Even a spotlight as grand and global as the NBA's only has so much shine to go around.

While the league's brightest stars hold celebrity status even outside of the basketball world, its less heralded role players don't always get the attention they deserve.

We're here to do some overdue heralding.

The following batch of ballers may not draw headline coverage, but they are quietly invaluable pieces of their respective puzzles. These are the glue guys, the hustlers, the do-whatever-is-required types who endear themselves to coaches, teammates and clued-in fanbases. They aren't known to nearly enough casual fans, though, so let's make some introductions.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota Timberwolves

When Nickeil Alexander-Walker entered the Association as the No. 17 pick of the 2019 draft, he was initially miscast as a spark-plug scorer. He took a lot of shots and didn't make nearly enough, and his defense bordered on disastrous.

That might help explain why he was traded twice at the 2022 trade deadline and again changed sceneries just one year later.

Over time, though, his role evolved to the point that his first order of on-court business switched ends of the floor. A defensive focus gave him not only a purpose, but made him the kind of support contributor capable of elevating a good team. That's because he isn't merely a good defender; he's a great one. This past season, he ranked in the 98th percentile for defensive estimated plus/minus and shaved 2.8 points off his matchup's field-goal percentage.

"I think we have a greater appreciation for who he is as a player," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, who was an assistant in New Orleans during Alexander-Walker's rookie season, told ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "Now, the defense is way better than we had anticipated, and he understands that that's his ticket to making an impact on the floor."

Alexander-Walker has grown more selective, and therefore more efficient, with his offense, too. His shooting slash jumped from 38.7/32.9/72.6 over his first three seasons to 44.1/38.9/73.6 during the past two. This is true two-way growth, and it has quietly played a big role in assisting with Minnesota's ascension.

Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers

Portland's first season of its post-Damian Lillard era was every bit as loss-filled and development-focused as one would expect.

In a way, that was unfortunate, since it sort of masked over how much Toumani Camara can contribute to winning right now. The Blazers were a mess in mostly all facets, but they were least messy when the defense-first swingman was on the floor. He had the biggest swing in net differential among their rotation regulars, as they fared 7.6 points better per 100 possessions with him than without.

That's a big number for anyone, let alone a rookie with clear offensive limitations. Creation isn't a part of his arsenal, and the same holds true for perimeter shooting (58 threes in 70 games, 33.7 percent connection rate). However, his defense is among the stingiest around (96th percentile in defensive estimated plus/minus), and his offense isn't devoid of value, as he's an active rebounder and right-place, right-time cutter.

"He's earning his name on defense," Malcolm Brogdon remarked in December. "His offense will come later, and that will be the icing on the cake, because he's already a great defender."

Last September, Camara was an afterthought in the three-team trade that put Damian Lillard in Milwaukee, Deandre Ayton in Portland and Jusuf Nurkić in Phoenix. Now, Camara may have already achieved building-block status for the Blazers.

Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings

Keon Ellis split his four-year college career between Florida SouthWestern and Alabama. The majority of his first two NBA seasons were spent on two-way contracts before he finally coaxed the Kings into giving him a standard pact in February.

He was mostly living an out-of-sight, out-of-mind existence as far as Association observers were concerned, but a scintillating, suffocating closing stretch to the season may have shattered that narrative for good. He snagged a starting spot vacated by an injured Kevin Huerter and quickly emerged as the Kings' most disruptive defender. If that wasn't enough, Ellis also converted 40.4 percent of his perimeter shots as a starter (which was actually worse than his 43.2 percent conversion rate as a reserve).

Ellis was comfortable and confident in his role. The Kings were better off for having him in it, too. Among their 11 players to log 500-plus minutes, only De'Aaron Fox (a one-time All-Star) and Trey Lyles (a former lottery pick) had a better net differential than Ellis' plus-4.8 point swing.

"I'm excited about his growth potential," Kings coach Mike Brown told reporters. "... Everybody out there in the NBA world is starting to know who he is, but sometimes you've got to find diamonds in the rough."

Ellis' three-and-D skills are the kind every club wants to have alongside its stars. If his third NBA season goes anything like his second one finished, he should make a fortune in this league.

T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

OK, so some folks are actually talking about T.J. McConnell. Just about anyone with a point guard vacancy tried luring him out of the Circle City last season, but the Pacers rebuffed those inquiries.

It's time that fans see what so many front offices already have: McConnell is, against all odds, hugely helpful to have.

He's almost a one-of-one in the modern NBA as a primary playmaker who lacks size (6'1", 190 lbs), athleticism and an outside shot (career 35 percent from three on low volume). Yet he's retained tremendous value for his ball control, instincts and all-out hustle. He's almost a mistake-free offensive organizer (career 5.1 assists against 1.6 turnovers) and a two-way tone-setter.

"He's what you want an Indiana Pacer to be about," Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters.

McConnell spent the early part of last season being squeezed out of the rotation and finished the campaign tied with Russell Westbrook for seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. McConnell's impact is loud, even as his stats, play style and physical tools are all unassuming.

Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers

After suffering a brick-filled beating in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs, the Cavaliers spent a fortune on spacers last summer. More specifically, they threw nearly $90 million combined at Max Strus and Georges Niang.

Turns out, Cleveland may have already had a superior sharpshooter on hand in Sam Merrill, who inked a 10-day deal and later a partially guaranteed three-year pact with the club that March.

Merrill saw the fewest minutes of the three this past season, but his three-ball shined the brightest. He led all Cavaliers' regulars with a 40.4 percent splash rate. More impressively, he trailed only Stephen Curry—aka history's greatest shooter—in three-pointers per 36 minutes (4.8).

"He's a trigger for our offense," five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell told reporters. "He's a guy that whether it's helping me get free, creating confusion, can get you 15 points in two minutes."

