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. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. 20. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. Forget the role in the fight. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? 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 was an empty-calories kind of player who put up stats on losing teams and couldnt carry a team to any relevancy. 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. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. 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. Cassell would then lead the way to another franchise turnaround, bringing the Clippersthat featured two players on this listto their then-most successful season in franchise history. An . He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. The Most Overrated NBA Players Today - Ranker As the No. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. 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. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. 6,418 votes. 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. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time He averaged 24-6-3 on a Pacers team that was seen as among the top teams in the NBA and potentially a future NBA champion. 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. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. 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. His three years stretch from 2001-04 saw him average 22-6-2, make the All-Star team every year, and even get him a spot on the 2nd Team All-NBA squad. Seth Curry . 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. 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. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA 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 . Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. #6 of 290. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. Should LeBron James Receive The NBA Designated Player Exception In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Mookie Blaylock. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. 17.9 points, 2.9 RPG, and 1.9 APG. He was never the same. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. They say the best ability is availability, and Finley did just that. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. 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. 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. 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 That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Like many on this list, the 2003-04 season was the best of Rons career. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. #513 of 1,316. 32786 posts. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. This happened because other great players such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal were the faces of the NBA and grabbed all the headlines all the time. Magic Johnson. 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For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. 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 early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. 12. Ranking the Point Guards of the 2000s by NBA Math's Total Points Added Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Tim Duncan: Most underrated athlete in sports history? 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. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. 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 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest 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. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. These are the most overrated players in NBA history. 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. 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 O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. 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. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. 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 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. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. 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 . Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. Defensively he was excellent, making an NBA All-Defensive Team three times. He played in just 18 games and then 10 more in 2010-11. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. 10. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. 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. NBA on Twitter: "Jarrett Allen. Look out. https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK 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).. 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. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 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. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. 7 min read. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. 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. 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. Forget the role in the fight. 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. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. League championships: 0. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time | Stadium Talk 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. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) As of early May, James and . He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. He scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. His best season, 2003-04, when he averaged 20-10 and 2.6 blocks, earned him 3rd place in the MVP race. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. Your email address will not be published. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. Im Still Ballin. But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? He could force his way into the paint like a running back hitting the hole in the NFL and either finish at the rim easily or find the open man for an easier opportunity. 10 James Lofton. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. 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. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Thats why hes the first name on this list. 10 NBA Players You Forgot Played For The Los Angeles Lakers 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Usually millions of dollars. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. 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. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. I say yes. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. 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 . 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. 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. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. re: Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) Posted on 1/14/23 at 11:11 am to Gaggle. Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a . #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his career. The 11 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s | Ventured His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. You have Kevin Garnetts MVP and Western Conference Finals season with the Wolves. The Best Athletes Of All Time. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Poll of the Day: Who is the NBA's most underrated player since 2000 Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 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. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Sure. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. . 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. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. ESPN.com - Page2 - The List: Underrated teams He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Elton deserves this spot. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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 Players of the Late 90's Early 00's Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. 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. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? 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.