Denver Nuggets: Will Barton is the most underrated player in the NBA

Eight years into a successful NBA career, Denver Nuggets small forward Will Barton is the most underrated player that the Association has to offer.

The Denver Nuggets have a somehow under-appreciated household name in superstar center NIkola Jokic. Denver also has one of the breakout stars of the 2019 NBA Playoffs in Jamal Murray, a high-paid shooting guard in Gary Harris, and alluring prospects in Bol Bol and Michael Porter Jr.

Perhaps the best team that no one mentions in the realm of the contenders, it’s only fitting that the Nuggets play home to the most underrated player in the NBA: Will Barton.

Barton is currently in his eighth NBA season, which is an achievement unto itself. He was a second-round draft pick in 2012, going 40th overall—a second round that also saw veterans and All-Stars such as Jae Crowder, Draymond Green, and Khris Middleton come off the board.

Barton struggled to find consistent playing time during his three seasons in Portland, but he’s since gone on to become one of the best players no one talks about in Denver.

Barton has experienced some bouts with injury, but when he’s been on the court, he’s been tremendous. He embraced the role of a sixth man on a team that he could’ve started for, and has moved seamlessly into the starting lineup.

In 2019-20, Barton has put the finishing touches on his status as the most under-appreciated player in the Association.

Since his first full season with Denver in 2015-16, Barton has averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.6 three-point field goals made in 28.3 minutes per game. That translates to 16.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.9 three-point conversions.

Barton has managed to produce those strong and balanced numbers while shooting relatively efficiently, posting a slash line of .439/.362/.786.

Those are quality numbers across the board, but they also come with context. For instance: In 2018-19, Barton missed 39 games after undergoing surgery on his hip, and inevitably struggled upon returning.

Now that he’s healthy, Barton is elevating his game to an entirely different level—so much so that he’s become one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

Barton is currently averaging 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per game. He’s done so on a slash line of .450/.375/.767, good for a true shooting percentage of .549—a vast improvement over his 2018-19 mark of .501.

In addition to becoming an efficient all-around scoring threat, Barton has become a legitimate defensive presence for the Nuggets.

Barton currently ranks 10th amongst small forwards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus. Furthermore, Denver has accumulated a Defensive Rating of 106.9 with Barton on the court and 109.2 without him—a difference of 2.3 points allowed per 100 possessions.

The starting lineup of Murray, Harris, Barton, Paul Millsap, and Jokic allows an average of 104.3 points per 100 possessions.

Remove Barton from that five-man lineup and that number spikes to 111.1 points per 100 possesions, per Cleaning the Glass.

That monumental difference of 6.8 points per 100 possessions with one single starter removed is all the information required to understand Barton’s value. Thankfully for those who still aren’t sold, there’s more to evaluate.

Barton ranks ninth amongst small forwards in Real Plus-Minus, and is one of only eight players at the position to grade positively on both ends of the floor.

Barton has also accumulated marks of 2.4 Offensive Win Shares and 2.1 Defensive Win Shares in 2019-20. He ranks in the top-60 in the NBA in Win Shares, in the top-75 in Offensive Win Shares, and in the in the top-60 in Defensive Win Shares.

Not only does this cement Barton’s place as one of the top 100 players in the NBA, but it places him rather high on the list.

Beyond the numbers, Barton truly is capable of contributing in every phase of the game. He can score at all three levels, including a midrange game that sees him graded in the green in almost every area, and efficient shooting from a vast majority of locations from 3.

That balance as a scorer, primarily as a midrange marksman, makes Barton one of the most important scorers on a Nuggets team that’s looking to make a postseason run.

Defensively, he’s been trusted to defend some of the best perimeter scorers in the NBA. There have been spells where he’s faced point guards, as well as extended periods in which he’s gone up against the likes of Luka Doncic, James Harden, and LeBron James.

Not only is Barton willing to take on those matchups, but he’s able to hold his own and prevent Denver from being overwhelmed.

Between his offensive proficiency and defensive prowess, Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton has become one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

He’s also the most under-appreciated player that the Association has to offer.