I know it might be hard for some of you to believe that an 11-year NBA veteran could be considered underrated. In my opinion, though, that’s the operative word when describing Nuggets’ center Marcus Camby.

He gets his accolades for being a defensive juggernaut, but hardly ever gets proper acclaim for his offensive abilities. Camby has put up some incredible numbers in his last four seasons on the defensive end. He has averaged over three blocks per game in each of the last four seasons, coupled with almost 10 defensive boards per contest during the same span. 

Elton Brand might be in the City of Brotherly Love, but he’s not the only big man traveling to the East Coast. Veteran NBA center Theo Ratliff is starting his second stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, eight years removed from his first stay with the team.

In his 13-year career, Ratliff has been noted as a “journeyman”, but that titled has only recently been valid. Theo has played some significant roles on teams in Atlanta and Portland, but is most fondly remembered for his time with the 76ers between 1997-2001. He was a defensive menace, while also contributing more than 11 points per game in his four-year stint with the club. 

Tim Duncan might be the lead pilot on the San Antonio Spurs’ plane, but Manu Ginobili is pushing Duncan for co-pilot honors. Problem is, Ginobili won’t get to show off his All-World form until December.

A left ankle injury limited his mobility in the 2008 NBA Playoffs, but Ginobili’s re-aggravation of the ankle during the Olympics was what prompted the team to seek surgery as a likely option. Although the surgery was successful, the Argentine swingman will miss almost a quarter of the Spurs’ season. 

Living in Indiana, I hated the New York Knicks’ teams throughout the 1990s. That being said, there was always one player I had respect for: Allan Houston.

In fact, when I found out he was making a return to the NBA, albeit with the Knicks, I couldn’t help but smile. Houston still has the sweetest stroke to ever come out of the University of Tennessee, with no disrespect to Chris Lofton. 

Almost 20 months ago, Shaun Livingston suffered one of the most gruesome injuries the NBA has ever seen. If you haven’t seen his layup attempt, I’d suggest steering clear any time soon, especially if you have been eating a meal within the last hour or two.

Now, though, the Peoria native has a chance to show why he was picked No. 4 in the 2004 draft by the LA Clippers. The Miami Heat signed Livingston to a two-year deal worth an undisclosed amount of money.

Any time you’re dealing with a 6’7” point guard who can distribute the basketball, you know you have a special talent. Livingston is obviously no exception to that rule. 

So it’s official.

After much to do about not allowing NBA teams to speak with Iranian star Hamed Haddidi, the Memphis Grizzlies have signed the free agent center. The United States government reversed their decision to allow teams to speak with Haddidi, despite the disagreements between the U.S. and Iranian government. 

Those Americans who watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics should know his name by now: Rudy Fernandez.

Today, August 29, 2008, I’m picking Fernandez to sneak up on the NBA and garner the third most Rookie of the Year votes in the upcoming season. No offense to the young Spaniard, but Michael Beasley and Greg Oden are just too good. 

Sure, the Redeem Team dominated the headlines of the Olympic Games. Sure, Yao Ming was able to play in front of his host nation of China, standing ovations aplenty. But there is one story that has been overlooked: the pride that German forward and NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki has for his country.

It was relatively well-documented in the German press that Nowitzki was nursing injuries throughout the Olympic Games, but forced himself to play through the pain in what very well may have been his last Olympic competition. 

It’s the gold medal game most expected: The mighty Americans facing the tenacious Spaniards.

I will let you right now, this won’t be the 37-point blowout that everyone saw in pool play. After Spain got down early to the Americans, they essentially packed it in to allow the US play Argentina in the semifinals.