Of course, we couldnt account for everyone who deserves to be on this list, but below are the most underrated NBA players of the early 2000s. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. It is borderline insanity that Miller was never even honored with an All-Star selection and for that, he is the 3rd most underrated player of the 200s decade. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. Required fields are marked *. Thats not that tough. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. At 34 years of age, Cassell had his best year averaging 19-3-7, helping the downtrodden Minnesota franchise propel itself to #1 in the Western Conference Standings. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. all of who are . Here's a ranking of the NBA's top teammate duos throughout league history. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. The Most Underrated Players In The NBA Today - TheSportster He would average 20.0 PPG or more for the next 3 seasons and shot near or better than 40.0% from three during that time. With only one more high-scoring season under his belt, 22.7 points per game, Redd would suffer a torn ACL and MCL injury that would significantly impact the rest of his career. Despite his demise over the latter course of his career, Redd still averaged 19.0 points per game for his career. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. One of the most valuable roleplayers in the early part of the decade, Doug Christie, was a deadeye shooter that brought it at an all-defensive level on the other end. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. Trevor Ariza. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s Career Stats: 16.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, Career Achievements: 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. The 20 Best Point Guards of the Last 20 Years | Complex Due to the emergence of other superstars like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady, many other solid players who had massive success in the decade have flown under the radar as time has gone on. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. That could not be further from the truth as Ilgauskas was a solid two-way big man who helped LeBron James adapt to the NBA. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Top 20 most underrated footballers of all time: who are they? His best season came in 2003-04, Peja averaged a career-high 24.2 PPG on 48.0% shooting overall and 43.3% from three. Lewis is considered one of the best second options ever for his time with both the Seattle SuperSonics next to Ray Allen and in Orlando with Dwight Howard. 7 min read. The sample size doesn't include the '87 playoffs because McHale was playing on a broken foot. The Most Overrated NBA Players Today - Ranker Thats why hes the first name on this list. 1969-1971 . To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. Maybe. He began a stretch of six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 21 points a game. He was an entertaining player, scorer, and consistent all-star-level talent in the 90s. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. Photo: Paul Popper. At his peak, he had an argument for the best big man in basketball at a time when Tim Duncan and Shaq were still in the league. He finished his career averaging 5.5 three-point attempts per game in an era that was just startingto see the actual value of the deep ball. The Bucks were dealt a huge blow during the 2008-09 season when Redd went down with a knee injury. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. He would have a few more All-Star seasons with Indiana but after the 2004 brawl in Detroit, the damage had been done to his stance within the league. 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. Jabbar was from the very beginning of his career being named the 1969-1970 rookie year, Abdul-Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 8x All-Defensive selection in the 1970s with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers; moreover, he averaged 28+ points, 14+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game and led the Bucks to their first NBA title, winning Finals MVP in . Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. He could force his way into the paint like a running back hitting the hole in the NFL and either finish at the rim easily or find the open man for an easier opportunity. Read that sentence again. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. NBA on Twitter: "Jarrett Allen. Look out. https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK And while many fans will remember the Clippers for continuously being one of the dumpster fires of NBA teams, alongside Sacramento, Minnesota, and others, those other teams have had moments in the spotlight that are remembered fondly. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. He would have a few more All-Star seasons with Indiana but after the 2004 brawl in Detroit, the damage had been done to his stance within the league. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Was it worth it? In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. The 2000s was an awe-inspiring time to grow up as an NBA fan and witness these real-life superheroes hit the court every single night. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. During his 3rd season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miller led the NBA in assists with 10.9 APG to go with 16.5 PPG and 1.6 SPG. Type above and press Enter to search. Well, that counts for something, right? Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. Who is fantasy basketball's most underrated player? Career Stats: 17.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Career Achievements: 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. The top 25 NBA duos of all time | Yardbarker The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. Mainly known for his part with the Washington Wizards Big Three including Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, Jamison was a consistent scoring star in the NBA. Miller had solid shooting numbers for a big man at that time, finishing with career averages of 80.4% from the line and 48.0% from the field. Top 5 Best NBA Point Guards Since 2000 - The Sports Drop Players like Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Kyle Kuzma each get the overrated label due to playoff failures, huge contracts, or just being talked up more than their games can back up. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Due to a knee condition that basically deteriorated his knee cartilage as time went on, we were only able to experience 3 real years of his peak. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Redd was also awarded a 3rd-Team All-NBA spot, giving Milwaukee hope that the young guard could take on the role open with Ray Allens departure. 1. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. Designed by profootballspace. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. Most Underrated NBA Players Going into the 2021-22 Season - Gambling Sites Struggling with bone spurs, and ankle surgery, he left the NBA after the 2006-07 season. Brand's best year came in 2006 as an MVP candidate averaging 24.7 points and 10 rebounds while leading the Los Angeles Clippers back into the playoffs. Philadelphia 76ers Premier League UFC Television The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. Bibby had a handle and jump shot that was among the best in his time, and he had tremendous success with Chris Webber in Sacramento. