With the impressive season he just had with the Raptors, people are bound to take notice soon. Date of birth: February 1, 1969. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was an empty-calories kind of player who put up stats on losing teams and couldnt carry a team to any relevancy. 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. 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. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. Image via Complex Original. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. He was the spiritual successor to Dennis Rodman, released music featured in NBA 2K, and is infamous for his antics on-and-off court. 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. 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. 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. Miller played 14 seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Kings and Bulls. I will say it here and now. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. Beginning with a Toronto Raptor, and ending with one, Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and most underrated players in the NBA today. His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. Gilbert Arenas. #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. And . 17.9 points, 2.9 RPG, and 1.9 APG. 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. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. 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. 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. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. 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. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. 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. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. Other Underrated NBA Players for 2021-22. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . 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. Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. Elton is perfect for this list. 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. 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. 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. 32786 posts. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. 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. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. View Profile View Forum Posts Well, that counts for something, right? Elton deserves this spot. 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. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. , Owner: (Registered business address: Germany), processes personal data only to the extent strictly necessary for the operation of this website. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. 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. Thats not that tough. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. The 2005-06 campaign. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. 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) . He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two . 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. 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. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. 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. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. 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 was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. League championships: 0. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. James Lofton is one of many cases of players being in the Hall of Fame and nevertheless being vastly underrated when compared with others who played the position. 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. Over time, Kidd improved as a shooter and scorer, so by the year 2000, he was arguably the most well-rounded point guard in the NBA. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 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 . 10. 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. 7 min read. As only the No.13 pick, Maggette is one of the most underrated players during his era due to his impact on the Clippers. 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. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Usually millions of dollars. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. 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 . Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. 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. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. www.basketball-timemachine.com. 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. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. Wilt Chamberlain. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. 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. 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. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? 11. 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. 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 With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Magic Johnson. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. Underrated? In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. Enter Sam Cassell. 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 was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. Doug Christie. 5y. 4. Big Shot. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. 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. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. One year later with the Kings, Miller would have a career year averaging 14.1 PPG and 10.3 RPG while making his second straight All-Star Team. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. 6,418 votes. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. An . The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. 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. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . Basketball Time Machine
I will say it here and now. He played in just 18 games and then 10 more in 2010-11. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 25. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. 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. 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. The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. 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. 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. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. 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. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. 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. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. 10. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Still, with his peak year coinciding with his healthiesthe appeared in 78 gameshe led the Utah Jazz in total points, points per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, blocks, blocks per game, steals, steals per game, free throws made, free throws attempted, three pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. They say the best ability is availability, and Finley did just that. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. People are bound to take notice of him soon after his impressive season with the Raptors. 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. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. 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. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. Redd fell behind Ray Allen on the depth chart and barely appeared during his rookie season but came on strong in his sophomore campaign. Elton Brand was one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. Creighton's the favorite, Jay Wright's no longer at Nova, and three more huge coaching changes set up a competitive chase in the Big East Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. He scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. O'Neal had a strong inside scoring game, was very active on the offensive boards, and was a capable shot-blocker. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. 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. These players tend to make their presence felt different than your average superstar, whether . That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 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. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. 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. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Anyways. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. 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