We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. 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. 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. Poll of the Day: Who is the NBA's most underrated player since 2000 Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. Only one year later, Jamison jumped his stats tremendously averaging 19.6 PPG and 8.3 RPG followed by a career-high in scoring at 24.9 PPG. His only other individual awards were a 2004 All-Star selection after averaging 16-8-3 with 2 steals and 3 blocks. 11. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. 4. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s..Welcome back to Sports Savvy. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. During the 2000s, at various times, he was up against the likes of 15 time all-star Tim Duncan, 15 time all-star Kevin Garnett, 14 time all-star Dirk Nowitzki, 10 time all-star Carmelo Anthony, 6 time all-star Pau Gasol, 6 time all-star Amar'e Stoudemire (yes, he got the nod as a forward), 5 time all-star Chris Webber. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA history. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. 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. 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. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. Kevin McHale over 176 games from '86 playoffs to '88 playoffs: 24.6/9. , Owner: (Registered business address: Germany), processes personal data only to the extent strictly necessary for the operation of this website. Drafted with the No. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) | Page 3 | More Sports He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. NBA on Twitter: "Jarrett Allen. Look out. https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK His only season above 50% from the floor was with the 2009-10 Miami Heat, which isnt anything to write home about for a 611 power forward. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. Yes, but just barely scratching this list. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. Read that sentence again. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. 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. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. After being traded to the Sacramento Kings at the end of the 2000 season, he formed a potent shooting perimeter alongside Peja Stojakovi. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. 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. 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. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. Top 5 most underrated NBA players in history 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. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. His best seasons come while playing for teams that arent popular or mainstream. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. 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. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. 5. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s.. - YouTube Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-98), Washington Wizards (1998-99), Miami Heat (1990-2000), Charlotte Hornets (2000-01) All-Star Games: 2001. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. Jamison would then form part of a consistent team with the Wizards, making 2 All-Star Teams during his tenure there and solidifying himself as one of the best power forwards in the NBA during his time. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. 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. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players in History - Bleacher Report And . 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. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. 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. For the first 12 seasons of his career, Miller was a consistent 15.0 to 17.0 PPG scorer but he really made his impact as a passer. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? With talk of which NBA players are the most underrated right making the rounds on social media this week, we thought it would be a good time to come up with our own All-Underrated Team for the . The 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season - Hoops Habit James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. 1 of 25. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Rank these players right now (Nuggets Edition) : r/nba Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. 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. Even with Minnesota, Cassell also owns a space in a potential worst trade of all time discussion, being moved, along with a first-round pick, from Minnesota in 2005 to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. 2008-09 Upper Deck MVP #206 Danilo Gallinari RC ($2.50) Gallinari has had multiple seasons with All-Star caliber production, with his best numbers coming during the 2018-19 season when he averaged . 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. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Actor | Like Mike. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. 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).. 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. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. His three hasn't been falling . Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? 6. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. Of course, this was never true with the likes of Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan hanging around, but the conversation wasnt an insane one to have. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. 10 James Lofton. 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. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 6,418 votes. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Tracy McGrady. 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 averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. NBA: The 23 most underrated players from the 90s to present day 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 . Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. The 2000s were a period in the NBA that featured the rise of some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including LeBron James , Kobe Bryant , Dwyane Wade , Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan and . 1. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. 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. 19. 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. 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. Mookie Blaylock. Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Stars Of The 2000s - Fadeaway World COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 2023 profootballspace. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. Giannis and LeBron? His only postseason trip was as a role player averaging 12-5 on the 2005-06 Sacramento Kings, who would lose in the first round to San Antonio. He consistently made a significant impact early on with the Vancouver Grizzlies and was the leading point guard on some really good Sacramento Kings lineups in the early 2000s. 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. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. He would average a double-double over the next 4 seasons, and by his third season, he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. 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. 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. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . Career highlights and awards * NBA champion (2011) * NBA Finals MVP (2011) * NBA Most Valuable Player (2007) * 14 NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) * 4 All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009) * 5 All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011) . Scotty Bags. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. 5 pick in the 2001 draft, Richardson was expected to be one of the most impactful shooting guards in the NBA and he was certainly underappreciated in his time. 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. 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. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. 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. 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. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. 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. Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. 1. Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. Here were some of . Was it worth it? James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. 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. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. With over a decade of writing articles for sports sites, Eddie Bitar has a unique writing voice that shines through in the latest collection of NBA-related content that captures trade rumors, power rankings, and team news. Out of all the players on this list, O'Neal was the most talented big man and also one of the most underrated players during his time. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. The Bucks were dealt a huge blow during the 2008-09 season when Redd went down with a knee injury. 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. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. 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. The Rise of Paul George Can he bring a championship to LA. Elton deserves this spot. 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. Career: 1989-2002. 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. He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. 32 in Touchdown Wire list, Big Ten 2023 Football Power Rankings Too Soon, ASU Footballs Kenny Dillingham hopes QB room structure will push players, Oregon Football Recruitment: Nyckoles Harbor and Ducks Update, Big 12 Conference Tees 2023 Schedule Release, Know the Foe: Virginia Tech Footballs 2023 Away Opponents, Denver Broncos meet again with Michigan Footballs Jim Harbaugh. 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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. With Indiana, Jackson was part of a tough crew featuring Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal that was also involved in the Malice at the Palace. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Ranking NBA's Best Point Guards of the 2000s - nba.com Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Your email address will not be published. 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. With the impressive season he just had with the Raptors, people are bound to take notice soon. He was never the same. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. Top 5 Best NBA Point Guards Since 2000 - The Sports Drop Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. . Career Stats: 15.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection. The Most Underrated NBA Players Of The Early 2000s 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. Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. All details in the privacy policy. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000 Elton Brand was a special big man on offense and on the boards, and he was one of the most underappreciated players during his time. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). 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 was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. 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. Davis recorded 3 different seasons with at least 20.0 PPG and 2.0 SPG as one of the more dynamic point guards in basketball. DeRozan may be cementing his status as the best player in franchise history in front of our eyes, but say he belongs in the MVP conversation and most NBA fans will laugh at you. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.