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Secret Soldiers: 3 under-the-radar players making their mark on the NBA

Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Everyone knows the superstars, the skywalking acrobats, the crafty passers, and the microwave scorers. They're featured in every highlight pack and come February, their talents will be on display in Toronto at All-Star Weekend.

But what about the under-the-radar contributors? There's no post for the player who sets perfectly-angled screens, no event for the heady facilitator who switches the floor before the defense can reset. That all gets left by the wayside.

Here are three under-the-radar players making a significant impact on their teams this season:

Nic Batum

The league has known about Batum for a long time. He didn't quite make it as a go-to player, but he always found success as a crafty fourth option for the Portland Trail Blazers.

He's made his mark since being dealt to Charlotte. Hornets coach Steve Clifford envisioned Batum playing the role of a point-forward and the Frenchman has delivered beyond the bench boss' wildest dreams.

After 11 straight seasons of having an offense in the bottom six, Batum has the Hornets buzzing at a top-10 rate when he's on the court. With Batum leading a revamped attack, Charlotte has shot out of the gates as one of the East's best teams.

Batum has missed six games over the last month and the Hornets, not coincidentally, have fallen from grace. They're 17-15 when he's in the lineup, and his playmaking, outside shooting, and dutiful perimeter defense is a huge reason for Charlotte's resurgence.

Festus Ezeli

How crazy is it that the Golden State Warriors won the championship last season with a prospect in Ezeli who mostly sat on the bench?

A broken nose for Andrew Bogut early in the season opened up opportunities for Ezeli, and he didn't disappoint. He's doubled his previous season totals with 8.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game, and opponents are shooting just 42.4 percent from the floor against him.

Ezeli's also blossomed on the offensive end. His hands of stone have softened just enough, and with his immense athleticism, he can reliably finish lobs from Draymond Green. Ezeli's even developed something of a hook shot.

More importantly, his emergence gives the Warriors options in the summer when he's a restricted free agent. Bogut carries a history of injuries and he's on the wrong side of 30. Ezeli, on the other hand, could be the Warriors' center for the future.

C.J. McCollum

Who would've thought the third highest scoring duo in the NBA would come from Weber State and Lehigh University?

Damian Lillard was already a well-known figure, but after a whirlwind of changes saw every starter except him leave Portland, minutes opened up for McCollum and he's taken full advantage.

After averaging just 6.8 points as part of a defunct Blazers bench last season, McCollum has tripled his scoring average to 20.9 points on 39.8 percent shooting from deep to go along with 4.4 assists. Those numbers are on par with those of Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, who's widely expected to receive the max this summer.

McCollum already has 10 games of 25 or more points, including a 37-point outburst on opening night and a 35-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist effort after Christmas.

While McCollum's development hasn't offset the loss of four starters, his output has helped the Blazers stay within striking distance of the playoffs - an unthinkable proposition at the start of the season.

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