading scorer for the Warriors in their win over the Boston Celtics. Wiggins, however, is here for the other side of the ball. The former first-pick averaged a little over one block and one steal per game. Along with this, he locked down Jayson Tatum. In 235 possessions, Wiggins held Tatum to 37.5 percent from the field. Tatum faced some of the worst backlash of any superstar since James’ meltdown in 2011.
Wiggins holds this number one spot because he provided a much-needed answer for the spectacular Tatum. Furthermore, he provided great offense for the Warriors when many people forget how good he was on that end.
Final thoughts
All these players were very instrumental in their team’s championships. Even outside of these five players, there were plenty of role guys throughout these five years that gave a hand that may go unnoticed. Much credit to all 15 guys on these five championship teams, but these guys stand ahead of the rest in terms of those who need their flowers.
