He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. 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. Top 13 NBA Stars From the 90s (And 12 From the 2000s - TheSportster Enter Sam Cassell. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. 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. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Top underrated NBA players of the late 1990s-early 2000s 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. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. 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. Despite his demise over the latter course of his career, Redd still averaged 19.0 points per game for his career. The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Another is that many of these players are often misremembered for their time and play late in their careers when theyre past their prime, bouncing around to teams and being fitted for jerseys that will probably struggle to sell ten total copies. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. Not a chance. Big Shot. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. He was an entertaining player, scorer, and consistent all-star-level talent in the 90s. Legends of the NBA: 25 Best Players of the 2000s 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. 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. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. 1 of 25. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. 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 . 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. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. 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. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday He was an empty-calories kind of player who put up stats on losing teams and couldnt carry a team to any relevancy. The 14 Most Underrated NBA Players - yahoo.com Getting to the free throw line. Career best stat line: 19.6 points, 9.1 assists, 41% 3PT (1989-90) The Cavs always had their hearts broken when running into Jordan, in the late '80s and early '90s, but Price was also one of . Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. 1. His best season, 2003-04, when he averaged 20-10 and 2.6 blocks, earned him 3rd place in the MVP race. 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. 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. Thread Tools. The most underrated small forwards of the 2018-19 NBA season The NBA's 2020-21 All-Underrated Team - HoopsHype Best NBA Players of the 2000s - IMDb www.basketball-timemachine.com. 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. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. Miller played 14 seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Kings and Bulls. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. There are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the 2010s. 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. 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. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. 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. 19. As the No. Top 5 Best NBA Point Guards Since 2000 - The Sports Drop He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. 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 led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. 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 He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. 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. Who's the most UNDERRATED player of all time? : r/nbadiscussion - reddit 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. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? Thats why hes the first name on this list. Big Shot. Of course, there was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who captured 3 championships of their own in the 2000s after winning one in 1999 the year after MJ left the NBA. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. 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. 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. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Top 10 most underrated players in NBA in 2022-23 featuring Kyle Kuzma His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. 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 . Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . Im Still Ballin. 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. 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. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. With the impressive season he just had with the Raptors, people are bound to take notice soon. The Most Underrated NBA Players of the Late 90's Early 00's Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. View Profile View Forum Posts 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. 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. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. You must be a great player to fit into a team named The Greatest Show on Court. He helped the Kings lead the league in wins in 2001-02, and while he didnt average too many pointsending his career with averages of 11-4-3he made his mark on defense. 2023 profootballspace. 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. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Dating back to his time with the Pelicans, he was an All-Star level . Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. 1969-1971 . Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. You had a fashion that today would be laughed at, baggy jeans, shirts, shorts, and fabrics flying down the court. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. 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. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. 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. #6 of 290. Thats not that tough. The 14 Most Underrated NBA Players - ONE37pm From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. He was the spiritual successor to Dennis Rodman, released music featured in NBA 2K, and is infamous for his antics on-and-off court. Type above and press Enter to search. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. 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. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? 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. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Finley was a no-nonsense small forward that was the perfect complement beside Dirk Nowitzki, had multiple seasons averaging above 20-5-5 per game, and capped his career off with a championship on the 2007 San Antonio Spurs. Big East expert picks 2022-23: Bold predictions, most overrated and 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. But when we focus on his game, we can see that he was overlooked for his talent, with many casual fans not understanding that at points in the 2000s, Ron Artest was seen as one of the top NBA players in the league. Teams: Nets . Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time | Stadium Talk Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports, Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Rookie of the Year, 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection. He was never the same. He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. 3. DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. Well, that counts for something, right? But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on 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 Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. The 11 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s | Ventured In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his career. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. 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. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. 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. The 20 Best Point Guards of the Last 20 Years | Complex Top 20 most underrated footballers of all time: who are they? And Pascal Siakam continues to have one of the league's more underrated individual campaigns (perhaps because Toronto had . Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. We started the decade with Lakers championships and ended with Lakers championships, and yet you can rightfully argue that Tim Duncan was the most important player of the ten years. Others, like Vince Carter and Joe Johnson, are still kicking around the league, but young fans are probably unaware of just how dominant they used to be. He found the end zone in three different decades. We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season.