There are great athletes who have played for Dallas teams over the years that never really got the recognition they deserved. Whether they were ridiculed for leaving, or extremely underrated, these are five players that aren’t recognized for their talents.

5. Michael Finley, Dallas Mavericks
He was one of the most underrated players to wear a Dallas Mavericks jersey. When people talk about the Mavericks, they usually talk about Dirk Nowitzki, the franchise player who led them to an NBA title. Finley and Nowitzki were teammates at one time, and Finley spent the bulk of his career in Dallas, playing from the years 1997-2005. Michael Finley averaged over 20 points per game for five straight seasons before his scoring numbers tapered off in the last 3 years of his run in Dallas. He’s fifth on the Mavericks’ all-time scoring, averaged the most minutes-per-game in a Dallas uniform and his 748 steals place fourth in team history. Finley eventually won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007, but his contributions shouldn’t go unnoticed.

4. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers –
As a fan favorite in the metroplex, Ian Kinsler received very little recognition for his production around the league and even sometimes from his own fans. Spending the past eight years in Texas, he hit in the leadoff spot the majority of his time with the club. Most fans would moan about him popping up or about how his batting average was low for a leadoff hitter, but his production came from other stat columns. He did little things to help the team win, consistently scoring over 100 runs per year, drawing a lot of walks, hitting double digits in home runs and stealing bases at a high level. He was a three-time all-star, but it seemed like he was criticized more than necessary. This past offseason, the Rangers traded Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers, ending his career in Texas.

 

3. Steve Nash, Dallas Mavericks –
Steve Nash was acquired by the Phoenix Suns in a trade the same year the Mavericks acquired franchise player Dirk Nowitzki. Nash was a great passing point guard, an excellent shooter, and played smart basketball. The coach of the Mavericks at the time, Don Nelson, had a simple strategy – get Nash the ball and let him run with their young guard Michael Finley and rookie power forward Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks’ ‘Big 3’ made it to the conference semifinals in both 2001 and 2002 before losing, made it to the conference finals in 2003, and were dispatched in the first round of the 2004 playoffs. Thinking Nash’s production levels would dip as he entered his 30s, the Mavericks went a different direction and didn’t re-sign him. Nash then proceeded to win back-to-back MVP awards with the team who drafted him, the Phoenix Suns. Nash also averaged 17.2 points and close to 11 assists per game with the Suns. The Mavericks missed out on one of the greatest point guards of all time spending most of his career in Dallas.

 

2. Michael Young, Texas Rangers –
In his 12-year tenure with the Rangers, Michael Young was a perennial all-star and consistent .300 hitter, but his numbers were always overshadowed by bigger names like Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera. He kind of flew below the radar with his play, and his value to the Rangers’ clubhouse couldn’t be overstated. He was the heart and soul of the Texas Rangers baseball team before his departure, sticking with them through all of their rough years and three position changes. Most players wouldn’t be able to take that kind of inconsistency, but he did everything in a professional way and was proud to be a Ranger no matter what the circumstances were. He owns most of the team’s records in major hitting categories, and is no doubt one of the greatest players to put on a Rangers uniform, but what he did off of the field and in the clubhouse doesn’t show up in the box score. His numbers were always good, but what he did for the team beyond statistics was great.

 

1. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys –
Number one on this list has to be Tony Romo: the man Dallas Cowboys fans love to hate. He has a tendency to win people over with brilliant plays, then break their hearts when it matters most. Most fans who dislike Romo will point back to the botched snap against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2007 playoffs that sparked their dislike for him. Or more recently, the three interceptions he threw against the Washington Redskins in the last game of the 2012 season, costing them a playoff berth. What most people don’t know is that his 102.1 passer rating in the fourth quarter is the best ever. Like, of any quarterback to ever play in the NFL. That’s pretty impressive. He consistently passes for over 4,000 passing yards every year and 25+ touchdowns, but his shaky image won’t be fixed until he brings a 6th Super Bowl to Dallas.