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NBA hustle players are more often overlooked than not. Although they aren’t the most talented players on the court, their ability to go all out on any given night makes them highly valuable for any team contending for a championship. Most players that fall under this category don’t have the best numbers especially in terms of points.
However, their ability to dive for loose balls and to grab 50/50 balls not only puts their teams in a favorable position but it also gives the team some unmatched energy to close out games. Simply put it, they provide plays that transcend what we see in the stat sheet.
In fact, we’ve seen various NBA teams win championships due to a player’s hustle and determination. Although a lot of the credit of championships goes to MVPs, the hustle player certainly plays a huge role in accomplishing this elusive feat. Throughout history, we’ve seen guys like Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace, and Bruce Bowen win championships for their teams with their grit. For this piece, let’s take a look at the five greatest hustle players today.
5. Patrick Beverley
After getting selected by the Lakers in the 2009 NBA Draft, not a single team wanted the services of Beverley. But with his lockdown defense and invaluable intensity, the 6’1 guard finally found his niche in the NBA. From his time with the Houston Rockets until his present days with the Los Angles Clippers, Beverley’s calling card has been his hard-nosed defense. With the NBA dominated by guards, Beverley’s ability to lockdown players in the guard and wing positions easily makes him a valuable piece for any championship contending team.
Beverley is considered to be one of the best defenders in the league today. He has made three All-Defensive teams so far. Furthermore, he was also awarded the first ever NBA Hustle Award in 2017. During that season, Beverley led the league in loose balls recovered with 1.64 per outing. He also tallied 0.33 charges drawn per game.
Throughout his career, Beverley has averaged 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per outing in nine seasons with the NBA which goes to show his great impact on defense. With Beverley continuing to make a mark on defense, the Clippers surely have a wild card in the incoming postseason this year. Because of this, Beverley ranks fifth in this list.
4. Jusuf Nurkic
Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum have been significant in Portland’s playoff runs as of late, but a lot of credit should also go to Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic has been a steady frontline enforcer that the team has needed. For the Blazers, the Bosnian Beast has been a walking double double with averages of 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in five seasons with the team. He compliments those numbers with 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals per outing.
Nurkic is also no stranger to diving for loose balls, which is uncommon for big men. In fact during last year’s NBA bubble, the 6’11 center jumped to the ground for a crucial loose ball that helped the Blazers secure a spot in the Playoff Play-in which eventually allowed the team to secure the last spot in the playoffs.
With Nurkic finally returning to action after missing a good number of games, he is slowly getting back to his old form. Just recently, Nurkic dropped 16 points and 19 rebounds in their loss against the Memphis Grizzlies. It is worth nothing he also had four offensive boards and two blocks. If the Bosnian Beast can continue to be an enforcer in the middle that gobbles up rebounds and 50/50 balls, then there is a huge chance the Blazers will make some noise in the looming postseason this year.
3. Alex Caruso
Fresh from winning a NBA championship last season, there is a good reason why Alex Caruso is a fan favorite of the Los Angeles Lakers. Caruso isn’t a high scoring guard such as the likes of Kyrie Irving, Damien Lillard, or Stephen Curry. However, he is simply a ball of energy off the bench that could sway the momentum in favor of his team. In fact, even Coach Frank Vogel loves the heart that Caruso has displayed.
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In a game against the Toronto Raptors earlier this April, Vogel lauded his reserve guard saying “That’s why we love Alex. That’s why Alex has helped us win the championship last year. So it definitely elevates the group when you see a guy hustle and playing as hard as that.”
The NBA champ has been averaging 1.1 steals per game off the bench this season which is a respectable production. Furthermore, the Lakers reserve guard is willing to draw charges even if it means taking a huge impact. With Caruso having a nose for the loose ball and continuing to display his hustle, the Lakers have another guard that can limit the production of opposing elite guards. Furthermore, having those 50/50 ball in their favor will definitely increase their chances of clinching a repeat. As a result, Caruso ranks third in this list.
2. Montrezl Harrell
Aside from Caruso, another Laker that is making his presence felt is Montrezl Harrell. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has been bringing the energy to the Purple and Gold. After a productive season with the Clippers that also saw him win the 2020 NBA Hustle Award, Harrell has been going all out in as he searches for his first ever NBA championship.
This year, the 6’7 back up big man is averaging a decent 14.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, including 2.4 offensive rebounds. Harrell’s knack for getting offensive rebounds, despite being greatly undersized, allows the Lakers to gain extra opportunities on the offensive end. Furthermore, his explosive finishes around the rim are an added bonus in giving energy to the players on the court which is crucial when stadiums aren’t filled with fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Harrell doesn’t suit the modern big man prototype like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, or Anthony Davis. But despite his lack of height and skills at the center position, Harrell makes up for it with his hard work by boxing out bigger counterparts and soaring up for blocked shots. Because of his hard work, there is a good reason why he is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year and NBA Hustle Award winner. In fact, he can even be considered as one of the best traditional and undersized big men we have today. As a result, he ranks second in this list.
1. Draymond Green
If there is a hustle player today that has made an enormous impact for his team, it would be Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors were a feared team in the league that won three NBA championships in the past decade. Although a big part of that is the hot shooting of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, the playmaking, defense, and hustle of Draymond Green was instrumental during their glory years. Because of this, Green is arguably the best hustle player today.
Although Green is quite undersized at the power forward position, standing at 6’6, he is still able to guard Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. Aside from his high IQ, Green’s ability to position himself and to fight tenaciously for loose balls allow him to keep in step with the best power forwards in the league today.
After a game against the Warriors, Embiid had only good words to say about Green’s defense. He said “He’s a great defender. There’s noting I can take away from him. He’s a great one-on-one defender; he’s a great team defender. You know, he’s very smart and knows how to position himself on the court.”
Furthermore, it is also worth noting that Green is also capable of locking down elite guards such as James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Luka Doncic given that he has the quickness and agility to make deflections and steals. He is averaging 1.6 steals per outing this season. When those deflections and steals are made, it often results into the signature transition three point shot usually made by no other than Curry.
On offense, Green plays a huge role in the Warriors’ system. Although people notice his playmaking abilities, given that he averages a career high 8.7 dimes per game this year, Green also puts in the work by setting the much needed screens to free up shooters like Stephen Curry.
Although the Warriors are far from their glory years ever since the departure of Kevin Durant and the season-ending injury to Klay Thompson, Curry and Green have kept the Warriors competitive enough to at least snag a place in this year’s Play-in Tournament. Green has put in the work as the team’s facilitator. But more importantly, he has also contributed in the team’s intangibles that affect the games more than what the box score tells us.
