18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). #513 of 1,316. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. 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. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 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. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. Underrated? Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. He became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. #4 of 165. As only the No.13 pick, Maggette is one of the most underrated players during his era due to his impact on the Clippers. Im Still Ballin. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Press Esc to cancel. Drafted with the No. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. NBA underrated performers are one of the more challenging lists to rank. 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 helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 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. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 4. 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 . 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. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. Here's a ranking of the NBA's top teammate duos throughout league history. He would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. 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. Injuries took away superstar potential from Michael Redd, but he was an offensive machine when he was healthy. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . 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. 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. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. Tracy McGrady. 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 . 7 min read. Seth Curry . 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. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. 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. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. 10. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 12. Career: 1989-2002. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. Forget the role in the fight. Of course, this was never true with the likes of Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan hanging around, but the conversation wasnt an insane one to have. 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. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. 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. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. 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. 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 . In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 6,418 votes. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. 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. 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. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. He led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. 5. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. 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. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. 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 Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? All details in the privacy policy. Trevor Ariza. 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. 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. 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. For years now, Jrue Holiday has been widely regarded as the most underrated player in NBA. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Your email address will not be published. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. Thats not that tough. Only one year later, Jamison jumped his stats tremendously averaging 19.6 PPG and 8.3 RPG followed by a career-high in scoring at 24.9 PPG. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. He was the spiritual successor to Dennis Rodman, released music featured in NBA 2K, and is infamous for his antics on-and-off court. Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Teams: Nets . Forget the role in the fight. Maybe. 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. He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. CJ McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. 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. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 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. 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. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. 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. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his 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. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. all of who are . Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. He was an empty-calories kind of player who put up stats on losing teams and couldnt carry a team to any relevancy. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. 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. 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. You had a fashion that today would be laughed at, baggy jeans, shirts, shorts, and fabrics flying down the court. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. And . 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. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. 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. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. 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. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. That's why he's the first name on this list. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. 8. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. He made his mark from deep and, with an increase in playing time, averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. 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. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. George Hill . He was never the same. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. 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. 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. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. 2023 profootballspace. . 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 . There are dozens of underrated players most folks forget. His best season, 2003-04, when he averaged 20-10 and 2.6 blocks, earned him 3rd place in the MVP race. 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 scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 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. Not related to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal was one of the best big men in the NBA during his time. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Unfortunately for Rahim, he will be remembered for being the centerpiece of this lopsided trade that sent Pau Gasol to Memphis, where he would quickly *not*become one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. Struggling with bone spurs, and ankle surgery, he left the NBA after the 2006-07 season. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. 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. 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. 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. 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. Gilbert Arenas. People are bound to take notice of him soon after his impressive season with the Raptors. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two blocks . Latrell Sprewell was a great player. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. Including averaging 10 attempts at the line per game when he averaged 22 points per game in his 2004-05 season. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. 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. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. 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. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. Type above and press Enter to search. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. #6 of 290. Photo: Paul Popper. In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. 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. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from.