Merrill's skill tree doesn't branch out to other areas, but it doesn't need to when he's so elite at making the game's most valuable shot.

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Of all the players included in this exercise, Trey Murphy III might be the most recognizable. He's been a Slam Dunk Contest participant, a Most Improved Player award vote-getter (seventh in 2022-23) and a near-nightly starter (65 starts that same season).

He is still being overlooked and undervalued. Even those who appreciate him as a high-end support player might underrate his ability to make an impact.

He operates as if he comes from the luxury line of three-and-D wings. He earns high marks in those categories (71st percentile in defensive estimated plus/minus, 38 percent from distance on substantial volume), but his game has more dimensions. That label doesn't always include his level of close-range finishing (79.5 percent inside of three feet). Or pull-up shooting (38.7 percent from three). Or decision-making (2.2 assists against 0.6 turnovers).

"I know where I can go, especially with how hard I work and overall drive," Murphy told reporters at his exit interview. "I think the biggest thing is work hard every day... understanding I'm going to be a really good player in this league. It's just a matter of time before it really shows."

Squint and you can spot a path to Murphy becoming one of basketball's next star big-wings.

Day'Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

After being drafted 29th overall in 2021, Day'Ron Sharpe led a mostly anonymous existence over his first two seasons in the Association. He could brute-force and bully-ball his way to boards and point-blank buckets, but he didn't have the bounce or ball skills to make much of an impact.

In year three, though, he effectively leveled up across the board. He seemed better conditioned and more skilled, allowing him to best his previous career high in minutes by nearly 400 despite missing a month-plus with a knee injury. His stats didn't necessarily spike, but there was more substance beneath them.

He upped his connection rates from inside of three feet (64.1 to 68.8) and from three to 10 feet (28.2 to 40). He averaged more assists (1.4) than turnovers (1.1) for the first time. His defensive rebound percentage (27.9) and defensive win shares (1.3) were personal bests. His net differential went from way in the red (minus-13.5 points per 100 possessions) to neon-green (plus-10.0).

He was a reliable and productive player on both ends of the court. He held well-above-average percentiles for both offensive (74th) and defensive (71st) estimated plus minus.

While the Nets might lead this year's tanking effort (which has to be called "Capture the Flagg," right?), they'll still be looking for building blocks. Their burly big man quietly appears up to the task.

Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls

The Phoenix Suns bet big on Jalen Smith by making him the 10th overall pick of the 2020 draft.

They abandoned their wager in shockingly little time, first declining the third-year option on his rookie contract and then sending him packing at the 2022 trade deadline for a second-round pick later spent on Hugo Besson, who Google assures us isn't a 2K-created player.

Phoenix has probably been face-palming ever since, as Smith has gone on to showcase a unicorn blend of shot-blocking (career 1.5 per 36 minutes) and floor-spacing (61 triples at a 42.4 percent clip this past season).

The Bulls smartly snatched him up on a three-year, $27 million deal. That pact has a great chance of looking larcenous in hindsight, especially if they can clear him a starting spot by finding a taker for Nikola Vučević.

Smith, aptly nicknamed "Stix" for his wiry 6'10" frame, feasts on an analytically approved shot diet of shots at the rim (41 percent of his attempts last season) and beyond the arc (36.5). He's also accurate from each spot (76.5 and 42.4 percent, respectively). Throw in reliable foul shooting (career 74 percent) and competent paint protection, and you have the makings of a hugely helpful modern big.

Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons

Marcus Sasser should be an awkward fit in today's NBA.

He is, at his essence, a 6'2" scoring guard. That's a dying breed, but he is carving his niche and potentially cementing himself in the Pistons' plans for years to come.

If not for Sasser's late-season shooting swoon, even casual fans might be fawning over his freshman performance. Prior to the All-Star break, the diminutive rookie was the proud owner of a pristine 46.7/41.6/86.8 shooting slash.

Those percentages couldn't sustain through the stretch run, but his first NBA go-round should still go down as a smashing success. He was only the eighth qualified rookie ever to average 15 points, six assists and two three-pointers per 36 minutes. And among that exclusive group, which features the likes of Luka Dončić, Damian Lillard and Sasser's teammate Cade Cunningham, only Tyrese Haliburton eclipsed Sasser's 37.5 three-point percentage.

Sasser is an ignitable scorer and fiery shooter, but he's also a feisty defender and capable shot-creator. He should have a long future in this league, and if an All-Star selection or two isn't in the cards, maybe a Sixth Man of the Year honor could be.

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

A 2022 second-round pick out of VCU, Vince Williams Jr. needed a season-plus to convince the Grizzlies to convert his two-way pact into a standard contract. He didn't need much longer to prove that if he isn't a mainstay in Memphis for years to come, he'll be prominently featured on a different NBA roster.

He can thank his lockdown defense for that.

His hands are quick, his motor is always revved and his arms are impossibly long (7'0" wingspan for the 6'4" swingman). That's why Memphis has already entrusted him with some of the league's most marquee matchups. The list of the 10 players he guarded the most included Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

That adds credence to Williams' elite advanced metrics. He landed in the 90th percentile of defensive estimated plus/minus. He had to settle for the 83rd percentile in efficiency differential. His matchups shot 4.5 percentage points worse against him on attempts within six feet than they did on average.

And for all of his defensive success, you can't call him a stopping specialist. Not when he averaged 10 points, shot 37.8 percent from range and nearly doubled his 1.8 turnovers with 3.4 assists.

It wasn't always clear he'd get a chance to make his mark in this league. Given the way he seized upon his moment, though, it might only be a matter of time before he gets his formal introduction to casual hoop fans.

Statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, Dunks & Threes and Cleaning the Glass.