As the No. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. Not only did he start playing precisely at the starting point of the decade after being selected 1st overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 draft, but he proceeded to be one of the most under-the-radar players during his career. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. 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. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. 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. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. 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. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. 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. 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. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Elton Brand was one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. 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 . Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. He led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. 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. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. 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. 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. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. 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. Arteta to make 1 change, 'underrated' ace to be benched: Arsenal predicted line-up vs Bournemouth,After Arsenal made things look easy in their 4-0 thrashing of Everton, we have tried to call their predicted lineup against Bournemouth. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . The Most-Underrated NBA Players of All-Time. He would have 5 more dominant scoring seasons for Milwaukee by averaging 23.0 PPG, 25.4 PPG, 26.7 PPG, 22.7 PPG, and 21.2 PPG. He played in just 18 games and then 10 more in 2010-11. 5y. 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. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. Shaquille O'Neal. In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. 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. 19. 4. 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. Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. 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 . George Hill . He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. 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 One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. 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. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. On offense, he was a great spot-up shooter and that's why he is mainly known for being a shooter during the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. . 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. 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. 10 James Lofton. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two . Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. 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. Drafted with the No. Including averaging 10 attempts at the line per game when he averaged 22 points per game in his 2004-05 season. 17.9 points, 2.9 RPG, and 1.9 APG. Giannis and LeBron? He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. 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. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 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 . The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. 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 . . 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. 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. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 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. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? 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. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). 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 also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. 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. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 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. Wilt Chamberlain. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. He scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. 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 a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. 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. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s, Valentina Shevchenko doesnt lose a step just because she fought for a split decision: I really dont care what people say, UFC 285 start time, TV schedule for Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Texans divorce from QB Deshaun Watson could affect CJ Strouds court, Texans finish 32nd in Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings, Houston finishes No. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. Andre Miller was never an MVP candidate or even an All-Star but he was quietly one of the better point guards during the 2000s. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. 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. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. 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. Teams: Nets . 7 min read. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Before this career year, Cassell bounced around as a competent floor general, never finding a true home with a team and playing for eight franchises over a nineteen-year career. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. 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. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. 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. Elton is perfect for this list. 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. The 5 most overrated players in Madden NFL 23, including the Eagles' Darius Slay Jr. View 5 items Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. He also has a rare 83-game season under his belt after being traded from Phoenix to Dallas early in his career. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? Gilbert Arenas. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Actor | Like Mike. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. 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. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. 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. Type above and press Enter to search. Luckily for this list, his two all-star appearances occurred within the decade when he made the cut in both the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. An . 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. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. 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. 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. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. View Profile View Forum Posts Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday Was he better than he is remembered? Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. #6 of 290. Not related to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal was one of the best big men in the NBA during his time. People are bound to take notice of him soon after his impressive season with the Raptors. 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 most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. While Redd played amazingly, the team finished the season with a horrible record28-54. 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. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. #4 of 165. I will say it here and now. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Was it worth it? Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000.
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