Four unheralded players making notable contributions

Second-year guard Kelenna Azubuike has taken advantage of his increased playing time with the Warriors this season. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

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Call them this season's Fantastic (Unknown) Four, at least after the first two weeks. The following are rookies or second-year players who went undrafted out of college but are playing a key role for their clubs so far.

Kelenna Azubuike, Warriors

This 6-5 shooting guard out of Kentucky is still relatively unknown outside the Bay Area, but his anonymity is fading fast. As the main replacement for Jason Richardson, he is averaging 18.3 points (on 49.4 percent shooting) and 5.3 rebounds through six games while throwing down several facial dunks. Azubuike (pronounced az-a-BOO-key) got called up to the Warriors last year after starring in the D-League, and was good enough that coach Don Nelson decided to keep him around. He looks to be on the path to a nice NBA career.

Yakhouba Diawara, Nuggets

Like Azubuike, this defensive specialist actually broke on the scene last year for the Nuggets but is now playing an even bigger role. The 6-7 guard from France, who split his college career between Southern Idaho and Pepperdine, has started seven games for Denver at shooting guard with Allen Iverson moving back to the point. Diawara (whose full name is pronounced Ya-KOO-ba DEE-a-WA-ra) isn't much of a scoring threat, but Nuggets coach George Karl has called him "by far our best defender." He could continue to see regular minutes, at least until injured point guards Chucky Atkins and Anthony Carter return.

Jose Juan Barea, Mavericks

How many unknown players can step into a title-contending team and lead it to a victory in the season's first week? This little point guard out of Northeastern, generously listed at 6-0, did just that Nov. 3, when he scored 25 points (on 9-of-11 shooting) and dished out five assists while filling in for an injured Devin Harris as the Mavs downed the Kings. Barea, whose previous claim to fame was being featured in an NBA TV documentary about life in the D-League, won't play much as long as Harris is healthy. But he's been impressive so far.

Jamario Moon, Raptors

This 27-year-old rookie is quickly becoming one of the feel-good stories of the season. Undrafted out of a Mississippi junior college in 2001, he spent the next six years bouncing around the WBA, NBDL, ABA, CBA, USBL and even the Harlem Globetrotters before finally getting noticed by the Raptors at a June tryout camp. An incredible athlete in the Shawn Marion mold, the 6-8 small forward started ahead of Jason Kapono the last two games and combined to record 27 points, nine rebounds and five steals.