Join us as we count down the most underappreciated athletes in Las Vegas right now! Fair warning- there will be a few surprises on this list, so try to keep an open mind.
#5 Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders Wide Receiver
Hunter Renfrow is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and can prove it. The only problem is that no one is giving him the chance to do so. He’s constantly getting moved down the depth chart and fueling trade rumors. The Raiders have such strength at the WR position but want to focus on their two or three best guys.
This puts Hunter Renfrow at the bottom of the pecking order, and pretty much forgotten. He has only had nine targets this season and caught six for 59 yards. The biggest problems seem to be the quality of talent around him and his injury issues last year. This is seemingly resulting in Renfrow not getting a fair shake, and it’s infuriating. The fact they want to trade him for draft picks is absolutely ridiculous.
#4 Logan Thompson, Las Vegas Golden Knights Goalie
The Las Vegas Golden Knights have a history of treating their goalies horribly. One example is Marc-Andre Fleury, who anchored them in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. He also won the Vezina Trophy after starting more than ten straight games in the postseason. This is the most in NHL history.
Fast forward to 2023, and Las Vegas now seems to have forgotten about Logan Thompson. The team is more focused on Adin Hill after he helped the team secure the Stanley Cup. The organization even signed Hill to a two-year, $9.8 million extension.
So, why isn’t Thompson getting any attention? Many want to blame his injury issues. Thompson has done so much for Las Vegas, and it isn’t being appreciated. His record of 21-13 as a starter last season is a big reason why the Knights led the division. Despite this, he is now playing second fiddle to Hill in a trend that seems likely to continue.
#3 Kurt Busch, Former NASCAR Cup Series Driver
There’s no way to get around the feeling that Kurt Busch deserved a better ending to his NASCAR Cup Series career. Instead, however, the Las Vegas native suffered concussion-like symptoms after a qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway in 2022. NASCAR refused to clear Busch to compete after the incident, sidelining him for the rest of the season.
The situation was made worse by the fact that Busch had just qualified for the playoffs and had a chance at capturing his second championship. He eventually gave up his playoff spot to another driver, which had to be difficult. A year later, Bush announced that he was retiring from NASCAR due to the injury.
Busch deserved so much better. He is still a Cup Series champion, a Daytona 500 champion, and a winner of several big-name races. He was just starting to become a fan favorite when he was sidelined with his injuries.
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#2 Rich Bissicia, Former Las Vegas Raiders Interim Head Coach
Rich Bissicia is one of the most under-appreciated figures in Las Vegas. His biggest accomplishment is coaching the Raiders all the way to the playoffs in 2021. He accomplished all this as he endured a media circus, several tough opponents, and constant controversy. Despite his tenacity, the Raiders still ousted him in favor of Josh McDaniels in 2022. For context, Bissicia still has a better head coaching record (7-5) than Josh McDaniels (20-31)
Bissicia is currently assistant head coach for the Green Bay Packers, who are 2-3. Some might see this as a sign that Bissicia is ineffective, but they are forgetting some factors. The biggest is that the Packers are still dealing with the loss of Aaron Rodgers. Rich Bissicia deserves to be a head coach again. The way he rallied the team behind him like he did in 2021 is something special.
#1 Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders Tight End
The Las Vegas Raiders continue to overlook one of their most promising future talents, and it’s getting embarrassing. This is none other than rookie tight end Michael Mayer, who isn’t seeing much action this year.
In a game against the Patriots, Mayer brought down five balls for 75 yards and 15 yards a catch. These are the numbers you would normally see out of people like Devante Adams or Jakobi Meyers, but the Raiders keep looking elsewhere.
Next: 5 best Kyle Busch playoff moments in NASCAR history