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known Not all basketball players are well known, Sports Mania Asia lists the top five most underrated NBA players from the late 1990s to 2000s. Jason Terry: 1066.71 TPA. One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. Scottie Pippen is #15 on this list and would have been much higher a decade ago, but recent lists have been very kind to Pippen and have listed the versatile defensive small forward in the top twenty of all-time (which we believe is way too high for a player with his numbers).. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands lines up before the UEFA Euro 88 Group 2 match between England and the Netherlands at the Rheinstadion on June 15, 1988 in Dsseldorf, West Germany. Unfortunately, his fantastic rookie campaign was lost in history behind a similar scoring guard in Allen Iverson, but it was easy to see the skill and talent Shareef possessed. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? These players tend to make their presence felt different than your average superstar, whether . Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a sophomore and was known as a proven scorer averaging 21.9, 19.5, and 17.5 points per game in his three seasons in Columbus. Enter Sam Cassell. Underrated? Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. The 14 Most Underrated NBA Players - yahoo.com 1. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. 25. Peja Stojakovi. The NBA has done an unfortunately great job of sweeping Jermaine ONeals career under the rug after his role in the infamous Malice At The Palace. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Drafted with the No. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. The 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season - Hoops Habit The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. In 2009, he earned the 2nd All-Star selection of his career when he averaged 17.7 PPG and helped lead Orlando to the NBA Finals. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . Finley was a no-nonsense small forward that was the perfect complement beside Dirk Nowitzki, had multiple seasons averaging above 20-5-5 per game, and capped his career off with a championship on the 2007 San Antonio Spurs. 1 of 25. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. Your email address will not be published. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. Not related to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal was one of the best big men in the NBA during his time. The 2000s was an awe-inspiring time to grow up as an NBA fan and witness these real-life superheroes hit the court every single night. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. 15 Most Underrated NBA Players Right Now - (2022-23 Updates) Best NBA Players of the 2000s - IMDb Your email address will not be published. You would have expected Peja to become a lethal off-the-bench shooter, but from 2008 until he retired, he never seemed to get more than 60 games played. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. He could dominate the game on both sides from the low block, he possessed a turnaround jumper that was as unblockable as DIrks fadeaway, and he was a defensive nightmare for opponents nightly. In the Finals against the Lakers, Billups averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 3.2 RPG in the 5-game series to win the championship. Ilgauskas wasnt the strongest in the post but he made up for it with a beautiful 6to 8-foot jumper that he had a beautiful touch on and was nearly automatic. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. We started the decade with Lakers championships and ended with Lakers championships, and yet you can rightfully argue that Tim Duncan was the most important player of the ten years. Teams: Nets . Of course, there was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who captured 3 championships of their own in the 2000s after winning one in 1999 the year after MJ left the NBA. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. Brandon Roy is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history and the little we did get to see of his career left us as NBA fans wanting so much more. The NBA has done an unfortunately great job of sweeping Jermaine ONeals career under the rug after his role in the infamous Malice At The Palace. An . Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. Press Esc to cancel. He made his mark from deep and, with an increase in playing time, averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. 19. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday Madden 23 ratings: Underrated players including Deebo Samuel - For The Win Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . 10. Getting to the free throw line. A lethal gunner from range, Stokakoi was one of the first NBA players to bomb away from range who hit a high percentage of their shots. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Here are the teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. The Best Athletes Of All Time. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. . We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. During his 3rd season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miller led the NBA in assists with 10.9 APG to go with 16.5 PPG and 1.6 SPG. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. Image via Complex Original. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? Championships: 0. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Defensive teamsala the Championship Detroit Pistonsthat dominated to the point the NBA had to change the rules to speed up the game, which helped a dopey-haired small, white Canadian point guard pick up back-to-back MVPs. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. Bibby's best season came in 2006 where he averaged 21.1 PPG and 5.4 APG for the Kings squad that finished with a 44-38 record. As one of the best big men in Clippers history, Brand had a superstar season in 2006 averaging 24.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.5 BPG. He doubled as the leagues premier perimeter defenderwinning the Defensive Player of the Year Awardhaving a rare combination of strength, size, and speed that allowed him to keep up with quicker, smaller guards; and be a physical presence to stop bigger small-forward bruiser type scorers. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Actor | Like Mike. You have Kevin Garnetts MVP and Western Conference Finals season with the Wolves. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. Today, we honor the stars whose legacies have become underappreciated as time has gone on and we get further and further away from their playing days. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. You can't go wrong by picking Ariza here, mainly because actual NBA players back it up.Trevor Ariza possessed such a valuable skillset that even as late as the 2021-22 season with the Lakers, fans were claiming he was the missing piece that would allow them to ascend to playoff contention. This is the plight of DeMar DeRozanhes criminally underrated, and probably will be for his entire career. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. . Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. 6. But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? Wilt Chamberlain. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG.