Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . View Profile View Forum Posts Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. 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 . As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. Many superstars surfaced at this time but perhaps none bigger than Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers who led them to 3 straight titles at the beginning of the decade. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Even though he never made an All-Star Team, Bibby certainly played like one and he was a major reason the Kings were a problem in the West. 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. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. Big Shot. Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. Jason Terry: 1066.71 TPA. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. all of who are . He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. Type above and press Enter to search. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. It's tough to argue with a top five like that, but Acho brought up several great points while making a case for the former San . You must be a great player to fit into a team named The Greatest Show on Court. He helped the Kings lead the league in wins in 2001-02, and while he didnt average too many pointsending his career with averages of 11-4-3he made his mark on defense. The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. He could rebound the ball well at 610 tall and his passing and court vision were a perfect recipe for success with how much those Kings teams liked to run. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. At his peak, he became one of the most prolific scorers in the league and ignited the spirit of the game back in the City Of Milwaukee. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. But if the languid laziness of a typical baseball game was overrated by the purists who want to keep the three-and-a-half-hour games, it was underrated by the people who forgot just how much the . Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. 19. 11. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Sure. Press Esc to cancel. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. With the trade of superstar Ray Allen, the Bucks fell off as one of the NBAs top teams, but the leading role was filled by Redd, who went on to average 21.7 points en route to his only All-Star appearance. League championships: 0. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. 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. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. 12. Seth Curry . He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. 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. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. For some reason, as time has gone on, fans refer to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as one of those garbage players that LeBron James dragged to the NBA Finals early in his career. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Forget the role in the fight. 1. 8. 4. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Wallace helped to revolutionize the power forward position forever with his ability to spread the floor and shoot the ball He could play any role that a team needed him to. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports, Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Rookie of the Year, 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. 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. I will say it here and now. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. Shareef could never take that next step up to consistent superstardom, and despite forming a talented trio alongside Glenn Robinson and Jason Terry, the Hawks never sniffed the playoffs. 1969-1971 . He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. Getting to the free throw line. He had a ton of athleticism and scoring prowess in his 6'6" frame, and played the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. 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. Underrated? Peja Stojakovi. He could rebound the ball well at 610 tall and his passing and court vision were a perfect recipe for success with how much those Kings teams liked to run. #6 of 290. For years now, Jrue Holiday has been widely regarded as the most underrated player in NBA. For some reason, as time has gone on, fans refer to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as one of those garbage players that LeBron James dragged to the NBA Finals early in his career. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. During his All-Star seasons with Portland, Wallace was a double-digit scorer and rebounder while being a force to be reckoned with on defense. The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000; Results 1 to 1 of 1 Thread: The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. George Hill . Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. The little brother. Jackson is mainly known for his stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? 10. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. An elite scorer and underrated playmaker, Jason Terry spent the majority of the 2000s playing the role of starting guard for the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks, and the last bit dominating off the bench for the latter franchise. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. 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. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin, The 12 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s, This Millennial Transformed One Rental Property Into A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Beauty Business Tips And Secrets. Over NY's past three games, Mitchell Robinson is 16-for-16 from the floor & averaging 11.3 points and 12.0 rebounds Per @bball_ref, he is the first player in NBA history to record a double . 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. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. Was he better than he is remembered? 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. 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. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s..Welcome back to Sports Savvy. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to take over the league after Michael Jordan left Chicago. 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).. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. Doug Christie. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. Three others that could be argued at a higher level (they do get plenty of respect, but perhaps not enough) are Vuc, Brogdon, and Jrue. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. Roy would be named an All-Star the following 3 seasons and averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that time. 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. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. Despite sharing the court with Ray Allen early on, Redd carved his own path and should be revered for his unbelievable scoring at his peak. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. Finally, as with fellow Pacer Ron Artest, ONeal was heavily involved in the Malice at the Palace punishments and suspensions, so the NBA isnt jumping at the opportunity to push Jermaine into the mainstream hivemind. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. You had a fashion that today would be laughed at, baggy jeans, shirts, shorts, and fabrics flying down the court. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. He became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. Shareef solidified his role as a scoring power forward and was selected as an All-Star in the 2002 season, the lone career selection. 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. 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. McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. This happened because other great players such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal were the faces of the NBA and grabbed all the headlines all the time. 8 Most Expensive Kevin Garnett Basketball Cards, Title 15 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World. 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. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . Mehmet Okur - Career Stats : 13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 apg - Best season (2005-06) : 18.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.4 apg - Achievements : NBA Champion (2004), NBA All-Star (2007) - Best years were with the Jazz Elton Brand is the most underrated star of the 2000s because he managed to have 2 All-Star Seasons after being drafted No.1 in the 1999 Draft. The 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. Obviously, we have to mention the Malice at the Palace incident that saw him miss the entirety of the 2004-05 season with Indiana. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. His best seasons come while playing for teams that arent popular or mainstream. Well, that counts for something, right? He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. At his peak, Billups was a serious threat as a scorer, passer, and defender who was the perfect point guard to lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. Roy would be named an All-Star the following 3 seasons and averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that time. Redd was also a member of the 2008 U.S. mens Olympic basketball team that won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. At his peak, Billups was a serious threat as a scorer, passer, and defender who was the perfect point guard to lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship. 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. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Potential only counts for so much. 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. He was also one of the better offensive rebounders in basketball and led the league in that stat in the 2004-05 season with 299 offensive rebounds. We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Corey Maggette was the player version of the Los Angeles Lakers/Los Angeles Clippers relationship in that he was the Walmart version of Kobe Bryant. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. Big Shot. 7 min read. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. 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. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. 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