We recently posted up an article detailing the top five position players in NBA 2K12 . This week we're focusing on the top superstars you might not know about. These are players that might be well known in real life, but are over shadowed in NBA 2K12. That's mainly due to the fact that these players either have another superstar on their team, or they're on an underperforming team. But with all of that said, these players truly need more recognition, and hopefully this article does just that.
 

Point Guard - Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors)

As a point guard/shooting guard hybrid, Monta Ellis is a player that falls under the radar for most NBA 2K12 players. His overall offense rating is an 85, with his outside scoring rating at an impressive "A-". Both of those mean Ellis can easily pull up on a fastbreak opportunity and sink a 3-pointer. Ellis is one of the fastest players in 2K12, and that will be sure to help you out. With Golden State being one of the youngest teams in the game, he can help dish the ball to Stephen Curry, David Lee and others - allowing you to make Ellis not only a scoring machine, but the next Steve Nash.

Shooting Guard - Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)

The Sacramento Kings don't have a lot going for them in NBA 2K12, but the bright spot is Tyreke Evans. With an overall rating of 80 and one of the best young defensive players, (83 defensive rating and "B+" perimeter defense rating), Evans can help you out a lot if you decide to play as the Kings. Not only that, but he can also play the point guard position if necessary. With an "A-" handling rating, he's also able to penetrate the lane and kick the ball out to the wide-open man, or simply drive to the hole past his defender. When trying to guard some of the best shooting guards in the game like Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant, 'Reke can hold his own. All of this is why Evans deserves to be more well-known in the NBA 2K series.

Small Forward - Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers)

It can be debated that Granger is one of the best at his positions in NBA 2K12, and that is a solid argument to make. But the Indiana Pacers are a very underused and underperforming team. With an inside scoring rating of "B-" and an outside scoring rating of "B+", Granger can help you out tremendously against your online counterpart. He is also a fantastic defensive player, with his perimeter defense and post defense rating "B" and "B-," respectively. So he can not only score the necessary points for you, but can also stop some of the best offensive players with his defensive prowess. The Indiana Pacers might not be the best team in the game, but for the people that like trading for good players, Granger might want to be at the top of your list.

Power Forward - Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)

With a rebound rating of 99, Kevin Love is one of the best rebounders in NBA 2K12. But Love can do way more than just rebound, his inside scoring is at a solid "B-,"while his outside scoring sits at a "B." Although Love is not one of the best in the game at shooting 3-pointers, he can definitely sink one when called upon. Not to mention his ability to score the occasional put-back shot after an offensive rebound. And to be honest, getting a double-double with Kevin Love is actually not hard to do, with his outstanding rebounding and inside scoring skills. Being able to out rebound your opponent will drastically help you win games, and Love is one of the best in the game at that. It's almost best to have Love down around the paint when on offense, because he can help pull down the offensive boards.

Center - Chris Kaman (Los Angeles Clippers)

Probably the most unknown superstar in NBA 2K12, Chris Kaman can help you pull in the rebounds (86/B+ rating) and score on the inside. With his overall offense rating at an 83, Kaman can get the points that are needed in the paint. Not only is he great at rebounding and inside scoring, but with a nice "B+" rating for post defense, he can go one-on-one with the greatest centers in the game. With Blake Griffin on the Clippers, Kaman might not get you an insane amount of points, but he can surely be a great defender for you and can easily pull down more than 10 rebounds. Chris Kaman doesn't get the respect in the NBA 2K series that he rightfully deserves. With his outstanding rebounding and blocking abilities, Kaman can be the second go to guy behind Blake Griffin if you decide to play as the L.A. Clippers.

Final Thoughts

That's it, those are the top five unknown superstars in NBA 2K12. As previously mentioned these players might be well known in real life, but in video game form, they're not too widely used. Not only are most of these players the best on their team, but they're guaranteed to help you out in your time with NBA 2K12. Each player mentioned can help you out in many different ways, whether it be Ellis getting you some assists or Kaman getting that key defensive rebound that saves you the game. They might not all be mega-superstars like LeBron James or Bryant, but play as the teams these players play for, and you're sure to have fun and even win a few games.

What players in NBA 2K12 do you think are unknown superstars? Let us know in the comments below.