SI's Mark Monteith calls them "hidden gems", NBA players who for whatever reason don't make it in their first three years. Teams give up too soon, opportunities aren't there, or timing was bad. He cites Steve Nash and Jermaine O'Neal as two examples. This year, he sees three players who fit the definition: Ike Diogu, Sebastian Telfair and Yi Jianlian. Too early, he writes, to call the seven-footer a disappointment.
- In search of NBA's 'hidden gems' - Mark Monteith - Sports Illustrated