Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? For those of us that remember ONeal at his peak, we remember an undersized two-way beast for the Indiana Pacers who helped them nearly capture a championship in his heyday. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. By looking at individual statistics, team impact, and skills during their era; we have compiled a ranked list of the best stars who went underappreciated during their time. Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. 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. 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. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. 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 was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and underrated players in the NBA today, starting with a Toronto Raptor and ending with one. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 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. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. 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. Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. 2023 profootballspace. Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. ONeal is an excellent example of the circumstances most players on these lists go through during their careers. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. 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 averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. 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. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. 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. #6 of 290. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. 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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 7 min read. Drafted with the No. Usually millions of dollars. 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. 11. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. 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 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. 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 play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. Your email address will not be published. CJ McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. Required fields are marked *. 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 had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. 3. Seth Curry . He was a scorer, plain and simple. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. 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. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. 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 Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. While you probably wouldnt be able to get away with that nickname in the NBA today, it still earns him an easy placement on this list. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. 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 teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Now, I could go up to as many as 25 maybe 30 players that are forgotten stars from the 2000's but i'm only going to focus on 12, enjoy. 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. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. 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. 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. 1 of 25. 1969-1971 . The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? 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. George Hill . He didnt have the chance to display his scoring prowess during his first season in Milwaukee since he was playing behind the great Ray Allen. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. 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. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. 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. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. 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. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. 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 was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. 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. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Actor | Like Mike. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. These are the most overrated players in NBA history. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town.
Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Underrated? 8. 1. He was never the same. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. 4. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. 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. Obviously, we have to mention the Malice at the Palace incident that saw him miss the entirety of the 2004-05 season with Indiana. Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Thats why hes the first name on this list. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. An . 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. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. These players tend to make their presence felt different than your average superstar, whether . During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. Anyways. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. 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 By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. 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. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. 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. 10. Portland athletes have been underrated for a long time, sometimes due to geography, but also because of the early 2000s, which saw casual fans turned away from the NBA team after the ill-fated "Jail Blazers" era that was marred by a string of player arrests, untimely technical fouls, and disastrous playoff meltdowns. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. He averaged 20.7 PPG, 22.2 PPG, and 22.1 PPG during those years while missing out on All-Star Teams despite his scoring. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. Unfortunately, but very reasonably, he will also be remembered for one incident above any other when he choked his coach P.J Carlesimo.Sprewell was suspended from the NBA for an entire season after playing for the Golden State Warriors for 14 games. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. 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. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his career. 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. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. 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. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. 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. Here's a ranking of the NBA's top teammate duos throughout league history. 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 . 20. 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. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. 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. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. Peja Stojakovi. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. The Best Athletes Of All Time. The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. His jump shooting was his strongest attribute but unfortunately, his career took a dip after suffering injuries that never made him the same player after the 2009 season. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. 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. Type above and press Enter to search. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Im Still Ballin. 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. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. 19. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. 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. . He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. He is incredibly well known; hes played beside Kobe on the Championship Lakers, delivered us with one of the best post-championship press conferences ever, and been a member of the infamous Malice and the Palace. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. 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. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. 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. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. Drafted with the No. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 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. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . Photo: Paul Popper. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Besides the obvious suspension from the Malice incident, Jermaine didnt reach a higher level because of a lack of real playoff success and a subpar field goal percentage for a big man. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. 5y. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume.